The Land Issue No 3, Spring 2007

COMMENT
Rioting for Austerity No false messiahs, thank-you, but a voice crying in the wilderness might be helpful. 4
Very Angry Potatoes If GM is spreading all around the world, all the more reason for keeping the UK GM free. 5
The Barker Review of Planning The Treasury economist carries on gnawing away at democracy. 6

TLIO DRAFT POLICY STATEMENT
The Right Wing Campaign against the Planning System The Land Is Ours distances itself from neo-liberals. 8
Nice Facts, Pity about the Ideas Review of Kevin Cahill’s Who Owns the World. 8

ENERGY
Apocalypse Soon? A review of the latest books from James Lovelock and George Monbiot. 13
Power Cut Predictions of panic when the lights go out. 16
Anarchy in New York. HV Morton’s classic article on the New York black-out. 17
Letters Taking to the hills; and on-farm bio-fuel production. 20
The Future of the Intercity Coach Alan Storkey explains how coaches could be made quick, efficient and comfy. 22
A New Vision for Motorway Service Stations from the 2011-21 Somerset Development Plan. 24

UTOPIAN SETTLEMENTS
Pirate’s Paradise Larry Law’s account of a pirate’s republic in Madagascar. 26
The Rise and Fall of Ruskin Commonwealth John Egerton tells the story of a 19th century Utopian fiasco. 27
Chartist Land Colonies Chris Coates explains the failure of Feargus O’Connor’s ambitious land settlement scheme. 30
Ecoville Tony Gosling uncovers unfulfilled plans for an 1990s eco-settlement. 32
La Borie Noble Rebecca Laughton visits a fifty-year-old community in France. 34
Lammas Jenny Pickerell and Larch Maxey outline the careful preparations for a new settlement in S Wales. 35

HOUSING
Urban Clearance Different approaches to “regenerating” terraced housing in Liverpool and Salford. 37
Housing Monitor REITS; EDMOs; and Titnore Woods. 42
Land Access Fordhall Farm; Register of Surplus Land. 45

PLANNING POLICY
How to Influence Your Local Plan Lucy Nichol explains the new development plans and how to have input. 47
Eco-Neighbourhoods Planning policies for super-sustainability, proposed by the Cohousing Network. 48
PPS3 The new Government planning policy for housing promotes greenfield development by the back door.. 49
Rural Baron Builds Industrial Estate Former CLA president, Ewen Cameron, benefits from CLA inspired policies. 50
How I Became a Travelling Planner Simon Ruston, caravan dweller, describes his education in planning. 51
Not Fit for Website Forum The ministry refused to accept this submission from Tony Thompson on traveller site design. 51
Climate Change Planning Statement Tough on buildings but ignores traffic. 52
Holiday Home Sophistry New model conditions rule that holiday caravans are only for people with another home. 52

APPEALS
The Life of Reilly Hermit’s Corner; and John van Loggerenberg on shacks. 54
Lunga Plotlands Argyll planners want to evict at least 20 families, and turn local residences into holiday homes 55
Battle of the Bat Consultants Batty arguments about a reader’s barn. 57

EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival An invitation to UK’s biggest event for landworkers and trade unionists. 58

PUBLICATIONS 59