The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Herefordshire Branch.

CPRE has had a Branch in Herefordshire for more than 70 years. It is run by volunteers who are dedicated to protecting this most rural of English counties from being spoiled by inappropriate development. We value the peace and tranquillity Herefordshire retains but are all too aware of how easily this can be eroded away, as it has in many other parts of England. We promote positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside and seek to protect and enhance its valued natural and built environment.

In a recent poll members cited an increase in house building and traffic as the two most significant and least liked changes they had witnessed in Herefordshire in the last 10 years. CPRE campaigns continuously on planning and transport issues, locally, countywide, regionally and nationally. Volunteers work with other groups to improve architectural design and building techniques to ensure Herefordshire’s villages retain their reputation for vernacular beauty.

CPRE works with other local organisations to prevent development which is inappropriate. We have campaigned vigourously against the proposed route for the new Rotherwas Access Road and against the proposed wind farm on Vagar Hill in the Golden Valley.

We submitted a detailed response the UDP [Unitary Development Plan] in which we highlight the need for the Council to have sustainable development at the core the Plan.

These are just a few of the issues CPRE are concerned about. Please take some time to explore our website and find out what else we do. Members, supporters and volunteers are always needed and are most welcome.  If you have just moved to Herefordshire, please take a look at our leaflet "Welcome to Herefordshire" (52Kb *.pdf file)

More about CPRE Herefordshire

Fighting Fund Appeal, Stop the Spread

If you read the Hereford Times headline after the May 07 elections, ‘ Conservative Victory, More Roads and Houses, Bullinghope shows the way' , and didn't like the message, you may be interested to know that a local group are in the middle of a legal challenge that will make the Council think a bit harder about this type of deal in the future. 

Under section 287 of the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) they have launched a High Court challenge against the Bullinghope housing in the Unitary Development Plan. 

"We feel the housing is in the wrong place and being built for the wrong reason, to fund the completely unconnected Rotherwas Access Road.  If the Council think they can get away with this, expect lots more of the same in the future.  The challenge will cost and we have started a fund.” 

If you think you can help please send a cheque made out to: The Dinedor Hill Action Association c/o Highfields, Bullinghope, Hereford HR2 8EB. 

If they win your money will be returned. If 30 people pledge £1000, they will have enough to fight the case. Don't worry if you can't give this much; a small donation would help too.www.dinedorhillaction.co.uk

You may be aware that a 4000 year old archaeological find was made, whilst constructing this road. Sadly, this find was 'encapsulated for future generations' late in 2007, with the Rotherwas Access Road due to be opened in March 2008.

poem by Amanda Attfield

Rotherwas Ribbon

They are building the road, they are building the road.
They are digging the place where they are building the road.
They have found part of a snake, deep in the ground,
and along the ground they’ve found more of a snake.
It’s a great snake, under the ground,
a two thousand year old serpent mound
like the ones in diddley boing de boing Ohio Idaho.
Or it might be four thousand years old, give or take,
what’s a few thou’ between friends
for a newly discovered ancient snake.

They are digging more of the place before building the road,
digging more of the place, digging more of the ground,
so the snake can be seen, so the snake can be seen.
It’s a big snake, and fragile. We must all see the snake,
the historic remains. People have booked to see the snake.
It’s so old – from the Bronze Age – and it must be dug out
and others must see it. But people can’t go onto the place
of the snake, as it’s too fragile, the place of the snake.
So the ones who know make a window, to see into
the hole of the snake. Through the window two hundred
will see, but they won’t see the snake, they will hear
voices of the people who know, who will talk of the snake
that is fragile, and old, and interesting, and of great significance.
This will be a rare opportunity. One day.

Only one day. Only one window. Only one snake.

Because they are filling in the place of the snake,
the deep dig where the snake lies, they are filling
in the deep dig. No more window. No more snake.
Because it cannot survive like we do, in the open
with no one to protect it, no house to live in, and
no one to care for it, no one to pay for the care of it
within the community. It is too old and too fragile,
even though it is big, and a snake, and of great significance.
It must be under the ground. Covered over.
And it cannot be got round because of the landowners
and the money. And the snake has no voice to say
if it prefers to be under the ground and covered over
or not. So the people who know decide for it.
It must be under the ground.

They are covering the snake, they are covering the snake,
covering it over. But don’t worry. The people that know
will know that it’s there, the people that know will know.
Protected by a membrane, and layers of sand, and the road.
And the snake will always be beneath the drivers,
driving over the snake. And they won’t know, and they won’t
get bitten by a snake they don’t know is there. It will be covered over.
The road will cover it over.

©Amanda Attfield 7th July 2007

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