Plans for a Commons Bill were included in the government s legislative programme for the Parliamentary year 2004-05 (Queen's Speech). The Bill would be aimed at modernizing the management of common land, and enhancing the degree of protection given to it.
Source: House of Lords Hansard, Queen's Speech 23 November 2004, columns 1-4, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 25 November 2004, columns 246-330, TSO
Links: Text of Speech | Lords Hansard | Commons Hansard
Date: 2004-Nov
An Act was passed to ban hunting with hounds in England and Wales from February 2005. The Parliament Act was invoked to force the measure through against the opposition of the House of Lords.
Source: Hunting Act 2004, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | Explanatory notes | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Nov
A report examined the key issues affecting rural older people in Northern Ireland living in poverty, and sought to ascertain the level and type of contact between rural voluntary and community groups and older people living in rural communities.
Source: Ageing and Rural Poverty, Rural Community Network (NI) (028 8676 6670)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Oct
A report said that the English National Parks Sustainable Development Fund (a fund helping individuals, community groups, and businesses in England's National Parks) had succeeded in its objectives during its first 18 months.
Source: Richard Clarke (with Marija Anteric, David Mount and Julian Clark), Evaluation of the National Parks Sustainable Development Fund, Centre for European Protected Area Research/University of London (020 7679 1043)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Case studies (pdf) | Defra press release
Date: 2004-Oct
A Bill to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales was given a second reading. (The Bill was identical to the one given a third reading in July 2003, but on which the House of Lords did not complete its proceedings before the end of the previous parliamentary session.)
Source: Hunting Bill, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 15 September 2004, columns 1324-1420, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Hansard | DEFRA press release
Date: 2004-Sep
An article examined the involvement of local communities in rural regeneration and area development partnerships. It concluded that, although there were some commonalities between such involvement across urban and rural communities, there were also challenges particular to rural areas. These challenges could only be met effectively where there was a strong local voluntary and community sector infrastructure to support community involvement.
Source: Stephen Osborne, Arthur Williamson and Rona Beattie, 'Community involvement in rural regeneration partnerships: exploring the rural dimension', Local Government Studies, Volume 30 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Sep
Walkers and ramblers gained access to the first areas of countryside designated for open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Source: Press release 19 September 2004, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (020 7238 6000)
Links: DEFRA press release | Observer report
Date: 2004-Sep
The government issued revised planning guidelines for rural areas, including country towns and villages and the wider, largely undeveloped countryside up to the fringes of larger urban areas.
Source: Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Link removed
Date: 2004-Aug
The government announced new local authority planning guidance for renewable energy sources. Planning permission for wind farms and other renewable sources, including projects inside national parks, would be made easier to obtain. Countryside campaigners said the guidance 'seriously downplayed the inevitable negative effects on landscape and the wider countryside'.
Source: Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236) | Press release 9 August 2004, Campaign to Protect Rural England (020 7981 2800)
Links: Guidance (pdf) | ODPM press release | CPRE press release | Green Alliance press release | FOE press release
Date: 2004-Aug
The government announced a rural strategy for England, setting a framework for rural policy for the rest of the decade. The strategy reflected three key priorities: social and economic regeneration - supporting enterprise across rural areas, but targeting greater resources at areas of greatest need; social justice for all - tackling social exclusion wherever it occurred, and providing fair access to services and opportunities for all rural people; and enhancing the value of the countryside - protecting the natural environment for current and future generations. Three rural quangos would be merged, including English Nature, in a new independent body.
Source: Rural Strategy 2004, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 21 July 2004, columns 329-342, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Hansard | DEFRA press release | LGA press release | Countryside Agency press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jul
A report said that the government s plans to devolve decision-making and delivery of programmes closer to the ground makes rural proofing at a local level critical to the well-being of England s rural communities and businesses.
Source: Rural Proofing in 2003/2004: Report to government, Countryside Agency (0870 120 6466)
Links: Report (Word file) | Summary (Word file) | Countryside Agency press release
Date: 2004-Jul
A report said that the majority of rural areas were relatively economically successful, although there was economic weakness and associated social deprivation in a minority of rural areas. Despite pressures on the countryside, it remained a rich resource, valued by residents and visitors for fine landscapes, biodiversity and open space, contributing to enjoyment, general well-being, education and health.
Source: The State of the Countryside 2004, Countryside Agency (0870 120 6466)
Links: Report (pdf links) | Summary (pdf) | Defra press release | Countryside Agency press release | CPRE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jun
The government said that there was more green belt land in England than ever before. Between 1997 and 2003, 25,000 hectares of green belt had been created, with a further 12,000 hectares due to be announced in local authority plans.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 29 March 2004, column 73WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | ODPM press release (1) | ODPM press release (2)
Date: 2004-Mar
The report was published of a review of the 2000 Rural White Paper. The review was commissioned to assess progress, see whether objectives needed refreshing in the light of wider changes to the government's agenda, and look for ways to accelerate delivery. The review found some major successes resulting from the original White Paper: but also that its objectives had proved difficult to quantify, and that there was a lack of prioritisation between objectives.
Source: Review of the Rural White Paper - Our countryside: The future, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Annexes (pdf) | Review (pdf links) | DEFRA press release | ACRE press release | Countryside Agency press release
Date: 2004-Jan
A report presented the findings of an analysis of 2001 Census and other information regarding some social and economic characteristics of rural areas in England.
Source: Rural Evidence Research Centre/University of London, Social and Economic Change and Diversity in Rural England, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000)
Links: Report (pdf) | DEFRA press release
Date: 2004-Jan