The local elections are getting closer and already some candidates are getting out newsletters and more. The lobbying of candidates has also begun - yesterday I sent off a response re the PCS union - see answers to their three questions about public services and link to online petition here.Photo: Me on Selsey Common with Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill in background and Ebley, Cainscross and part of Stroud in foreground
Consultations
But usual Council stuff continues - not so many meetings but, as always, consultation documents to look at - this week spent many hours on the Sustainability Appraisal that the Council is producing - have to say I am disappointed with what the external consultants have produced - hopefully have Green party comments on the Glos Green party website by the weekend. This is important to engage with as it will be used with planning applications and at the moment it is v poor on sustainability grounds indeed.
Indeed despite the recent local Environment paper I can see there is much to be done with Officers and councillors - one exaample I followed up was that the Council's submission to the recent Post Office consultation about local post office closures failed to even mention climate change.
Next week need to make time for the consultation on Climate Change Bill - I've written to Officers to see how we can also engage in the Council's submission - they are listed by Defra specifically amongst some 100 plus others. Have to say all this is very, very time consuming - it is no wonder most councillors don't engage with these consultations - but then if we don't engage how can we ever change things??????
WaRbler Newsletter - submission / distribution dates
This is the new newsletter of the Whiteshilkl and Ruscombe Parish Council - the first issue was out a while ago and is available on the Parish website - it was agreed at the latest newsletter meeting that we will be using the following dates for future newsletters:
Issue- Copy Deadline- Printing Date
Easter 2007 - 23rd March - 30th March
Summer 2007 - 15th July - 22nd July
Autumn 2007- 13th October - 20th October
Christmas 2007 - 8th December - 15th December
If you have anything you would like included in the newsletter, please contact our editor - Dilys Warren on editor@whiteshillandruscombe.org.uk
Save Painswick library campaign
Click on 'library' label below for background to my involvement in trying to save this library from closure. It seems from reports in SNJ this week that all is not well - when members of the working party set up to secure the town's Grade II listed building presented their ideas at the parish council meeting they were challenged by some as being unrealistic. However the Parish have agreed to write to the county council, setting out the financial situation and its support for the working party.
2 comments:
As the local plan has been agreed what can be done to ensure that any large scale new builds incorporate sustainable technology. Surely ALL new housing should incorporate at the very least solar water heating. Should the ploicy on applications for LBC be eased to make it easy for solar panels on the properties. Orchard Leaze Old Sroud College site can we ensure as much sustainable features are built into these properties now. I assume full building consent has been given for these properties? Following on Mr Browns budget changes and the governments commitment also Cons Party to climate change issues that we make a stand NOW. I see ther is a big application for Hunts Grove. SDC need to ensur this is a model for a new sustainable community where at the planning stage Strret lighting layouts , Micro wind generation cycle lanes , suds ,waste recycling areas,etc.
I could not agree more with the last comment - I have been dismayed by the total lack of progress on this issue - Greens raised it years ago and have done repeatedly since - I find it extraordinarily shortsighted to build houses now that will just not be fit for the job in 20 years - we should be building houses to last - to cope with climate change and when oil runs out - Scandinavia Building Regs are way ahead of even our latest improvements.
You are right solar water heating at the very least plus max insulation, greywater etc etc.
As someone who sits on the Development Control Committee I am dismayed by our lack of powers to insist on anything green - indeed even when we have policies like SUDs they are not being made conditions of planning applications - I have raised this repeatedly - getting it added to 5 applications at the last committee!
The good news is that at last things are moving - all be it still too slowly - Greens pushed it in the recent Environment Green paper - so did many others - indeed we even raised it as questions in Full Council again just before Christmas - the current administration have now given a committment to implement a new policy and Government also have plans for carbon-nuetral developments - still too slow but at last things are moving!! And at least now there is a mood across most of the Council to act - we all need to ensure that mood leads to delivery - these regulations will only be the start - I'll add a blog shortly re the new Sustainable Scoping document.....more later but need coffee now!!
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