THE centuries-old tradition of the English village fete is just one of the rural activities under threat from proposed new planning regulations, according to the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in the south east.

The CLA dismissed the proposals as "madness", claiming the new rules could mean organisers of fetes, country fairs, clay pigeon shoots, bring and buy sales, temporary car parking, weddings and many other rural events will have to apply for planning permission.

At present, land can be used on a strictly temporary basis for many events without planning permission for up to 14 or 28 days a year, depending on the type of event.

However, the government is now proposing a change to the regulations that would require any such temporary uses to have full planning permission. The CLA claims there is no evidence to suggest that any change in the law is necessary or desirable - and has warned that the proposed regulations could, instead, actually damage rural businesses and communities.

Only 30 out of a total of 388 local authorities identified temporary use as a problem - which, says the CLA, supports the argument that there is no need for new regulations because existing controls are sufficient to take account of any isolated problems.

CLA regional director John Biron said: "Events like village fetes and clay pigeon shoots are some of the mainstays of life in the countryside. It is madness to suggest that planning permission should be required to hold a country fair or fete that might typically last for just one day a year.

"We all know that, if such temporary uses are brought under planning control, there will be extra costs for application fees, delays in appeals and ultimately possible refusal of consent for some events. The government should resist the temptation to interfere."