Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

It seems to me people are missing the major point here which is supply and demand.

The biggest threat to our countryside is the unprecedented levels of demand. You can blame the developers and the tories but without the demand there isn't an issue.

No one has mentioned the fact that a large proportion of this demand is extra housing for the hundreds of thousand s of extra people arriving here year on year. Sort out the immigration problem and you remove a large proportion of demand.

It's not rocket science, if hundreds of thousands of people are arriving every year extra homes are needed. Last year the population swelled by something like 300,000, that's the equivalent of the population of a city the size of Stoke on Trent from immigration alone.

Why this elephant in the room is ignored is beyond me, probably because of political correctness and people are afraid of raising perfectly reasonable concerns because they will be labelled a racist by far left idiots.

Solve the immigration problem & you remove the most substantial threat to our 'sacred land'. It's what the vast majority of the population want anyway & this is supposed to be a democracy.

I don't think you are racist Gwass, measured debate about over-population on these small islands needs to take place without fear of being labelled racist. I think a large part of the problem is the freedom of movement provision for EU members. As the European Union grows ever larger, English has become the second language most Europeans learn in school so the British Isles is where many (too many probably) people head for in search of employment. So it is not just housing that is under a strain but health services (maternity services are under a particular strain), education sevices, employment, even prisons. Its part of the big picture, and to be honest I think most people just feel too jaded and disempowered to tackle it.

Meanwhile we have to settle for protecting little bits a precious land that apart from the flora and fauna may have prehistoric or historic associations.

Thanks. However, I work in Social Welfare, and I have to say it, unpopular or not with some, the numbers of people that come here, largely to work and do the jobs that most wont, their Welfare Benefit and Housing needs are minimal, and they are a convenient scapegoat for a far vaster problem ie. Greed. Bread and Circuses amongst a lot of our own 'indigenous'. Always moaning about a phantom untruth. I don't subscribe to any political stance, just my head and hopes.

:-)

Thanks for responding sensibly and whilst I agree that consumption habits need changing. Im my opinion the chances of that happening are zero, because of the reasons you stated. One thing that can be done, which the govt have promised to do and which the vast majority of the public want them to do is to reduce immigration levels.

I don't know how you can say immigration is nothing to do with it. Surely that's your political beliefs clouding the reality which is obvious to others. Surely it's the most relevant issue of all? More people = more houses needed = threat to our spaces where no houses currently exist.

It really boils down to that basic fact and denying that seems to be denying the obvious cause. The 'indigenous' population you refer to (what ever that is) aren't producing large families, I thought that was known by everyone c1.6 children per couple, not even replacement levels for those dying.

It is families from abroad who are migrating and have large families so that is another point chalked up against immigration. You didn't really think British people are having large families surely?

Thanks June.

I agree whole heartedly. Unfortunately the politicians signed away any right to limit movement from within the EU. It's clear that our infrastructure isn't able to cope with the numbers here so everyone suffers. Also why allow hundreds of thousands of economic migrants when we have 3million unemployed? It's crazy they're just joining the dole queue straight away.

I know there are bigger problems than just our love of the countryside and particularly prehistory but it demonstartes how overpopulation affects so many things and aspects of life. I read that we need c100,000 new houses per year for the next 25 yrs (don't quote me on that) to cope with the numbers of people arriving. How that isn't going to have an impact on our countryside & therefore threaten ancient sites is beyond me.

We need brave people to tackle the situation propperly as it needs to be rather than small minded people stifling any debate with ideological & false cries of racism.

Numbers. There's a real significant difference. Immigrants housing needs are far fewer than our relentless 'indigenous' ever expanding population. Fact.

:-)

I have the greatest respect for your point of view Sea Cat and agree that consumerism or greed has been a large part of the bigger picture. I don't know what you mean by 'bread and circuses'.

There doesn't seem to be any such thing as indigenous population any more but there are certainly great divides between the 'haves' and 'have nots'. Unfortunately the 'have nots' are growing larger and larger in number. By 'have not' I'm not talking about new cars and holidays abroad but the opportunity to be employed or live, as we all aspire to, in home that has a bit of space and bathroom you don't have to queue up to use.

I can't agree that the housing needs of EU residents who relocate to Britain (the word 'immigrant' is perhaps too loaded) are minimal. How can they be - they are the same as yours and mine. All it means is, as the housing market hits a downturn, investment buyers are making a killing - buying up older properties cheaply to let to people who are desparate for somewhere to live.

I'm deeply offended you would brand me a racist without knowing anything about me.

You've demonstarted you're right about yourself but please explain why wanting to limit immigration and the problems it causes (housing crisis being only one) makes someone a racist? If you think that is racist then you must think the vast majority of the UK population are racist as the overwhelming majority want immigration cut.

Thankfully your minority views are just that, in the minority. Unfortunately they are shared by our politicians which is what's caused the problems in the first place.