The lost land between town and country

Originally from: mona parr
                        
Hundreds of acres of land between the countryside and town are underused and overlooked, according to the Countryside Agency and Groundwork \x{2013} an environmental regeneration charity. Around each urban area there is a hinterland comprising up to 20% of our total land area that should be a place for our children to play in, a place to improve our health, grow local food and provide sustainable jobs.

Politicians, local communities, planners and businesses need to grab the opportunity to create a vision for the future of the rural/urban fringe, was the message during the launch of the consultation on land and countryside use immediately around towns.

Pam Warhust, deputy chair of the Countryside Agency said: \x{201C}It is a common misconception that there is a clear distinction between the countryside \x{2013} green fields, hedgerows, hills and woodlands \x{2013} and towns and cities. In reality the two often blur around the edges in a distinctive zone of horse-pastures, public utilities such as electrical substations and struggling agriculture.

\x{201C}This consultation gives us an opportunity to consider what the rural/urban fringe could mean to the people who live, work and visit there, and how to achieve the best social, economic and environmental benefits from this often overlooked resource

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael welcomed the vision document, saying: \x{201C} The countryside around our towns is an important environment for today\x{2019}s generation and a rich asset for future generations provided we get the planning right. We need to get rid of the outdated idea of a rural/urban divide because we need each other. A vision for the rural/urban fringe will provide a template for combining local environmental, social and economic priorities to create more attractive surroundings and recreational opportunities and generate more income from a wider range of sources, for land managers and others who depend upon the fringe for a living.\x{201D} Many people farming on the outskirts of urban areas will feel such a vision may be difficult to achieve, even though it would be welcomed. For some there is still a definite divide between town and country. It may possibly be through a lack of understanding but vandalism, arson, theft and anti-social behaviour on land and crops backing onto built up areas is often what farmers have to contend with. One such farmer who has seen development gradually encircle his land, told NFU Countryside that he gave up sheep production because he could no longer bear to see his ewes and lambs being regularly attacked by dogs. However, those involved with the vision are positive about it\x{2019}s future. Tony Hawkhead, Chief Executive of Groundwork, said: \x{201C}One of the greatest challenges we face as a nation is learning to live more sustainably. This means ensuring that our urban centres develop in harmony with the environment that surrounds them. The rural urban fringe has enormous potential to help us meet the needs of the present \x{2013} for local food, recreation, renewable energy and education \x{2013} while changing the way we live in the future. Groundwork has been helping regenerate the rural urban fringe for more than 21 years. Now is the time for us to work together to unlock the full potential of this valuable resource.\x{201D} Responses to this consultation will help shape a final version of the vision to be launched in mid 2004, followed by further work to stimulate the changes necessary to make the vision a reality. The closing date for responses is 30 April 2004. The vision document and a questionnaire for submitting responses are available at: www.groundwork.org.uk/policy/rufconsultation or by emailing: ...
    
                        

Originally from: frances fish
                        
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 contribu ting, to an extent, to its demise. The answer ? I very much fear,is a lemon. Frances

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

Originally from: Paul Buxton