“Luton Airport has asked its owner, Luton Borough Council(LBC), for permission to increase passenger numbers and to relax conditions, that the airport has not achieved, limiting on aircraft noise.  If you do not want more aircraft noise or think that we should all fly less, please take a look at our response and join us in asking LBC to say no”.

The closing date for comments to Luton Council is 17^th February.

21/00031/VARCON | Variation of Conditions 8 (passenger throughput cap), 10 (noise contours), 22 (car parking management), 24 (travel plan) and 28 (approved plans and documents) to Planning Permission 15/00950/VARCON (dated 13th October 2017) to accommodate 19 million passengers per annum and to amend the day and night noise contours. | London Luton Airport Airport Way Luton

I remember a light bulb moment a few years ago when my children were younger; “Keep out of reach of children” was the warning on the laundry detergent. So, if it is not great for our children why are we washing the clothes they are going to wear in it and then sending the rinsed water down the drain to the rivers and the sea?

We have responded to a consultation on the Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy.   We support strongly this initiative as a start on the vital task of combatting climate change and meeting the legal requirement for the UK to be carbon net neutral by 2050. In our response we have set out our view on the additional measures that must be taken.

Our response can be downloaded from this post.”

Attached to this post is a pdf file of an email that we sent to Dacorum Councillors and County Councillors regarding the DLP

CPRE Hertfordshire welcomed Welwyn Hatfield Borough’s recent consultation on its proposed Climate Change Strategy as a positive step.  But we believe it needs to go much further.  A credible carbon reduction strategy needs to aim for net zero emissions as soon as possible.  It should value the countryside and be aligned with a land use planning and transport strategy that emphasises regeneration, walkable neighbourhoods, low car dependency and traffic reduction.  We would like the strategy to more clearly acknowledge the valuable role of the countryside as a carbon sequester, which aligns with other biodiversity goals.  The countryside must not be seen simply as a convenient repository for excess housing demand

Download our full consultation response here.

Our CPRE Hertfordshire Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups who have worked to protect, promote and enhance the Hertfordshire countryside for the benefit of their local communities and the environment.

When did you last see the Milky Way, that pale band which appears to arch across the night sky, formed from many billions of stars which make up our own galaxy?
Our view of the stars is a source of infinite amazement for scientists and casual observers alike. Once again this year CPRE is asking people from all across the country to become citizen scientists and join in with its Star Count. Choose a clear night between February 6th and 14th, look up at the constellation of Orion and let CPRE know how many stars you can spot.

Proposed Dacorum Local Plan has unnecessarily high impact on the Green Belt

We need to protect our countryside from inappropriate development and ensure that it is managed efficiently for the benefit of all of us.

Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) is currently holding a public consultation on their proposed Local Plan, titled “Emerging Strategy for Growth 2020 – 2038”.  If adopted, this plan will result in the destruction of 850 hectares of Hertfordshire Green Belt land and countryside for development, including a minimum of 16,596 new dwellings. CPRE Hertfordshire believes that the calculation of housing numbers is too high and that opportunities to recycle land that has already been developed have not been fully considered.

Our concerns are set out in detail in the attached document “CPRE Herts review of DBC Local Plan” and an overall assessment on the impact to the Green Belt is summarized in “CPRE Herts Impact Assessment – Dacorum Local Plan”.

We would encourage you to review this material and use it to help develop your response to the local plan. Your views need to be submitted by Sunday 28^th February using one of the following;

• An online and downloadable questionnaire https://consult.dacorum.gov.uk/kse
• By post to:  Strategic Planning, Dacorum Borough Council. The Forum, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. HP1 1DN
• By email to:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Peter Waine, Honorary Vice President of CPRE Hertfordshire and former National Chairman of CPRE, has written a new book "As I Go A Wandering".  Peter lives locally and his charming book features his prose, poetry and paintings about the local walks from his doorstep.  He urges readers to get outdoors and discover the countryside right around the corner from where they live.  And we're delighted that Peter's book helps to publicise CPRE's ongoing work to protect, promote and enhance the Hertfordshire countryside for everyone to enjoy.  "As I Go A Wandering" makes an ideal Christmas gift and is available to buy (£9.99 regular retail price) from bookstores and online.