THE Hampshire branch of The Campaign to Protect Rural England has appointed a new chairman.

The group, which fights against planning applications that are harmful to Hampshire’s countryside, will now be led by Mrs Dee Haas.

Dee Haas has always been passionate about the countryside, she was brought up in the heart of rural Devon, and now lives in Ellisfield in North Hampshire, where she is known for her work campaigning with residents and the Parish council against inappropriate developments on greenfield sites.

Already she has set out some objectives for the group this year, and these include widening the branch’s appeal to get more members.

She said: “I have been very taken with the wealth of expertise existing in our voluntary and paid members and the way that they can respond quickly to help people in their campaigns.

“The supportive, educational planning workshops are very helpful and I love the programme of visits and activities.”