IT was encouraging to see Michael Gove advocating ‘protecting the environment’ on the Andrew Marr show on Sunday. The Secretary Of State For Environment, who believes in stronger environmental protection post-Brexit, says he wants to see more trees (good for the environment and for people), telling viewers the Government aims to plant 11 million in the next few years. He also wants to protect and enhance wildlife habitats to allow endangered species to “return in healthy numbers”.
The importance of British agriculture in a post-Brexit economy was also discussed, as was the Government’s commitment to taking action to cut air pollution. What we need is “clean air action” (not words), insisted Mr Gove.
All good stuff! So what part can Wiltshire Council play to support this positive agenda for the future? For a start, now might be a good time to update its policy on trees, currently one of not replacing them in its parks and green spaces across the county. A more enlightened policy could enable it to contribute significantly to the Government’s target, restore the quality of its parks and grounds, and engage more effectively in national initiatives such as the WW1 Commemorative Tree Planting Project by allowing people to plant trees on its land.
The council might also think about revising some of its planning policies, to help conserve habitats and prevent the loss of our best quality farmland. Policies that result in proposed development sites such as Rawlings Farm (containing some of the highest quality agricultural land, and located along a natural river and wildlife corridor) will achieve the opposite, as well as adding to air pollution (already high) in and around the town centre. Hardly a good policy outcome and hardly consistent with the Government’s and Mr Gove’s aspirations.
NICK MURRY
Wiltshire councillor
Chippenham Monkton