Doubts over rural watchdog plans

The new agency is supposed to simplify things for farmers

Government plans for a new rural watchdog may not protect the countryside from damage, environmental pressure groups have warned.

The bill to set up Natural England - a body to replace English Nature and the Countryside Agency - will be debated in the Commons on Monday.

Ministers say the bill will create a powerful champion for conservation.

But green groups say it puts economic concerns such as promoting recreation ahead of environmental protection.

'Simplify policy'

Friends of the Earth, the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) and the Wildlife and Woodland Trusts say the bill puts too much emphasis on promoting access.

The bill would also see the end of the Rural Development Service and the creation of the Commission for Rural Communities.

The government plans to enhance habitats

"The original idea was to simplify policy provision so farmers didn't have 50 different officials with clipboards wandering down their track," said BBC rural affairs correspondent Tom Heap.

The bill states the purposes of Natural England are to conserve the natural environment and promote access, recreation and economic well-being, he said.

But the groups want a clause in the bill to make sure if there is a clash over conservation and commercial concerns that environmentally protective measures would take precedence.

Landowners say this is naive, adding the countryside will only thrive if rural businesses are healthy.

Natural England is supposed to be up and running by January 2007, subject to parliamentary agreement.

'Independence' needed

The government says this would establish a powerful champion for landscape and conservation working "for people, places and nature" and will be responsible for issues of access, recreation and quality of life.

The CPRE had broadly welcomed the announcement, but expressed concerns about how the organisation would work.

Earlier this week, Tom Oliver, head of rural policy at CPRE, said: "We very much welcome the opportunity the government is providing to ensure both the countryside and the wildlife that inhabits it is properly protected.

"But the effectiveness of the legislation depends on the clarity and robustness of the legal duties given to the new agency and on the degree of independence it has from central and regional government."