Tranquillity
CPRE has
been concerned about the loss of tranquil areas in the countryside for
many years. As development has encroached on the countryside areas of
tranquility have become rarer, yet people’s need to get away from
noise and bustle have not diminished and concern about loss of tranquil
areas has grown.
In the West Midlands the most tranquil areas are the Marches of Hereford
and Shropshire but there are many other areas where a high degree of tranquility
can still be found. Even in our largest cities parks, gardens and open
space prove valuable areas of relative tranquility.
These are not only environmental assets. By improving the quality of people’s
lives and help ensure the West Midlands is an attractive place to live,
work and visit. Without them we might be poorer in our pockets as well
as out souls.
CPRE has in the past produced Intrusion Maps which show the impact of
new roads, houses and offices over time and the extent to which they have
had a negative impact on the openness of the countryside, however, we
have now commissioned Newcastle and Northumberland University to produce
more sophisticated tranquillity maps based not only the negative impacts
but also the positive aspects of tranquillity that people really value.
This new tool graphically demonstrates areas of tranquility across the
country and the region and we hope will be adopted by national, regional
and local decision makers seeking to site development in the right place.
You can read more about the tranquillity mapping and see maps of your
county at our
National website.
Click Here to see
our presentation to the Rural Affairs Forum (PDF version of a PowerPoint
presentation).
28 May 2008
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