The Crediton Community Conversation on the Land Use
Framework
Boniface Centre Saturday 23 March 2024
After welcome greetings by Liz Brookes-Hocking, Dave Harris and
Laura Conygham the guest speaker, Georgie Barber of the Food
and Farming Countryside Commission introduced the Land Use
Framework to the audience of
over fifty participants.
She explained the tensions that currently exist
when considering pieces of land - housing, food security,
energy, recreation, transport, health and wellbeing to name a
few! All within the challenges of the climate
and biodiversity crises. Georgie stated that for the UK
to overcome all the current (and future) needs our land mass
needs to be larger - perhaps we could add two extra Wales to
our shores? As this is not possible there has to be a
different way of looking at land use than the current system.
Hence the new Land Use Framework was devised and piloted in
Cambridgeshire and Devon - Crediton being one of
the Devonshire areas. The framework stresses that decisions
must be land-led and lead to effective, multi-functional and
efficient use of available land and encourage a holistic,
joined-up approach where all stakeholders are involved and all
voices heard. So the scene was set where Crediton's voices are
heard!
The morning was split into three topic areas: Place, People and
Public Value.
After inputs from Georgie on each area the audience split into
facilitated groups and after discussions produced their ideas
on flip chart sheets which were shared with the other
participants. So many excellent ideas and ways of thinking
were expressed. These included community-led social housing
and sustainable housing (in energy and size), local power for
local land planning, wildlife, biodiversity and health and
well-being, community owned farm and parkland, links with
education/rural and green skills to give just a flavour! Before we
voted on our three personal priorities we were asked to close
our eyes and imagine how things could be - not within the
boundaries of what has been before, where people feel powerless, -
but what could be: a very useful exercise for us all
...........
The ideas of the participants are going to be incorporated into
plans produced by the Town Council. I like to think by
having this very productive conversation we shall change the
way of looking at land and our model could be adopted by other
towns!
Thank you to all those involved in organising and assisting at the
event: the Town Council and staff and the Climate Action Team
(a branch of Sustainable Crediton).
For more information please email either the Town Council:
reception@crediton.gov.uk
or Sustainable Crediton: info@sustainablecrediton.org.uk