permaculture

["Graham Burnett" <grahamburnett@blueyonder.co.uk>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Affinity" <affinity@stewardwood.org>
To: <affinity@stewardwood.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 12:46 PM
Subject: Steward Community Woodland gains planning permission!!


> Great news -  the Planning Inspectorate have given us 5 year temporary
permission.
> The press release follows, the full decision text can be seen on our
website - www.stewardwood.org
> Thankyou to everyone who has helped us, in letter writing and other ways,
especially to Simon Fairlie and Chapter 7.
>
> Come and celebrate at our campfire music night next week (Tuesday 20th,
7pm onwards, bring instruments and voices and cabaret acts!).  Some food and
drink is provided, for donations, bring more if you like (vegan please). See
you there? If you need  to stay, please check first as we now have lots of
planning conditions...
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>
> NEWS RELEASE
>
> 14-08-2002
>
> Sustainable Woodland Community gains planning permission
>
> Today the inhabitants of Steward Community Woodland received a 5 year
temporary planning permission to continue their sustainable woodland living
project.
> This decision comes as the culmination of two years of planning
applications and appeals to the Dartmoor National Park Authority and the
Planning Inspectorate.
> The permission means that the 7 benders and assorted communal structures
(bikeshed, longhouse, kitchen, workshop) are now safe, and that the
community now have a five year period to further develop the project and
achieve their aims.
> The permission has been granted subject to various conditions to safeguard
the low impact nature of the project, and the Dartmoor National Park
Authority will have the chance to annually assess the group's progress.
>
> Pete Cow, a member of the community, comments:
> "We are overjoyed by this far sighted decision, which shows that the
Planning Inspectorate recognises the importance of our project, and fully
supports  what we are doing here.
> We knew it would be a struggle to get planning permission under the
present planning system as it makes no systematic allowances for low impact
developments of this kind.  We are delighted to finally get a positive
result after all our hard work.
> It is heartening to see the Inspectorate referring to the Rio Declaration,
Agenda 21 and the Government's commitments to supporting sustainable
practice.
> The planning conditions attached to this permission will ensure that this
project remains sustainable and continues to have a positive impact on the
local ecology and the surrounding community."
>
> Notes to editors:
>
> 1.  For interviews phone 01647 440233 or 07980 155194
>
> 2.  For the full text of the decision visit our website at
www.stewardwood.org
>
> 3.  The attached planning conditions are summerised as follows:
>
> >The permission lapses at the end of five years.
> >No petrol or diesel generators to be used on site.
> >No more than three resident's vehicles on site.
> >No more than ten visitor's vehicles on site.
> >No new caravan, mobile home, vehicle, building, structure or tent to be
brought onto the site, positioned or erected without the written approval of
the DNPA.
> >The present structures cannot be moved without the written permission of
the DNPA.
> >A written report to be submitted to the DNPA on the 1st April every year
detailing the activities carried out in compliance with the Business Plan,
the Management and Biodiersity Action Plan, and criteria for sustainable
development.
>
> 4.  Project background -
> Steward Community Woodland was set up in April 2000 as a permaculture
based sustainable living project, integrating conservation woodland
management, organic growing and low impact living.  We aim to encourage and
enable environmental awareness and solutions by providing examples of
sustainable land use and appropriate technologies.
> We live in canvas and wood structures on the side of the Wray valley one
mile south of Moretonhampstead.  Steward Wood is a 32 acre plantation
consisting mostly of Japanese Larch, Scots' Pine and Ash.  There are
presently six of us living here, with a 5 month old baby. For more
information see our website.
>
>
> --
> Affinity <affinity@stewardwood.org>
>
>