Blog Holiday

After some reluctance I have decided to stop this blog until 1st September - blogging can become addictive - it will be a chance to catch up on work, "spend time with the family" and hopefully also relax a bit more this summer. I hope the nearly 3,000 readers this last month will all return again when I pick up the mouse and set to work here again - have a good summer folks! All the best - Philip

Photo: View from Randwick earlier in year

PS I have removed the 'Comments' facility just for this period - it will be restored!

PPS Don't forget the exciting "Open Homes for a sustainable future" - 13th and 14th September 2008 - a chance to visit homes around Stroud and see renewable energy in action, discuss energy efficiency and get advice on eco-renovations. Download our leaflet and see details here:
www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk/

Response to letter in national magazine re Peak OIl

This weeks issue of First, the magazine that goes to all councillors had a letter calling for Councils to have their fuel costs subsidised by the Government...

Photo: advert from Green London Mayor campaign

...apart from the issue of whether that is fair when the NHS, charities and many others are also facing the same problem is another matter - clearly action will be needed as oil prices are already impacting on services - I did get a commitment from the Cabinet member for the Environment at SDC to consider looking at emergency measures re oil price rises. I am not sure it came to anything....if not I will be pressing again as I consider we are sleepwalking into serious problems...action now could help considerably...anyhow here is the letter:

Cllr John Garner requests that local authorities and the haulage industry are allowed to purchase the cheaper red diesel (first letters issue 390). It is true that many of us are being hit hard by rising fuel prices, but that is not the solution. The days of cheap oil are over: cutting fuel prices and increasing fuel consumption can only deepen the looming crisis.

Greens have been calling for action for years, yet many local authorities have hardly begun their Green Travel Plans let alone other measures. Only a handful of authorities are following Portland, Oregon's lead in considering Peak Oil and declining world oil production.

Stroud District for example now has an LSP Think Tank looking at how oil prices will impact on our services, businesses and communities. Much more is needed. We need to plan for at least a $200- barrel world: planning for anything less is criminally negligent.

Let us scrap the Road Tax and move the responsibility onto fuel duty to ensure the biggest polluters pay most. Then a windfall tax on excess oil company profits to seriously revolutionise our public transport network and build better cycle and walk routes. Plus support for local food schemes, Kirklees-style universal free insulation and more. We have many of the answers, we now need the leadership to bring them about.

Cllr. Philip Booth (Green), Stroud District Council

Call to abolish road tax and keep fuel duty

Various local papers have had letters and articles calling for the fuel duty to be reconsidered - below is the response I sent off yesterday...

You report some saying that our current fuel duty should be reduced. Indeed times are hard. Large rural areas like Gloucestershire, with uneven and costly public transport, have been hit particularly hard. However the days of cheap oil are well and truly over. Therefore cutting fuel prices and increasing fuel consumption can only deepen the looming crisis.

In the last year petrol and diesel consumption in the UK has already dropped by one fifth (i) and two thirds of motorists have cut their car journeys (ii).

Green campaigners have been calling for action for years, but it seems our Governments have chosen to listen to the oil lobby and their calls for more road building and more traffic. The inevitable result is that oil prices - and oil profits - rise. And the lobbyists demand that the rest of us pay for it through our taxes, or in cuts to services.

Let's face it, there is nothing on the horizon that is going to keep 30 million cars on the road. If we converted them all to battery power, we'd need to build 64 nuclear power stations to power them!

In the short-term a real 'Green' approach would scrap Road Tax, which would move the responsibility onto fuel duty and ensure the biggest polluters pay most. Then a windfall tax on excess oil company profits would seriously revolutionise our public transport network and build better cycle and walk routes. Indeed without an affordable and reliable public transport system more of us are going to find travelling increasingly difficult.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party.

Notes:
(i) According to the International Energy Agency (Observer, 29.6.08)
(ii) Steve Hawkes Surging petrol cost sparks big drop in car journeys The Times, 25th June 2008.

EU Directive on overseas health means further erosion of NHS

I had been meaning to write something on this Directive for a while - I finally got around to it this evening - here is my letter to The Citizen:

Photo: Greens at recent demo

The EU recently published its proposed controversial Directive on Health Services which would enable citizens of one EU country to go abroad to another member state to seek treatment (i).

This move is not as positive as it might seem at first sight. The way it is put together makes it a charter to allow unfair queue-jumping by the well-off and if passed will mark the end of the way we run healthcare in this country. Only the wealthy can use these new so-called rights and it will also impose unnecessary burdens of cost and bureaucracy, overrule clinical priorities and worsen health inequalities.

We are already seeing our NHS systematically dismantled and sold off to large healthcare providers to run on a profit-making business model. This move further encourages competition between health providers and over-rides the consideration of cost versus medical need.

The only Gloucestershire MP to sign a motion against the current form of the Directive is David Drew. However the Green party remain the only party to support the national "Keep our NHS public" campaign which is linking nurses, doctors and other health care workers to patients and others to stop further closures and privatisation. We must put a stop to this erosion of our NHS.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party.

Notes:
(i) See party group statements here and Open Europe's briefing on the EU Health Directive here.
(ii) EDM 526

Trident: Labour misled parliament

While we are on nukes - see last blog - I have to mention my anger at news that Ministry of Defence documents obtained by CND reveal the Government plans to replace Britain's nuclear warheads, despite Ministers repeatedly telling MPs that no decision would be taken until after the next election.

The shocking revelation came to light in a private speech to arms industry executives by a senior defence official. Whilst the Commons voted last year to replace the submarines that carry the UK's nuclear warheads on Trident missiles, the revelation that officials have been secretly telling the arms industry that the warheads will be replaced suggests that Parliament has been misled.

Words almost fail me - what does this Labour Government take us for? Where has democracy gone? While I have huge respect for David Drew who has opposed Trident's renewal I find it very hard to understand how he can remain a supporter of this Government? The Ministry of Defence has since denied it has agreed to spend £3bn on new nuclear warheads yet the documents clearly reveal a senior official told the arms industry a decision had already been made. And £3bn!!!! Think of what could be done to tackle climate change and fuel poverty with that....

Kate Hudson, Chair of CND, said: "Staffing at the Atomic Weapons Establishment has grown by a third in the last five years, with billions spent on new facilities, yet throughout this the Government has been telling MPs and the public that it would be years before any decision was needed. It is a disgrace that the MoD is secretly telling the defence industry one thing, whilst Ministers are saying quite the opposite to Parliament."

Anyhow talking of nukes - regular blog readers will know I have had contact from hunger strikers protesting in Prague at support for the US defence shield...see more here and here below is an update from CND:

On a recent visit to Prague, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed a treaty agreeing a US Missile Defence radar base in the Czech Republic. However the Treaty will be subject to ratification in the Czech Parliament after the Summer, with the government only able to rely on 100 of the 200 seats. However of those 100, six are members of the Green Party who want to wait until the US elects a new President.

Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has recently met with US under-secretary of State, Daniel Fried in Warsaw for more talks on the US Missile Defence system.

Recently a transcript of a heated discussion between the President Kaczynski and Foreign Minister Sikorski appeared in a Polish newspaper, where Kaczynski accused the government of holding secret talks with Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama. Kaczynski believes that the tough stand the government is taking over the shield is a delaying tactic until after George Bush steps down as president. Negotiations have yet to be concluded as, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, his government is not convinced that the terms of the deal will make Poland more secure. Among other requests, Warsaw is demanding the permanent stationing of Patriot missiles in Poland. Despite recent speculation it has been denied by a spokesperson of Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus that Lithuania had agreed to have elements of the U.S. missile defence system deployed on its territory after talks stalled between Washington and Warsaw last month.

Four Nuke leaks as French company buy British Energy

Too many French nuclear workers are being contaminated with low doses of radiation - that is the claim of an independent research group on atomic safety on Thursday, a day after the latest incident in southern France ...

The Independent Commission on Research and Information on Radioactivity (CRIIRAD) also said a growing number of French nuclear workers were complaining about worsening working conditions and their likely impact on safety: "In less than 15 days, the CRIIRAD has been informed of four malfunctions in four nuclear plants, leading to the accidental contamination of 126 workers. This is the first time I have seen so many people being contaminated in such a short period of time."

There are fears of ground-water being contaminated as well as the workers - indeed the Government have ordered investigations at all 58 nuclear reactors in France. Meanwhile we learn that French government owned EdF are set to buy British Energy who are based in Gloucester and own Hinkley Point B and seven other UK nuclear power stations. Here is the comment from Stop Hinkley:

The news was reported today that EdF look set to increase their bid in partnership with British Gas owners, Centrica from £10 billion two months ago to £12 billion. Stop Hinkley campaigners are concerned about poor maintenance at nuclear plants operated by EdF's sister company Areva (2) which this week led to one hundred nuclear workers becoming contaminated at a reactor near Avignon. The same reactor four weeks ago leaked uranium from an underground pipe forcing water usage bans in the area. Two other safety events have occurred in other Areva owned French plants in the last month.

Hinkley B is plagued with internal corrosion problems which could be exarcerbated with similar maintenance short-cuts. Hinkley's reactor core weight loss is over 25% according to safety inspectors, nearby boiler tubes were found to have extensive weld faults, the reactor support struts were found to be suffering from too much radiation and the reactor's last shut-down system is missing.

EdF was recently the target of anti-nuclear demonstrations at its partly built new reactor at Flamanville in northern France. Protestors, appalled at safety regulator's reports of badly mixed concrete in the reactor's foundations blockaded local quarries preventing sand deliveries to the plant for 30 hours.

The EdF move will bring Hinkley Point C and possibly Hinkley D a step nearer. EdF recently bought up land adjoining the Hinkley site. Acquiring the additional British Energy land would probably give EdF room to build two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs). The land acquisition controversially included several fields earmarked for a nine turbine wind-farm plus some more from a neighbouring land-owner. The land is currently being tested by EdF for suitability for nuclear new build.

The likely £4 billion profit the UK government will make as a 35% shareholder in British Energy will probably go to the Nuclear Liabilities Fund and held temporarily in government bonds (see Rebert Peston's log, link below). The NLF will require many tens of billions to decommission the ageing British Energy reactors. This fund is separate from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority who are cleaning up Sellafield and the older Magnox stations (like Hinkley A) at a cost of £83 billion.

The Government took the third share of British Energy in 2003 as part of a rescue deal when the company almost became bankrupt, just seven years after privatisation. British Energy had bought eight nuclear power stations for the price of one in the Thatcher-driven sell off in 1996.

Jim Duffy Coordinator of Stop Hinkley said: "This worries me for many reasons. Hinkley B's age related problems mean it should shut down now but the new owners are likely to keep milking it with an ever increasing risk of an accident. EdF's recent accident record gives me no confidence. If their errors are repeated, the local shorelines could become more radioactive affecting populations from Minehead to Burnham-on-Sea.

"Reports of their substandard new construction work which might apply to Hinkley C or D if they get the go-ahead are also extremely concerning. Nuclear is not a safe option, leaving us with a toxic legacy and will not help solve climate change. The government should press ahead with its promises for clean renewable energy, giving us three times the electricity we now get from nuclear."

Petition to stop threat of losing thousands of unrecorded rights of way

In 2000 the Countryside and Rights of Way Act imposed a deadline of 2026 for the recording of all historic rights of way onto the definitive maps (which are the legal record of all public rights of way) including those which can be used by horse riders.

Photo: Orchid from a few weeks ago

The Government funded a project to assist with the research of this historic routes (The Discovering Lost Ways Project). This project has now been stopped and has not added one single new route onto the map despite still acknowledging that there are an estimated 20,000 lost ways - yet the deadline of 2026 remains. The Government are now talking about establishing "an independently chaired Stakeholder Working Group of key national stakeholders to develop an agreed package of measures that will achieve real and lasting progress in recording rights of way."

However at the moment it would seem to be that organisations such as The British Horse Society, Ramblers etc and their associated volunteers only have 18 years to find all of the routes which have historically been used by walkers and horse riders. Once this deadline has passed, these routes, which may have existed for hundreds of years but have not been legally recorded, will be lost to us for ever.

18 years sounds like an awfully long time but it's not. Glos County Council as noted in an earlier blog will now look into the claim of a local footpath from Callowell Farm to Stratford Road - see my blog here - but it wont be quick - there are some 129 claims outstanding already in Glos. I am seeking info obn how they prioritise - as this footpath would open up a very useful safer route from Ruscombe/Whiteshill to Stratford Road and Stratford Park. Currently some 78% of Stratford Park Leisure Centre users come by car or motorbike. It would also be another route for people travelling into Stroud.

Discovering lost rights of way is a time consuming and lengthy process and now that there is no Government funding or personnel behind the wider project many are concerned for the long term future expansion of the rights of way network. To this end can you consider adding your signature to the Petition which has been set up by the Ramblers' Association calling for the Government to remove the deadline of 2026. See petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/repeal2026/

More orchard celebrations: Cherry Aid and Edwina Bridgeman

Thanks to a comment today on my recent post about hopes to set up a local community orchard (see here) I was alerted to Cherry Aid - apparently 19th July was 'Celebrate British Cherry day' - I missed that but celebrated cherries this year with a punnet full of cherries from a small cherry tree I have in a dustbin near the front door - and v yummy they were - and the birds only had a few....anyhow I welcome such moves as I had no idea that in 50 years we’ve lost 90% of our Cherry orchards and now import around 95% of the Cherries we eat.
CherryAid aims to...
- Get everyone to bite into at least one British-grown Cherry this year
- Save our remaining traditional Cherry orchards
- Encourage the planting of new Cherry orchards
- Encourage producers to use British-grown Cherries
- Encourage chefs, restaurateurs and home-cooks to use British-grown Cherries

Another way of getting across the wonders of orchards was an exhibition earlier this year at the New Brewery Arts in Cirencester – this really was an amazing exhibition - Artist Edwina Bridgeman’s touring exhibition, The Orchard, covered all aspects of orchards from apple picking to cider making - the central installation was a gated orchard, with three trees, a ladder, an apple box and a grazing animal as well as a host of other hidden wildlife, combined to create a space that visitors can enter to enjoy the thought-provoking surroundings. The trees are made from workaday materials, often thrown away, containing objects and painted narratives about the history and folklore of orchards and apple-growing.

As well as Bridgeman’s re-creation of her experience of being in the contemplative surroundings of an orchard, the stories and experiences of others are also included to make 25 additional pieces of mixed material work. She also invited visitors to make their own statements.

If you can catch that exhibition do so - I first saw the figures this artist made some years ago - totally inspiring - indeed can remember the exhibition and conversations and even cafe afterwards - this Orchard exhibition is equally great.

Incinerator faces direct action

Glos Greens have supported the campaign against the Newhaven incinerator in Sussex (see here and use search engine on Glos Green party site for more) - construction on the highly controversial incinerator plant has now begun.

However I hear this week that Stop Incineration Now!' activists have taken over the site of the proposed new incinerator plant in Newhaven (see photo). They apparently entered the premises under the cover of darkness in an organised attempt at non-violent direct action, after resistance through democratic means failed them. Several protestors formed a barricade by superglue-ing themselves to the road in an attempt to prevent vehicle access, whilst on the site itself, other members of the group 'locked-on' to machinery in order to halt further activity. They claim to be exercising their democratic right to protest non-violently in a last-ditch attempt to promote their concerns about the consequences of incinerators on public health and safety.

Let us hope that Glos County Council don't make the same mistakes by going for a monster incinerator to deal with our waste.

Background: Amidst a storm of controversy and fierce opposition from local residents concerned about pollution and health risks, construction of the incinerator by Veolia (Onyx) began early in June this year despite the fact that planning permission had not been officially approved and a judicial review of the process was still incomplete. Angry at what they saw as a direct attack on the health of the public and a lack of transparency throughout the planning process, local Newhaven campaign group Dove2000 fought to keep the issue in the public eye and generated 15,000 written objections to the scheme. By last year alone the cost of the project had soared to £145.7 million, with Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council having collectively invested at least £2 million in legal fees to bring the project beyond the planning stage. There are a further 100-168 incinerators planned for use in the UK, though it appears that the Stop Incineration Now! network of protestors are determined to assert their belief that this money could be more advantageously spent on recycling initiatives to combat waste management problems more sustainably without creating further environmental problems for present and future generations. The activists from Stop Incineration Now! who made a 65foot high protest from a crane came down on Wednesday night.

Greens at Tolpuddle

Various friends joined the Tolpuddle Martyr's annual festival - see here - and see more re history and museum here. On February 24th, 1834, six farm labourers from the Dorset village of Tolpuddle were arrested on a charge of taking part in an 'illegal oath' ceremony.

Photo: Derek Wall, Green party Principal Speaker with Ricky leading this part of the march - and below Derek delivering a speech to the festival

The real offence was that they had dared to form a trade union to defend their livelihood. For this they were sentenced to seven years' transportation to the penal colonies of Australia. The sentences provoked an immense outcry, leading to the first great mass trade union protest. The campaign won free pardons and the Martyrs' return to England. A historic episode in the struggle for trade unionists' rights in Great Britain. To commemorate the bravery of the martyrs' struggle against poverty and authority, this annual festival features music, speakers and family entertainment. Here's Ricky's letter:

Dear Sir,

It is a sad fact that there are now more families living in poverty in the UK than during the divisive days of Thatcher. The minimum wage, achieved after prolonged impasse, is just that – a bare minimum. As the cost of essentials, energy, food, utilities, rocket, as house-prices collapse yet the cost of a mortgage doesn’t, this bare minimum is leading to real hardship.

Despite this part of England being a tourist haven, a wonderful place to retire to and a magnet for potential second-home owners, there would appear to be very little “trickle-down” of the wealth brought into the area; rural wages remain very low, the cost of living is spiralling and many families are having to struggle just to get by.

Last week, many of us would have passed colleagues, friends, neighbours standing on the picket-line, stoically representing their demand for a fair wage. They cannot vote for their own increase like MP’s, they cannot bring the country to its knees because of complete reliance on the delivery of petrol, they cannot book an appointment with the boss. They have to rely on their Trade Union.

Anyone who has ever been forced to take strike action, and this includes the police, nurses, teachers, firemen, knows that once you go on strike, the level of public support for your cause plummets. Who’s going to protect us from crime, look after the infirm, teach the kids, put out the fire? It is never an easy choice to go on strike, not just because of the loss of pay, not just because it sets worker against worker sometimes – but because workers do not like NOT doing the work they are employed to do.

These points and others were well made by Tony Benn in his key-note speech at Tolpuddle last weekend. Members of the South West Green Party proudly made their way to Dorset for this extraordinary annual commemorative event, this year more popular than ever, to join fellow Trade Unionists and work place activists from all over the world. The Green Party Principal Male Speaker, Dr Derek Wall, was one of the guest speakers on the Sunday.

It was for daring to ask for more, that the six Tolpuddle Martyrs were put on trial, imprisoned and then deported to Australia as convicts. It was their subsequent pardon that led to the growth of our Trade Union movement, which has been campaigning ever since for workers' rights, a fair wage and improved conditions. Tolpuddle was a fitting place to be after the two days of action undertaken nationally by members of the public service Unions. Improved pay and conditions will never be offered – they have to fought for, continually.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Ricky Knight - Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon
South West Green Party Lead Candidate for 2009 European Elections

Randwick Parish meeting, Elfins, Safe Water and Telephone boxes

Time has caught up again - I had wanted to share various bits but just don't have the time this week so here are a few bits....

Randwick Parish meeting last week - I was able to raise a few issues - including my frustration at being unable to get any real action relating to several Highways issues just outside the ward - eg the collapsing wall in Westrip Lane (see here) - it has been assessed several times but why no action? The Parish had another meeting last week to look at it again. I know I am not a County Councillor but if I was a member of the public I would expect at least a response to my emails? Indeed similar could be said about my complaint twice now re the footpath near Wheelers Walk - it now seems to smell of sewage (see here). At least with this I had an acknowledgement of my email but still no response from County in over a month. Is this a lack of funding or what? Anyhow more action planned on those ones and the Randwick Runner will no doubt have a summary of the meeting...

Willow Elfins - another meeting last week was in Stratford Park playground with parents and children of the Elfin Woodcraft group - we organised a very draft plan for next term - there are spaces for children and we could do with more leaders - see more by clicking on label below.

Safe Water Campaign - last week I went to the Stroud meeting to consider the latest re our campaign against water fluoridation. Several exciting ideas have been put forward - and much needed as Hampshire seem to be pushing ahead with their plans and ignoring local opposition - indeed they have put together a quite extraordinary biased case - see press item I added to the blog here. I also managed to add a video of the chorus of the protest song here.

Telephone boxes - regular blog readers will know that Westrip Lane and Ludlow Green boxes are proposed to be removed - Stroud District Council has now completed the First consultation on the proposed removal of all the 51 public payphones. They apparently had a good response from the public - although I've not had any contact over this issue. They have substantial evidence for retention of at least 45 of the public payphones. The remaining 6, have been objected to their removal in principle. In a cover letter to the State Secretary and BT it was emphasised that many of the phones (in the past year) had been changed from coin to card; cards are often not available; and whilst mobile phone ownership is reported as high, this may not be the case in semi-rural areas. The Final consultation runs from 23rd July - 22nd August 2008. Do visit the website to make comments: www.stroud.gov.uk/payphone or obtain a form through the Hotline number 01453 754092. Details of objections:
1. 01453 764946 Ludlow Green, Ruscombe, Stroud GL6 6DG Object: Historic significance
2. 01453 763370 At Westrip Farm, Westrip, Stroud GL6 6HA Object: Close proximity to social housing – highly unlikely to afford phones, 200m from Cotswold Way – assists walkers, Historic significance.

A local community orchard or farm?

News on British farming is rarely cheery - on top of ever worsening news of a world food crisis this news item below is deeply shocking:

UK farming could soon be a thing of the past unless training is overhauled to attract new recruits. Lantra, the sector skills council for environmental and land-based trades, put forward this doomsday scenario, pointing out that 15,900 farming jobs are being lost every year and that 38% of the agricultural workforce is expected to retire within the next 10 years.

Photo: Humphreys End Orchard and below my onions flowering - What causes bulb onions to send up flower stalks? Apparently several things but usually the most prevalent is temperature fluctuation - something we have seen too much of - however while I only got a few onions I did at least get a wonderful display of the flowers!

What will happen in the future? Just as we are really going to need all those skills and knowledge? Our Government has had a deliberate written policy that seeks to import our food - this skills shortage is a direct result of that policy - there are now at last signs that food security is being discussed - still no action yet - but let us hope that leads to a serious look at supporting British farming. Peak oil and climate change are set to increase transport costs and risks to food supplies - we know GM is not the answer as discussed previously on this blog (see here).

Local food solutions?

Regular blog readers will know that I am a fan of projects like Community Supported Agriculture - these will be part of the answer to rebuilding local economies and food supplies - we are fortunate to have a couple of projects locally - see here - however both could benefit from more support - and one is looking for another farmer (see more here).

Allotments are another part of the answer to providing local food - indeed we now have 6 residents in Whiteshill and Ruscombe who have formally requested the Parish to look at the options - I don't hold out much hope immediately but I am confident the pressures will grow - land could be found. See more here from a previous blog re allotments generally. I've also sought to pressure on the Cashes Green Hospital site to ensure many allotments are reinstated there - again we'll see.

Another part of the answer is to grow more food at home - here again we need to question current policies that constantly allow gardens to be built over - sometimes squeezing in several homes - and how do we re-skill people - I met one person yesterday who ended up looking after a neighbours tomato plants last year and when she realised how easy it was and how much fun she went out and got herself a greenhouse.

Anyhow last night I met with a local farmer to discuss options locally - this is an issue I have raised before - see here - Several ideas were muted along CSA lines but also like the urban food projects of WEN (Women's Environmental Network), city farms and community gardens or perhaps a coop. More research is needed but it is possible that we will be able to put together a proposal to start some form of Community Fruit project.

We are lucky to already have a local community orchard - a Parish Council initiative that is literally starting to bear fruit! See more here. However this project could be about linking a set of householders who may or may not pay something and participate in looking after the orchard/fruit in return for a share of the fruit? We are at very early days but do get in touch if you are interested in exploring further. Hopefully in October we will have more info about the next step.

Anyway to finish for now see a great 25 minute video here about permaculture garden.

Bee Colony Collapse; has HAARP a role?

Regular blog readers will know I have covered lots in this blog re the disturbing Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (Click on 'bees' label below). There is much speculation about the causes of this - and indeed I have covered some of those - this blog takes a brief look at another possible cause?

HAARP transmissions accidently jamming the bees homing ability - "HAARP??" I hear some cry. "Whats that?"

Well see more on the Wiki here - but basically it stands for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program and is an investigation project to "understand, simulate and control ionospheric processes that might alter the performance of communication and surveillance systems."

Now I heard last year from a local bee expert who was convinced it had a role to play - this evening an email just came in from another bee guy who sent the link to this article below - now I don't know if it does have a role but it could well be playing a part.

Here we show that a U.S. military radio transmitter (ionospheric heater) array, the most powerful in the world, transitioned to full power in 2006 and reception of signals transmitted cover the same region as the Colony Collapse Disorder. The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Project is an antenna array located in Alaska. It a congressionally initiated program jointly managed by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. The Array has been used to conduct numerous ionospheric and radio wave propagation research studies over the past decade. One project study conducted in 1997 showed the radio transmission range was only received in North America and Europe. This Array transitioned to full power and military use just prior to the summer of 2006 with an increase in output from 9.6 kilowatts to 3.6 megawatts. The corresponding timing and range with the Colony Collapse Disorder suggests recent transmissions from the array could be the most likely cause of the bee problem. See article full here.

Nuke costs rise and still 369 UK restricted farms

As nuke waste costs rise by another £10 billion the local Green party ask if David Drew will abandon his support for this dangerous and uneconomic industry - see Martin Whiteside's letter today here - and see here for the call last week to end plans to build more nukes.

Photo: Another from 'local scribbler Russ' - like this one!

It was only three weeks ago we had three reports on the monitoring of sheep at farms remaining under post-Chernobyl restrictions. As a result of the surveys:

* two farms in Scotland have been de-restricted - leaving five under restriction
* no farms were recommended for de-restriction in Cumbria - with nine farms remaining under restriction

It was impossible to conduct any surveys in North Wales last year, due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. For thsoe who don't rememember what this is about - in 1986, an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former USSR (now Ukraine) released large quantities of radioactivity into the atmosphere. Some of this was deposited on certain upland areas of the UK where sheep are farmed. In order to protect the health of consumers, restrictions were placed on the movement and sale of sheep from areas of the UK where contamination levels in sheep meat were over 1,000 Becquerels (a measure of radioactivity) per kilogramme - the safety limit set in 1986. Then in 1986, almost 9000 farms were under these restrictions in the UK. Since then, the levels of radioactivity have fallen in some of the affected areas. The number of farms still under restriction in Cumbria, Scotland and Wales is now 369.

Mention of Chernobyl is important as there are some indepnedent scientists who think Oldbury and other nukes still going carry serious risks - last October we had John Large at a public meeting saying: "Potentially an accident at Oldbury would have the same outcome as Chernobyl." See more here. Let us hope the Government wakes up to the economic realities of nuclear - although the signs are not good - indeed they already look set to be going back on their promise not to subsidise it....

Total Politics and which is your best blog?

It is blog voting time again for political blogs - and the national competition is being organised by Iain Dale - see details here. The votes for that can only be from the Total Politics listing - I see they have 80 Green blogs and curiously got mine twice - anyhow there is much good stuff amongst them - see here: www.totalpolitics.com/politicalblogs/ Meanwhile Jim Jepps is compiling the top 20 Green blogs - see here.

Photo: next door neighbours kittens - nothing to do with this post but dead cute

But I wanted to mention Total Politics in this blog entry. This is a new magazine out aimed at anyone interested in politics - as a councillor I got a complementary issue - ahhhh the perks of councillor life! Anyhow I have to confess to being grossly underwhelmed by the first issue - indeed it actually put me off the whole lot of it - with stories like cars politicians drive and how Tories should dress to impress - it also seemed to be full of the techniques to win elections...with a story from Boris Johnsons campaign man on how to win, managing your reputation online, how to use the internet, facebook etc - and worst of all the headline "Why negative campaigning works."

The latter had no analysis on the damage that negative campaigning does - yes of course politicians have to define and publicise how a they are different, what contrasts them etc but where are the issues? Where is the debate about developing a real and meaningful democracy?

The second issue of Total Politics arrived today - another complimentary issue - one article says a large segment of the population don't feel the three main parties understand their concerns - is this any surprise with the likes of negative campaigning and nonsense we get from the main political parties and the media - however even more worrying is the fact that when asked what are the big issues, 17% chose economy/inflation while only 7% chose the environment. This is surely an indication of the level of failure of the three main parties to put climate change - which they acknowledge is the greatest threat we face - at the heart of everything they do - yet instead we get debate about whether we should build a runway at Heathrow. There is no debate we must reduce flying not increase it....

Anyhow I warmed a little to the second issue of Total Politics with it's comment piece on tackling sleaze and I will read more this evening as no meeting tonight - wonderful!! However I fear this magazine could just reflect the nonsense of our political system rather than take a lead...if they want me to shell out my own dosh they will have to do better!

Victory on basketball ring

See most recent blog on basketball here for background. On that blog entry I was concerned to learn that Stratford Park might loose it's basketball rings - I sought info from the District Council Officers and indeed it appears it was threatened certainly for the summer. However in addition to the letter I wrote several letters were received by the Council from users of the basketball there including at leats one from a Ruscombe resident.

Photo: sent by a friend but no name of photographer - apols for that lack of credit - do feel sorry for that little chick being sat on!

I have since met with one of the Officers and it seems we have a victory - this is what I got yesterday: "Just to let you know that one of the Basketball rings is being installed between the new ‘Skateboard Park’ (which is now due to be completed in mid August) and the bottom tennis courts by this Wednesday. The plan is then to put down some basket ball markings on the grass surface in the next week or so, whilst a scheme is being drawn up to put down a hard surface of roughly half court size. This will probably take place in September when the students have returned to School or College."

Well done to those who wrote in and well done to the Council for listening.

Response at last to questions re Emergency Procedures

In January I attended an Emergency procedures workshop and afterwards submitted a series of key questions - I have asked three or four times for a response and finally last week I got a reply - hardly the answers I wanted but the answers I expected - see the original questions here - but then the County only have certain responsibilities.

Photos: walk yesterday up to Randwick

To me this secrecy over Emergency Planning around nuclear is very worrying - I have been unable to obtain info about whether they even have stocks of potassium iodate tablets held locally - let alone if they could be distributed in the time required....anyhow here are the answers given...I will respond but don't hold out much hope for any answers...

1. Increasing Awareness of Emergency Procedures
EMS has developed a Community Response Plan template and in partnership with the District Councils has held a number of workshops for Parish Councils/Community Groups to promote community resilience and encourage them to develop their own community plans. A workshop was held for the Stroud Parish Councils on 11 February.

2. Hexafluorosilic acid on our Roads
Gloucestershire County Council responded to the Safe Water Campaign letter in June 2005. The emergency services are aware of the dangers of this acid and would deal with the incident. The local authority would arrange for the disposal of the contaminated waste and the transportation and disposal of the waste would be agreed with the Environment Agency at the time.

3. Nuclear Incident
The County Council Berkeley Nuclear Power Station off-site plan provides the basis for dealing with radiation emergencies that are not reasonably foreseeable through the concept of extendibility.

3.1 Terrorism
The police have responsibility for planning for terrorist attacks so I am unable to provide the information you requested.

3.2 Protective Suits
I am unable to provide information on the police protective suits. The local authority do not have any NBC suits and they would not be allowed entry to an area with a radiation hazard.

3.3 Toxicity Exposure levels
This is not an issue as local authority staff will not be allowed entry to an area with a radiation hazard.

3.4 Attendance at Nuclear Incidents
Same answer as in 3.3 above.

3.5 Potassium Iodate Tablets
Not issued as only 6 residents within PIZ for Berkeley. Public Health would supply if required and also in the event of an incident from outside the County where extendibility arrangements came into being.

3.6 Emergency Plan
Off-Site plan for Berkeley Nuclear Power Station prepared in 2002 following consultation with all relevant stakeholders as recommended in Regulation 9(12). The plan is reviewed annually and tested every 3 years as required by REPIR regulations. There is no requirement to make the plan publicly available. Public within PIZ are consulted by way of an Annual Calendar giving emergency safety advice and the plan contains information advice that would be released to all members of the public in the event of a radiation emergency.

4. Flood Crisis Management
Stronger measures regarding public movement could only be made at national government level. I believe that existing procedures for providing public health information is sound.

Gloucestershire LRF has developed a Water Distribution Plan and all local authorities have been consulted and agreed where bowsers will be sited for any future disruptions.

Reopen footpath Callowell Farm to Stratford Road

Since covering the story of the hopes to reopen a local footpath from Callowell Farm to Stratford Road I have been looking more into the matter - see my original blog here.

Photo: terrible reproduction of Chas Townleys maps - see link below to see various old maps showing route

Town councillor Chas Townley has submitted the claim as a Bridleway - on the basis that it can then be used by cyclists - the evidence to support the bridleway or higher status seems good but is less robust than the evidence for a footpath which as far as I can see is 100% for part of the route - the 1821 diversion - and close to a 100% for the remainder.

The County apparently originally responded that they had no intention of taking any action to remove the obstuctions until they had dealt with the modification order on the basis that no highway existed until they made a modification order. Some mistake must have occurred somewhere as that can't be so as it would be illegal. Indeed I understand that they have now moved to a position that on the basis of the evidence available to them at this point is that it is not a highway and as a consequence they will not take any action until the modification order is processed.

Stroud Town Council have supported the Modification Order application and asked for the obstructions to be removed. They also agreed to write to the District and the farmer.

Chas has provided some excellent info to back his case with maps etc - see below and the link to download much more. In the meantime I have asked Ruscombe and Whiteshill Parish Council to consider the matter and will be writing myself to District and County councils.

Right of Way Callowell Farm to Stratford Road - An investigation statement by Chas Townley My attention to the possiblity of the existence of a public right of way between Callowell Farm and Stratford Road has arisen from the fact that a path or track is shown Victorian ordnance survey mapping and this statement sets out information to assist the County in deciding whether a modification order should be made. The evidence that a “footroad” between Callowell Farm and what is now Stratford Road was diverted by the Quarter Sessions in 1821 is so firm that unless a further legal event has taken place the County Council is bound to make a modification order for a Footpath, however, the question for the County Council in deciding to make a modification order is whether a highway of a different class is “reasonably alleged to exist” and on that basis the County Council has to consider whether the there are grounds for adding this highway at a higher status. My view is that on the balance of probabilities there are grounds for the County Council to consider recording it as a Restricted Byway.

See Chas Townley's excellent case here:
www.stroud-history.org.uk/downloads.php?cat_id=4

UKs shameful vote on Ivory trade?

The UK's vote last week in Geneva to allow China to become an official buyer of stockpiled African elephant ivory has been described by some Greens as representing 'a hideous stain on the UK's wildlife conservation record' (see here). China is already the world's largest destination for illegal ivory and this licensing decision will only serve to increase the market for this brutal trade.

Photo: Ivory pic from Traffic website

Wildlife groups like the highly respected International Fund for Animal Welfare have shown that poachers go into action when there is talk of approved legal sales, which they can use as a 'smokescreen'. They argue that our Government and the other world leaders failure to act, will mean we can expect the illegal slaughter of endangered elephants across Africa to continue.

The WWF and Traffic have cautiously supported the Government's move - certainly this is a complex issue of balancing least bad options. I personally don't know if the move is good or bad - I would need to study it much more deeply - certainly this move does seem to fail to reduce the trading opportunities for illegal hunters despite assurances - and I wonder if this is about political cowardice and a preoccupation with putting economic interests with China above all other considerations? Certainly this blog has discussed similar trades in diamonds and gold - and the record is not good (see here).

I would like to see a lot more being done to raise awareness around this issue - meanwhile I have a small inherited carved ivory object - what to do with it? It has beauty but at the same time this is probably the result of one of these beautiful beasts being killed. I certainly won't sell and add to the trade nor can I throw it away - thoughts on this dilemma welcomed.

Glos waste discussed

I had all sorts of plans about writing up a very comprehensive summary of the Waste Advisory Panel meeting at the District Council last week - I was one of the two Greens represented on the all-party panel to look at what will happen to our waste - however time is catching up on me so here will only be the highlights - minutes will probably be available - and I am more than happy to discuss if anyone has specific queries.

Photo: above the waste from a family who are trying to go zero - this pic was taken from their Zero Waste website - see more at end of this blog about that site

One of the key purposes of the meeting was to set the scene and to participate in a consultation process by consultants of Glos County Council looking at approaches to waste. There was much useful discussion but I have to say that there were several areas of deep concern;

1. Parishes missed from consultation: the Parishes who had expressed an interest in waste - interestingly the 5 closest to the proposed Javelin Park site - had submitted papers but for some reason were not invited to a consultation - this seems very strange indeed - I have asked for more info making the point that if there was not a good reason such a move would be shocking and add to the doubt in many people's minds that the decision has already in effect been made and that the consultation process is not real.
2. Categories within the consultation: part of the process was to rate aspects like cost and flexibility but the seemingly arbitrary ways that categories were lumped together made assessment very difficult - hence the process starts to loose any real meaning.
3. Meaning of categories: worse still you could look at an issue like cost and assume it means all costs - but no wait - it is much more complex - stuff like transporting all the waste to one site in Glos rather than several local sites is not included!! This means rising oil prices in this case are just not taken into account. There were other similar examples.
4. Climate change: most shameful of all was the lack of a specific category considering climate change - how is this possible? I made the strongest point possible on this and was somewhat reassured that other consultations so far had also had this issue raised.

Anyhow while I came out unhappy with the way the consultation was organised - I do accept it is an enormously difficult thing to do - and at least the County is trying - and I still want to believe that this is a genuine consultation - and I do at least have confidence in those doing the consultation to take back the concerns that we raised. I've discussed this issue of waste lots previously on this blog - see here for a look at some of the key issues or click on labels below.

At the moment a third of households in Stroud District do not recycle - it is clear that unless things improve then all taxpayers will have to foot the ever-increasing bill - as I said at the meeting it is very disappointing that the County did not have some urgency on this issue some years ago - we then would not be in such a mess. It is going to take some brave moves if we are to do the right thing for ourselves and future generations and not go for one large incinerator at Javelin Park - to do that really would be the wrong decision.

Kamikatsu - 34 categories

One example of good practice that got a mention was Kamikatsu, a small community in the hills of eastern Japan, which is leading on "Zero Waste". Residents there now have to compost all their food waste and sort other rubbish into 34 different categories! See Kamikatsu covered by the BBC here - infact there are no waste collections from households at all. Kitchen waste has to be composted. Non-food waste is processed either in local shops which accept goods for recycling or in Kamikatsu's Zero Waste Centre. There, people have to sort their unwanted items into 34 different boxes for recycling. The scheme was adopted when councillors realised it was much cheaper than incineration - even if the incinerator was used to generate power.

Infact zero waste is now the aim of quite a number of companies and indeed countries like New Zealand - why not for Glos? And they are not using 34 categories! There are many different ways to work towards zero waste. I recently came across this blog of a family doing their bit - well worth a look - indeed inspiring and ordinary stuff -= just what we need:
http://myzerowaste.com/

Open Homes for a sustainable future: childrens poster competition

Here are details of a local summer poster competition which is part of publicising the Open Homes project - see more here: www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk/

Photo: First turbine on residential property in Stroud - see it as part of Open Homes

I seem to have been spending alot of time on this project over recent weeks - but have now got loads of info, leaflets, posters etc out to local press, organisations and websites - even today got the visitors feedback forms and signs to the homes printed - need to deliver them this week - anyhow interest seems strong in this project so I hope folk will get involved and it will encourage more to take energy efficiency and renewable measures.....below is the poster competition which a fellow Transition Stroud member is running....

Dear Teachers/Parents On Saturday 13th September an exhibition will be held at Randwick Village Hall as part of the Stroud Open Homes for a Sustainable Future (Download a leaflet and see more here) and we would like to invite children to take part. The purpose of this day is to encourage people to visit various homes in the Stroud local area which already have energy saving, energy generation or are heated by renewable energy. We will also have advice on grants and money off at Randwick Village Hall on 13th September.

We would like to invite children to help us to make this a truly family event by contributing posters or other art works that depict methods of saving or creating energy or other resources at home. There are many ways this is being done already; Low energy or energy saving devices, Natural light designs, Solar heat house design, Super insulation, Wind turbines etc.

We hope that children will want to contribute their creativity and in exchange the Green Shop will display the best entries at Randwick Village Hall on Saturday 13th September 2008, and award prizes to the best entries. Please note name, address and age on poster and either bring to hall on 13th September between 10.30 and 11am or send to Open Homes, 2 The Laurels, Bread Street, Ruscombe, Stroud. Maximum 2 entries per child either A3 or A4 size. Thank you. Transition Stroud - Open Homes www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk/ For further info call Greg Dance on 01453 752068

MPs Peak Oil report out - and the Peak Oil grief cycle

Before I get into these T-shirts and food miles, some good news - the House of Commons All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil (APPGOPO) has published its first report. The report, 'The Impact of Peak Oil on International Development', urges policy makers to look on post-disaster relief operations as opportunities to build truly sustainable low-carbon communities. It demonstrates how non-fossil fuel dependent energy generation, construction and farming methods will be essential if communities are to become resilient to energy price rises. Read the report here.

It quotes a recent UNESCO statement: "The status quo is no longer an option. We must develop agriculture that is less dependent on fossil fuels, favours the use of locally available resources and explores the use of natural processes such as crop rotation and use of organic fertilisers" and agrees that ".... The food crisis is set to deepen if modern agriculture remains reliant on fossil fuels..."

The page 16 section on Resilient food production advocates "independence from external suppliers of seeds, fertiliser, pesticides and water, .... builds resilience and stronger local economies, health and wellbeing." Interestingly it appears to concur with the view that
‘External Input’ agricultural models of Green Revolution and genetic engineering technologies fare poorly compared with ‘Internal Input’ ecological agriculture, where productivity is based upon biodiversity and full and efficient utilisation of biological resources.."

The report is a timely acknowledgement that after the end of cheap oil and gas, business as usual is not an option. Nor can GM technology ever replace time honoured ways of working with nature (as discussed previously on this blog).

Kubler-Ross grief cycle

I was sent the link to the T-shirts above re Kubler-Ross applied to the death of the Petroleum Age. This made me smile but also concerned - the truth is that most people seem to still be in the denial stage when it comes to Peak oil. See this link: www.cafepress.com/crashdummy/4002007

Plus check out Matt Simmons on an American TV show - the reality is beginning to dawn:
http://transitionculture.org/2008/07/15/matt-simmons-and-the-five-psychological-stage-of-grief/

Safety and Food Miles

Meanwhile I was pleased to see reports that Caroline Lucas, Green MEP called for end to the ‘great food swap’ and urged food sovereignty at a conference in London hosted by the Royal Society of Medicine and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In a talk entitled 'Safety and Food Miles', she called for an end to the inefficient, oil-dependent system of intensive global food production which stifles local economies, threatens human and animal health, and harms the environment. Here is some of what she said: “As little as 18 months ago, when I carried out research on food security in an era of Peak Oil, the subject was regarded as a marginal issue. Yet today, food security is at the top of the political agenda, driven by high oil prices, poor harvests, the impacts of biofuel cultivation, and higher demand from countries like China and India. Many countries are vulnerable to food shortages because of a dependence on imports. The UK, for example, currently relies on imports to provide almost one third of food consumed, giving us one of the lowest self-sufficiency rates in the EU. Our global food system is staggeringly inefficient and heavily dependent upon oil, at a time when the production of energy from fossil fuels is on the decline. So not only is the dependence on imports damaging for national food security and harmful to the environment, it is simply unsustainable.”

Dr Lucas also warned that intensive, industrialised agriculture could be playing a role in spreading disease. Recent avian flu outbreaks, for example, have shown the extent to which the export-oriented corporate model of poultry production may be responsible for the spreading of strains such as H5N1. She concluded: “A re-localisation of our food systems would allow us take back control of our food from industrialists and financiers, and to feed a growing population in a way that is equitable and sustainable, while safeguarding human health, as well as the welfare of animals and the environment. The Green vision is one of healthier citizens, where everyone has access to a good diet, of thriving local farmers, reinvigorated rural economies and communities, and a cleaner, safer environment."

Call for water conservation and drainage strategy

Below is my letter in response to the article in Stroud Life re the vote on rainwater harvesting - Labour sadness that Greens and Tories voted against - why I hear many cry? Well I would have loved to have supported it but the wording was not good - see more previously on my blog on this here. Indeed if we are to lead as a Council we must do it right - and that means being clear that water conservation is the number one priority.

Picture: From Water 21 by Dilly Eeles showing what is needed

Anyhow I have to applaud Stroud Life for their excellent look at the need for an holistic approach - something we have been pushing for with the Ruscombe Brook Action Group (RBAG) for nearly 3 years - it is great this issue is getting the coverage it deserves and I think is having an impact now that we have more community groups also speaking up - we need to start understanding the interdependence of upstream and downstream communities along a river catchment - as Julian Jones of Water 21 has said:

• The upstreamers extract too much water leaving little for all the downstreamers
• They pollute and poison the water upstream which hurts all those downstream
• They divert all their own floodwater downstream which deluges the downstreamers, etc.

That means that the water in our valley hear in Ruscombe and Randwick contributes to downstream problems like at Bridgend - and while I think it is important to be aware of climate change and it's impacts in all of this (particularly in the future) we must not underplay some of the main causes of the problems we face in terms of flooding and drought are related to the effects of 50 years of 'modern' farming and other drainage plus the effects of 4% pa increases in paved urbanisation and other civil engineering (much of it in flood plains).... anyhow here is my letter to Stroud Life:

Dear Editor,

Stroud Life reports Labour 'sadness' at those councillors who did not vote for rainwater harvesting to be introduced at Ebley Mill (9/07/08). Indeed the time to take water seriously has never been greater. This is echoed in the recent Pitt Review, reports that summer rainfall could decrease by 30 to 40% (i) and the Environment Agency this month strongly criticising companies on over abstraction of water from rivers and aquifers (ii).

The Labour motion to the Council was welcomed as it raised the issue of water conservation: a priority area that the Council admits it has failed to address properly. However the motion mistakenly focused only on rainwater harvesting. There is much water conservation needed first like cistern dams, leak detectors and tap regulators, then the next step is simple rain water harvesting like water butts, then the advanced rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. Not to tackle conservation first is like putting solar panels on your home before insulating it.

Stroud can, and needs to do, much more on water conservation. Some Councils have saved big money by using less water. Rainwater Harvesting should be part of that: an exemplar project by the District which included maximising conservation, would be a positive way of leading by example.

However as Stroud Life showed in their excellent coverage of last years floods (16/07/08) we need a wider sustainable drainage strategy in the District that seeks to store and infiltrate water and protect us from floods and drought. As those flooded in Bridgend know, that means an holistic strategy that includes changes to our planning, farming, house building and more. In short an end to those of us upstream dumping on those downstream.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party.

PS During the 'Open Homes for a Sustainable Future' weekend on 13th and 14th September two rainwater harvesting schemes and a groundbreaking Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDs) will be on show to the public. See more at:
www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk/

Notes:
(i) See SUDs Planning application guidance at:
http://www.woking.gov.uk/
(ii) http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/12/water.wildlife

Blackcurrant syrup recipe

I love blackcurrants but all that topping and tailing takes it's time - this is a great recipe I came across...although I am told you can get better flavours from the cold method...

Ingredients:
1kg blackcurrants and no need to "top and tail"
600ml water
375 gms granulated sugar per 600ml of juice

Method: Bring water to the boil with the blackcurrants. Boil for 1 minute then crush berries. Put all into 'jelly bag' (see photo of my bag tied up) and allow to drain for 24 hours into a large container. After that time squeeze the last remaining juice - hey I've read several different recipes - some claim squeezing makes for cloudy syrup.

Measure the quantity of juice obtained and add 375gms to every 600ml of juice. Stir mixture without heating. Then strain again in a clean jelly bag. Then put into clean bottles - fill to within an inch and cork - then sterilise bottles by heating them. Put newspaper in bottom of pan, fill pan to cover contents of bottles, separate with more pads of paper in the water between the bottles, slowly heat to 77 degrees and keep there for 30 minutes.

Remove and seal bottles tight as they can loosen then keep until cool - store in cool dark place - dilute with water, add to ice cream or whatever - love that intense berry flavour - and full of vitamins....

Hopes for local footpath reopening

An historic track has been uncovered in Stroud that could be opened to residents after an application by Stroud town councillor, Chas Townley. He claims the 800 metre route from Callowell Farm to Stratford Park is a right of way and has found proof on a Georgian map.

Photo: Chas in SNJ this week

He is quoted in the SNJ telling the town council's consultations committee: "The evidence that it's a footpath is beyond question. We're not trying to create a new right of way - we're just making sure it's open to the public. It does provide the opportunity for a short circular walk out of Stratford Park and back. It also provides a more direct link between Stratford Park and Whiteshill."

Cllr Townley told the meeting on Monday June, 30 that he was walking around the park about eight years ago when he saw a padlocked gate blocking a track. He said: "I was intrigued as to why there was a gate there and why it was locked." Then in March he discovered a map of the park while searching for unrelated documents in the county records office. Cllr Townley said the plan from 1821 showed how part of a footpath, which appears to run towards the disputed track, was diverted by the Quarter Sessions. He added that the track was the shortest route to Callowell in the Georgian period.

He went onto be quoted saying: "That's still a legal diversion and no one has done anything about closing the path. Therefore that gate is illegally locked and should be opened up."

But he said the farmer's lawyer had disputed the track was a right of way and had threatened to prosecute him for trespass. The lawyer refused to comment to the SNJ.

Cllr Townley applied to the county council in April for the track to be recorded as an official highway on a definitive map. However the way the County works means he may not know the result for 10 to 15 years. Good on Chas for this - I have emailed him to support his actions. Meanwhile if anybody has further info about this path do please get in touch.