HEREFORDSHIRE CPRE is calling for county residents to sign up to the Countryside Charter It says as the evidence mounts that Government planning reforms are not working the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has launched a three point charter to ‘Save our Countryside’.

A charter is an ancient way of letting ordinary people set out a list of demands as a way of petitioning rulers or Governments.

“It is a simple way to distil the crucial elements of a campaign and highlight the most important issues”, explained Richard Williams, spokesman for Herefordshire CPRE.

HCPRE believes that unsustainable and increasing pressure is being placed on the countryside, and sensible planning is undermined by short-sighted pursuit of economic growth at any cost.

“A beautiful countryside, better places to live and economic prosperity all rely on good planning, which in turn depends on giving people a proper say in what development should go where.

“We therefore ask county residents to sign up to the Countryside Charter.’’ The organisation says the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was intended to simplify planning and get houses built but the reforms have not delivered the housing people need, and are instead causing harm to communities and landscapes.

Visit www.saveourcountryside.org.uk to support the charter.