Jiglu: Farmtalking: Discussion: Re: RE: The lost land between town and country

Originally from: coleen

Of course Groundwork would want to see the 'grey' areas developed irrespective of whether it benefited town or Country. That's how they make their living – they get nice grants to do all of this – which keeps them happy bunnies.

I really do feel they are trying to make real Country people feel unwanted. They take away what little we had as Francis points out, they remove the open spaces (which is why I live in the Country) if I wanted built up areas I would go and live in a town and they give us nothing back in return.

The classic view (not all I will admit) is from people who come to the Countryside on holiday. On a glorious summers day they love it and say 'how lucky you are to live in a beautiful spot like this – when it is raining and the land is flooded – this beautiful place has become the 'back of beyond'. Well some of us live and love our 'Pittsville' so I wish outsiders who have no idea how its all comes together and works would leave it alone. Their's is not the interest of ordinary people – but how best to make some form of profit from what we have and enjoy. I bet the next dinosaurs will be two legged and called 'country people'.

Coleen

----- Original Message -----
From: ...
Originally from: "john FISH" <...>
To: <...>
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 7:30 AM
Subject: [farmtalking] RE: The lost land between town and country
This seems to be a backdoor way of annexing the grey area between the town and the true countryside doesn't it ? This grey area is there because it is necessary. To rezone it, if you like, alter its reason for being there at all, will merely extend the grey area further out from the towns and cause more havoc for true country dwellers and, more importantly,those who try to earn a living there. Already we are seeing individuals, not all of course, who go into fields with stock,sometimes with dogs(usually not on a leash either) ride motor bikes along bridleways, play golf and football in fields which are for grazing purposes. They "have a right to be there", they say, "we are not doing any harm".Sometimes it feels that the "green " areas of our land are being squeezed from all sides. We read that land prices are still rising fast and that most buyers are town dwellers looking for the countryside way of life. They do not want the land they purchase, they have little use for it, but they ensure that those who did, or could use it, have it priced out of their reach. Yet another nail in the coffin, perhaps. What was it the Government admitted the other week ? That they do not understand the countryside or its matters ( or care about its problems). You really, for once, have to agree with them. We see the rural post offices going, local schools closing, old people and children bussing into the towns for their pensions or education and we despair. Its like the life blood is slowly seeping away. Around us, much of the "farming " land is only usable for grazing hardy sheep. There is a limit for forestry enterprise and this is a long term investment, it does not put food on the table for a family.Yet hill farming is being eroded, profit margins are minimal, if they exist at all, warning lights are flashing brightly.Nothing will be done to help these people, you can bet on that. What will the future hold ? People are buying into a way of life that will not exist in the future, partly because they, themselves are contributing, to an extent, to its demise. The answer ? I very much fear,is a lemon.
Frances
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