Mirror, mirror and yet another mirror

The mirror on the road outside the Convent as you travel towards Puckshole has been vandalised three times in under 2 weeks. The fourth mirror on the blind corner is now in place thanks to Highways - let us hope this one doesn't follow the ways of the others - although was it just me or did I detect people driving more cautiously with the broken mirrors?

Certainly issues of road safety are more complicated than at first glance: the very uneven surface of this road with it's potholes and even in one place a spring hushing from the middle of the road, makes traffic slow considerably. When the road gets the holes filled, as it seems to on a regular basis, then traffic again speeds up - and regularly travels too fast for the pedestrians who regularly use this road with no pavement - several people have said to me the whole road should be repaired properly as it is damaging cars - my answer is that perhaps those people are driving too fast? This is after all a very minor, all-be-it important road. I use it virtually every day but in a world with limited resources I would prefer to see money put to other uses like a more efficient bus service.

Having said all that it is clear that there are limits to the state of the road - and those were certainly reached after a storm earlier in the year which left very deep pot holes - these have been repaired although they all show signs of wear again and a small stream can gush from one of them when it is wet! It does seem to indicate that it would be more cost effective to tackle the causes of the problem on this stretch rather than repeated filling in of holes?

Latest on Folly Farm footpath - 17 objections

See Blog on 1st August for background info re this footpath route change. Apparently there have been 17 objections to this footpath change - unprecedented in the history of footpath changes in Stroud! So it is unclear whether it will go to next stage - if it does then we are hoping for a site visit the week of 18th September to see if we can iron out concerns or consider another route.

Planning - involving the community

Last night there was a meeting at Ebley Mill - part of a series of meetings - to consider the new proposals for involving the community better in planning and also to share the government's plans for Sustainability Assessments - a potentially very useful tool for appraising policies to ensure they reflect sustainable development objectives (i.e. social, environmental and economic factors).

We have until 13th September to comment on the Statement of Community Involvement. To me this will bring some welcomed improvements - the planning system is very hard for people to get to grips with - a letter in this weeks' SNJ highlights a common misconception - they say the Council doesn't listen to voters when there were 14 letters objecting to a planning application.

Infact grounds for objection are largely set out by Government and the Local Plan - our job on Dev Control is to apply them - and generally this is not a matter for party politics - clearly there are areas of disagreement - but this application (recommended for approval by officers) was for permission for part of an agricultural footpath that involved minor excavation work. Most of the objections were on issues which, rightly or wrongly, are outside the control of that Dev Control meeting. I understand the Council's Enforcement Team are looking into the other issues.

I hope these new proposals re planning will lead to a greater understanding of planning issues - it is certainly no wonder confusions arise under the current system. Green party District councillors will be making comments to this consultation - keep an eye under 'Reports' on the Glos Green party website. If anyone is wanting advice re planning Stroud District Council's officers are the first point of call. I'll also list some other help below:

1. Stroud District Councils planning site - which includes online all planning applications:
http://www.stroud.gov.uk/docs/planning/planning_home.asp?did=planning

2. Planning Portal - the government's online service for planning - this has useful info about planning applications:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/

3. Planning Aid - provides free, independent and professional help, advice and support on planning issues to people and communities who cannot afford to hire a planning consultant. Planning Aid complements the work of local authorities but is wholly independent of them. More info at:
http://www.planningaid.rtpi.org.uk/

Posts at Bread Street

The land owner has now put a very smart gate and fence up at the access to a field from Bread Street (see second photo). This has significantly improved the safety for cars turning there.

Some 18 months ago in response to the appearance of a new chain fence (see first photo) a number of local residents including myself raised the issue with Highways. I was particularly concerned that an elderly neighbour could now no longer turn her car and that those cars that still turned there were at greater risk from cars speeding around the corner.

The old fence has now been removed and the area is much improved - but sadly Highways saw fit to splash 'Keep Clear' across the area. I have had two local residents knock on my door re this issue saying that not only is it unnecessary but also very ugly. True.

Indeed national campaigns like CPRE and the Womens' Institute have tried to raise awareness about how our countryside and indeed urban areas are being blighted by evermore unnecessary road paint and signs.

I do also find it of some concern that this paint was done without consultation of local residents in an AONB - especially as I have been in correspondence on this matter for 18 months.

No one I have spoken to along the road can remember a single time when the access to that field has been blocked - although it clearly has been as the land owner described a particularly difficult time when access was blocked.

I personally would have thought a letter from Highways to all local residents would have been sufficient - reminding them re the need for access - and for them to ensure their visitors parked with care. Certainly no one else uses this stretch to park on. In any case there is a sign on the fence saying 'Keep Clear'. This would have also been a considerably cheaper option.

When I spoke with the land owner he gave the impression that he would not object to road paint being removed. I am now exploring how this could happen: certainly if the road ever needs resurfacing then it should not be replaced.

Oldbury reactors close

Safety regulators say they have seen nothing to persuade them that Oldbury nuclear power station is safe to restart - and despite the industry spending more than £2 billion researching the safety of graphite reactor cores, both reactors are due to shut early September.

The Nuclear Safety Newsletter revealed the flaw in Oldbury's ongoing safety case as campaigners discovered that the nuclear industry has ploughed £5 million into research contracts since 2004 to investigate the safety of the material which makes up reactor cores in the UK's ageing fleet of power stations.

News of Oldbury closing is reassuring - it is only 16 miles from Stroud and I have been very concerned over recent years. Oldbury has the worst weight loss of any UK reactor core and an independent nuclear engineer has said this could lead to a catastrophic nuclear-fuel fire and release of radiation.

Now I am not into scaremongering but I have been deeply concerned about how safety is monitored - you can read more on Glos Green party website - and nuclears safety record is not good - just the last weeks we have seen 40% of Sweden's reactors close in an incident that was described as being nearly a Chernobyl by the former site manager - plus the government has just fined two British nuclear operators £2m each over serious radioactive spillages.

This is also crazy as all three organisations are state-owned: this merely sends £4m of taxpayers' money on a financial merry-go-round.

Oldbury's shut-down date is December 2008. Why waste any more millions on propping up this 38 year-old dinosaur - on grounds of safety it should close now. And as for new nuclear what happens in the event of serious problems, financial or otherwise? A taxpayers 'rescue' or letting the lights going out? Nuclear eats money: cheaper, safer, cleaner Green answers exist now. We must insist on them. Read more re planned closures.

Resist compulsory registration

I am totally opposed to the Government's wasteful ID card scheme - hence this week will be publicising the national campaign to renew passports now to avoid being forced to register on the national ID scheme database.

The Government scheme for our passports and ID cards will mean lifelong surveillance, billions of pounds wasted and untold bureaucracy. Gordon Brown now plans to include surveillance of everyday life by allowing high-street businesses to share confidential information with police databases - this will be the most complex and intrusive compulsory ID control system in the world. The Government potentially will have a complete record of all our movements, from how much and when you withdraw from your bank account to what medications you are taking, down to the level of what sort of bread you eat.

You can opt out of an ID card if you renew your passport before 1st January 2010. But the card is not the point - even if you chose not to have it, you would still have to pay for it. I renewed my passport three years early as I am appalled by the fact that in future we will have to attend an official interview, producing numerous personal documents to be recorded, and having fingerprints and eye scans taken for the records.

The UK Passport and Identity Service have announced that the price of a basic adult passport will be raised to £66 from 5th October 2006.

Greens have opposed this ID card plan from the start and I helped organise a public meeting last year to discuss the issue - David Drew sadly voted for them, but there is growing widespread opposition - all the other key political parties are now opposed to the project, a former head of MI5 has branded the cards ‘useless’ and even Whitehall officials have expressed grave concerns.

The cards are to be introduced voluntarily from 2008 but, if re-elected, Labour proposes to make them compulsory for everyone over 16. Once you are on the Register you will face penalty charges for not telling the Home Office if you move house or if any other of your registered details change. The government is looking at issuing cut-down 'early variant' ID cards that would 'protect' our identity with nothing more than a four-digit PIN.

This is a gift to fraudsters - and given the Home Offices' atrocious track record, it seems clear that things will go badly wrong.

As Baroness Seccombe put it during and ID card debate in the House of Lords last year: 'How many people know that when their passport runs out they will be summoned to an interrogation centre before being allowed to buy a few cans of beer in Calais?'

See more at: http://www.renewforfreedom.org/

Plan to increase Climate Change in South West

I have spent hours over the last weeks going over the monster-size 2 volume South West Regional Assembly's 'Draft Regional Spatial Strategy' (RSS) report. This sets out development for the region over the next 20 years. I've been helping with the Green party's submission to the RSS consultation process but also writing a report for Stroud District Council to help with their submission.

This RSS is probably the most important and influential planning document in the South West as it sets out development in the region until 2026 - yet despite some excellent bits, what we have, is a plan to increase climate changing CO2 emissions, when what we need is to cut emissions significantly. This is irresponsibility in the extreme.

The report's own Strategic Sustainability Assessment (SSA) states the RSS will lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Our Government must share the blame for a complete failure to lead on this issue: the plan to expand Bristol airport is a perfect example of the absurdity of their approach. The airport expansion alone will wipe out all other gains in CO2 emissions and force our local businesses to unfairly reduce their emissions further purely to compensate for increases in aviation.

Flawed economic forecasts

This Draft RSS is also based upon a prediction of economic growth which has disregarded many key factors like the expected large rises in fuel prices over coming years. At the very least the RSS must develop alternative plans that take account of different economic forecasts.

There is much more in the report - you can read our Green party submission under Reports on the Glos Green party site - It is a real pity the report doesn't adopt more of their SSA report - that even argues for an economic approach for our region that is less dependent upon our national and international links.

Stroud District Council applauded

The consultation closes today at 5.00pm and if all goes well Stroud District Council, as part of our Council's submission, is also going to question the lack of action on climate change and the economics. This is a hugely positive move and great that the current administration has given space for all parties to raise their concerns in committee meetings.

I hope there will be much protest at this unelected Regional Assembly's disregard for our future - have been talking to journalists this morning. What we need is a major rewrite of this Draft RSS so that it tackles climate change rather than adding to it.

Concern re tree cutting at the Lawns

I have had two calls re the tree cutting at The Lawns last week. I am assured it was safety work as a result of a tree survey which the Stroud Community Land Trust commissioned (and the Parish Council are paying for) to ensure that the SCLT can finally take the land over in a safe condition.

However later in the year there will be considerable tree-cutting around the Lake as part of British Waterways work to desilt the lake and bring it back to life. Sadly this is necessary if we want to restore this lake and reduce silting.

Monitoring our imminent extinction rather than preventing it

The key questions at the heart of the UK's environmental future were listed in The Guardian (21/8/06) - a welcome move that will hopefully help policy-makers deliver their political programmes in a way which protects – rather than destroys – our environment.

But like Green MEP Caroline Lucas writing in the paper later that week I am not convinced. Our Government doesn’t make decisions which harm the environment because of a lack of scientific knowledge but, generally, because it fails to recognise the long-term economic and social benefits of solving environmental problems - and because it is more concerned with the perceived immediate impact of policies on swing voters rather than long-term wellbeing of the whole country.

Caroline Lucas gives the example of climate change:

"the government knows what to do – vastly improve energy conservation, invest seriously in renewables, cap industrial emissions and stop giving tax breaks and hidden subsidies to the worst greenhouse gas emitters – but it just hasn’t been prepared to do it. Regardless of the best efforts of Bill Sutherland and his team, I fear this work may become just another chapter in humankind’s monitoring of its own imminent extinction rather than a contribution to preventing it."

From the perspective of human survival, how we tackle climate change is secondary to the first major change that needs to happen: namely, to demonstrate that we are prepared to take any serious action at all. Sadly at present neither Tony Blair nor David Cameron have given us any credible indication that a British government with them at the helm would be prepared to do so.

As Caroline Lucas notes we already know what to do - Labour aren't doing it and the Tories’ failure to adopt these policies is surely caused by their failure to bring the philosophical core of their policies in line with their new found green rhetoric, and their inability to recognise that real quality of life is not necessarily dependent on ever increasing economic growth.

I and many others will only believe the Tories are really interested in tackling climate change, and doing so in a socially equitable way, when they adopt some policies likely to actually achieve that. Let us all hope that happens soon.

Response to Randwick Church re their Environment Policy

Randwick Church like others in the area are putting together their Environment Policy - out in September. Here are my notes that might be of use to them:

Response to Randwick Church re their Environment Policy

Although there are examples of humanity's care for the environment, the last century has seen human action and lifestyle choices that have increasingly harmed the creation. No one can now doubt the urgency of environmental issues. We need more than ever, as the Diocese of Gloucester affirms: “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”

The Church is starting to take a very welcomed lead on these issues. The report, “Sharing God's Planet” (published by the Archbishop’s Council, 2005) was a strong call for action.

It is great news to hear that Randwick Church is working on an Environment Policy and that there are actions that the Church are already taking. This Environment Policy is a move whose importance should not be underestimated - so many decisions we make have effects on the environment. The Church has a crucial role to play - not least in helping us all to understand the impact our daily decisions play on the world and helping us move towards more sustainable ways of living.

The following notes are made in good faith as possible suggestions that you may like to consider. I would be more than happy to discuss them further - they are certainly not a comprehensive list and from what I can see many of them have either been adopted already or you are considering them.

Firstly the Policy statement is an excellent example of good practice and is to be applauded loudly. The following comments are made under the particular headings of the consultation paper:

1. Worship

For all of us the imperative is to be good stewards of God's creation.

2. Fabric and furnishing

- Energy saving measures like light bulbs and improved insulation will pay for themselves in a few years - particularly in the light of rising energy prices.
- Employing local people where necessary for work, using where possible local materials
- Using flowers grown with minimum/no pesticide use: the majority of purshased flowers are now grown with very considerable quantities of pesticides: a Dutch Government study found that Dutch floral workers are exposed to pesticide concentrations of up to 60 times the amount considered safe - in other countries figures are even higher and many deaths annually are attributed to pesticide poisoning from flower growing.
- Use eco-cleaning products in the church

3. Churchyards

- The debate between being “neat and tidy” and wildlife is important, but a balance can be struck that increases biodiversity. Advice from a wildlife organisation, if not already sought, could be invaluable.
- There is growing support for coffins made of more environmentally friendly materials and of more sustainable headstones and some Councils are establishing woodland burials. It might be possible to support moves in that direction while still giving people a choice at this important time.
- Don’t use pesticides, fertilisers, peat etc for maintenance.

4. Education

- This is a huge area where much is already being done but much more can be done. Defra for example have produced materials on global warming for children. It might be possible to explore ways of expanding the use of resources like this within the school.
- Learning is part of all aspects of life, education is not only confined to schools - this fits well with aims to consider members personal impact on the environment, working with local environmental organisations and holding regular discussions.
- It is important in all aspects of education around the environment to remember that to live sustainably doesn’t mean to live miserably. We can create a green future of greater employment, healthier food, stronger communities, warmer homes from better insulation and a future where, instead of hours in traffic jams, we have clean, safe, reliable public transport. A future self-sufficient in energy: a safer world where foreign policy isn't about securing fossil fuels in unstable parts of the world.

5. Energy

- This is a hugely important area: not just because of climate change but also our fuel is likely to increase in price significantly.
- Electricity for the church can be bought from renewable energy companies like Good Energy and Ecotricity - thus significantly reducing the churches contribution to climate change - and often at very little or no extra cost.
- Energy efficiency measures are crucial - see point 2 above.
- The suggestion of car sharing is excellent and a very positive way forward that can also build links within the community.
- Support moves to reduce traffic speeds to encourage walking/cycling in the area

6. Water

- There are many ways to encourage less water use which include ideas mentioned like water butts, dual-flush toilets etc plus possible use of grey water.
- The Church may also like to look at whether it’s rainwater currently is discharged into the sewer: if so then their can be huge environmental gains by ensuring it goes to soakaways etc
- Waste water is also a huge area: the church could introduce fat traps, support Severn Trent Water’s “Bag It and Bin It” campaign etc.
- As no doubt you are aware, the sewage system locally has been having continual problems that have led to repeated discharges of sewage into the brook - the Ruscombe Brook Action Group, of which I am a member, are working to tackle some of the problems. We would be happy to talk more on this.
- Ensure no further impermeable surfaces are made - in the Severn Trent region there is a 4% annual rise in land being given over to hard-standing: this is seriously damaging to our environment. We should adopt a policy of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems.

7. Waste

- Reducing waste in the first place is the most important factor of all - in many ways recycling is a failure: crushing, pulping and smelting materials is unnecessary, hugely energy intensive and damaging to our environment. We need to start reclaiming and reusing materials not destroying then reproducing them. However clearly recycling is vastly better than landfill or incineration.
- Randwick Church may like to consider taking the bold step and aiming for zero waste. Zero-waste means getting rid of the idea of waste. Instead, waste should be thought of as a ‘potential resource’ to counter our basic acceptance of waste as a normal course of events. Zero Waste strategies consider the entire life-cycle of our products and processes so that any ‘wastes’, can be designed to have other applications.This vision requires policies that reduce ‘waste’ at source, then reusing, recycling and recovery of all remaining ‘waste’. The South-west Regional Assembly Waste Strategy notes: “Moving towards 'zero' waste in the region is a very long term ambition”. Yet such policies have been adopted with more enthusiasm and commitment by some councils within the region, like Bath and NE Somerset District Council and communities like in Chew Magna village near Bristol where they have their inspiring "Go Zero" project. Overseas Zero waste projects are already have significant results across New Zealand, parts of the US and Canada.
- Compost would be great, encouraging reuse through for example charity shops, avoiding throw-away cups/cutlery etc

8. Catering

- Fair trade and local shop purshases prioritised over supermarkets
- Great to move towards local, organic, animal friendly and fair trade - especially as this is another way of educating people about the issues involved.

9. Events and the Community

Whiteshill’s Environment Day organised by the churches was a success - it is a challenge to find ways to reach people and raise these issues. I’m more than happy to explore more with the Church re their ideas.

10. Implementation and Monitoring

- Agree this is important. It is far better to set small goals with dates and who is responsible. These can then move towards the final goal. An annual review is great.


Other issues

1. Parish Plan

Randwick Parish Plan is now out and has some useful ways forward. It would be good to work together on some of the joint aims.

2. Environmental justice is linked to social justice.

We cannot have one without the other - fuel poverty and climate change are good examples - therefore I consider it is important to at least note that this policy links to others in the Church has around social justice.

The recent report by the Church of England from their Commission on Urban Life and Faith, ‘Faithful Cities’ (2006) is an important contribution to the debate. As the report notes: “we live in one of the most economically divided countries in Europe and not only has the trickle down promise of market forces failed to deliver but a draconian system consigns a small section of the population to unacceptable destitution... ..Countering social inequality, and trying to reduce it, is the litmus test of a society’s moral adequacy.”

The report refreshingly questions our reliance on market driven capitalism and it’s role in promoting social inequality. As the report says: “It is time to ask whether this economic and social model can really deliver happiness or wellbeing for all.” But all that is for another discussion!

Randwick Parish Plan out now

Visited family in Seaton - photo left of the beach huts - sea seemed warmer than usual - enjoyed a couple of swims - didn't have time to visit Randwick donkeys now at their new home at the Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth - but I digress Randwick Parish Plan is out now and makes a good read even on the beach at Seaton.

Having been heavily involved with Cainscross Parish Plan which is also due out very soon, I know how much work went into this - vast amounts from the key people involved!

The Plan has resulted from loads of consultation and discussion and sets goals for the Parish to achieve - covering everything from affordable housing, footpath use, green spaces, energy use and more. The challenge now is to ensure we can follow through with all the excellent work done so far. Hopefully a summary of the key issues will be available in leaflet form very soon.

Charging for emails?

I am concerned by news that we may well be forced to pay for sending emails under plans being developed by US telephone companies to create a 'two-tier' internet. This will destroy the openness and equality of the worldwide web.

The US telecommunications group AT&T is lobbying to allow the development of 'fast' and 'slow' internet services. All data moving around the net is now treated equally and moves at the same speed, whether it is a personal blog or the website of a multinational corporation. But US internet service providers argue that they should be allowed to charge customers to use a 'fast lane' giving their data priority. This will be likely to leave less well-off users in the 'slow lane' with an inferior service, as emails take longer to arrive and websites work more slowly.

The 'Save the Internet coalition', has already gathered more than a million signatures on a petition in defence of 'net neutrality' - the battle is now set to go to full Senate. Will Britain follow suit and what will it mean to users visiting US websites? We don't know but clearly there is an issue about ever increasing use of the internet - how can it be managed? But in a two-tier system I can see that independent voices and certain political groups are especially vulnerable. Costs could rocket to post and share video and audio clips, silencing bloggers and amplifying the big media companies. Political organising could be slowed by a handful of dominant internet providers who ask groups or candidates to pay a fee to join the "fast lane".

Last chance re health cuts

The battle to stop the hospital cuts continues with the most extraordinary energy and commitment from so many. When the consultation began there was so little hope of saving the Maternity Hospital and Weavers Croft, but at last there are glimmers of hope. The marches, meetings, demonstrations, wrist bands, exhibitions, stunts and letters are having an effect: the campaign has been relentless.


Today there was another Party in the Park with bands, a magic man, games, dancing and stalls again highlighting the threats to our services. It had a good atmosphere - and a great band that played Jam hits - and a stall with some great cakes!

I would strongly urge all those who have not written to the authorities and Government to do so. We have not won yet and must keep the pressure up. Even if it is only a couple of sentences it is worth it - any personal examples of how Stroud Maternity or Weavers has helped you or your family would be especially good. The official consultation period has been extended until Monday 4th September 2006. If you want ideas to write longer letters please see my online Blog on 10th August for Maternity Hospital and 14th July for Weavers Croft:
http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/

Click here to see my recent letters to the press re health cuts- if it doesn't come up put NHS into search engine.

Bin bags add to litter problem

Randwick Parish Council raised the issue regarding the delivery of black dustbin sacks. In Stonehouse rolls of bags are delivered yearly, however when Randwick requested this they were informed that this was not possible. I wrote for clarification - those black bags tied into a knot and left outside householders doors are one of the key litter problems in the Parish (I photographed the bag left this morning) - a touch ironic in that they are designed to remove our rubbish.

Cllr Nigel Cooper, Cabinet member for the Environment, has given a very quick response acknowledging our concerns like litter, security (bags left lying around indicate someone is away), health & safety (the Serviceteam staff have to remove their safety gloves to tie up the bags, then may not on occasions put them on again) and time wasted with current arrangements.

Apparently the annual supply was an experiment with mixed results - not sure what that means but suspect some people ran out and resorted to other bags which may have led to problems. Anyway the whole question of black bags is on the agenda for the next quarterly meeting with Service Team on 18th September and they will raise the Parishes concerns. We will hopefully get a clearer picture after that.

I do have concerns that the Health and Safety Executive have questioned the whole practice of black bags - suspect they want to move towards wheely bins which in my view are ugly, difficult for many to store and very hard for many to maneuver.

Randwick Parish Council meeting

Another Parish meeting this evening -in Randwick - lots and lots on the agenda including a good discussion on the proposals for development at Sunnyridge, Townsend. As a member of the Development Control Committee I can't pass comment on this now but I will consider all the evidence when it comes to committee. I would certainly recommend people to let the Planning Department know their views before 28th August.

Other items that came up include looking at consultation over what to do with the old Guide Hut that is falling apart, working more with other parishes, the National Trust campsite (see 14th July Blog), street lighting (see 9th August Blog), getting a flashing ineractive speed sign like Whiteshill and Ruscombe (see 11th August Blog) news that the 20mph zone for Randwick centre, Bread Street and Ruscombe is moving ahead (see 15th August Blog), concerns over the grit bins being emptied - the open bins are a serious concern as they are repeated targets for being tipped over (see photo from earlier this year) - salt is banned in many countries for use on roads as it impacts so harshly on water courses and wildlife (see 23rd May Blog).

Plus the District Council apparently refusing a request to have rolls of plastic bags rather than these knotted bags delivered each week and end up littering the place - I'll investigate that more.

The Parish agreed to try and improve information to the parish so they will try and do a monthly column in the Runner. There was lots more but think that covers the main items.

Fun with a Bun!!

Randwick Women's Institute have for years been running a sports afternoon in the school holidays in the playground for any local children that want to come along - they are brilliant - a fun programme of all sorts of races from bean bags and sacks to eating donuts - plus stickers and sweets for prizes, tea and cake in the village hall - and a raffle - I had to leave just before the end but apparently I have won some bath salts. I know I've said this before but we are very lucky to have such great groups in the ward that put on these community events.

Monthly Gloucestershire Green party news in an email

Some of you may have come across GNN - if not I enclose a sample copy below - a monthly summary of links to Gloucestershire Green party news releases and letters that I throw together - comments welcomed! You can get on the mailing list free by signing up from the Glos Green party website - Philip
GNN - GREEN NEWS NETWORK - ISSUE 24: 13-August-2006

A free monthly newsletter that provides green news and views from the Gloucestershire Green party so that together we can create a better world.

QUOTES OF THE MONTH
1. GLOUCESTER'S FIRST EVER GAY PRIDE MARCH
2. GREEN COUNCILLORS BUY PEERAGES
3. STROUD GREEN: 100 BLOGS SINCE MAY
4. DEMO @ STAVERTON AIRPORT
5. NUCLEAR: HEATWAVE CLOSES REACTORS, WASTE, TRAINS AND ENERGY REVIEW
6. GREENS CALL FOR CEASEFIRE
7. TRANSPORT: FUEL PRICES MUST RISE, RAILWAYS AND CAR CLUBS
8. NEW SW EMAIL DISCUSSION LIST
9. GOVERNMENT GIVES ALL CLEAR TO GM
10. LATEST ON HEALTH CUTS IN COUNTY
11. WHY IS ENVIRONMENT GROWING IN IMPORTANCE
12. OTHER COUNTY NEWS
13. NEW ON 'BIG ISSUES'
14. WEBSITES THAT MIGHT INTEREST
15. COFFEE HOUSE GATHERING

.....................................................................

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"I do have a disregard for the environment. I think the world can look after itself and we should enjoy it as best as we can." Jeremy Clarkson

"A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children." John Audobon

"For me, sometimes to do the ethical thing would be illegal." CEO, Nestle

"Therapy is the politics of the individual - politics is the therapy for society." Augusto Boal

.....................................................................

1. GLOUCESTER'S FIRST EVER GAY PRIDE MARCH

Hundreds listened to speeches before Greens joined the march - the only political banner present. Cllr Philip Booth who was also amongst the marchers said: "We applaud the County Council for it's support of this event - the first ever gay pride in Gloucester - we may indeed be the first County to fly the rainbow flag at our Shire Hall. Certainly next year I would love to see all 6 Gloucestershire District Councils flying their flags in support of this day." Read more at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1409&Itemid=2

Letter challenging homophobic letter in press:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1365&Itemid=2

........................................................................

2. GREEN COUNCILLORS BUY PEERAGES

The national Elect the Lords campaign is selling dozens of Virtual Peerages at "bargain basement" prices to highlight the need for reform. Cllr Philip Booth has joined others including Bristol Green party councillor Charlie Bolton in purshasing a virtual title from the national Elect the Lords campaign. Philip Booth is now Baron Booth of Bread Street while Charlie Bolton is Baron Bolton of Beauley - both named after the roads where they live. Read more:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1404&Itemid=2

........................................................................

3. STROUD GREEN: 100 BLOGS SINCE MAY

Philip Booth, who was elected in May 2006 set up a Blog to cover mainly items in his ward - Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill - he has made nearly 100 entries covering everything from local artists, committees he sits on at the District Council, changes to footpaths, traffic, health cuts, libraries and even the Randwick Donkeys. Read it at:
http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/

........................................................................

4. DEMO @ STAVERTON AIRPORT

Stroud District and Cheltenham Green party members joined Friends of the Earth groups and concerned residents in an action organised by the Cheltenham-based Climate Change Action group, to highlight aviations' role in climate change and concerns about expansion at Staverton. See more at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1366&Itemid=2

And the follow-up meeting:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1380&Itemid=2
Action was right:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1382&Itemid=2

Columnist encourages inaction around climate change:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1383&Itemid=2

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5. NUCLEAR: HEATWAVE CLOSES REACTORS, WASTE, TRAINS AND ENERGY REVIEW

The European heatwave has forced nuclear power plants to reduce or halt production in Spain and Germany and in Sweden reactors close after an incident described as almost as serious as Chernobyl:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1399&Itemid=2

The government has just fined two British nuclear operators £2m each over serious radioactive spillages. Yet all three organisations are state-owned: this merely sends £4m of taxpayers' money on a financial merry-go-round:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1408&Itemid=2

Nuclear waste 'Out of sight, out of mind' decision condemned":
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1390&Itemid=2

Nuclear emergency exercise exposes failures in emergency plans - Greens raised the very same problems in December 2002:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1401&Itemid=2

Energy Review comments: a dangerous dirty path, we should learn from history
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1369&Itemid=2
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1371&Itemid=2
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1374&Itemid=2
Glos Green party response to Energy Review:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1185&Itemid=72

Greenpeace published timetables of nuclear waste trains through Gloucestershire saying the public has the right to know what is going on, and to ensure the Government acts 'before terrorists do'. Plus Green party calls for inquiry into how a defective nuclear flask was carried through the area.
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1384&Itemid=2
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1407&Itemid=2
Since those news releases the British nuclear industry has reported 39 lapses in security against terrorism in the past year, including laptop thefts, internet misuse, a power cut and lightning strikes. The failings are revealed in a report from the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the government watch dog responsible for ensuring nuclear power stations and radioactive waste facilities are protected from terrorist attacks. The revelations have disturbed experts and environmentalists, who are calling for security to be tightened:
http://www.sundayherald.com/57240

Nuclear letter: unanswered questions:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1386&Itemid=2

Clearly another busy month on nuclear issues. One issue not mentioned elsewhere is the shocking U.S. government support for the U.S.- India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. The agreement would facilitate an expansion of nuclear power in India, which is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This will effectively blow up what's left of the NPT can they not see that India would be better off promoting energy efficiency than pouring scarce funds into nuclear power. The subsidies provided to nuclear power in the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 are equal to the entire capital cost of the next six reactors." Amory Lovins comments that this "is similar to defibrillating a corpse: it will jump but not revive."

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6. GREENS CALL FOR CEASEFIRE

The Independent today has a story saying the Bush administration was informed in advance and gave the "green light" to Israel's military strikes against Hizbollah. The US reportedly considered Israel's actions as a necessary prerequisite for a possible strike against Iran. Cllr John Marjoram writes earlier when the paper covered the UN vote: "Front page of The Independent: 189 flags of countries that voted at the UN for a ceasefire and three that voted against - Israel, the US and the UK. Shameful!"

As the awful civilian death toll rises above 1000 in Lebanon and Israel, people around the world are seeking a place to voice their frustration and concern. Over the last 4 days, 200,000 people from 148 countries have signed the ceasefire petition. At this rate, it could soon be the largest global online petition in history. Consider signing now:
http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

Greens join Stroud Vigil:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1398&Itemid=2
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1389&Itemid=2

County terror threat identified: Tony Blair. Read letter to Citizen at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1368&Itemid=2

Greens call for ceasefire:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1381&Itemid=2
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1372&Itemid=2

Green party leaflet - August 2006:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1411&Itemid=72

Meanwhile thanks to those who signed CND’s No Trident Replacement petition. The petition, with over 53,000 signatures, was handed in to Downing Street on Friday 4th August. On the same day, CND released an ICM poll showing that 59% of British people oppose a replacement of Trident. This is an increase of 5% opposed since the same poll was taken last autumn. You can view a selection of photos from the petition hand-in on our website:
http://www.cnduk.org/pages/4aug.htm

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7. TRANSPORT: FUEL PRICES MUST RISE, RAILWAYS AND CAR CLUBS

Petrol prices need to rise more:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1378&Itemid=2

A Green party statement re County transport plan:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1394&Itemid=2

Car Clubs expand in Gloucestershire:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1412&Itemid=2

Will Cameron repeat mistake re railways:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1375&Itemid=2

In Gloucestershire there has also been news re the railway timetable changes. Greens have concerns that this will leave some commuters stranded. Revised timings from operator First Great Western will come into force in December and will also see disastrous fare rises.

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8. NEW SW EMAIL DISCUSSION LIST

NEW LIST! SW 'Energy discussion board' with categories re nuclear and Severn Barrage:
http://www.greentalk.org.uk

Unanswered questions re Tidal Power:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1313&Itemid=72

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9. GOVERNMENT GIVES ALL CLEAR TO GM

Significant new study challenges benefits of GM crops - but Government give GM all clear:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1388&Itemid=2
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1376&Itemid=2

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10. LATEST ON HEALTH CUTS IN COUNTY

Letter re latest moves to privatise NHS and links to help write submissions re cuts:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1402&Itemid=2

Better news re Maternity?
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1400&Itemid=2
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11. WHY IS ENVIRONMENT GROWING IN IMPORTANCE

Cllr Philip Booth was asked by The Citizen for 350 words on this. Read them at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1370&Itemid=2

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12. OTHER COUNTY NEWS

Forest of Dean gears up for next years elections:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1403&Itemid=2

Walmart movie shown in Stroud:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1367&Itemid=2

Stroud Town co-opts 2 new councillors:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1392&Itemid=2

Submission re Stratford Park in Stroud. What do Greens want to see there:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1393&Itemid=72

The start of the Green party's submission to Stroud District Council and the region re the Regional Spatial Strategy - one of the most important planning documents to be produced. Public consultation is open until the end of the month. Read more at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1405&Itemid=72

Jack Guest, currently a Cheltenham-based Green party member writes about understanding the BNP vote:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1406&Itemid=72

Overseas aid does work:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1385&Itemid=2

Badgers: testing is the way forward:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1391&Itemid=2

Why composting is better than landfill:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1395&Itemid=2

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13. NEW ON 'BIG ISSUES'

Links to articles sent in my members: see under 'Big Issues' at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk

Britain's obsession with flat televisions could require two nuclear plants
Rare beautiful cloud's effect on our climate
Supermarket initiatives on plastic bags is 'greenwash'
Roads transformed into solar panels
Why Nuclear Power Cannot Be a Major Energy Source
Britain's decision to build two new warships

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14. WEBSITES THAT MIGHT INTEREST

- What does your car say about you: film about 4x4 owners - and BAFTA winner, Thandie Newton trades in her SUV after a Greenpeace sticker:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/gasguzzlerjul06

- Film re aviation and climate change:
http://www.undercurrents.org/reachforthesky/index.htm

- Statewatch (monitoring state and civil liberties in Europe) website redesigned:
http://www.statewatch.org

- Coalition 2010 is a united alliance of leading organisations committed to keeping the £3,000 cap on top-up fees for full-time undergraduate students:
http://www.coalition2010.org.uk

- Online documentary from ABC Australia re Peak Oil:
http://abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20060710/default_full.htm

- "Freedom from Nuclear Weapons through Legal Accountability and Good Faith" conference held in Brussels on July 6 and 7, 2006. Listen at:
http://www.radionizkor.org/

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15. COFFEE HOUSE GATHERING

Animal rights was the last topic. Read about the lively discussion at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1387&Itemid=2

No Cafe Discussion for August. Next one is 22nd September: no decision on topic yet. . Read more about the previous coffee house discussions at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=606&Itemid=96

Details of other Gloucestershire Green party meetings can be got from John Marjoram on 01453 751189

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GNN has grown out of a Green news service first established on 13th November 2001. To contribute to this news service (or to subscribe or unsubscribe) - contact the editor Philip Booth on press@glosgreenparty.org.uk

20MPH: Why should communities battle to be heard on this?

Having had a conversation with a neighbour this evening prompted me to write to the Citizen re their article about speed limits being lowered (see letter below). I think we need a completely different approach - all villages, towns and cities should be 20mph unless special cases can be made for faster traffic. Many European towns and cities do just that - these are places people live and work - no wonder we don't have people cycling and walking - it is too scary...

Elsewhere in this Blog you will have seen my arguments re 20mph for most of the roads in this ward. To be fair Highways are constrained to some extent by national legislation but not completely - there is more they can do - and as for the government I fail to understand why they do not act to save lives and make more pleasant communities. The very good news is that it looks like things are moving in our area.....the plans for 20mph around Ruscombe, Bread Street and the centre of Randwick are moving ahead - I suspect all the years of lobbying are starting to pay off - clearly if this goes through then the next stage is to look at The Plain and the main road through Randwick - the interactive sign booked by Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish will be very useful to make our case.

However we also need to look at how they do the 20mph zones if it gets passed - all that red paint and signage can look dreadful. I also think more could be done to encourage slower traffic - the road for example in parts of Bread Street is very wide and encourages faster traffic - what about extending the verge out further or permeable hard areas ....


There will be few who do not welcome news that speed limits have been lowered in 30 towns and villages in Gloucestershire (14/08/06). But your list shows only Coleford gets a 20mph. Why? When a pedestrian is hit by a car at 40mph they only have a 15% chance of surviving, at 30mph, 55%, but at 20mph the chance of survival increases to 95%.

Hull City Council has reduced child pedestrian injuries by 75% in its 20mph zones. Research also shows lower traffic speeds mean reduced air and noise pollution, less fuel use and help tackling climate change. On urban roads lower speeds have been shown to reduce congestion.

20mph limits are a critical success factor in promoting walking, cycling and public transport as alternatives to the private car. They help create 'living streets' as this is the speed at which drivers can have eye contact with other users of the street. It is the speed at which pedestrians feel more confident about crossing the road, children play outside their homes and it is quiet enough to hold a conversation.

Our record for child safety is the worst in Europe. We are long overdue the time when all our all towns and villages are automatically 20 mph and are properly enforced. Communities should not have to continually battle to be heard on this issue.

Cllr. Philip Booth
Stroud District councillor for the Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward,

Plasma screen TVs

The news that the demand for plasma screen TVs is creating an energy demand requiring two new nuclear power stations, is another reminder that we are on the wrong road. I love films and enjoy TV programmes - and think plasma TVs look great - although I haven't managed to get myself even an ordinary TV in the last 4 years - instead dieting on a DVD most weekends.

We have to start looking at the real costs of our consumerism and taxing them accordingly. Most new technology is unneccesary until you have it - and then it becomes indispensible! Why on earth is still cheaper to buy less energy efficient goods?

In sharp contrast to watching TV I had the great pleasure earlier this month of taking my partner's 5 year old granddaughter to Giffords Circus, performing on the common at Minchinhampton. This is trully magnificent entertainment keeping the history of the circus alive without the cruelty to animals. Sadly at ticket prices of £13.50 this will exclude some people - nevertheless it was cheap for what it was - and hugely entertaining: a live band, cossack riders, a very funny clown and great jugglers. The whole thing felt like a real community/family affair, and felt rooted in an ancient tradition. Sadly it seems with evermore regulations we are almost killing off the Gifford Circuses of this world.

Meeting with Severn Trent: SUDS, CCTV and more

The Ruscombe Brook Action Group are apparently the only community group in the Severn Trent region looking to improve their brook with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). Three of their senior staff came down from Dudley last Monday to have a meeting in my home about the brook and how best to promote SUDS more...2 hours and a whole packet of choc-chip cookies...

Update on the brook first:

Key issues included: CCTV footage from cameras in pipes running along parallel to the brook is now available: Severn Trent will let us know the latest when results are considered but looks like some regrowth - need to see if regular cutting, relining of pipe or replacement is needed. Plus only 2 homes near Mill Farm have not been checked (due to householders being out) for misconnections of pipes.

Joint working

We had more discussions re a joint RBAG/Severn Trent leaflet to householders. RBAG will put together ideas based on previous proposals and discussion - this is a great opportunity for all to benefit and improve our local brook - more of this in future Blogs.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems include solutions like reed beds and are hugely beneficial to wildlife, improving the drainage, recharging natural groundwater and generally improving water quality. Indeed the benefits of these systems cannot be underestimated and as discussed in other Blogs are a key way we hope to improve the brook.

I again noted regret that Severn Trent could not fund a SUDS project directly re Ruscombe Brook and updated Severn Trent re other projects and plans along the brook like British Waterways plans to dredge lake (but do nothing at Hamwell Leaze), Stroud District Council's Drainage Officer looking at the possibility of a loose partnership like Bourne project (See 10th June Blog), Stroud Valleys Project to improve biodiversity and walks at Hamwell Leaze and RBAG's plans to outline next step to draw up plans for what we would like to see for the brook.

Our discussion then looked more at how we could encourage more SUDS. Stroud District already has a SUDS policy as part of their Local Plan but OFWAT appear to not recognise SUDS as part of sewage system, Highways authorities are not always enacting best practice and Severn Trent expressed concern that there is an annual 4% increase in hard standing in the region - this is bad for wildlife and bad for flooding. We urgently need to raise awarenss about this issue.

Severn Trent helped me with ideas about how best to proceed to encourage SUDS. I have already had a meeting with the Drainage Officer at Stroud District Council and have just sent off a letter to Ian Pearson MP - the new Minister responsible for SUDS - the whole issue has sadly stalled with the change of ministers...there is an 'Interim Code of Practice for Sustainable Drainage Systems' which came out in July 2004 but this does not seem to have been taken forward further. It must be - and promptly.

I am also writing a submission to the Regional Spatial Strategy public consultation urging that this issue is spelt out more clearly - plus various other ideas in hand....but too late to write more now...time for bed!

Who runs this place?

A key reason why people are less interested in local politics is because councillors are largely seen as irrelevant to modern life. Indeed 70 years ago local councils would have had committees controlling the buses and trams, electricity, water, housing, parks, museums, street cleaning, bin collection etc. Now many of these are run by private companies. An interesting analysis of how much this has changed is made in Anthony Sampson, in his book, 'Who Runs This Place?' The article below is a brief summary from the online version of Green World see www.greenworld.org.uk

By Richard Scrase, Editor, Green World

Anthony Sampson, in his book, Who Runs This Place?, analysed the ruling powers in contemporary Britain. It is a superb sequel to his classic, Anatomy of Britain written in 1962. In both books he attempts to describe the people and institutions who are actually running our country. The relative strengths of the different components of power, media and parliament, corporations and the rich, are summarised in both books by a diagram of overlapping circles. The larger the circle, the greater the power.

The changes from 1962 to the present day are stark. Back in 1962 Trade Unions and Aristocracy, Palace and Church, Parliament and Cabinet all had larger circles than that of the Prime Minister. There was no circle for the rich.

Today the unions and aristocracy have gone, and the circles representing Parliament and Cabinet have shrunk while the Prime Minister's has grown. Most striking though is the growth of the circles representing The Rich and Media; although the institutions of corporate capitalism remain strong, these two sectors now have huge power.

In 1962 the circles of power overlapped and the individuals inhabiting those institutions had some common experience, even if it was merely sharing the same geographical space. There was some possibility of common cause or mutual sympathy.

Today the Rich disconnect themselves from the rest of us. In 1962 the company or land owner would interact with his employees. Today the Rich interact with each other, and when at home, isolate themselves in security surrounded enclaves.

So our society is run by groups with a great degree of power, but less and less democratic accountability. As a political party our route to power is through the vote, but also by how effectively we spread our ideas for others to implement. Our party conferences have been mainly taken up with the refinement of our policy, our ideas. At our next conference in Hove, there will be the opportunity to rehearse and practice spreading our message. I look forward to seeing you there.

First ever gay pride march in Gloucester

Saturday saw hundreds of people out in Gloucester for the Rainbow Day march. I joined Green party members supporting the event - no other political parties were there but the event had support from the County Council - we may indeed be the first County to fly the rainbow flag at our Shire Hall. This is great stuff - we need to do much more to tackle the discrimination that still takes place - homophobic bullying in workplaces and schools is still far to common - it was only last month we saw two men convicted of the homophobic murder of Stroud man Jody Dobrowski.

If we are serious about justice and equality we need to ensure homophobic acts are seen as completely unacceptable throughout the world. The poem by Martin Niemoeller, a victim of the Nazis comes to mind:

When the Nazis came for the Communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the jews, I did not speak out; I was not a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.

Certainly next year I would love to see all 6 Gloucestershire District Councils flying their flags in support of this day. I have already been in contact with various people to see whether that might be possible.

See more info about the march using search engine at our website or on Indymedia.

Baron Booth of Bread Street?

The national Elect the Lords campaign is selling dozens of Virtual Peerages at "bargain basement" prices to highlight the need for reform following the 'cash for peerages' row: 17 out of the 22 individuals who have donated more than £100,000 to the Labour Party in the past few years have received an honour; all but one of the individuals who have donated more than £1m have received a peerage. This is totally unacceptable in a modern democracy.

I am not particularly happy with any titles so even a virtual title does not attract....but this national campaign seems an excellent way to highlight this issue - hence I've purshased a title - Baron Booth of Bread Street - for £10.00 - money goes to the campaign to end political patronage. The Citizen printed a scary photo of me from election night when I was 'well-tired' - the Stroud News have taken photos...well you'll have to wait to see the lengths we go to to get an issue covered in the press.

Sadly local papers don't debate the wider political events anything like as much as they could - certainly there are letters but the SNJ for example say they can't carry many stories about Oldbury as it is 16 miles from Stroud!! This seems crazy - so almost none of the work the Stroud Green party have done around nuclear waste and defective graphite has been covered in the local press (see Glos Green party website news section)....yet I know those issues are important for local people.

Similarly democratic reform is not an issue to grab the local press that much - this campaign selling virtual peerages is clearly a great way of making it more local - after all the House of Lords gets to scrutinise our laws. Sometimes it works in the public interest, sometimes it doesn't. Either way, it should represent the public - it is quite shocking that we have been left with an impression that cash buys a way into the Lords.

See more info and how you can buy a peerage at Glos Green party news release.

Good news: Whiteshill flashing speed sign coming soon

At last night's Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish meeting at the request of the Parish Mark Arnott, a Community Safety officer from Stroud District Council was showing off the newly purshased Interactive speed warning sign. It is for use within the District - initially a few weeks at each site. The interactive sign can download full traffic reports of numbers, speeds etc. It is also adjustable and can display vehicle speed or road speed limit when activated. It cost £3,300 to purchase so the District Council is looking for an initial contribution of £200 from each parish/town council who may want to partake in this partnership approach to speeding concerns.

The Parish approved the spend - only the second parish in the District so far - this move is to be very welcomed as it will provide useful data about traffic speeds that could be used in future to argue for improvements. It is wholly unacceptable that parents cannot let their children go to the playground because speeds on that road are too fast.

I was horrified to learn from John Rogers, chair of the Parish that a third of cars in the survey they did a couple of years ago, were speeding on The Plain (see photo). To me even 30mph is too fast in a residential area - in much of Europe it is standard practice to make them 30 kmh (20mph) zones - at these speeds if accidents occur - and far fewer do - then people who are hit will be much less likely to die or be seriously injured.

The challenge now for the Parish is to identify the best site(s) for this temporary sign - hopefully this will all add weight to the case that will be made again to the County for improvements to our roads.

Another scheme which may be worth exploring is '20 is Plenty'. Bisley Parish are in the process of adopting this - 20mph advisory signs - it means more signs which I am unhappy about - and also doesn't do anything to change road layout etc - but apparently does lead to some slower cars. Personally I would like to see a mandatory 20mph in residential areas - only then will we start to see more people walk and cycle - at the moment it canbe terrifying on some of these lanes - but as noted before a 20 mph is not enough in itself - See Blog on 25th July for more info and discussion.

Lightwood Lane footpath reclassified

An application has been made to reclassify public footpath MWH10 - to you and me that is Lightwood Lane to Zion Hill - anyhow the plan is to change it to a Bridleway. Being new to this my immediate fear was that this could mean 4x4s starting to use it - apparently not - that is a different category. Anyhow we only have until 22nd August to make comments to the County. I plan a walk up there later to remind myself, but can't see any immediate concerns - if there are please contact me and I will be happy to look at them.

Lower Street update

See Blog for 12th June for background. As most residents will know by now serious problems have been found re the collapse of the road at Lower Street (Ruscombe) - these have significantly delayed repair times. Highways tell me they are doing more tests before they can start work. I asked if we could expect work completed by Christmas - they said they very much hoped so, but could give no further indications at this point.

Development Control this week - flood plain developments?

This weeks' Development Control meeting on Tuesday was the first time we finished before lunch - great! It also contained as usual a number of controversial planning applications - the public galleries had a fair few people come to listen to us.

One of the issues that came up this week was regarding developments in areas at risk from flooding - now the Council has a policy in this area and I don't doubt that it is fine - but I am concerned that developments can still go ahead on flood plains. Does this really make sense? It appears in some cases it can be argued that it does. See Citizen article report.

I will be researching more. Certainly things are improving from the days when the Council chose to ignore the Environment Agency's advice and went ahead with 40 odd houses on a flood plain at Ebley - soon it will not be possible to ignore the EA.

Anyhow after the Development Control meeting I sat in on the Policy Panel on the Regional Spatial Strategy. I am not on that committe so couldn't speak - frustrating but the Committee was good enough to agree to accept some additional thoughts in writing. You can view those under Reports at: http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk

The RSS is a critical document. I hope very much that the Committee will take the concerns seriously. Certainly it has been good to see cross-party rejection of the County Council policy to turn Stroud into one of the key centres ie the place to put thousands of more homes. The Green party will be doing it's own submission to the consultation - it covers many issues and I've already been spending many hours on it!

I started this piece talking about flooding - the RSS have a great policy on it - and if enacted properly should mean that it will rule out the siting of nuclear power stations or nuclear waste depositories along much of the coasts in the South West. Nirex, Britain's nuclear waste management agency has already reported in it’s summary of 'climate and landscape change' that out of 11 of the current nuclear sites by 2100, five years before the disposal repository should be full, four sites will be vulnerable to flooding, and three others vulnerable to coastal erosion. All three current nuclear sites in the South West - which are tipped by some to be sites for new nuclear reactors - are flood risk - Berkeley and Olbury are cited as “high risk of flooding” while Hinkley is at risk of 'flooding and erosion'.

We'll see!

Maternity Hospital - send comments now

Below is some background information followed by ideas for a submission to the consultation process - it is based on information from the various meetings, conversations and actions - many other bodies and organisations are putting in their own formal submissions but I would urge everyone to write even if it is only a couple of sentences - especially any personal examples of how Stroud Maternity helped you save the NHS money. The key contact addresses are enclosed below - the official consultation period has been extended until Monday 4th September 2006.

Click here to see my recent letters to the press re health cuts.

Background information:

Stroud Maternity provides a countywide midwife led service that is widely known to be of a very high quality. The midwives at Stroud are skilled in helping women give birth within a low-tech environment, and in caring for women planning an active birth with little or no intervention. There are eight postnatal beds, two delivery rooms and a third room with a birthing pool, together with a 24 -hour helpline. There are Consultant clinics for specialist obstetric advice. The unit provides a number of fine services to complement ante-natal care including ante-natal education classes for mother and partner, Twins Club for before and after birth, monitoring of baby's heartbeat, if necessary and Ultrasound at Stroud General Hospital. It is also known for the caring quality of its postnatal care and it is possible to transfer back to Stroud after giving birth in another unit. Midwives and support staff are always on hand to help mothers establish their choice of feeding. Working with National Childbirth Trust breastfeeding councillors and breastfeeding peer support groups 75% of women go home from Stroud breastfeeding their babies.

Stroud Maternity has been threatened with closure before. In 1998 a review was undertaken and usage targets set for its viable continuation. These targets have been achieved, and Stroud Maternity is thriving. Despite a falling birthrate the percentage of women choosing Stroud Maternity has risen. In 1998 over thirty thousand people signed a petition in support of this valuable community facility. There was a county maternity review in progress but this has been paused because of the immediate financial crisis which has resulted in proposals which would centralise all obstetric services at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

County Health Chief Executives have now decided to propose the closure of Stroud Maternity solely for financial reasons. The Chief Executive of the Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust Mr Richard James praises the quality of care provided at Stroud Maternity and it is inconceivable that an acknowledged centre of excellence could be closed in a rush for financial savings. Overall news is not good re the hospital but one ray of hope is that more time maybe allowed which could lead to some services being saved.

Ideas for submission:

The PCT maintains they will save £400,000 by closing Stroud Maternity. I disagree. It has been reported that using the ‘Payment by Result’ formula which is recommended for Maternity Services by the Government, Stroud Maternity is viable and cost effective.

Closure of Stroud Maternity will mean:

* No birthing services in Stroud for the first time in 53 years, aside from homebirth
* Limited choice for places to have a baby – either homebirth or a consultant unit
* No extended postnatal stays for women giving birth in consultant units
* Potential redundancies for staff who work only in the Unit
* Projected drop in breastfeeding rates, and rise in levels of postnatal depression
* Problems of access for women and families without their own transport


Consultation process flawed

This consultation exercise has caused enormous anxiety and anger within the community. I have not found anyone from our community who supports these proposals. I understand that you have to make savings of about £40 million yet much, possible all of this debt is either historic or resulting from problems not of this areas making. In this consultation I have been unable to get an answer as to the reasons why this debt has been allowed to accumulate in this way nor why health authorities now have to suddenly balance the books despite these debts for many years.

The consultation does not give alternative options that the community can consider. One option and only one option that you are pushing through does not fit with my understanding of 'consultation'. The situation is made worse by the lack of available financial information in which we could even consider alternatives. Furthermore major re-organisation of our local health services is imminent and hasty decisions seem entirely inappropriate. I therefore do not consider that this consultation exercise is in line with the Government's guidelines.

Other key issues

- Proposals go against Government views that there should be more local centres and midwife lead units. The high quality local care is reflected in the many hundreds of personal stories and statistical evidence such as that 75 % of mothers leave the hospital breastfeeding their babies. Closing Stroud Maternity will lower breastfeeding rates and increase postnatal depression and increase readmissions to hospital due to lack of postnatal support. A larger service based in Gloucester is not able to deliver the same personal level of service.

- Evidence shows that giving birth in midwife-led, stand-alone units is safe and increases the chances of having a normal birth. Your assumption that 70% of pregnant women can be classified as moderate to high risk has been contested strongly from many sources: one expert view suggesting that 60% of women can expect a normal birth. However even if your figures are right they still show there is a very strong case for the current facilities to be retained in both Cheltenham and Stroud.

- If Stroud maternity closes, the costs to the NHS are likely to increase in the long term through unplanned homebirths, increased ambulance use to GRH, more epidurals and more ventouse and forceps deliveries and more caesarean sections.

- The closure of a neighbouring midwife-led unit in Malmesbury last year, has meant many women from the Cirencester area are also now using Stroud Maternity for birth: birthrate is rising – a record 365 births last year, including 49 homebirths. Around 44% of those were waterbirths, and around 30% of women had their own midwife as the main carer in labour. The publicity around saving the Hospital is likely to lead to further increased use.

- The proposals to cut eight midwife posts in Stroud make no sense when the number of women choosing a Home birth will increase and lead to more midwives being needed rather than less.

- The removal of health infrastructure undermines community development and regeneration efforts.

- There are huge implications of increased journeys for patients, carers and staff. Gloucester Royal is situated in a congested city where car parking is limited and expensive. The proposals will cause extra car journeys from people living outside Gloucester causing more greenhouse gas emissions. This will have an adverse impact on families and the environment. Stroud Maternity is particularly important to women who have no cars or have other difficulties in getting maternity care.

Recommendations based on the limited information available include:

- Administrating services on the three Hospital units could be amalgamated to saving money.

- Stroud Maternity Hospital must not close: viable midwife-led units should be maintained in both Stroud and Cheltenham, with obstetrics and neonatal care services in Gloucester on one site. This provides both saving of acute services ,and maintains equity of services for low risk women across the County.

Please send responses to:

The Consultation Coordinator
Cheltenham & Tewksbury Primary Care Trust
Unit 43, Central Way, Arle Road
Cheltenham, Glos. GL51 8LX
consultation@glos.nhs.uk

Richard James
Chief Executive
Costwold & Vale Primary Care Trust
Trust Headquarters, Cirencester Hospital
Tetbury Road, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1UX

Paul Lilley
Chief Executive
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, Trust Headquarters
1 College Lawn, Cheltenham Glos. GL53 7AG

Rt Hon. Patricia Hewitt, M.P.
Secretary of State for Health
Department of Health, Richmond House
79, Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS
email: hewittph@parliament.uk

Councillor Andrew Gravells
Chair Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Gloucestershire County Council,
Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TG
andrew.gravells@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Street lighting: turn off after 1.00am?

I have had suggestions that the street lighting in villages should be turned off after say 12.00 or 1.00am. I recognise exterior lighting is needed for safety and other reasons, and that changes have to be done with some care and consultation, but to me this is a win-win situation: tackling climate change emissions, reducing energy bills that look set to rise and tackling light pollution.

I have in the past raised the issue of growing light pollution in the UK. It is also apparently a growing source of complaints to local authorities and is impacting on the natural day/night behaviour of wildlife.

Gloucestershire County Council have produced a paper - not available to us until it goes to their Cabinet on 4th September - they are apparently looking at street lighting and also plan consultation. I have spoken with officers involved and written to the Cabinet Portfolio holder expressing hope that they will explore these options. There are also many new lighting systems on the market which are far more energy efficient and reduce light pollution. These can pay for themselves within a number of years.

Any thoughts?

A musical weekend - and press coverage

Saturday night at a neighbours' wonderful party - in their garden with live music, BBQ and a great veggie curry - then Sunday and an afternoon in the sun listening to more music at a Green party fundraising Garden party in Stroud - not normally the sort of Green party fundraiser but was so good that I am sure we'll do something similar again.

The musicians and the songs included Native American influences - I was particularly moved by the words of some - and some were right up to date talking about the threat of GM - the Government's latest moves to push GM are going almost unnoticed - did get a letter in Western Daily but press release hasn't been taken up.

At the neighbours party someone commented The Citizen was particularly good to the Greens - it has certainly got better - as in the past we've been largely ignored - indeed their are several copies of my letters to their editor challenging their 'censorship' last year prior to the elections - but do we get a fair whack now?

We are still not asked to comment on the big stories despite getting an average of 20% of the vote across the Stroud District - and the rare times we do get asked to comment are nearly always the traditional 'green' topics - I am sure it is for us to improve as well - to be more effective at getting our message across.....

Our letters do get into the paper - but certainly not all of them - the Glos Green party website carries many of them including the unpublished - we should be in much more often as it is now only the Greens that are the opposition on so many issues - calling a halt to further privatisation of our health services, opposition to GM, opposing the wars, calling for fairer taxes, challenging others on climate change etc etc. The other three parties are now so similar on most issues you can hardly tell them apart - just like Blair, Cameron is failing to call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, just like Labour, the Tories want more road building and airport expansion.....but more on the workings of press another time......we are certainly much more fortunate here in Gloucestershire than many other areas, with the quality of local journalism.

Vigil in Stroud and the Angel wish tree

Before the vigil in Stroud High Street I went to a coffee morning in Lower Street - wonderful choice of homemade cakes - and inspiring to see people rallying around to raise money for a friend who is very seriously ill. Infact it reinforced again how wonderful it is when people come together - and the vigil which I went onto afterwards was another example of that. Over 60 people standing but many more supporting the calls for an immediate ceasefire and end to the war in Lebanon.

See report and quote for press re vigil in Stroud.

Afterwards I went to one of my favorite cafes in Stroud - the Angel - and was very moved to see they had wishes being attached to the tree in their back courtyard - people writing whatever - I added mine and enjoyed their excellent coffee.

Talk to Stroud Civic Society in Sub Rooms

I was invited to give a presentation in the Subscription Rooms to the Stroud Civic Society of a radical new approach to reducing congestion and casualties: called Shared Spaces, this approach has many merits and I would urge those interested to click on the link to find out more. Last year I helped organise a conference at Ebley Mill that has led to increasing support to consider this new way of looking at traffic. I hope it might be applicable for use locally.

During the evening I was able to use a presentation put together by Sarah Lunnon, another Green party District councillor - although being a Mac user rather than PC user meant I was unable to order the slides in the way I would have liked - must sit down and learn! However it was great that the projector and laptop I borrowed all worked as planned - I am never a 100% happy relying on such equipment! Anyhow I am more than happy to talk to other groups about this approach.

Randwick's donkeys set to go

The three donkeys are set to leave Randwick in the next 2 weeks following the sale of the woods - initial reports were that they were moving to another field in Randwick so it is very sad to hear they will be moving to the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary. I can understand the reasons but I will miss stopping there with Lisa, my partner's grand-daughter and saying hello.

Eric Papps, the Queen, post offices and other local residents

Ruscombe resident Eric Papps attended the Queen's Garden party on 30th July with his sister-in-law. Eric, who lives in Zion Hill, has spent a large part of his life working for charity and was nominated by the RAF to attend the Garden party. I first met Eric in the fight to save Whiteshill post office - he was one of the leading people behind trying to save this important community resource. Sadly that battle was lost and while Paganhill post office was saved it is still under threat like most small post offices - please sign the petition if you haven't already.

This weeks' SNJ also carried a story about Robert Denton, 18, of Whiteshill and their amazing hike in Holland - 40,000 cadets walking - sadly the hike was abandoned due to the extraodinary heat that lead to 2 people dying and over 40 walkers hospitalised.

Meanwhile in The Citizen I read that Sam White from Randwick and a sixth former at Stroud's Downfield became the first student to carry out a work shadowing placement with politicians at Stroud District Council. Sam, 17 worked with council leader Chas Fellows, deputy leader Barbara Tait and several cabinet members, joining the meetings and discussing issues facing the council - I didn't come across him in the time he was there but am more than happy to share with any local students how the Council works - and on occasions doesn't!