Richard Foord MP gives cautious welcome to landscape protection response
Richard Foord has been working with the Campaign to Protect National Parks. This followed rumours in October that the Government was considering weakening protections for National Parks and National Landscapes, which led the Campaign to send a letter to the Prime Minister, signed by over 200 organisations.
Richard Foord said: “I feel very strongly about National Landscapes. Much of the beautiful area that we live in, falls into either the East Devon or Blackdown Hills National Landscape.”
The East Devon National Landscape skirts Sidmouth, Seaton, Colyton and Beer, while Axminster and Honiton are settlements at the southern end of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape. Many villages in the Honiton & Sidmouth constituency also fall into these two protected areas.
Mr Foord continued: “These important designations, put in place decades ago, mean that planning rules here are more restricted, in order to preserve the exceptional beauty of our coastline and countryside.
“It was alarming to think that ministers might be considering weakening protections for our beautiful surroundings, and I know that many local people shared my concern.”
Mr Foord submitted two written parliamentary questions on the subject over the last few weeks. The first written answer received in November sounded alarm bells, given its ambiguity.
Following Mr Foord’s second written question, a new response arrived on 4 December and appeared to be more reassuring.
Mary Creagh, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature, replied to Mr Foord: “Whilst the Government does not intend to repeal the duty, we acknowledge that decision makers may need support in applying the duty appropriately.
“The department has already published guidance on the Protected Landscapes duty to ensure public bodies operating in these areas deliver better environmental outcomes working together with Protected Landscape organisations”
Mr Foord added: “Like the Campaign for National Parks team, I will remain on alert and will continue to keep a close eye on these protections.”