We urge local election candidates to stand up for the countryside

With the 2021 local elections coming up on 6 May, now is the time to ask those who aspire to be our councillors what they will do to protect the countryside if they are elected.

The beauty of Staffordshire’s countryside is a local treasure and is a shared resource for all, irrespective of ownership, ability or background. Our countryside provides a wide range of social, environmental and health benefits. This was never more evident than during the recent lockdowns when local green spaces became essential to our mental and physical wellbeing.

Our manifesto identifies four priority areas where county councillors can promote countryside solutions to the climate emergency, create a planning system that works for people, nature and the environment and protects the green belt, develop a comprehensive bus network for rural communities and urge central government to introduce an ‘all-in’ Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers.

There are 62 seats up for grabs on Staffordshire County Council, as well as elections for Police and Crime Commissioners.

There are also elections for the West Midlands Mayor. Our colleagues at CPRE West Midlands and CPRE Warwickshire have produced a leaflet for candidates standing in this election. They’ve also produced a more detailed briefing calling for an urgent review of green belt release and questioning the methodology that was used to calculate housing numbers.