Stephen Butcher, mentor and motivator
It is, with great sadness, that we have to say farewell to Stephen Butcher, who died earlier this month.
Stephen was a motivator, a mentor and a someone who reminded CPRENorthYorkshire why we do what we do. CPRENorthYorkshire will feel his loss deeply.
Stephen joined us in in 2009. He brought expertise and passion to our group, advising us on issues from farming to wildlife to National Parks to planning. Stephen was a gentleman with incredible humour and charm.
There really are no words to describe this great campaigner for our countryside.
From the Chair:
I will always smile at the memory of Stephen, he became a friend as well as mentor and motivator. He inspired me and reminded me daily that our work had to continue with passion, dedication and determination. There are not enough people like Stephen Butcher in this world. When Stephen farmed in the Yorkshire dales, he would mark out the nests of lapwings and curlews in the fields with golf flags so that the fields were cut around the nests, protecting the birds and their offspring. No one could ever match Stephen Butchers passion and commitment.
Stephen, we will remember you and I promise that we'll try to continue your desire to ensure that our countryside is valued, enhanced and protected! You're totally forgiven for being late for every meeting and I'm sorry our biscuits and cakes were not up to scratch! We're going to try to bring some of your charm and humour into countryside campaigning!
Thank you for every single thing you did for CPRENorthYorkshire.
Jules Marley, May 2018
The Biodiversity SUPERHIGHWAY!
The BBC today reported that our verges need help!
CPRE have been campaigning on this issue for years. The verges of England form part of something called the biodiversity super highway or a transport links for wildlife to improve and maintain connectivity of species.
Where safe, CPRENorthYorkshire litter picks our lanes and roadside verges however, we can't go near busy A road verges due to 'Elf and safety". This vital transport link to keep species of wildlife and flora thriving is much neglected. Not only is this major biodiversity trunk road threated with litter from cars and cyclers, it's hacked by councils creating more stress. We need to make sure visibility is maintained on our roads but this can be done with edge cutting, not the entire removal of the natural verge!
CPRENorthYorkshire responds to Yorkshire Dales Management Plan 2019-24
CPRENorthYorkshire have now commented on the latest in a long list of Local Plan, Management consultation and added their views to the latest Yorkshire Dales Management Plan Consultation for the period 2019-24
Spennithorne Conservation area appraisal in Richmondshire Local Authority
CPRENorthYorkshire have responded to the recent consultation in Richmondshire relating to the Spennithorne Conservation Area appraisal.
We are delighted to welcome a Beth Davies of 1 Vogage Limited to our bank of planning professionals - Beth specialises in conservation and was suitably qualified to reseach this project.
Carleton - 'out with' development limits where a council can display 5.49yr housing supply plus buffer!
It's small yes but it's another one in a conservation area in Craven where once again we have checked the file, looked at the full history and found that the balance is tipped - the harm far outweighs any perceived benefits.
Open countryside, out with development limits, heritage assets, foot paths ... heard it all before?
Local residents have contacted CPRENorthYorkshire regularly regarding Carleton, we have to listen to them as they keep coming back. They report that there's also the outstanding issue of the application at Grundy Farm where a developer is trying to gain approval on a site within conservation area yet the same developer owns brownfield land in the same village with approved permission for 20+ housing. Apparently the developer will not provide the 24 homes outside the conservation area on brownfield land if the council approve the four executive homes in the conservation area.... can this really be true?
Kirby Hill Harrogate again....
In November 2017 CPRENorthYorkshire objected to the principle of development regarding an application at Kirby Hill in the Harrogate area. As seems to be the trend, the developer has come back with an outline application reducing the number of houses - we objected to the principle of developing this land! 80, 50, 30 makes no difference on this site, outside development limits and in an area where:
