Based on my lifelong experiences….

I was born in rural North Norfolk 72 years ago and despite the war years enjoyed a wonderful, free childhood. Based on my lifelong experiences I would like to make the following comments in no particular order of importance.

1)    Maintain and encourage agriculture in such a way that it is productive of healthy food and is environmentally friendly.

2)    Taking my first comment into account give strong support to improving the habitats to our indigenous fauna and flora.  Neglect of that which is now common may result in it becoming endangered.

3)    Make it possible for the native country folk to live and work in the area  in which they were born.

4)    Support tourism and leisure activities in such a way that they are not harmful to the aims of any of my other comments.

5)    Encourage green energy programmes and don’t tolerate NIMBYism.

6)    Currently Central Government refuses to assist coastal District and Borough Councils from being able to execise controls over personal water craft(PWC) owners (jetskiers).  When I was a District Councillor for North Norfolk I worked for 8 years to try to introduce such measures.  Because of my insistence a working party was formed of which I was chairman.  The efforts of this working party were nobly supported by the Council’s Legal Department and the Coastal Issues Forum of which I was also Chairman for 4 years.  However, despite our efforts, none of the suggestions for bylaws, regulations etc that we submitted to Central Government were ever accepted.

The result of this, of course, is that a small percentage of jetskiers feel that they can “ play peacock” and “exhibit” their skills on bathing beaches, in waters near bird reserves and so on with a total disregard for people’s or wildlife’s need for a lack of disturbance.  I know that this issue caused great concern for the Warden at Blakeney Point National Trust Reserve that is home to one of the UK’s most important Tern nesting areas.  Funnily enough, in today’s Eastern Daily Press there is a report that the District Council only yesterday debated on how they were going to deal with the latest problems concerning this issue that has been brought to their attention by the frustrated public.

Simon, if Rural Britain:  a 2020 vision, could resolve that little problem, preferably before 2020, many people from many walks of life would be most grateful.

I congratulate you on your efforts so far.  May there be strength to the collective arm!

Dan Corbett