Tony Blair 'not good for the countryside'

As Prime Minister Tony Blair gets ready to hand the baton on to Gordon Brown, it seems views are mixed on his legacy for the UK's countryside.

Neil Sinden, the policy director from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said that when he came to power Mr Blair made great promises for putting the environment at the heart of policy-making.

While he has fought for meaningful reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, he has not made as wide an impact as some campaigns would have liked.

"There has not been enough recognition of the value of the wider countryside, as an environmental and cultural asset and as a major contributor to everyone's quality of life, whether living in town or country," said Mr Sinden.

He added that there has not been a major shift onto public transport in the countryside with may still using their cars.

The positives included Mr Blair's proposals for two new National Parks and an extension of public access.


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