County 'at risk' of losing tranquillity (From Dorset Echo)

County 'at risk' of losing tranquillity

12:04pm Monday 23rd October 2006 in

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Campaigners for the countryside say Dorset is destroying one of its most precious resources - tranquillity.

A new map produced by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) reveals parts of Weymouth and Dorchester are becoming as over-crowded and noisy as London.

The map says Dorset iscurrently the 13th most tranquil area in England.

But the CPRE warns that plans to build a Weymouth Relief Road along with tens of thousands of new homes could destroy the quality of life and physical health of people living here.

The findings are revealed in a new colour-coded 'national tranquillity map' which, the CPRE says, is one of the most important resources the countryside gives us.

Parts of Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester are shaded the least tranquil red, while much of the countryside around is green.

Terry Stuart, vice-chairman of Dorset CPRE, said: "What the map shows is that while Dorset is placed quite high up the table there are plans which could destroy all the tranquil areas.

"Regional government is planning to build 53,000 extra homes in Dorset - that means more than 70,000 extra cars on the road.

"Traffic in rural Dorset has doubled over the last 25 years and will double again in 30. The relief road would obviously contribute to the problems even more.

"On top of that is the demand from regional government that Dorset build 30 wind turbines.

"If they get built, many areas of tranquillity will be lost."

The CPRE claims tranquillity is 'one of the most sought after ingredients of a good quality of life'.

To make the map, researchers consulted more than 1,300 people about their priorities.

Subjects like sweeping views of the countryside, man-made noises and the amount of people came out top of the list. Researchers then used satellite maps and geographical databases to count the number of roads, pylons and other features within 500-metre-square areas.

Each square was then allocated a colour based on a plus or minus score for each feature - green for tranquil, moving through yellow to red for the least tranquil.

Dorset was given a mean tranquillity score of plus 2.39 placing it below Devon (7) but above Somerset (2.37).

Northumberland came top with a score of 28.6 while the Slough Unitary Authority area came bottom with a score of minus 79.5 - just below Greater London (-76.7).

The maps can be viewed online with pockets of green 'tranquil' areas often close to shades of deepest red in the centres of Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport.

Chesil Beach, West Weare on Portland and the villages around Dorchester are green.

Not everyone is convinced by the findings.

Harry Burden, Dorset county councillor for Broadwey, said: "If you say that the relief road, for example, is essential for the future prosperity and growth of South Dorset then a decision has to be taken to build it.

To view the map visit www.cpre.org.uk