Shropshire beauty spot 'under seige' from Government policy

A SHROPSHIRE BEAUTY spot was today named on a list of protected sites in England which countryside campaigners claim are "under siege" due to Government policy.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has said nuclear plants, motorways and airport runways could encroach into areas of outstanding natural beauty if the Government's Localism Bill becomes law.

The Shropshire Hills AONB, which extends from the Wrekin to the Clun Forest and from the Stiperstones to the Clee Hills, is one of 38 such areas in Britain.

It comes as campaigners fight controversial plans which may see hundreds of pylons built in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

On Thursday Ian Kilby of Shropshire Council's planning department will address a meeting of Loton and Tern Local Joint Committee at Montford Parish Hall, near Shrewsbury, in response to the proposals to link planned windfarms in Powys to the National Grid.

CPRE officials fear important planning restrictions will be removed by making councils argue why developments should not happen.

Currently the burden is on developers to make the case for building projects to go ahead.

Shaun Spiers, CPRE chief executive, said: "The 'growth at any cost' stance promoted by some in the Government places our countryside in enormous danger.

"CPRE believes the Government is risking an environmental disaster and many battles with communities, by putting the economic aims of the planning system ahead of its social and environmental purposes."

The claims have been described as "inaccurate and misleading" by Government officials. A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "Reform of the system is essential, but it won't be at the expense of the environment."

Phil Holden, Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership manager, said: "It is too early to say what could happen in Shropshire – there is perhaps potential for a greater threat."

No decision has yet been made on whether pylons or underground cables will be built to link the windfarms to the National Grid.

By Peter Kitchen