Protecting farm land is vital

1. Population. In recent decades, Governments (and politicians) have failed the British people and the country. The security and the economic and social well-being of our country is now under threat from over-population. Our imports of food, fuel, raw materials and other goods far exceed our exports. Our water and energy supplies are barely able to meet present demand. We cannot meet our targets on carbon emissions, land-fill sites are at a premium and at peak times there is traffic chaos on our roads. More and more houses is not the answer to these problems. At local level, I would recognise that there is some demand for housing, and in particular, both social and affordable housing. However, the demand for so many houses in the area has been exaggerated.

2. Food security. Food security is important to us all and because of population growth it will become increasingly a problem for everyone. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), fails to highlight or mention the need for food security. Yet one of the main functions of Government is to provide security.

Land on this planet is finite. Large areas are experiencing water stress. Other areas are experiencing climate changes where floods, storms, heatwaves and droughts are becoming more common and disastrous. In previously under-developed countries, diets and eating habits are changing.

No longer are these peoples satisfied with their old, traditional diets. They will demand meat and other food products which will create other problems along the food supply chain. Our farmland provides us with food security. Politicians, planners, inspectors, developers and everyone else have a duty and a responsibility to protect our farmland for present and future generations. It is our children’s and grandchildren’s heritage.

3. European Union. The present Government has promised the country a referendum on EU membership. The latest opinion polls show a slight majority in favour of leaving the EU. Should this be the case, then the Common Agricultural Policy would become non-applicable to the UK. A consequence of this could be an urgent need to grow and develop our farming, market-gardening and horticultural industries. At this uncertain time we need to protect and maintain all our available farmland.

4. Local observations. In recent years, here in Warwickshire, we have lost much farmland to infra-structure, e.g. M40 and M42. We will lose more good farmland with the construction of the new HS2 rail line. The cumulative affect of this land loss has to be recognised, as does the district’s good past record in house building.

In our own council area we have two significant agricultural institutions. At Stoneleigh we have the National Agricultural Centre. At Warwickshire College, with its centre at Moreton Morrell, we have one of the finest agricultural teaching establishments in the country. What message would be sending out to these institutions if their very own local council, or planning inspector, approved plans to concrete over large areas of prime agricultural land ?

5. Conclusion. In planning applications recently submitted it states: “The need for this development proposal and the benefits of it outweighs the loss of the agricultural land.” To me, nothing could be further from the truth. I reject the statement, just as I reject the Local Plan, for all those reasons outlined above. Our farmland provides us with food security and never, never must that be compromised.

Stephen Perks, Via email.