Rutland's countryside forum wants to fight the development of farmland for large construction sites.

Speaking to members at their meeting last week, Chairman, John Law, said: "In February this year Natural England released guidance on their website to help towns and cities turn greener, and while this is a step in the right direction, it does not appear to help rural areas. We need to have legislation in place before large areas of farmland get swallowed up by large construction development sites.

"Rutland Countryside Access Forum on its own will not be able to exert much pressure, if any, on Government. However, if we work with other local access forums we may be able to persuade Government to listen to our concerns.

"With the members agreement, I will pursue this matter with the members of the Lincolnshire Joint Local Access Forum and their Disability Sub Group. I will be asking for input from our members as the need arises and these maybe between forum meetings. The answers to these questions will help to construct a document stating what we require in the legislation; this can then be submitted to the Lincolnshire and Rutland Forum meetings for approval before circulating to other Local Access Forum's for their input."

Members unanimously agreed the motion.

Local farmland is being protected by local people. Image credit: Nub News.

This comes as MP Alicia Kearns renews her stance against the Mallard Pass Solar Development on the Rutland-Stamford border.

With a flurry in opposition to the development of rural land, many local groups have joined the fight, while some argue that solar is better than more houses.

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The next meeting of Rutland Countryside Access Forum is on 15 March 2024.