Common Sense decision on Chinese Lanterns

31 October 2012

Common Sense decision on Chinese Lanterns  

The Government’s decision to take a close look at the risks posed by Chinese lanterns, or Sky Lanterns, is a breakthrough for common sense – according to the CLA in the South West.

But with Bonfire Night approaching, the CLA’s South West Director, John Mortimer, is asking people to think again before they include sky lanterns as part of their celebrations.

The Association, which has been part of the campaign for action to minimise the potential for damage from the lanterns, believes that the risk of fire to land and property, and threat to people, livestock and pets simply cannot justify the continued use of what many people are now coming to appreciate is far more than just a decorative light in the night sky.

CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: “Clearly the Minister has accepted our arguments that these devices do pose a threat to livestock, crops and property. Even some manufacturers seem to accept that there is an element of significant risk because of the detailed safety instructions they publish – but we say they are actually a potentially lethal fire risk.”

As well as the fire risk, the wire frames used in many of the lanterns have caused injury and proven fatal to livestock.

“Although there are safety instructions on many packs, the responsibility remains firmly with the person who releases the naked flame - and they have no control over where it lands. I would urge anyone considering using sky lanterns to think again and ask themselves if they would set one off towards their own house.”

Even in open countryside, dry crops such as hay and straw, barns, houses, farmyards, and woodland, people and animals could be put at risk. There is also widespread concern among the emergency services – particularly the coastguard - about their use.

“It cannot be right that one group of people’s so-called celebrations can cause at best anxiety, and at worst real damage, to others so we are please to read that the Government has decided to take this issue seriously and have a proper look at the safety issues,” he said.

-Ends-

Broadband Policy - CLA in Twitter Q&A

The CLA head of Rural Business Development Dr Charles Trotman will appear in a twitter Q&A session on Thursday 27 September between 2.30pm and 3.30pm GMT.

Dr Trotman is author of the CLA's vision for rural broadband "Broadband Fit for Rural Growth" he will take part in the Q&A to answer questions on this important broadband policy document, which was launched on Monday this week.

To take part simply use the hashtag #CLAchat with your question or comment. You can also DM your questions in advance to @clamidlands and we will ask them on your behalf during the session.

We anticipate a lot of interest and we will do our best get through as many as we can.

Broadband Fit for Rural Growth can be downloaded 

fromhttp://www.cla.org.uk/Policy_Work/Broadband/ 

Rural Housing: The Challenges & Opportunities for Landowners

CLA South West
Muddifords Court Country House, Willand, Cullompton, Devon EX15 2QG
Thursday 22 November - 1.30 - 5.30
Sponsored by Savills, Clarke Willmott and First Step Homes

With a recently appointed National Housing Advisor and a new policy document on rural housing being debated there could not be a better time for the CLA to engage with its members to highlight the opportunities that already exist and to seek your views on how the system might be changed for the better. 

In order to win success in our lobbying, we need to understand the real and practical issues confronting land owners when they seek to meet the challenge of housing provisions but this seminar will also enable us to present advice on how best to achieve business and personal objectives within the current political and regulatory regimes.

2.00pm          Chairman’s welcome and Introduction

                        Charles Hignett, CLA Somerset Branch Chairman

2.10pm          CLA’s Rural Housing Agenda
                        Danielle Troop, CLA Housing Adviser

Outline of the political background to the rural housing agenda and the CLA’s policy objectives.

2.30pm          Overcoming the Obstacles
                        Jo Lavis, Rural Housing Solutions

Obstacles in the system and how landowners negotiate the tricky path around them

2.50pm          The Poundbury Experience
                        Simon Conibear, Duchy of Cornwall

A practical case study of how a major landowner has delivered a major housing development in their own right

3.10pm          Planning the Right Approach

                        Savills – Justin Lascelles

Mervyn Jones, Savills Housing Consultancy Group & member of the CLA Housing working group

                        Dealing with the planning system for successful project fruition

3.30pm          Tea

4.00pm          First Steps for Landowners and Buyers

                        Martin Page, Land Director, First Step Homes

Partnerships between landowners with small to medium scale potential and
housing delivery through fully commercial models

4.30pm          Legal Challenges

                        Clarke Willmott – Tim Walker

Outline of the key legal issues to be addressed with any rural housing development.

4.50pm          Charity Begins at Home

                        Ian Bell, Director, The Addington Fund

Charitable delivery of rural housing and the importance of the landowner’s capacity to assist delivery

                                                               

5.10pm          Q&A and Panel Discussion

5.30pm          Close

To book call 01249 700200 or email han.morrison@cla.org.uk or www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents

Devon Show Debate will Explore the Questions for the Countryside. With food and farming bubbling up the political agenda, visitors to next week’s Devon County Show will be able to ask some of the best brains in the business what they think are the questions confronting the countryside. “Questions for the Countryside” is the title of the CLA breakfast-time debate on the first day of the Devon Show (Thursday May 17) when CLA national president, Harry Cotterell, will lead a team of panellists which includes Countryfile’s Adam Henson, Julie Girling MEP, Tony Richardson, South West Director of the RSPB and David Fursdon, head of the South West Rural and Farming Network. The event is being held in conjunction with the show organisers and will take the form of an “Question Time” style discussion. CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says he’s looking forward to a lively exchange on the key issues facing the countryside. “Reform to the CAP is certain to feature among the questions – but we’ll want to explore what is to become of the CAP beyond its 2014 reform - and whether this is the beginning of the end of a European wide subsidy regime? “I’m sure the weather won’t be too far from people’s thoughts and, although we have endured record rainfall over the past few weeks, floods and swamped fields still don’t appear to be enough to prevent the annual headache of water shortages. Perhaps the panel will be challenged to give their ideas on who should be doing what to solve the problem of water shortages.” Mr Mortimer said Devon audiences could usually be relied on to set the panel some tough questions but, he added, the level of expertise and experience among the panellists meant they should be more than capable of fielding a few fast balls. Devon Show Secretary, Ollie Allen, said: Agricultural shows offer an ideal platform for people involved in the industry – politically or practically - to talk about the really important issues of the day. The Show and the CLA have a long track record of working together and we both want to offer people the chance to hear about the issues from those involved the sharp end.” Admission to the event, which is sponsored by Michelmores and Knight Frank, is by ticket only and these are available to members of the CLA and their guests or to members of the DCAA. To apply for a ticket contact the CLA on 01249 700200

CLA urges South West farmers to reveal their good work

The CLA is urging farmers across the South West to stop hiding their light behind a bush and reveal how they are voluntarily protecting and enhancing the wildlife, soil and water - by completing the annual survey for the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.

The Association says it is vitally important for the farming industry to come forward with the evidence before the CFE initiative is reviewed by the Government.

The CLA is asking all of its members who receive the Survey, which has just been sent to 5,500 randomly selected farmers across England, to make every acre of voluntary management count.

CLA South West surveyor, Graham Clark, said: “Farmers undertake a great deal of voluntary environmental management through agri-environment schemes such as ELS and HLS - but this is usually unpaid and often unrecognised. Unless the industry can demonstrate that existing practices sufficiently benefit the environment, legislation may still be introduced adding further to the burden of red tape already suffocating the industry.

“South West farmers have plenty to be proud of, so please don’t keep your good work to yourself.”

For further information on CFE see http://www.cla.org.uk/Policy_Work/Campaign_for_the_farmed_environment/

CLA calls on the Government to follow up its pledge to ‘free-up’ farming

A Government pledge to free-up farming by slashing red tape will blow a breath of fresh air through the industry – according to the CLA, the Country Land and Business Association.

The comments follow the publication of the Government’s response to the report of the Farming Regulation Task Force – which was led by Richard Macdonald – and Farming Minister Jim Paice’s promise to follow the recommendations through and get on with the job of ridding the industry of red tape.

CLA South West Director, John Mortimer said: "Knocking down the barriers to economic growth in rural areas is essential if rural businesses are to play their part in delivering sustainable development.

“We are clear that cutting the mountains of paperwork and recognising the importance of online communications are key to winning the war on red tape, so we are pleased to see that Defra has made getting farmers online a top priority - but we remain to be convinced that the Government’s current plans will actually meet the needs of the 10 percent of rural communities who will not have access to superfast broadband.”

The CLA has also given an enthusiastic reception to proposals which will see regulators rewarding landowners for taking steps to maintain high farming and environmental standards with a much-needed reduction in red tape, inspections and form-filling – the so called "earned recognition."

The Task Force had, he said, been very effective in listening to land-based businesses and conveying their frustrations and concerns to Ministers – the challenge now was for the Government to ensure those recommendations were implemented quickly.

“It will require a change in attitude to farm businesses. This is about enabling land-based businesses to get on with their job and to do it as efficiently and effectively as we know they can – without the threat of a big stick.”


For further information and interviews please contact:
Paul Millard CLA South West Communications Manager on 01380 830179 or 07831 674345

For further information on the CLA please go to www.cla.org.uk

CLA Seminar Pulls in Leading Specialists on Public Access

Somerset will be the focal point for a major seminar on public access next month when three of the leading specialists in the field will come together to provide an analysis of the key issues confronting all those involved in the debate on the future of public access to land.

The seminar, which is being organised by the South West Region of the Country Land and Business Association in conjunction with lawyers, Dyne Drewett, will consider opportunities for improvements to access in the future as well as the problems of the present. The speakers will be Sarah Slade, a Chartered Surveyor and the CLA‘s National Access Adviser; Dr Karen Jones, a Barrister with Tanfield Chambers and former head of the CLA legal department and Jonathan Cheal, a solicitor and partner with Dyne Drewett who is a leading rights of way lawyer.

CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says access issues affect every county across the South West – but Somerset had been chosen as a venue for the event because it offered clear examples of the difficulties confronting land owners and managers as well as the difficulties confronting those charged with managing public access.

Somerset, he said, also provides a good example of one of the key issues the speakers will be discussing – which is what land owners should do when applications are made to re-establish rights of way across their land. Mr Mortimer said that Somerset County Council’s Rights of Way Department had received more than 200 applications for unrecorded rights of way to be included on its Definitive Map; many of which had been incorrectly submitted because insufficient efforts were made to contact the owners of the land affected.

Coastal Access, with its questions on spreading room and liability; the need for reforms to the Animals Act plus controversial legislation relating to village greens were, he said all presenting challenges for land owners and managers. At the same time, Government proposals for improving rights of way based on the Stepping Forward report were being developed - which meant that the policy agenda was also changing.

“Public access continues to raise issues which landowners must ensure they understand and they must also be certain that appropriate measures are in place to enable them to manage access successfully on their land. But if we really want to make our rights of way fit for 21st Century - rather than the 19th Century - then we need to move away from the premise of increasing the amount of access at whatever cost and we need instead to look at improving what is already there.”

The three speakers are leading figures in the access debate and bring a wealth of knowledge, specialism and practical experience to the table. The event is being held at Holbrook House, Wincanton, Somerset, on Tuesday 27 March 4pm-7pm and the cost is £17 for CLA members and £30 for non-members.

Places can be reserved by calling the CLA regional office on 01249 700200; by emailing sarah.fern@cla.org.uk ; or by going to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents