West Midlands Regional Group

Revent events have provided vindication, if any were needed, for CPRE’s national strategy of strengthening policy and lobbying capacity in the country’s regions. CPRE West Midlands is probably now one of the most effective voluntary bodies in the environmental field in getting its voice heard and taken notice of in the new regional fora.

Make no mistake about it, regional government is on the march. While there is little likelihood of an electoral assembly in the West Midlands for the present, much of the structure of regional government is in place and has been for some time. This developing regional structure has created a valuable and exciting opportunity for CPRE to operate at a new level between the County branches and the national organisation. Branches how have a very useful facility for contact with other branches in the region and, importantly, with the national organisation in London. Regional groups nominate the members of the CPRE national executive committee.

The West Midlands Group has succeeded in creating a CPRE base outside London which is impressively endowed with experience and expertise. A full time Policy Officer is supported by very active volunteers, some with professional planning skills at a senior level.

The talents of the regional group have been deployed to great effect in deliberations on a range of strategic planning issues for the West Midlands. It all comes under the big tent of Regional Planning Guidance. This is a voluminous tome which has emerged from an Examination in Public in the last two years. It sounds vague and distant but is steadily extending its grip on planning authorities in the counties. Arguably, strategic planning is more efficiently prepared and delivered at regional level but much will continue to depend on the performance of local planning authorities in the counties.

There is much for CPRE branches to learn from engagement with regional issues and from the experiences of other branches. It can be a real eye opener. It is perhaps not always appreciated just how rural large areas of the region remain. It is indeed a region of spectacular diversity.

Link to CPRE West Midlands Region website

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CPRE Herefordshire is a registered Charity: No: 213951. The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.