Archived News February 2003 Debate on GM food to start in May Feb 28th Members of the public will get the chance to have their say on genetically modified food in a nationwide debate during May, June and July. Gatwick plans give villagers hope Feb 28th Warwickshire residents of Kings Newnham and Church Lawford hope new airport proposals may now head south. Storm clouds gather over Gatwick Feb 27th CPRE say 'A missed opportunity to provide an air transport policy that protects the environment, reduces harm to communities and ends the aviation industry's massive unfair tax exemptions' Keepers Appeal to Reduce Raptors Feb 26th Scottish gamekeepers will ask the Scottish Executive this week to loosen strict protection laws for birds of prey, which thrive on the grouse moors. Villagers win bypass inquiry fight Feb 26th A public inquiry begins into plans to build a bypss around the village of Temple Sowerby on the A66 in Cumbria, one of the north of England's busiest roads in Cumbria. Energy futures shouldn't cost the countryside Feb 25th .. a positive step towards sustainable energy use in the UK but sadly lacking firm targets on energy efficiency Disobedience' threat by hunt lobby Feb 25th Crowds were gathering on Tuesday for what could be the last outing of one of the UK's oldest hare coursing events. Farmers 'feel more suicidal' Feb 25th British farmers are more than twice as likely to contemplate suicide compared with the general public, warn experts. Oak altarpiece returns to Suffolk church Feb 24th Britain’s largest surviving medieval altarpiece, the Thornham Parva Retable, has just returned to St Mary's church, Thornham Parval Suffolk . Brown egg layer wins royal support Feb 24th Feathers are being preened in many poultry houses at the news that HRH The Prince of Wales is to become patron of The Welsummer Club – and also patron of the Poultry Club of Great Britain, one of the late Queen Mother’s charities. Rural GPs await change Feb 23rd Doctors in rural areas of Scotland hope plans for a radical overhaul of contracts will see an end to 100-hour working weeks Funding for Cumbrian farm tourism Feb 22nd Cumbrian farmers who run tourism businesses, or would like to, can now get additional financial support and guidance. Fresh push for rural broadband Feb 21st Groups promoting regional economic growth have stepped up their efforts to bring broadband internet access to rural areas. Terriers Next in Anti-Hunt Deal Feb 21st Terrier working will be banned next week as part of a deal by rural affairs minister Alun Michael with back-bench MPs. Planned development angers residents Feb 20th Residents of Minety,a Wiltshire village, oppose a planned development of 34 houses on a school playing field. Controversial village bypass opens Feb 20th A village bypass along the A6 in Leicestershire is opened amid fears that it may cause congestion in Kibworth Harcourt, another village. Government listens to musicians over licensing Feb 19th Village, church and parish halls, and other community buildings will not need to pay for licences to provide entertainment Prescott promises affordable rural homes Feb 19th The deputy prime minister has promised that people looking for affordable homes in the Lake District will benefit from planned new investment. Life-saving aid for rural areas Feb 19th An army of volunteers, able to help heart attack victims by using vital defibrillators, are being organised to cover isolated rural areas. Minimum wage move for homeworkers Feb 18th Plans to change national minimum wage rules could benefit people who work at home. Evidence suggests some homeworkers earn less than the legal minimum. Locals Pick Up Tab for Pub Feb 18th Residents in Hesket Newmarket, a Cumbrian village, have united to prevent their local pub becoming part of a commercial chain, as CAMRA prepares to launch its national pubs awareness week. Kites are flying high Feb 18th Red kite makes triumphant return in England and Scotland but numbers decline elsewhere GP contract could be the injection needed for rural healthcare Feb 17th Expectations that rural medical practices could once again become financially viable are riding on the outcome of the new GP contract, to be announced later this week. A massive catch for Wales Feb 17th Environment Agency Wales and its partners have secured £5.2 million to give fishing activities in Wales a massive boost over the next three years. Farmers learn bar room computer skills Feb 17th Lobster Pot Inn in the village of Marloes in west Wales is doubling up as a classroom for farmers to learn new computer skills. Protest over village housing plan Feb 17th Protestors against a proposed housing development in Egglescliffe, a Teesside village, are urging more residents to object to the scheme. Drugs seized in village raid Feb 16th Police appeal for more information after tip-offs from the public lead to several drug seizures in Castle Donnington, Leicestershire. Prince visits pub and tea shop Feb 15th The Prince of Wales has been in East Keswick near Wetherby, Yorkshire to see an award-winning village and pay a visit to Betty's. Countryside should not be sacrificed in push for renewable energy Feb 14th Demanding targets for electricity generation from renewables mean we are likely to witness a flood of proposals for new energy projects Tides Hold Future of Renewable Energy Feb 14th Scientists say that marine current turbines could produce one sixth of the UK's electricity needs and are a more predictable source of energy than offshore windfarms. Britons urged to holiday at home Feb 14th The head of one of the UK's premier cultural guardians, the National Trust, wants more Britons to spend their holidays at home. Airport villages fear terror threats Feb 13th Many residents of villages around Heathrow have been left deeply worried by the sudden arrival of large numbers of police for anti-terror duties. Local authorities key role in reviving rural communities Feb 12th Addressing the Local Government Association (LGA) Rural Revival Conference Margaret Beckett said local authorities have a key role to play in creating a living, working and vibrant countryside. Road protest over waste plans Feb 12th Residents of Swinefleet, near Goole, an East Yorkshire village, are staging another protest on Tuesday against plans to build a waste recycling plant near their homes. 'Pill' for squirrels proves headache for experts Feb 12th An attempt to control the spread of grey squirrels using contraception has proved ineffective. Grave quest for publicans Feb 11th A ghost inhabiting a village pub in Somerset has given its new owners an unusual task. Life breathed into disused mill Feb 11th A novel idea by six farmers' wives turns a renovated mill in a north Wales village into a new business venture offering wedding services. No pause in UK property boom Feb 10th Britain's property boom has continued apace, a keenly watched market surveys has shown, with house prices soaring by one quarter over the past year. Village 'blighted' by asylum fears Feb 10th People living in Gainsborough, a Lincolnshire village, say they are being badly affected by uncertainty over plans for an asylum centre. Eco-friendly building has a living roof Feb 10th A £48,000 Rural Enterprise Scheme grant has helped fund an environmentally friendly community building in Calderdale, and has safeguarded up to eight part time jobs. Valentine birds need love nest boxes Feb 10th Put up a nest box and help a homeless bird – that is the message for National Nest Box Week that starts on St Valentine’s Day Police chief attacks rural funding Feb 9th The chief of Dyfed Powys Police accuses the government of channelling money away from rural forces to city-based police. Communities plan addresses need for affordable housing in rural areas Feb 8th The commitment to increase the supply of affordable housing in rural areas in the government's communities plan is welcomed by the Countryside Agency. New bird haven planned Feb 7th Proposals for a coastal bird haven at Weymarks in North Essex have been published for public comment by Defra £22 billion housing projectannounced Feb 6th Housing in England has received a massive multi-billion pound boost as a major part of the government's drive to tackle deprivation and the shortage of affordable housing 'Prescott's plans will destroy our village' Feb 6th Residents of Takeley in Essex say John Prescott's plans for thousands of new homes in the South East will destroy their village. Countryside campaigners reaction to the big plan Feb 6th 'The Government's enthusiasm for planning as a positive tool to shape our environment is welcome. But the implications for the countryside and public involvement of its centralising approach give serious cause for concern.' Half a million homes on greenfields in South East England? Feb 5th Countryside campaigners CPRE have grave concerns about the capacity of the countryside and local communities to absorb the growth A1 upgrade 'could cause rat-runs' Feb 5th There is concern that the proposed upgrading of the A1 north of Leeds could lead to more traffic in Boston Spa and the surrounding villages. Councils to get above-inflation rise in funding Feb 4th Local communities will benefit from a 5.9 per cent increase in local authority funding in 2003/04. LOCAL PRODUCTS IN PRACTICE Feb 4th The Foundation for Local Food Initiatives, are offering six practical training days during March and April for producers, advisors and local projects. No burial on farms – but alternative scheme in black hole Feb 4th The routine burial of animals that die on the farm is to be banned from 1 May 2003. Farming and veterinary organisations Cerys's chapel wedding date Feb 4th Showbiz, rock and pop icons are expected to travel to Trevine near Fishguard (a west Wales village) for the chapel wedding of singer Cerys Matthews and American Seth Riddle. Prince takes walk through village Feb 3rd The Prince of Wales is to take a walk through East Keswick a Leeds village on Friday 14 February. Cash boost for rural bus services Feb 3rd Cash awards of nearly £1.8m are made to improve rural bus services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Visiting bugs threaten British plants Feb 3rd Entomologists identified five new-to-Britain invertebrates in 2002.