CPA News Archive: 2022
September 27th, 2022
CPA writes to Secretary of State
Following last week’s ‘mini budget’, we are extremely concerned about Government’s new direction of travel. Consultations and planning/environmental regulations have been presented as burdensome, with particular reference to the proposed Investment Zones and to the speeding up of the delivery of infrastructure. We have therefore written to Simon Clarke, MP, in his role as Secretary of state, setting out our concerns and seeking a meeting to discuss things further.
You can read our letter in full by clicking 'here'.
September 23rd, 2022
Guest Blog: Balancing development with the protection of sensitive wildlife
​Dr David W. Smith is an Ecologist, becoming increasingly well known as an independent ecology consultant to local authorities, developers and occasionally (if they can raise the funds) residents’ groups. David, who studied at UEA & Reading, has now risen to the position of Eastern Region Director of Ecological Planning and Research (EPR Ltd).
The Community Planning Alliance strives for an evidence-based approach to planning matters, based on solid facts. Noting the disquiet among most residents' groups around whether consultants paid by developers can ever be trusted to give truly impartial advice and evidence, we invited David to submit a guest blog.  This enables us to hear the view from the other side of the Planning Inquiry table.
David has a unique view to share. We hope this blog stimulates a debate amongst our supporters in the ongoing discussion on the impartiality and reliability of work by paid specialist consultants.
See what Dr Smith had to say here: communityplanningalliance.org/cpa-blog/guest-blog-balancing-development-with-the-protection-of-sensitive-wildlife
September 6th, 2022
CPA Webinar: 'Bioblitzing' - the whys and wherefores
This webinar, recorded on September 6th 2022, focused on how communities can undertake their own 'BioBlitz'. (An intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area.)
The webinar commenced with Lisa Phipps (Keep Nethercote Rural) sharing what she has learned about recording bird and wildlife sightings. Lisa covered a range of points, including the record centres, why recording is important and much more
Lisa was followed by Claire Baker and Sandra Fretwell-Smith (both from the Owlthorpe Fields Action Group), who shared their knowledge about planning and executing a community BioBlitz, including recording the data using iNaturalist and recording systems, identifying species and presenting results.
View the recording here: youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_XnRTP3YjpA
June 9th, 2022
CPA Webinar: Air Quality Targets - the Government's proposals
New Air Quality targets set out by the Government, for consultation until 27th June (2022), were discussed at our webinar on June 9th 2022. ​
The presentations were led by Delyth Dyne, Deputy Head Air Quality and Industrial Emissions at Defra, and Tim Dexter, Campaigns Manager, Asthma and Lung UK
Delyth leads DEFRA's work on National Air Quality Strategy, PM2.5 targets and the Air Quality Management Framework for Local Authorities. She outlined the background, telling us why these targets and timescale have been proposed
Tim focussed on the health impacts of poor air quality and advocated for more ambitious policies to tackle the health effects of toxic air
The recording is now available on our Youtube channel, here: youtube.com/watch?v=z5vfN6VwxrU&t=41s
May 26th, 2022
CPA Webinar: The new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill - a review
On May 26th 2022, Naomi Luhde-Thompson (Rights Community Action) and Hugh Ellis (TCPA) joined the Community Planning Alliance to provide a review of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which was due to have its second reading on June 8th (2022).
Naomi and Hugh talked about what is in the Bill, what is proposed for change in the current system, how local democracy is expected to be impacted, focusing especially on your Right to be Heard, what is due to change in terms of environmental protections and outcomes and more.
You can view the recording here: youtube.com/watch?v=NonNRYOgP8I