Current consultations include Stratford Park, the Regional Spatial Strategy, the Councils Environmentr Green paper, an Affordable Housing policy, County Transport, SDC's Community Involvement statement...I could go on...
..the same picture is reflected nationally...the Glos Green party website lists many of the national consultations that we have contributed to over the last months including airport expansions, nuclear waste, badgers, the Energy Review, the NHS reorganisation and much, much more....
A cynic might suggest we are being given opportunities to participate in consultations which are not real - and have no intention of taking into account our views. The Government for example consulted on GM - the public are overwhelmingly against yet their latest proposals ignore this and support biotech companies moves to grow here. Similarly 95% of the public were against a badger cull - even the Governments scientists were against - yet the proposals just out ignore this and leave open the possibility of a cull....
Yet if we don't make use of these times to consult then it is all to easy for our views to not be registered. The challenge I suppose is to find the ones that are important and that we can really influence. A Green party meeting of District councillors yesterday looked at just that and sought to highlight key priorities like ensuring new homes being built are energy efficient and have renewables.
Future blogs will look more at this - your thoughts also welcomed! Meanwhile the Ebley Mill catering contract is up for renewal - and we are being asked for comments. Below was the quick letter I sent this morning to their consultation.
I would love to see more action on these sort of issues but we need to work harder at getting more understanding and widespread support for such changes. I think it is growing - the Councils Environment Green paper is a start - see comments on 21st July Blog - over the next week I will be pulling together Green party comments and thoughts that we hope will strengthen this next step being proposed on this important issue.
Thank you for inviting comments.
I would love to see a move towards more local, fairtraded and organic food. I accept this has cost implications but it would be in line with strategies to reduce climate change and set the example we want others to follow. Food miles is one of the key contributers to CO2 emissions and local food purshases have the potential to boost our local economy. There is much research on this - a study in Northumberland for example shows local authorities could increase the amount of money circulating in their area by 400% by fostering local links.
One way might be to start moving towards more sustainable catering by offering a local food option or farmers market option - at the very least as a first step we should be having days to celebrate our local produce.
Vegetarian choices need to continue and be promoted: especially as a Swedish study found that reducing meat consumption by 50% would cut energy use by 30%. Some organisations are now seeking a move to cut consumption of meat in this country by 15%. This is realistic and would apparently also have health benefits.
This is an opportunity for Stroud District to lead on this important issue and give a boost to our local economy. I would be happy to discuss this further or provide further information if you wish. All the best - Philip
Cllr.Philip Booth
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