Archived News August 2004 Protest over 'bypass frustration' Aug 30th Villagers in Cumbria have staged a protest to voice their frustration about the construction of a bypass first proposed 30 years ago. Plans for village shop approved Aug 29th Villagers in Urchfont receive planning permission to open a shop and post office in an old garage at the local inn. British in Love with Countryside Aug 29th The British see the countryside as a 'vital counterbalance to the stresses of their daily life', and they want the Government to do more to protect it, new research has shown. Ponies Key to Upland Conservation Aug 28th Britain's native ponies could provide the answer to conservation in upland areas because of their selective grazing tendencies and resilience to harsh, exposed conditions Owner fined for demolishing pub Aug 27th A developer who illegally demolished a 200-year-old village pub in Bedfordshire has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 in fines and costs. Three more Beacons in the Market Towns Initiative Aug 26th Three more market towns have been selected as national 'beacons' to show how England's rural towns can provide more jobs, housing and services for their residents and communities in the surrounding rural areas NFU Countryside 2004 Awards For Excellence Aug 25th Finalists have now been short-listed for the NFU Countryside 2004 Awards for Excellence, which takes place on Tuesday 28th September at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire to celebrate the English countryside at a time when many issues threaten the future of rural life. Plans for rural development Aug 24th New European proposals for driving rural development have been welcomed by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael. Welsh club makes a name for itself at Lords Aug 23rd From the 492 villages who entered the npower Village Cup competition in April, Exhall & Wixford, two small neighbouring villages from just outside Stratford upon Avon and Sully Centurions from the Vale of Glamorgan provided an exciting Final with some superb action at the home of cricket, Lord’s on Sunday 22 August You can help protect our hedgerows Aug 22nd Hedgerows and dry stone walls give beauty and character to rural landscapes and are valuable habitats for wildlife Village green for Olympic legend Aug 21st Villagers commemorate the country's first Olympic gold medallist with a special playing field. Rough ride for rogue bikers Aug 17th A campaign to stamp out harmful and illegal motorbiking on fells and pathways is about to be launched in trouble spots areas of the Lake District. Villagers in a spin over turbines Aug 16th People living at Ketton, in Rutland, are protesting at plans to erect two wind turbines near their homes. Windfarm Planning Rules Relaxed Aug 15th The Government's PPS22 sets out Government's planning policies for renewable energy, and effectively further opens the door to windfarm developments across the country. Craft Skills Receive Lottery Funding Aug 14th Traditional heritage skills will be given a boost in the form of a £4 million bursary from the Heritage Lottery Fund, it was announced today. Climate Strategy 'Seriously Off Course' Aug 13th A senior group of MPs has revealed how flawed the Government's climate change strategy is, pointing out its emissions targets look increasingly unrealistic Farmers not going to market Aug 12th The price of farmland is continuing to rise as demand outstrips supply, reveals the latest rural land survey published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Rural design for 21st century Aug 11th The English country house will have a modernist look in the future, and gone will be the permission for pseudo Georgian or Tudor architecture to be erected. Local heritage should be valued Aug 8th CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), Heritage Link and the National Trust, calls for greater recognition of, and protection for, the heritage that is all around us and is in real danger of neglect. Villagers save 100-year-old shop Aug 8th A North Yorkshire village store has been saved by residents who have decided to run the business. Police officer scarecrow stolen Aug 7th A scarecrow which has been helping to stop drivers speed through a County Durham village is stolen. Is your cricket ground attractive? Aug 5th Maybe your local cricket ground is enchanting, or perhaps you remember seeing a lovely ground whilst on holiday? Either way the organisers of the competition would like to hear from you and your nomination could be getting a visit from The Wisden Cricketer. Villagers mourns loss of church Aug 4th An East Sussex village which has lost its only shop, post office and school looks set to lose its church as well. Villages bid to be best in county Aug 3rd A touring panel of judges has begun considering entries in the 2004 Dorset Village of the Year Competition. Rural council tax levels 'unfair' Aug 2nd Rural dwellers in England are increasingly paying more council tax than city residents, but receiving fewer services, according to a report. Crafty sheep conquer cattle grids Aug 1st Hungry sheep on the Yorkshire moors have taught themselves to roll 8ft (3m) across hoof-proof metal cattle grids - and raid villagers' valley gardens. Village aims to force bin rethink Aug 1st Villagers in one of the region's beauty spots have gathered 3,000 signatures on a petition aiming to retain public toilets and rubbish skips.