NALC meets CPRE to address rural representation in local government reform

We met with the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) on 27 May 2026 to discuss our shared priorities and opportunities to work together. 

Our chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton, met with the chair of the CPRE, Simon Murray, to share concerns that rural communities, particularly parish and town councils, are being overlooked in devolution and local government reorganisation plans. 

We discussed working together with joint action to address these issues, including raising awareness among the public and MPs, while pushing for stronger rural representation, such as mayoral roles focused on rural issues. 

On planning, we agreed on the need for greater local input into nationally significant infrastructure projects. There was also concern about the loss of neighbourhood planning funding, with alternative resources needed to ensure its continued success. 

We also discussed CPRE's new mapping campaign, On the Edge. The interactive map invites users to explore countryside near them and share stories about why these local landscapes matter. The project aims to build a national picture of the value of countryside close to home and the importance of protecting it. 

NALC and CPRE will continue working together to promote the interests of rural areas in national and local discussions.