Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

Before the noble Baroness’s remarks are too distant, perhaps I may say that she has drawn out some examples of where conflicts might arise between biodiversity and access. However, as no one has yet mentioned the issue of climate change, I should like to lay a different example before the Committee. It was brought to my attention by CPRE’s strong objection to polytunnels in inappropriate places. I am sure that there are places where polytunnels are inappropriate when erected in large numbers. Nevertheless, they also enable food to be grown nearer the places where it is consumed, to extend the growing season and, by using geothermal energy, to do that in an environmentally friendly way. The other option is to ship in much of the salad crop from southern Spain, an area which has problems with its own water. That consumes air miles and is a good example of where there will be definite conflict; that is between having either a landscape sullied by polytunnels or a possibly greater but invisible ill for the landscape—given the effects from everything I mentioned that would contribute to climate change—because of the lack of ability to grow what will be consumed in this country. We will also have to consider that sort of conflict.