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Crispin Truman to step down as CPRE chief executive in autumn
It has been announced that Crispin Truman will be stepping down as CEO of CPRE, the countryside charity, at the end of September.
In his five years leading CPRE, Mr Truman has done much to change the charity’s position to become a positive voice for the countryside, extended its political network and overseen a series of campaign and media successes.
He has also put volunteering at the heart of the organisation and created new resources and services to support and strengthen the work of CPRE’s local groups.
Mr Truman said: “It has been a privilege to lead CPRE, the countryside charity.
After five years, I have decided it is time to move on to pastures new. I joined CPRE because it brings together such a broad range of people with a shared passion for the countryside and local, public space.
“I’ve enjoyed working with a fantastic team of highly skilled and committed staff and volunteers who have, together, renewed the charity’s positive purpose and achieved a transformation of the charity’s messaging.
“CPRE, the countryside charity, has become an attractive, solutions-focused campaign for people’s enjoyment of the countryside and the huge value that brings to well-being, climate, nature and landscape.
“I have lots of plans for what’s next, so please stay in touch and watch this space. I look forward to seeing CPRE go from strength to strength”.
Simon Murray, chair of CPRE’s board of trustees, said: “Crispin has been a tireless campaigner for CPRE and has championed the charity’s positive vision for the future of the countryside and rural communities and I thank him warmly.
“He has steered the organisation through a review of purpose, launched our six-year strategy and continued CPRE’s long tradition of successful campaigning for the countryside.”
CPRE trustees are putting in place arrangements for an interim chief executive while a permanent replacement is sought.
All at CPRE Kent would like to wish Mr Truman the best for the future.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
- A number of important documents have yet to emerge. For example, a rigorous transport plan and a finalised air-quality assessment. The latter is critical given that allocations at Teynham will feed extra traffic into AQMAs.
- There seems to be no coherent plan for infrastructure delivery – a key component of the plan given the allocations being proposed near the already crowded Junction 7.
- There seems to have been little or no cooperation with neighbouring boroughs or even parish councils within Swale itself.
The removal of a second consultation might have been understandable if this final version of the plan were similar to that being talked about at the beginning of the consultation process. It is, however, radically different in the following ways:
- There has been a major shift in the balance of housing allocations, away from the west of the borough over to the east, especially around the historic town of Faversham. This is a move that raises many concerns.
- A new large allocation, with accompanying A2 bypass, has appeared around Teynham and Lynsted, to which we are objecting.
- Housing allocations in the AONB around Neames Forstal that were judged “unsuitable” by the council’s own officers have now appeared as part of the housing numbers.
- Most of the housing allocations being proposed are on greenfield sites, many of them on Grade 1 agricultural land – a point to which we are strongly objecting.
Concerns about the rush to submit the plan
The haste with which the plan is being prepared is especially worrying given the concentration of housing in Faversham. If the town is to take a large amount of new housing, it is imperative that the policies concerning the area are carefully worked out to preserve, as far as possible, the unique nature of the town. The rush to submit the plan is likely to prove detrimental.
As Swale does not have a five-year land housing supply, it is open to speculative development proposals, many of which would run counter to the ideas contained in the current plan. Some are already appearing. This is a common situation, and one that, doubtless, is a reason behind Swale’s haste.
Our overriding fear, however, is that this emphasis on haste is ultimately going to prove counterproductive. This is because it is our view that the plan, in its current form, is unlikely to pass independent examination. We are urging Swale to listen to and act upon the comments being made about the plan and to return the plan to the council with appropriate modifications before submitting it to the Secretary of State.
Essentially, this means treating the current consultation not as the final one but as the ‘lost’ second consultation.
The consultation ends on Friday 30 April and we strongly urge residents to make their opinions known if they have not already done so.
Further information
