UK Low Carbon Transition Plan

An excellent analysis of the Government's 'UK Low Carbon Transition Plan' comes from Rob Hopkins on his blog - see it here - Rob gives the Government a score on each key issue - sadly Ed Miliband has still completely and utterly failed to understand Peak Oil - it doesn't even get a mention - so on that they score one out of ten. However there is some good stuff too - definitely worth a read.

Photo: Homemade cider - my first ever attempt last year - tried it a couple of weeks ago - v drinkable - the neighbours apple tree that the cider was made from is in background of pic.

See Porritt writing in The Independent last Saturday here about the failure of Brown to understand Climate Change - plus a new report by Ernst & Young report says that the current economic downturn - which has sapped power and gas demand - offers a unique opportunity to sustain lower levels of energy consumption - see here. They say Britain's power industry could save 35 billion pounds in investments needed to secure future energy supply if consumers adopt aggressive efficiency measures in coming years - no surprise to Greens but at least this is now getting into the mainstream - but will Government listen?

All this is all the more needed after reading a depressing article here - it shows that Climate change is already responsible for 300,000 deaths a year and is affecting 300m people. It projects that increasingly severe heatwaves, floods, storms and forest fires will be responsible for as many as 500,000 deaths a year by 2030, making it the greatest humanitarian challenge the world faces. Economic losses due to climate change today amount to more than $125bn a year — more than all the present world aid.

20 is Plenty comes to Whiteshill and Ruscombe

This week the '20 is Plenty' signs have gone up around the village and the stickers for recycling boxes are being delivered with the latest edition of The Warbler.

Photos: taken earlier this week

Many will know I have long advocated 20 mph limits - see the article below printed in this blog for the first time but originally in The Citizen/Echo's community blog back in March this year - clearly this '20 is Plenty' is not mandatory and already I can see it is being ignored by some - have some even noticed??? A waste of time? More signs to litter our countryside?

No. Sadly the way it works is that if we want to go for a mandatory 20 mph then we need to get speeds lower - this voluntary scheme has been shown to lower speeds in other areas by a small amount - our hope is that this is a step towards getting a mandatory 20 mph.

Anyhow big thanks to the Parish for helping get this done - and for the idea re stickers for the recycling boxes - hopefully every recycling day there will be a reminder to everyone to go 20 mph. It is also worth mentioning that Randwick Parish are in hot pursuit and are planning their own '20 is Plenty' scheme....Feedback welcomed on what folk think about it all......anyway here is that old article...

Communities want streets not transport corridors

A warm welcome to this Community Blog. I am sure it will grow into a useful and interesting place for comment, debate, information and indeed a celebration of our Five Valleys. I applaud Stroud Life for making this space available to the community.

Cartoon: courtesy of local artist Russ

One issue I'd like to kick off with is the need for 20 mph zones in all urban areas. Too many of our communities have been blighted by traffic - to such an extent that many now see it is normal to have roads that are little more than what some have described as 'traffic sewers'.

On Saturday I joined six Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish councillors to consider sites for '20 is Plenty' signs in the Parish. These signs are advisory rather than mandatory and some see them as a waste of time as so many drivers ignore them. However they are one of the first steps communities can take towards shifting opinion about traffic speeds and getting mandatory 20 mph zones.

In Whiteshill Village, the Main Road is so busy, that many parents don't allow their children to cross the road to the playground. At no point is a crossing suitable. We have also seen an increase in traffic using the village as a short cut after many used it when the A46 was closed last year. Speed gun tests by the Parish Council show many people are travelling at the speed limit but 30 mph is too fast on those roads.

Sadly current policy is that unless the vast majority of cars are already travelling at 20 mph or less on the road then you can't have a 20 mph zone. It is considered too costly to enforce/police. This leads to absurdities like in Springhill (see photo left) where a 20 mph zone was put in with road paint and ugly signs on a road that I doubt anyone can drive along at over 15 mph. A waste of money which could have been better spent on traffic calming measures on roads that really need it.


20 mph: the arguments are overwhelming

When a pedestrian is hit by a car at 40 mph they only have a 15% chance of surviving, at 30mph, 55%, but at 20mph the chance of survival increases to 95%. This is more than sufficient justification for a default 20 mph in urban areas. Amazingly even a 1 mph drop in average speed is estimated to reduce accidents by 6% in urban areas.

Research shows that 20mph limits are a critical success factor in promoting walking, cycling and public transport as alternatives to the private car. This means less CO2 emissions and healthier residents.

20 mph limits 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. Research has also found that residents of busy streets have less than one quarter the number of local friends than those on streets with little traffic. Increasing motor traffic has impacted on people's sleep and health and forced people to make adjustments to their lives to shield against in some cases nearly constant noise, pollution, dust and danger outside their front doors. Shockingly four times as many poor children as rich children are killed on Britain's roads.


20 mph is just the start: we need a new approach to traffic

In going around the Parish on Saturday it was obvious that we did not need to put signs up at some points in Ruscombe or side roads in Whiteshill, as vehicles would be hard pressed to go more than 20 mph. Indeed any additional road paint and signage would be unnecessary urbanification of the village.

In 2005 I co-authored a report, 'Better Streets for Stroud District' that looked at how to reduce dangers on our roads. It focused on a radical new approach, now known as 'Shared Spaces', that has been shown to reduce accidents rates, reduce congestion and is good for communities. It is based on 20 mph speed limits but also is about removing traffic lights, guard rails, signs, humps and road markings.

The approach is based on the view that it is only when the road is made less predictable and less certain that drivers will stop looking at signs and start looking at other people. In other words, instead of relying on the street system for security, drivers are forced to use their reactions. This helps explain why research in the County found that accidents with children did not occur more outside schools - when schools are busy cars tend to drive more carefully. See my article, 'Green Streets are Naked Streets', that I wrote for Resurgence magazine with more info here.

Shared Spaces has produced some astounding results where it has been implemented, but I'll save my enthusiasm for another time.The good news is that the original report led to a seminar at Stroud District Council and a growing understanding of how the approach could revolutionise traffic engineering approaches. The County is already trialing some of the ideas, but it is early days and we still have not created the political will to introduce blanket 20 mph zones.


Time for a change

The World Health Organisation rightly regards the 1.2 million annual road traffic deaths not as 'accidents' but as a 'predictable and preventable' result of fundamental structural problems. Quite rightly there is outrage whenever terrorist bombings kill even one person, let alone a hundred. Yet we are turning a blind eye to the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and 248,000 casualties on Britain's roads every year.

Photo: Looking for suitable locations for '20 is Plenty' signs in Ruscombe then approval will be sought from Highways

Britain's record for child safety is amongst the worst in Europe and we have discouraged cyclists and walkers from our roads. We are long overdue the time when all our all our urban areas are automatically 20 mph. The equivalent 30kph limit is almost universal in urban areas in Germany and the Netherlands.

Communities across the Five Valleys like Whiteshill, Randwick, Chalford, Nailsworth and more are trying to cut speeds. Every councillor from all parties I have ever spoken to about traffic has been concerned, especially in the context of schools and children, and yet progress towards a safe road transport system is painfully slow.

In my correspondence with the County Council there seems little appetite for change in Gloucestershire, but other Councils are starting to make the necessary changes. Hull City Council has reduced child pedestrian injuries by 75% in its 20mph zones while Portsmouth is implementing a 20mph limit Traffic Management Order for the whole town. Norwich and York hope to follow. But we also need the Government to end the bureaucracy associated with the creation of such zones.

The government must also end it's huge road building programme, which their own research shows only leads to more traffic. We should reward responsible motorists by abolishing the Road Tax, which provides no incentive for less polluting travel choices. Instead shift the responsibility onto fuel duty. Money can then be invested in good alternatives to driving.

Gloucestershire has seen a 17% rise in traffic between 1997 and 2006 - five percent higher than the national average. The forecast is 5.7m more cars on British roads by 2031. We know we can't go on like this. Traffic is destroying our communities, our health and our environment. I welcome the moves by Parish Councils and others to shift thinking so that 20mph should be the default in urban areas. We urgently need better road designs and enforcement, but most of all we need leadership to make it a reality.

Add your name to a letter to PM on voting system

As The Observer reported on Sunday, speculation is building that the government is seriously considering our demand for a referendum that will hopefully consign to history the unreconstructed, unrepresentative and unaccountable nature of parliament. Is this really possible?? Let us hope so - indeed the more of us who sign the petition and call for change the better the chance. The Vote for a Change campaign is launching a new hub of materials: http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk/activismhub

Plus on Monday I joined the Vote for a Change campaign in adding my name to a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to call a referendum - do consider adding your name: http://voteforachange.co.uk/page/s/deargordon

The Star Inn looking good

Ken Dickens and his partner Jeannie took over The Star Inn in Whiteshill this April and they cut beer prices 10% and became a Freehouse - Uley Brewery's Laurie Lee (already had that in the pub) and Gem from Bath Ales - they have hopes for a third ale and a real ale bar and eating area plus improvements planned for the toilets. The cellar will become a kitchen and longer term they want to have some B&B rooms.

Visit them to find out more - my visit was all too short but I shall be back. It is totally wonderful that we are getting this investment locally especially after fears we might loose the pub altogether.

Big Green Gathering's closure an opportunity to support Vestas?

I've already noted the actions to help Vestas - see here - Vestas Blades UK, which manufactures wind turbine blades on the Isle of Wight, is due to close on 31st July. 600 jobs will be lost immediately and many more that depend on Vestas will follow. It is madness and rightly there is much much noise - how can a Government bail out the banks and the car industry but let our future in renewables collapse in the Isle of Wight? See Molly's great comment here.

This week there was also news that t he police, following orders from on high have forced the cancellation of the Big Green Gathering. More on that outrage below but there are various calls for folk instead to make their way to support Vestas - as one Green said: "Let's show Ed, the nimbys and the police that the answer is indeed blowing in the wind. We need radical change, we need renewable energy, we need to work in solidarity with the workers. There's a pot of tea and revolution brewing. Be the change, be the camp, bring a tent. Get down to the Isle of Wight pronto. Invite all your mates."

London’s Green MEP, Jean Lambert, who has joined protestors to demand action from the Government to support the wind energy industry and protect green jobs, said: “In its Energy White Paper, the government announced a major expansion of renewable energy capacity, including wind power, and yet this factory is set to close due to the slow growth of the onshore wind market and delays in our planning system. This planned closure really flies in the face of the promised green jobs bonanza. If these jobs are lost, knowledge and skills in green manufacturing will be lost too. In the midst of this recession, and given the global threats from climate change, we need radical action now to protect jobs and expand our green industries. The Vestas factory provides a model for the way in which Britain's manufacturing industry could be positively and sustainably rebuilt to provide green jobs and proven, environmentally-sound energy sources for the future. I fully support the actions of the workers and urge people to lend their voices to this vital campaign. Now is the time for the Government to step in to save these jobs and invest in sustainable green manufacturing for the future."

While we are on the subject of supporting direct action I hope folk can send messages of support to the Vestas workers - http://savevestas.wordpress.com/ email: savevestas@googlemailcom

Big Green Gathering Shut Down

“It’s political” Chief Superintendent tells BGG Director

I have to say I was shocked to hear about this - and also to read that apparently Chief Superintendent Paul Richards admitted to a Big Green Gathering Director that the decision to shut down the Big Green Gathering was political and confirmed to the Chair of the Big Green Gathering that orders had come from the highest level. This is Britain's biggest green festival - a five day event which was expecting 15,000-20,000 people to turn up for the event in the Mendip hills, Somerset. Here is more from the press release:

During a meeting between the police and directors of the Big Green Gathering, the superintendent said the decision to shut down the BGG was taken over a week ago, confirming the statement from the BGG lawyer that the ‘injunction was a red herring.’

Directors from the BGG are horrified at this partisan interpretation of licencing law. Big Green Gathering Chair Brig Oubridge said, “At the multi-agency meeting on Thursday 23rd July, we were still negotiating with the police and the council under the genuine belief that things were progressing and we were continuing to spend money on infrastructure, wages and security. If they knew they were going to cancel the event, we can only conclude that this drive to increase expenditure appears to be a deliberate attempt to bankrupt the Big Green Gathering. The injunction served on the Big Green Gathering was primarily addressing the fact that the Big Green Gathering did not obtain the necessary road closure despite the fact that the Highways Agency had previously indicated that this would be done.

The Big Green Gathering has been running an event since 1994 and never before has public safety been an issue. The BGG has an exemplary record on health and safety and crime levels have always been low for the number of people on site. Despite the concerns over the behaviour of the Council and the Police, event organisers will work with them to ensure the safety of those at the premises and ensure that they leave the land in an orderly fashion.

Brig concluded, “We are very aware of our responsibilities to those already on the site and very sad for all those who were coming to enjoy one of the most peaceful festivals in the UK.”

This is deeply disappointing and indeed shocking that the decision is political - words fail me - this has always been a wonderfully positive event - the Big Green Gathering grew out of the original Green Gatherings of the 1980s and the Green Fields section of the Glastonbury music festival. The first event took place at Watchfield, south Oxfordshire, in July 1994, and was attended by about 1,600 people. In 1995 the event moved to Lower Pertwood farm on the Wiltshire downs, one of Britain's largest and most successful organic farms. By 1998 it was attracting more than 7,000 visitors and participants.

Vote for top 10 blogs by 31st July

Just to let you know that The Total Politics yearly blog poll has just opened. Last year only one Green blogger got into the top 100 - let's see if we can do a bit better this time! There was also a list of Top Green Bloggers - Ruscombe Green made a very respectable 16 - since then there are many many more bloggers out there and some great quality blogs...

Information on how to vote:
Top Ten Fave Blogs in the 2009 Total Politics Blog Poll
http://tinyurl.com/lrhdvs

Without wishing to influence here are my top 10 Green bloggers that I will be supporting - I have to note it was very difficult and I did it in too much of a hurry so already can think of ones I'd like to include:

Ruscombe Green : http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/
Natalie Bennett: Philobiblon: http://philobiblon.co.uk/
Barkingside21: http://barkingside21.blogspot.com/
Peter Cranie: Peter Cranie: http://petercranie.blogspot.com/
Jim Jepps: The Daily (Maybe): http://jimjay.blogspot.com
Green Ladywell: http://greenladywell.blogspot.com/
Richard Lawson: Mabinogogiblog: http://greenerblog.blogspot.com/
Rupert Read: Rupert's Read: http://rupertsread.blogspot.com/
Derek Wall: Another Green World: www.another-green-world.blogspot.com
Molly Scott Cato: http://gaianeconomics.blogspot.com/
Weggis: http://weggis66.blogspot.com/

Hey can you vote for yourself? Blast that is 11 - need to loose one....Happy voting.

Eco-Renovation Open Homes returns in September

These last months we have been putting together the next Open Homes weekend - loads of work - Helen Royall has taken over coordinating the event abnd we managed top get some funds to pay her but the project has grown with 22 homes opening and it has taken a while to get the Energy Monitors project off the ground...anyhow today we had a press photo shoot and meeting as the leaflet is due to be launched this weekend...below is the press release we put together and some pics from this morning....

Photo: Chris from Ecotricity, Debbie from Stroud District Council, Nick, the homeowner showing us his solar stuff, Helen the Coordinator this year, me, Emma from Ecotricty's Affinity scheme and Clare from Stroud Valley's Project. Below other pics from the morning.

Launch of new leaflet and affinity Scheme with Ecotricity - Energy Monitors coming to libraries

The Stroud Eco Renovation Open Homes weekend is set to return on September 12th and 13th 2009 after last year's huge success that saw over 1,100 visits to homes and the exhibition. Transition Stroud will be launching their new leaflet next week which has details of the amazing 22 homes that will be opening their homes to share their eco-renovations.

This year Transition Stroud have negotiated a deal with local green energy company Ecotricity so that anyone switching to Ecotricity's green tariff will lead to a donation to Transition Stroud getting £25 to help fund other low carbon projects like Open Homes (i). Transition Stroud are also setting up a project with the libraries service so that from September Energy Monitors will be available to borrow like books.

Helen Royall, Coordinator of this years Open Homes said: "We have a whole range of homes on show this year from new build to listed including internal and external insulation, wood pellet boilers, air source heat pumps, gas condensing boilers, PV, rainwater harvesting and more. We have Pizzas and cream teas plus Nightingale's Cafe at the eco-installers fair at The Exchange which has just had a major eco-renovation - plus we have a walk around some of the homes and a mini bus safari to get you to a selection of the homes on both Saturday and Sunday. Details of booking the walk and safaris are in our leaflet which will be out in cafes, libraries, Tourist Information and more. We also have our website: www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk "

Philip Booth, who is helping this years event said: "We are delighted to have the support of many people and groups including wonderful support from Stroud District Council, the Town Council, Heritage Open Days and Ecotricity who have sponsored this year's leaflet. Of course special thanks must go to all the homeowners who are so very kindly opening their homes to the public. Plus we are delighted to be launching the Energy Monitors project which will allow people to borrow them from several District libraries in the same way that people borrow books and DVDs."

Affinity scheme launched

Philip Booth, who has just swapped to Ecotricity, said: "We are delighted to announce that Ecotricity are supporting Transition Stroud - every customer who swaps to them means £25 for Transition Stroud to develop more projects to cut the carbon locally. All you need is to phone them and quote ‘Transition Stroud’. Ecotricity are the only company to spend 100% on building new sources of green energy - literally turning our electricity bills into windmills. I have been on a green tariff with a big company and have meant to change to a proper green tariff like Ecotricity for a long time - this affinity offer we've set up is the final push I needed to make the change! I am hoping this affinity scheme will also lead to others swapping to green energy."

For more information on Open Homes call Helen Royall on 01453 755509 or email admin@transitionstroud.org

See more about the project at:
http://www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk/
And more about Transition Stroud:
http://www.transitionstroud.org/

Notes

(i) Ecotricity is an electricity company with a difference. As green energy pioneers, Ecotricity is dedicated to building new wind turbines to fight climate change. Switching is easy and it's the biggest single step you can take to reduce your emissions and protect the environment. Act now and sign up to Ecotricity at www.ecotricity.co.uk/transtroud or by ringing free on 08000 302302 and quote ‘Transition Stroud’. Transition Stroud receives a kind donation from Ecotricity every time someone makes the switch.

Beer and other matters

When writing a blog all sorts of connections are made - I've had contact with many many folk - and many have led to all sorts of links like the Seattle photographer who let me use his photos on this site or the bee researcher who ended up visiting here from Australia. Well here's a totally random collection of items from the last week or so....

Photos: Green Knight from independent journalist John Hatton then two from my photos of McCluskiegunj in 1984.

Green Knight Beer - remember the stuff to launch Ricky Knight's campaign to be an MEP in the SW - well as we know we sadly just missed that - and the beer has now been renamed - now known as 'Old Rocky' and still at the Village Inn in Nailsworth - and the news is that it has just been awarded Supreme Champion Beer of Gloucestershire by Gloucestershire CAMRA - see more re Green Knight here - and talking of beer, the old news that Guiness in Dublin uses fluoridated water is doing the rounds again - see here.

McCluskiegunj blog - I am not even sure how I came across this McCluskiegunj blog but I visited that village in India in 1984 and stayed there for over a week - it was in connection with a guy I'd met when working in the Probation Service in Dorset as part of my Social Work training - he wanted to set up an alternative tourism project - anyhow the town used to have a significant Anglo-Indian community - even by the time I got there there were barely a 100 left - The town was founded by the Colonization Society of India in 1933 as an independent homeland for Anglo-Indians and was home to 400 Anglo-Indian families within ten years.

It was in 1932 Ernest Timothy McCluskie the founder of the town sent circulars to nearly 200,000 Anglo-Indians in India inviting them to settle there. Wikipedia say that now of the nearly 300 original settlers, only 20 families remain. Indeed an interesting place and have now had correspondence with the guy who set up the blog.

People-Consultants.com - here's a plug for a local Ruscombe company that I've heard good things about - for coaching, counselling, leadership, stress and more see their website here.

Tatworth Growing Together - I recently met one of the key figures behind this - an interesting project by a Parish Council getting involved in crop production project - worked by volunteers but with produce sold and proceeds reinvested: www.tatworthgrowingtogether.org.uk

More on food growing - a friend came across a link in a newspaper supplement about a family growing amazing amounts on a very small area. See http://pathtofreedom.com/ and particularly the videos on youtube.com by putting in "pathtofreedom" or "dervaes" as search terms.

Food Security - then there's a woman I correspond with re farming - here is a piece she sent recently showing the changes since Labour came to power in 1997 in the UK - shocking - but only a continuation of what was going on before:
Dairy Herds have shrunk 22%
The area of fresh vegetables has fallen 24%
The number of pigs has plummeted 40%
The area of orchard fruits has fallen by a third
The sheep and lamb flock is down a quarter
The food gap has widened by more 50%.
Source: Pig World News.

GMWatch is back!

GMWatch has just launched its new website: www.gmwatch.org, which replaces the one forced off the web by 14 months of cyber attacks. A network engineer brought in to advise on the damage apparently described these as the worst attacks he'd seen in his 20 years in the industry.

George Monbiot has called the site "the world's most comprehensive database on the impacts and the politics of genetically engineered crops."

It has easy to read sections on how the media is manipulated by wildly misleading claims, about the people hyping and promoting GM crops world-wide and the GM corporations. A good resource.

Take action on Vestas

The protest at Vestas continues today - Vestas Blades was making enormous profits but has decided to move to the USA. This demonstrates how our government – despite big legally binding commitments to carbon reductions, and Miliband’s recent promise of 40,000 green jobs – is failing to push through sustainable energy in practice.

Photo: Turbines in Denmark

It is ludicrous that Vestas should be leaving at this time: we must resist this move or we will have no credibility internationally as part of the urgent de-carbonisation of the global economy. Green energy benefits the poorest people worldwide first, because they are the first to feel the effects of climate change. Below there is more info and actions you could take...

The national news are reporting the protestors inside and outside the Vestas plant. Climate change activists, workers and others are all protesting at this closure. See Indymedia here. The Green party have understandably supported the campaign from the start and joined the demonstrations (see one of Caroline Lucas statements here). It is complete madness that this plant is threatened with closure.

Even The Times are laying into the cops on this - one protester was even arrested for being 'armed' with a sausage roll. Here is some of what was said....a senior criminal lawyer has accused police of acting unlawfully by blocking food deliveries. Robert Brown, a member of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, said: “Since when has it been the function of police officers to starve out protesters? And since when has it been a crime to carry sandwiches to protesters? It never has been. It is scandalous that the police refused to allow the food through. Giving the protesters food would help keep them calm and be more likely to prevent a breach of the peace. There is no law in this country that says that protest is unlawful. There does not appear to be any evidence that a breach of the peace is taking place at the factory.” His custody sheet, seen by The Times, accused him of being “armed with supplies of food”. Greens object to police tactics at Vestas occupation: see here.

Take action

1. Don't forget petition just launched:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveVestas/
2. Take a photo or video and send a message proclaiming “SAVE VESTAS”:
The images will give the workers much-needed encouragement at a highly distressing time for the friends and families of the people inside. They will also be collected on Facebook (Save Vestas) and at www.savevestas.wordpress.com.
4 steps:
1. Download a sample poster here.
2. Get inspiration from an example photo here: http://bit.ly/n2x4I
3. Take some photos at a public stall, at your workplace, at a party meeting or just of yourself!
4. Send your photos in ASAP to savevestas@googlemail.com and copy if you wish to
press@greenparty.org.uk
3. Write to or Email Milliband (ps.ed.miliband@decc.gsi.gov.uk):
I sent a quick note calling for their intervention.

Australia's Randwick City Mayor visits Randwick, Gloucestershire

A busy week - all day Tuesday at the Council spending time with the Planning Department to learn more for the Scrutiny inquiry, a meeting of Greens with the Cabinet Member for the Environment, plus a good evening - a bit too short - in The Star putting together the new Allotments Association - more of that soon and then last night in The Vine Tree to meet the Randwick City Mayor - Bruce Notley-Smith.

Photos: John Hudson with Bruce Notley-Smith in The Vine Tree - first photo - the Randwick City tie, second presenting a photo of one of their beaches and lastly Bruce getting a photo taken earlier in the day after a tour around the District and Ebley Mill.

It was a meal with the Chief Exec David Hagg, his wife, the Chair of the Council Cllr John Hudson, Mayor Bruce, his partner Paul and two others from Australia. A good evening (and good food) with lots of talk about similarities and differences and the links between the two Randwicks....Randwick City in Oz even gave a donation to help set up our Village hall in 1949 - and indeed Bruce has been over a couple of times and the previous evening this week had met many local folk including the Randwick Wap Mayor Alan Tomlinson.

Randwick City Council is one of the largest councils in NSW. It has more than 120,000 residents - so larger than Stroud District - but only 15 councillors - three of which are Greens.

This year Randwick are celebrating 150 years of local government. Randwick was proclaimed a local government area on 22 February 1859. It was the first to be established in NSW after the City of Sydney and became a city in 1990. Before European settlement, there was an extensive Indigenous community living in this area. Visits to Botany Bay by Captain Cook, Captain Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet, and French explorer La Perouse, link Randwick to the earliest days of European exploration and settlement - a book is due out in October of the history. Interestingly Randwick, Glos also has a new history being written at the moment.

The first openly gay Liberal mayor, Bruce Notley-Smith has been a long-time councillor for the East Ward in Randwick. Back in 1985/6, I worked in Sydney for Community Aid Abroad, the Australian Oxfam, and at that time remember giving a talk to the local Randwick CAA group - I remember an audience of about 15 people in an old hall somewhere - many happy memories of those days.

Anyway I understand Notley-Smith has continued to focus on environmental sustainability, which saw the council take out the Keep Australia Beautiful sustainable cities award for NSW and participate in the Cities for Climate Protection. Although he courted controversy when he got rid of the prius in favour of a V8 Holden Caprice (see here). It was great to meet him and hear his enthusiasm for Randwick City - I'm not sure about encouraging air travel between the two but there are some great plans for links with Randwick Village School and one of the 22 (I think 22) schools in Randwick City.

Anyway strangely this evening I am not out to a meeting and have had the chance to catch up on some emails but I'm still a little behind so please bear with me if you are waiting for a response.

Stroud Interchange hopes die

Thursday night last week saw the £70,000 set aside for the bus/rail interchange in Stroud by the District Council used to help pay for housing. This is a shame indeed.

Photos; Bus station - well a main road with some bays each side and lots of barriers, lights and more - see Better Streets for Stroud report that I wrote in 2005

Last month Stroud town councillors had lobbied Ebley Mill to make a final decision this summer over plans to build a bus-rail interchange in Stroud. Members had urged Stroud District Council to either go for it or scrap the project - which was first proposed about 12 years ago - and instead invest in the current facilities in Merrywalks. It was a disappointment then to see the project scrapped and no money put aside for improved facilities - the Cabinet member's response was that improvements were the County's role - pah! We need all to work together and this money was set aside for the interchange - those improvements are needed more than ever...indeed I made an amendment to a Scrutiny document last October that if money wasn't going on this site then it should be for other transport improvements - in particular cycling. That was clearly ignored.

Anyhow the recent town council survey found better bus facilities were the sixth highest priority for residents - and indeed I am not surprised - whenever I catch a bus from there it seems to be windy, cold and no where safe for children to wait with the busy road - plus no coffee! Indeed the interchange has been used as an excuse not to do anything with the current facilities.

12 years we have been waiting - yet no signs of movement - when I was first elected it was an issue I raised when the Chief Executive visited the ward - anyhow for some background - it was basically a partnership of local authorities, led by the district council, that drew up plans for an interchange behind the station when the cinema was built on the site of the old bus station in Merrywalks. The aims of the project were to bring bus facilities closer to the town centre and improve the link between road and rail. A temporary facility was built in Merrywalks with work scheduled to go ahead within two years.

Greens have raised it several times each year since then in various committees and Full Council - we were always told things were progressing - it is deeply disappointing that the interchange has not featured more prominently in the administrations list of priorities - we are told it is the rail and bus companies that don't want the improvements - if so then I think we should be hearing more about that - why?

It is now time to engage with all the stakeholders, including passengers and bus companies to ensure improvements can come swiftly. Let us hope that Merrywalks can at least be improved with extra bus shelters, more regular cleaning, proper signposting for the toilets and better access to the town centre.

Delight: my beehouse has leafcutter bees!

At a recent Coffee House discussion Carlo from the Global Bee Project talked about building bees houses - I was inspired and set to work - see here - and even wrote to the Coop here - since then I've been learning more and today had a meeting with Carlo Montesanti and Jessie Jowers from the Project - but wanted to mention first that a week ago I had leafcutters take up residence in my beehouse!!! Love it!

Photos: Willughby leafcutter bees making homes in my bee house, the damage to roses and a bit from the bee ID card available from the Global Bee Project - below campaign seed packets about stopping Terminator Seeds

I have to note the total delight that so soon after making the houses I have residents - the Willughby leafcutter bees (or Willoughby) - around 10 holes already being used each neatly capped with three circles cut from my roses - I strongly urge others to join in - do help publicise this by adding your house to the Global Bee Project - see Stroud projects here.

Anyhow the meeting with Carlo and Jessie was very productive - I love their passion and enthusiasm - it is no wonder that Gloucestershire University has a partnership with them and they have just gained funding for a 2 year project with schools from the Royal Society no less!!!!!! Great stuff indeed. In my meeting today we looked at how we can expand the project and they have a few exciting projects to launch over the next couple of months - more of that very soon indeed! Stay tuned!

Sign petition and email MP

The Soil Association have launched a honeybee petition – so far there has been a very encouraging response to the petition. You can show your support for our work by signing the online petition to protect our honeybees and ban neonicotinoid pesticides.

The Global Bee folk are also asking for support to write to your MP say 'No To Terminator Seeds' here. See a previous blog of mine on this here.

Goodbye to 'Over Stroud' ward

Thursday night saw Full Council have an Extraordinary Council meeting before their ordinary one - purely because I had put forward to change the ward name from 'Over Stroud' to 'Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe" - many have said to me that 'Over Stroud' is meaningless - the Parish Council's agreed, District Council candidates from the other parties agreed - indeed we came across no one who disagreed - well at last it has gone - a unanimous vote in favour of the change...

Cartoon: in fact as I note below the name settled on is Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe.

...as I said at the meeting when I presented the move to Full Council it seems extraordinary that such an un-extraordinary change needs an extraordinary meeting but there we are...below is more about the change for those interested but I am now officially the ward member for Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe! John Marjoram's comment at Full Council was "No one is over Stroud"!

Anyhow the Council meeting was full of lots of budget stuff and more news re the £1.2m overspend in the Housing Revenue account - Greens did attempt to get the Council to come out against the large incinerator at Javelin Park officially - we got a vague answer saying I question was hypothetical - it is but it is also a very real possibility - we were after confirmation that if a large incinerator was chosen then SDC would not support that move. I'll come back to that again but for now must finish this blog quickly as hungry!

Anyhow after the Council meeting the 6 Green party District councillors all went off for a couple of nights to further develop our vision for Stroud - we had some fun and did lots of work - got back late yesterday...a very good boost to ensure we remain enthusiastic and positive in attempting to make the changes we so urgently need.

Background re Ward name change - roughly what I had to say at Council:

Thank you chair and thank you to Council for making time to discuss this issue. The purpose of this report is to enable the Council to consider the change of the District Council ward name 'Over Stroud' to 'Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe".

New regulations allow the Council to make this change without the necessity of referring the decision to the Boundary Commission - as long as we meet in special session - as we are now - and as long as the proposal is approved by a majority of at least two–thirds of the members voting on the resolution today.

It seems extraordinary that such an un-extraordinary change needs an extraordinary meeting but there we are...

I would like to give some brief background information. Firstly I've yet to come across anybody in favour of keeping the name 'Over Stroud': indeed I have struggled to find anyone who understands which area it relates to. A journalist once thought it meant Bisley or Painswick while even most of those living in the ward have very little idea. So a couple of years ago I spoke to local Parish councillors and some of the previous candidates in District Council elections in the ward and there was unanimous agreement that a change would be an improvement.

A year ago Randwick Parish and Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish passed formal resolutions to approve a change of the name to any combination of the three villages as they felt that would be a significant improvement. The order of villages was eventually chosen as Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe rather than an alphabetical order, as the Parish is Whiteshill and Ruscombe.

Cainscross Parish also discussed the change. The reason for them being consulted is that part of Lower Randwick - not the village of Randwick itself - was inside their ward. However they also unanimously passed a motion approving the change.

Last year there was unfortunately a delay in processing the ward name change so last month the three Parishes all voted again for the change. The Parishes have had the information regarding the changes on their notice boards and in their minutes following both votes and two Parish newsletters have had articles seeking comments from residents. The info has also been posted on a local blog so I believe the consultation has been sufficient.

Names are important and help communities gain a sense of identity. The name “Over Stoud” is meaningless to the local community – and indeed to anyone else come to that. The suggested name change has gained support from the three Parishes and there have been no objections from the community. I therefore propose that the Council agrees to change the name of “Over Stroud” Ward to “Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe” Ward.

Campaign for more openness re lobbyists

38 Degrees have launched a campaign for more openness about lobbyists - whether it's tobacco advertising, arms deals, GM food, or airport expansion, companies pay people to try to influence government. Currently we've no right to know what these lobbyists are up to. The secretive lobbying industry is worth almost £2billion a year!!! These sums are spent massaging MPs and officials to put private greed before public need.

Right now we have a great opportunity to change the rules for lobbyists. A powerful committee of MPs is calling on the government to introduce a compulsory, public register.

The government has promised a decision whether or not to act before the summer break. Together we can send a powerful message to the minister, Angela Smith, that she must end secrecy in lobbying. Sign here to add your voice and make it a demand she can't ignore.

Nuclear Power - no point

The Gazette has reported that investigation work is set to begin in July on land in Shepperdine at Oldbury that could become the home of a new nuclear power station. Energy giant E.ON, which owns the land, has said the work will include seismic studies to investigate the best location for the foundations of the new station. E.ON started to buy land in Shepperdine last year and has also bought land from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority next to the existing Oldbury power station to make room for a new nuclear plant.

All this is disturbing - in 2003, the nuclear industry was virtually killed off in Britain. How times have changed with the energy industry (incl the CBI) arguing it is renewables that should be killed off, or at least kept on a starvation diet.

Two foreign-owned energy giants, E.ON and EDF, have already told the government it must essentially choose between new nuclear and major renewables developments. There is only so much money available, and the nuclear advocates – scared by the growth rates of renewables – are scrabbling to ensure most of it goes to them. De Rivaz has yet to persuade his owners, the French government, that his plan to build four British reactors at well over £4bn each makes commercial sense. He has made it clear to Whitehall that he will need major subsidies.

“We are literally seeing nuclear reactor history repeat itself. The ‘Great Bandwagon Market’ that ended so badly for consumers in the 1970s and 1980s was driven by advocates who confused hope and hype with reality. It is telling that in the few short years since the so-called ‘Nuclear Renaissance’ began there has been a four-fold increase in projected costs.”
Dr. Mark Cooper, a senior fellow for economic analysis at the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School. 18th June 2009

Meanwhile the Green party have just issued a report: "Nuclear power? No point", says new report - it makes a powerful case that nuclear power has no rationale in terms of either economics or helping the fight against dangerous climate change.

In Nuclear Power? No Point! the Green Party's spokesperson on trade and industry, Darren Johnson AM, reviews recent developments and argues that:

• Nuclear power provides less than 4% of UK energy - which is far less than could be saved by energy-efficiency measures that would cut people's fuel bills.
• New nuclear stations will not help the fight against climate change because major CO2 reductions are needed in the next ten years. New nuclear power stations could not be built fast enough.
• Massive investment in renewables could deliver the necessary short-term CO2 cuts - but "feeding cash to the nuclear delusion" could help starve the renewables industry of some of the investment and skilled personnel it needs to grow rapidly.
• The nuclear industry's current financial problems cast serious doubt on its ability to deliver new power stations anyway.

Darren Johnson, who is currently chair of the London Assembly and Green Party candidate for Lewisham Deptford, said this week: "The industry that was going to produce electricity 'too cheap to meter' has landed us with massive costs for handling its dangerous waste. Now the nuclear industry can't even give us a reliable quote for the cost of a power station. The current projects in Finland and France are experiencing safety concerns, long delays and big overspends. There's no point expecting nuclear to solve the climate crisis, because new stations couldn't be built fast enough to help achieve the big CO2 reductions we need to make in the next ten years - which mature renewables could deliver.

"There is no point even considering nuclear power, because demand-reduction measures could easily save far more power than nuclear could generate. And the latest studies argue convincingly that green energy sources with a European smart grid could provide all the power we need."

In Nuclear Power? No Point! Mr Johnson also draws attention to nuclear power's poor jobs-per-megawatt ratio. He said: "We urgently need a Green New Deal to get us out of the recession and start building the sustainable economy of the twenty-first century. We could create hundreds of thousands of jobs in green energy in the next decade. Nuclear power can play no part in that because it takes far too long to build nuclear power stations compared with windfarms and other green measures. Wind energy sustains something like twelve times as many jobs per unit of power as nuclear does."

I have just read the latest issue of the excellent NuClear News and the figures in there reinforce that report....here is what they say:

From the first fixed price reactors in the 1960s to more recent cost projections, the claim that nuclear power is or could be cost competitive with alternative technologies has been based on hope and hype, according to Dr Mark Cooper. If the Unites States were to build 100 new reactors, as has been suggested by some policymakers, the excess cost compared to least-cost efficiency and renewables would be $19 - $44 billion per plant or $1.9 - $4.4 trillion for all hundred.

At the start of the so-called nuclear renaissance around 2001 – 2004, vendors, academics and government officials in the US were coming up with some very low cost estimates. But now Wall Street and Independent Energy Analysts are producing much higher estimates – up to four times higher than the initial projections. Cooper has analysed three dozen recent cost projections, and concludes that the likely cost of electricity from new reactors would be 12-20 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) (7-12p/kWh at June 2009 exchange rates) - considerably more expensive than the average cost of energy efficiency and renewable energies.
US utilities and Wall Street agree on one thing - nuclear reactors will not be built without massive subsidies. The attitude of the Baltimore-based utility – UniStar – a joint venture between EDF and Constellation Energy, is typical. UniStar is planning four new plants (8 reactors) at a cost of up to $48bn – roughly the same as the U.S. spent on the Iraq War in 2006. The U.S. Treasury is expected to guarantee 80% of the total costs through a loan guarantee program. To cover the remainder, UniStar plans to seek loans from the French import/export bank COFACE. Under no circumstances does Constellation or EDF intend to dip into their own coffers to fund the project. UniStar CEO, George Vanderheyden, says “without the federal loan guarantees, this whole thing will come to a stop.”

Former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission member, Peter Bradford, says it is clear new reactors can only be built if taxpayers or consumers assume the very large risks.

LGBT: sign petition on equality in Gibraltar

A few weeks ago now the Equalities bill (a private members sponsored bill) failed to make a successful passage through the Gibraltar parliament, The bill would have lowered the consensual age of same sex couples to that of other EU member areas and many other western societies which is 16 years of age. However the bill was voted against and therefore has breached a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights. See more here.

I have still not had a reply from David Milliband but hear there is now petition - do please consider signing: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/gibraltar-equalities-bill

Stop Bristol Airport's expansion

This week I responded to the planning application by Bristol International Airport (BIA) to expand. Regular blog readers will know I've followed this issue on this blog - we are now getting to crunch time. This development aims to increase passengers by 60% by 2016, increase passenger flights by 40%, summer night flights by 50%, car journeys by over 2m per year, and carbon emissions by at least 40%.

Photo: Banksy cartoon - he also has an exhibition at Bristol Museum which I hope to go to

This will mean more traffic on country roads, more noise day and night, more countryside eaten up by car parking, and more climate changing impacts.

It is argued that expansion will be good for tourism, but between 6 and 10 times as many tourists are outbound rather than inbound, leading to £700m being drained from the UK economy each year. Expansion will make this worse. Recently, the weak pound has caused passenger numbers to drop by 15% or more, but local tourist destinations have seen more visitors than last year.

BIA claim that expansion will create 3500 jobs in the region, but only 900 of these are within the airport and the rest of the jobs appear to be wishful thinking. The outflow of tourism spending destroys far more jobs than this. Even 800 jobs looks high when the expansion is based on no-frills airlines.

Business passengers can already use BIA to reach anywhere in the world through Paris, Amsterdam and Newark. Expansion would not bring any significant change to this, it is targeted at outbound tourists.

We have until 7th August to tell North Somerset council why this expansion is not needed, and why it is bad for the economy as well as the environment.

You can object to the expansion in the following ways:
1) you can visit the campaign website and use the email form www.stopbia.com/objection.php
2) you can email the council yourself at dccomments@n-somerset.gov.uk, refering to planning application number 09/P/1020/OT2, please copy your email to email@stopbia.com
3) write a letter to
Neil Underhay, re: application 09/P/1020/OT2
Development Control, North Somerset Council, Somerset House, Oxford Road, Weston super Mare BS23 1TG

Purton Hulks latest

Some will know I've covered on this blog some of the ongoing developments of the Purton Hulks - The Largest ships graveyard in Mainland Britain - see for example here and here. It is good to see some movement on this - let us hope the new Marine Bill will afford protection. Anyway below is their latest press release on this...

Purton' forgotten Hulks lead way to a proud maritime nation

Following its national exposure on the BBC' flagship geographical programme Coast, to be shown Tuesday July 28th BBC2 8 pm, The Purton Hulks are destined to make a welcome return to our T.V screens later in the autumn.

Once again the peaceful and calm river setting in the heart of Gloucestershire's green belt is to be the location for continued debate and discussion regarding the nations rapidly dwindling maritime heritage. Set amongst the rolling back drop of the Forest of Dean, once famed for its rich supply of hearts of oak, the Purton foreshore and its now famous hulks are set to be catapulted into the public eye following the recent filming by the BBC for its popular investigative reporting series Inside Out to be screened in September 2009.

September’s program, hosted by the eminent Maritime Archaeologist and veteran presenter Professor Mark Horton, seeks to unravel this complex and long running legal battle to have this unique collection of remains protected for the nation. Filming which took place during a packed weekend schedule of archaeology and surveying led by the Friends of Purton proved to be ever popular and was attended by the Nautical Archaeology Society, Cotswold Archaeology and the MP for Stroud David Drew.

As an avid Friend of Purton and campaigner, Professor Horton has openly criticised lack of protection in a recently published article within the archaeology journal Rescue News for what he sees as a distinct lack of the Agencies legal powers. "It does seem extraordinary that this nationally important collection of over 80 ships and barges should simply be allowed to vandalised at will, and there is nothing that can be done at present to stop it. Our heritage is becoming firewood!'

Friends founder Paul Barnett remains steadfast that the site is worthy of national recognition despite the repeated and ongoing incidents of wanton destruction. Furthermore he stated, "That despite the continued efforts of both the Friends and several thousand like minded individuals who have pledged support via the ever growing petition, English Heritage continues to deny the nations largest ships graveyard purposeful protection in law" "This has been further complicated as agency claims that the sites status as a Special Site of Special Interest (SSSI) is adequate to protect the archaeology, despite the glaring fact that SSSI law is primarily concerned with the flora and fauna and in essence disregards archaeology".

"We remain indebted to the BBC and Professor Horton for highlighting the case and urge all to contact their MP in support"

This position has now been further strengthened in a statement made earlier today by David Drew MP for Stroud who stated “I am pleased that under the Marine Bill we now have some protection for marine shoreline artefacts – but we will have to see how this works in practice. I have been talking to both English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund on how we can use the legislation to fully protect the Purton Hulks and to find some funding to get this really exciting project the support it now needs.”

For further details on how to join the Friends of Purton or pledge your support visit www.friendsofpurton.org.uk

Stop commercialisation of NHS

I have just been invited to sign the NHS Support Federation's letter to the Prime Minister seeking to stop the commercialisation of our NHS. I am delighted to accept. To download the letter scroll down the front page of their website: www.nhscampaign.org

Interestingly a survey in May of healthcare workers in the East of England conducted by the Green Party, has found that Green Party health policies are in line with many of the views expressed - particularly on many key points of principle, such as the price of healthcare provision and privatisation.

The Tories, Labour and Lib Dems all support further privatisation in the NHS. This is far out of line with the opinions of the real people surveyed who are working in healthcare.

The Green Party found that 70% of respondents agreed (‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’) with the statement ‘further privatisation in the NHS should be avoided’. And 73% of respondents believed the use of private cleaning companies for NHS contracts may increase the risks of infections like MRSA on hospital wards and should be avoided. The Royal College of Nursing and the Green Party both agree, while the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems oppose any re-nationalisation of cleaning services in the NHS.

Here is a quote from Cllr. Rupert Read, and candidate for Westminister in Norwich's bye-election next week: “Greens have always recognised that the privatisation of the NHS is incompatible with democratic accountability and with well-run hospitals. The failure of New Labour’s Public Private Partnerships, which so often delivers poorer service and can run over budget, is a clear example of these problems....Healthcare is a basic human right. If patients are forced to pay for their healthcare, unless through progressive taxation, poorer and less healthy patients lose out at the expense of those lucky enough to be wealthier and healthier. And though the price may start small, there is a slippery slope issue here. Many basic services are now charged for unless there are exemptions - such as prescriptions, most dental check-ups and dental work, eye tests and glasses and so on. We should not go down the road towards a health system like the mess in the US, where many people just don’t have health insurance.”

Respondents to the Green party survey were unanimous in agreeing that complementary medicine should be provided on the NHS if there was evidence that it worked. The Greens Party agrees that complementary medicine should be provided when appropriate.

Campaign to stop closure of wind turbine plant

Earlier in the year there was dismal news that the Isle of Wight wind turbine manufacturing plant - Vestas - on the Isle of Wight is to close - local workers and campaigners have begun the Save Vestas campaign. The Campaign against Climate Change among others who are urging us to support the campaign among local people on the island and Vestas workers to save the Vestas plant.

As Caroline Lucas MEP said: " The decision to close the facility represents a spectacular failure by Government ministers to adequately promote green industries - and protect the future of manufacturing in this country. This isn’t just a huge blow for the 600 skilled British workers who are set to lose their jobs – it destroys any hope the UK may have had for establishing itself in the eyes of the world as being at the forefront of technological efforts to create a greener and more sustainable future. At a time when the number of people out of work is increasing, it is unforgivable that the Government has singularly failed to offer coherent policy on the future of the renewable energy industry. This is an industry which could provide hundreds of thousands of good quality, green collar jobs for skilled workers, taking full advantage of the UK’s proud manufacturing heritage, while simultaneously addressing the ever-present threat of climate change. We should be seizing the opportunity to create a renewable energy revolution through a favourable policy environment and massive investment in the new technologies that can see us through a transition towards a more environmentally and economically stable economy. The Government can make a genuine start along this road by pledging to help keep the Isle of Wight’s Vestas plant open for business.”

The campaign have asked for emails from individuals and organisations expressing support. The address is savevestas@gmail.com. PLEASE DO THIS as soon as you can. We will never halt climate change without wind power. We need dozens of wind turbine plants, not none.

Bits and bobs: vacancies on Parish Councils, scrutiny, Julie Andrews, falling over and more

Yesterday was Randwick Schools' sports day and there was no step-grandfathers race so I entered the fathers race - now with my practice run earlier in the year (see Pancake Race here) I was confident of doing well....indeed it all started well but over two-thirds of the way - barely 20 metres from the finish and still in the first pack of the 15 or so runners I slipped....went flying but not far enough to cross the finishing line...picking myself up I did at least finish - last - but uninjured but for pride?

Parent Lucy Davidson was again winner in the women's despite strong competition this year and Reg Cobb for the guys won - well he managed to win by spreading arms out either side of him to ensure his nose crossed the line ahead of two runners either side of him! Of course there were lots of other races for the children from potato and spoon to sack and mat races and more.

Vacancies on Parish Councils - with the sad loss of Michael Lakin Whiteshall and Ruscombe Parish are looking for someone and I've heard recently Calvin Williams is stepping down from Randwick so there will be a vacancy there - v sorry that Cal is stepping down as his enthusiasm for projects like The Wap, Village Hall and more I am sure will be missed on the Council.

Meanwhile I've had a busy few days - Scrutiny last week I've not managed to cover here - lots discussed and somehow I've ended up on two inquiry committees - one on the delegation and the other on climate change - should be very interesting and hopefully very fruitful - we'll see - also now cover Planning and Environmental Health for the Scrutiny meetings with heads of Service - had fun trying to set up meetings when all can attend - dear oh dear it is amazing how long all that takes. Lots more discussed but not for this blog - too much other stuff to do.

Street Lighting - as noted before (see here and here for some background) some lights have been switched off at night since 20th March - not as many as I had hoped for Whiteshill and Ruscombe - this is part of the first phase street lighting scheme in which 50 towns and parishes are involved in. I understand the only complaint has been re lights that were meant to be off and were not off! I understand that has been sorted but any feedback welcomed.

This video is great - nothing to do with Ruscombe Green accept that we need more of this! At the Central Railway Station in Antwerp, Belgium on a Monday morning, with no warning to the passengers passing through the station, a recording of Julie Andrews came over the public address system as the bemused passengers watch in amazement. Don't assume it is unrehearsed. It took 200 dancers and 4 weeks of preparation. Enjoy it. See video here.

Big Lunch in Randwick

I like the idea of the Big Lunch - and great to hear that on Sunday 19th July there will be one in Randwick - gather from 12 noon onwards and share your homegrown/homemade produce - bring own cutlery, plates etc - call Helen Cornish on 759311 for details. I sadly can't make that day but this evening am exploring ideas with some residents for a Bread Street event later in the year.

Photo: Bread Street party last year

Earlier this week - or was it last week I learnt that the Big Lunch is supported by EDF amongst many others - the idea is great - already 6,000 lunches planned and hopes to turn it into an annual event - but disappointing that EDF - a company that is tops for greenwash - has it's name linked to this event - local Ecotricity boss Dale Vince even called for a National Greenwash Day in response to EDF. Anyhow I hope all the events go well....

Community is an essential part of who we are. As social creatures we depend upon community for our spiritual and material well being. Research shows us that our degree of social connection is a crucial factor for our happiness and an important determinant of life chances.

Here is a bit from the LGiU: "But community doesn't only make us feel good; it's also a crucial resource. We live in a world of complex challenges, from climate change to social cohesion, to changing demographics. These challenges can only be met by collaboration, by pooling our creativity and intelligence and responding through collective action. ‘Social capital': the strength and extent of our social ties and our ability to act as a community is the most valuable currency we have. And yet many people feel that there is a crisis of community. Research by the BBC shows that 97% of UK communities have become more fragmented in the last 30 years."

Certainly community is more complex than it once was. Greater freedom of movement and economic independence means that the community we live in is no longer just that of our street, town or village. Communities extend across continents and through cyberspace and we all inhabit multiple communities at once. The Big Lunch is an attempt to re-simplify and re-build community. To go back to basics and get us to sit down and eat together as neighbours and, hopefully, as friends. The impacts of The Big Lunch are immediate: fun, a sense of connection and a spark of community, but if it sows the seed of richer public relationships then its legacy could be much more profound."

"The aim is to give people the tools to strengthen their communities through activities such as neighbourhood-watch; improving local amenities such as youth centres; taking care of the elderly or disabled; making imaginative improvements to the local environment; sharing resources from lawnmowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time. LGiU will be working with The Big Lunch on research to evaluate some of the social impacts of the project: to assess how effectively it builds connections within the community and provides a platform for ongoing interactions between neighbours."

I meant to also mention The Big Lunch Short Film Competition -0 I came across this when a comment was left on my blog - entries have closed but check out the finalists – the one with the most views on YouTube wins 1k! http://raindance.tv/news/09-07-2009/finalists-announced-big-lunch-short-film-competition

Ruscombe lad goes to Tanzania

I was delighted to hear that the great little local jewellery shop, Pashon, in Russell Street in Stroud (pictured) is backing a Ruscombe youth who is taking the step of spending their gap year on a project in the middle of the Tanzanian mountains.

Here is what their news release says: Randa, Pashon owner, says, “We think that Erfan is very brave. The village is an hour and a half by landrover from the road and a number of hours from the nearest town. There is no electricity or water. We are happy to help him and the school.”

Erfan Fadaei, from Ruscombe, Stroud is spending a year in Tanzania before going to university in Manchester. He will be helping to build and renovate school buildings, teach English, install water storage facilities and solar energy units, and run after-school activities for the younger youth and children’s classes at the pre-school.

“I wanted to spend my time on a Year of Service”, says Erfan, “so that I could commit a full year to serving the community.”

Pashon is acting as a collection point. Anyone making a contribution will receive a receipt and can be kept updated on developments at the school. The school nurse has sent a list of needs that can be obtained from the shop but include things like wind-up torches, Iodine tincture, cough medicine, Paracetamol, Antihistamine cream, Piriton, plasters and oral rehydration salts. Every bit helps and Erfan will be taking as much as he can when he leaves later this month.

Pashon is also giving 10% of anything sold in the shop over the next weekend. So you can buy your loved one a gift and at the same time help the Maasai community in Tanzania.

Gemma Enolengila, who founded the charity Aang Serian (meaning House of Peace) which started and runs the school visited Stroud in May and gave a number of presentations on the work there. In addition to running the secondary school, the charity she set up with her Maasai warrior husband, also documents traditional medicine and runs a safari company which employs Maasai guides and gives 10% of all takings to the school and other local projects.

Randa is treasurer of Stroud UNIFEM branch which hosted one of the meetings in Stroud in May and is raising funds for the school especially for the girls who have run away from forced marriage and FGM. Some of these are as young as 12/13 and had to sleep in trees for over two weeks in order to get to the school. They ran away from home to prevent marriage as a third or fourth wife to an older man.

“We all want to help such a fantastic project”, says Randa, “so we are looking forward to donating to the project. Its amazing that just a few pence for some plasters can be of help to the school. We are looking forward to raising money for the students who are trying to build a better life for themselves”.

For more information contact 756675 or 759753

National Greenwash Day

I have to say I fully support Ecotricity boss Dale Vince when he calls on his Zerocarbonista blog for today to be retitled National Greenwash Day - The Guardian also covered the story - see here.

Photo: EDF and Ecotricity - has EDF pinched marketing?

Today is what EDF want to call Green Britain Day - Of course I hugely welcome moves to cut energy and green us all - this move by EDF is about asking people, including schools to ‘do something green for the team' today - but coming from EDF this move strikes hollow - it has very little credibility....

EDF is the biggest global corporate producer of nuclear waste and one of the worst carbon polluters in the world - they are now telling us how to save energy while demanding a reduction in UK wind power targets. Are they serious?

In my blog earlier today I have correspondence from earlier in the week with the Eden Project over their support for EDF - I've since had a reply from Tim Smit pointing to his article in The Times - to me this is wholly unsatisfactory and doesn't address the matter that EDF is actually trying to block wind power developments - this is working against a low carbon future.

Worse still it seems many other companies have got on the bandwagon. British Gas have ads saying: 'Green Britain Day. For us, it's everyday.' While Npower has today rolled out a tactical press ad for its educational programme Climate Cops, featuring the strapline ‘Every day's a green day for Climate Cops.'

I've also just come across a Facebook campaign to stop the 'greatest British greenwash of all time.' Anyhow it seems Ecotricity are going for court action - see here - not just because EDF have seemingly pinched their Green Union Jack but also for misrepresenting their goods/services - see pic above from the Facebook site.

This all leaves me wondering about the Eden project's Big Lunch on 19th July - I've publicised on this blog before - it is a great idea - but I have become slightly less comfortable with this as I discovered EDF also supports this - however it is one thing to support a Big Lunch it is another to organise a national 'Green Britain Day' - nevertheless this raises questions of sponsorship and ethics and allsorts - what do others think??

....and as for a lunch we can do that anytime - indeed plans are afoot for another event in Bread Street but later in the year.......anyhow let me finish with Dale's article in The Guardian today:

Green Britain Day is a dangerous PR distraction from the real task at hand

Greening Britain is a serious goal that requires a vision underpinned by real policies with meaningful outcomes

I'd like to declare today to be Greenwash Day. To celebrate that relatively modern phenomenon of companies trying to sell themselves as being rather greener and more ethical than they really are. Today would be an apt day, it is after all – Green Britain Day. Where's the Greenwash in that? Oh where to start.

Green Britain day comes to us courtesy of EDF. That's Electricité de France to give them their full name. EDF is a state-owned French nuclear power company. They are also the world's biggest corporate producer of nuclear waste, one of it's biggest traders and burners of coal, and have a tiny tiny fleet of windmills (0.7% of their generation). And to promote this campaign they've "borrowed" (as Fred Pearce gently puts it) someone else's logo – the green union flag. This flag symbolises two things: care for the environment and British identity. EDF can claim, of course, neither.

This really does take greenwash to a whole new level. It could almost be the plot of a a farce. If it wasn't for the fact that EDF is seriously intent on convincing us in Britain that it – and nuclear energy – are green and good for Britain.

Stealing someone else's clothes is not a new tactic in the world of dirty big business. And neither is greenwash.

A few years ago the UK witnessed "fairwash", where years of pioneering work on the concept of Fairtrade were swamped by a tidal wave of big-budget corporate lookalike schemes. Everybody and their brother now has a version of Fairtrade. It might be tempting to say where's the harm in that, the more people doing it the better. Well yes, if they truly are doing it, I would agree. But that's not how this usually goes down. When big brands move into the ethical arena it's for the kudos, to look like a better company, to follow a new trend and gain sales – it isn't for the cause, it's for their cause, which is of course to make money and to add "shareholder value".

Pale corporate imitations of green and ethical brands or products are truly harmful. They distract consumers and divert spending from the real thing and they bring the risk of early onset "issue fatigue". You know how it goes – yawn, yawn, here's another company that says it pays its suppliers a decent price because it really cares about them or says it's really committed to fighting climate change. Or whatever …

Maybe we need a regulator for environmental and ethical claims. We've got Ofgem for electricity and Ofwat for water – I propose we should name this one Ethoff.

Let's come back to Green Britain Day. The campaign itself has laudable aims, fighting climate change and making Britain a greener place. Who could argue with that? But look for any substance and you won't find it. It's all recycled and gimmicky. And it's a distraction. Green Britain is a serious goal, it requires a vision underpinned by real policies, a suite of joined up actions that we can all get behind – with meaningful outcomes. It's a mission not a PR opportunity.

Call for Eden Project to end support for EDF

The news that the Eden Project has linked up with EDF is disappointing indeed - I've sent a letter below to them after I heard from campaigners at Stop Hinkley - indeed my letter is based on their stuff - readers of this might also like to send a comment to the Eden Project - heir email contact page is: www.edenproject.com/contact-us/index.php

Russ photoshop: EDF are also involved in dirty coal

Dear Mr Smit,

As a District councillor in Gloucestershire who has visited your extraordinary project I am very concerned to learn about the support that the Eden Project appears to be giving the French nuclear company EDF.

The company plans to build four giant reactors in the UK, yet you will know this is no answer to climate change. The Sustainable Development Commission said that replacing all UK reactors would reduce our carbon emissions by just five percent. The UK target for 2050 is an 80 percent reduction and we need to go further than this.

The EDF reactors will use 'high burn up' nuclear fuel which will take a century to become cool enough and manageable for eventual 'disposal'. Some interim storage will be in the South West ie burial in chambers which will in all likelihood leak into the environment during the million year life of the nuclear waste. There are also other serious risks like the fact that the super-fuel means the release of a higher proportion of dangerous radionuclides to the environment in the event of a serious accident. You are probably aware that EDF plants have been criticised in France for a recent spate of radioactive leaks.

EDF have recently asked the Government to consider the disadvantages to new nuclear power if renewable energy expands at the planned rate and 'threatened' to not build as many reactors unless they have extra demands met to balance market forces in their favour.

You will also no doubt be aware of the extraordinary move by EDF to take the 'Green Union Jack' from Ecotricity's awareness campaign and emblazoned it on their TV adverts. Apparently EDF spends only £5 per customer on renewable energy, the second lowest utility after N-power.

A Guardian article this week highlighted what it saw as 'greenwash' around the current EDF campaign pointing out that coal-burning power stations are also a major part of EDF's enterprise. In France the company is under investigation for spying on Greenpeace campaigners.

The Eden Project has in the past made many efforts to promote key issues like climate change, yet this move to support EDF flies in the face of that. I hope you will consider pulling out of your involvement with EDF.

Petition for the Great British Refurb

This blog has been full of the Open Homes project I organised last year and am again helping this year - it was therefore great to hear about the Great British Refurb campaign with Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs and other organisations.

Kevin McCloud launches the Great British Refurb, as Grand Designs joins forces with the WWF, the UK Green Building Council and the Energy Saving Trust. Photograph: Channel 4's Grand Designs

Our existing homes are responsible for 27% of the UK's carbon emissions and the Great British Refurb campaign is calling on government to make energy efficient home refurbishment easier, more affordable and more attractive for UK home-owners and landlords. The specific calls by the campaign on the Government are to:

1. Offer households new ways to pay for green refurbishment, which would significantly reduce upfront costs and instead spread them over a longer period of time.

2. Provide better financial incentives for householders to refurbish their homes to make them greener and more energy efficient, through substantial government grants, subsidies or tax rebates.

3. Ensure installers are qualified and approved to undertake the work.

Show your support for the campaign by signing the campaign petition: www.greatbritishrefurb.co.uk

Kevin McCloud is handing the petition signatures in to 10 Downing Street next Tuesday morning (14th July) so please sign up now and encourage your friends and family to sign up too.

Meat free Mondays

Apparently Paul McCartney and his celebrity pals have been asking people to save the planet by going without meat each Monday? Reactions to this initiative were mixed, and a bit confused. The Independent asked why we can't just give up eating farting cows (see here) - and keep eating pigs and chickens. Friends of the Earth letter in The Times explains why - see here.

Cartoon from Russ

Indeed I was sent recently a BBC link about the Belgian city of Ghent which is about to become the first in the world to go vegetarian at least once a week. Starting in May they organised a regular weekly meatless day, in which civil servants and elected councillors will opt for vegetarian meals. Schoolchildren will follow suit with their own 'veggiedag' in September.

Ghent are to be applauded in trying to recognise the impact of livestock on the environment. The UN says livestock is responsible for nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, hence Ghent's declaration of a weekly "veggie day". So this is about Ghent's environmental footprint, but also about tackling obesity. Around 90,000 so-called "veggie street maps" are now being printed to help people find the city's vegetarian eateries (see article here).

Hopefully all this noise will get people thinking about how much meat and dairy the planet can provide. But we also need to keep piling the pressure on MPs to change the way it is produced. Friends of the Earth have a campaign to fix the food chain - a new email to your MP to get them to sign an Early Day Motion - vegetarian David Drew MP has already signed - but others interested in this campaign can see more here.

Falcon, Bugsy Malone, beer and Water forum

Hey apparently a peregrine falcon was spotted on Monday outside Archway School - was this the same one seen two years ago? See here...have others seen it?

...well yesterday apart from the Open Homes meeting mentioned in the last blog I also got to the Randwick Primary School's play to see my partner's granddaughter - the play was Bugsy Malone - certainly some talent there - a little curious as to why this spoof gangster movie was chosen although I understand it ranks 19 in an all-time poll of Musicals above Cats, Phantom and the King and I! After all the splurge guns (specially designed locally by one of the parents to include party poppers) the play ends with all realising they can be friends.....

Also yesterday was the Stroud Valleys Water Forum in the evening - a much shorter meeting as no speaker and unfortunately two of the items there weren't people there to present - a quick round up of the four groups that were present - delighted to hear that BARFF have put in for a whole catchment strategy to be developed across the Stroud valleys - apparently the District Council have supported this bid to the county for funds - this has got to be the way forward and the forum gave it their support - indeed without such a strategy mistakes will be made - already have in the past....we also spent time planning the next meeting where we want to discuss roles of EA plus our meeting planned with District re the Core Strategy but hey I am probably boring folk so call me if you want info about how we are progressing with this!

Anyhow I wanted to confirm that we have a clear up of Ruscombe Brook on Sat 15th Aug and our AGM in Randwick Village Hall on 15th Sept - put the dates in your diary now!

Lastly congrats to Jon Kemp at the Nailsworth Brewery for his Alestock beer which gained best bitter in the South West - described as "more bouncy than a caffiene fueled bunny on a bouncy castle" - with a hint of elderflower - Jon earlier in the year was the brewer behind the Green Knight beer for the Euro elections - see here - he now goes forward to the national competition.

Meanwhile it was also good to see in Stroud Life that Liz Godsell's Single Gloucester cheese has been judged supreme champion of the cheeseboard.

Eco-renovation Open Homes set for September

We have an amazing 22 homes opening on 12th and 13th September. This gives us an excellent variety of eco-renovation to show people. We also have The Exchange and Eco-Installers Fair as well as The Elite Efficient Energy showrooms opening.

Cartoon from Russ and photos below of the draft leaflet on Helen Royall's computer

Yesterday I had a meeting with Helen Royall to finalise the draft leaflet (see photos) - the leaflet is looking great. It will be an 8 page booklet and include Russ' cartoon above - the map and the information will hopefully be easier to see than last year and we are looking to launch it at the end of this month. Ecotricity are funding the leaflet - we also hope to have another announcement soon re Ecotricity - and as noted before Stroud District Council have put in some money - and Stroud Town Council and support from Heritage Open Days and others.....

Debbie Hewitt at Stroud District Council has organised another walk and the Graham Stanley from the Glos Minibus Scheme will be driving people round the various homes. Heritage Open Days are also supporting us by putting links on their website and giving householders participating insurance. Good on them - their weekend is the same weekend so folk can combine visits to other homes if they are interested.

I've also got confirmation that the project I was trying to get set up re Energy Monitors is going ahead - they will be available to loan from Stroud, Nailsworth, Stonehouse and Dursley libraries. People will be able to borrow the meters in the same way as they might loan a book or DVD. Severn Wye Energy Agency will be launching the scheme in September in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council. See more here.

Our website is being updated slowly - it lists the homes now but more info coming and it will all be tidied up soon - remember we are volunteers doing this!! See here:
www.stroudopenhomes.org.uk/

Visit to sewage plant

OK yesterday I went to Bath for the Wessex Water meeting - see last two blogs for issues I raised - invasive species - and drugs in our water - here below is a bit about the meeting and the visit we were taken on my minibus to the massive sewage plant at Avonmouth. As folk may remember I sit on the Customer Liaison Panel for the District Council - usually three day meetings each year - see last one here.

Photos: Avonmouth - starting with me trying to get my camera to work - then shots of the visit by other councillors from across the Wessex region

Anyhow the meeting was shorter than usual due to having to get to Avonmouth - but as usual we heard lots about the wonders of Wessex Water - yes they are good at PR but also they are leaders in the field and deserve the good press...

...take for example this time we learnt that this is the first time ever no category one or two pollution incidents, the highest ever scores in performance and leaders in the field, topping the Ofwat customer satisfaction tables (first utility and private company in the UK to be awarded the Government's 'Customer Service Excellence Award'), meeting all outputs in their Monitoring Plan, holding leakage figures at 72Ml/d despite coldest winter in 15 years...

I could go on...it is hard to scrutinise such a company when they are ahead of others in their field - it is refreshing to find a business so motivated to ensure customer satisfaction but also to tackle the bigger issues like climate change...

As I've said before they have very ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2050 - they are already on their way and ahead of most in the world of water. On the visit we were able to see their Combined Heat and Power Plant - see photo below - and the various anaerobic digesters that sort out the sewage so that the remains can be sold to farmers plus the gas can be used to heat and create electricity.

All this is interesting stuff - Biochar can be created - this can then be ploughed into soil - some environmentalists and industry are saying this is a huge opportunity to reduce levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Advocates claim that the science is nearly settled, and that the existence of carbon rich Amazonian soils - formed thousands of years ago from deliberately buried charcoal - is evidence that the carbon stays where it is put. However opponents warn that earth varies hugely, and so does its response to added carbon. And where exactly is all this 'waste' going to come from? It is great that Wessex is exploring this.

One of my other questions was about the wind turbines that Wessex were seeking permission for - well they now have permission for four of them on the site - extraordinarily there were objections even on this industrial site - one of the main ones was around the risks to birds - however regular monitoring of two turbines very close to this site (see photo of these two) found only one bird wing a fair way from the turbine - no evidence that it was the turbine - anyhow this will significantly boost their renewable energy production.

Wessex Water have now created a couple of months ago a company to focus on their energy issues - think it was called Regeneco.

Anyhow I also asked questions about the state of aquifers - just a little down on last year and no significant changes to levels in last 20 years or more - I asked as many aquifers are suffering badly - partly as a result of climate change and mainly over extraction.

Another issue being discussed during the day was what to do with the rising number (2% per annum) of bad debt - a combination of 'can't pay' and 'won't pay' - the lack of right to disconnect makes this a tricky one for companies - for the 'can't pay' the Assist Tariff is working well - for the 'won't pay' there has been speculation in the press about installing trickle flows ie taps only allow a trickle out - this is not legal and Wessex are not considering the move. Indeed I wonder how on earth you can differentiate between can't and won't????

Oh dear it is now too late and I was going to say so much more - if you get the opportunity a visit to a sewage plant is worth it! But for me work early tomorrow so must to bed now....

Stop sale of invasive species at garden centres

As noted yesterday I was at the Wessex Water Joint Customer Liaison Panel meeting in Bath and Avonmouth - one of the other questions I raised there was about invasive species. The Salisbury-based charity Plantlife (www.plantlife.org.uk) has highlighted the dangers of invasive water plants that out-compete native species, reducing biodiversity and causing problems such as flooding. Apparently garden centres still sell many of these species like parrot’s feather, New Zealand pigmyweed, creeping water primrose, floating pennywort and water fern.

Indeed I can remember having the parrot's feather some years ago in a previous pond in Nailsworth and I thought how attractive it was - then someone put me straight and I removed the plant. There maybe many other folk who have these plants in their ponds.....

The government body, the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat reported 2,721 non-native species of plants and animals in England and says on its website: ‘Invasive non-native plant and animal species are the second-greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide (after habitat destruction). They can negatively impact on native species, can transform habitats and threaten whole ecosystems, causing serious problems to the environment and the economy’. Indeed invasive plants can spread over the surface of the water reducing light and oxygen levels below which can be damaging for both plants and animals.

The Government has estimated that invasive species cost the UK economy £2 billion a year.

Apparently a spokesperson from the Garden Centre Association says it works closely with Plantlife to educate its 200 UK members about invasive species, but ultimately, ‘it’s up to individual centres what they stock’. There is no law to prevent the sale of invasive species, only a voluntary code, the Horticultural Code of Practice.

Anyhow I wanted to know what measures Wessex Water take on this issue - and indeed they have a programme to remove plants but they considered it was beyond their remit to join Plantlife and call for a ban of selling the 20 or so most invasive species.

The Government is apparently currently considering whether or not to ban the sale of some of the most damaging plants, but you can also do your bit by telling store managers that you don’t want to see non-native invasive plants on sale - and of course don’t buy them. Even if you are a responsible gardener or fish-keeper and dispose of problem plants safely – by composting or burning them or using a municipal garden waste collection – they may be carried into the wild by the wind or by birds and other animals outside of your control. That’s why Plantlife think avoiding non-native invasive plants in the first place is the most effective choice.

The bottom line from Plantlife: "NEVER release ANY garden or aquarium plants into the wild - don't tip them down land drains, don’t dump them in the countryside, don’t throw them into your normal waste bin. Compost or burn them or use your local council garden waste collection."

Plantlife have more you can do on their website including an excellent survey form - see here - below is part of the form so that folk can see what we are talking about...

©Tim Pankhurst/Plantlife	Parrot's Feather Myriophyllum aquaticum
©www.ukwildflowers.com	New Zealand Pigmyweed Crassula helmsii
©Alain Dutartre, Cemagref	Creeping Water-primrose Ludwigia peploides
©Tim Pankhurst/Plantlife	Floating Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
©Dominic Price/Plantlife	Water Fern Azolla filiculoides
©Su Cooper/Plantlife	Other (please provide full Latin or common name):

Drugs in our water?

Today I was in Bath and Avonmouth for the Wessex Water Joint Customer Liaison Panel meeting - I'll blog on that in a while but this evening wanted to mention one of the issues I raised - it relates to medications in our water....I recently read the article 'Drugs on tap' by John Naish in The Ecologist - see article here.

Photo: Randwick Woods on Sunday

This article in May discusses concern regarding pharmaceuticals getting into our water system, either through lavatories or refuse disposal. Purifying systems are apparently not specifically designed to remove drug residues which means they are contaminating the food chain and our drinking water. The article notes that the 'UK Drinking Water Inspectorate in November 2007 suggests that each of us now consumes between 50g and 150g of active pharmaceutical ingredients a year via our tap water'.

It also says that the Drinking Water Inspectorate is running pilot tests of potential high-risk rivers at the point where human drinking water is extracted, to ascertain if there is any danger of pharmaceutical pollution. Meanwhile the British water industry's scientific collaborative body, UK Water Industry Research, is investigating how it can cost-effectively remove oestrogens from sewage. Dr Andrew Johnson, a water quality scientist at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Wallingford is quoted saying: "There is a need for a lot more research. However it is not currently fashionable. The public are concerned, but the research-funding agencies much less so. We don't have enough information to rule out whether it is an issue."

So I wanted to know what view Wessex Water had on this? Infact they suggest the article may have got the figured wrong - indeed it does seem slightly unbelievable the 50 to 150 gms figure - coming home I've done a quick web search and it would appear that figure is consumption of drugs not via tap water? See report here.

However as they acknowledge this is an issue - indeed The Telegraph also covered the story here re cancer drugs in the water. However with Wessex most of their water comes from aquifers and sources otherthan 'reclaimed' the water. It sounds like we will have to wait and see if it is an issue of concern in other water supplies - certainly it is also not just pharmaceuticals but other chemicals - I heard a story today about one person spraying their weeds with pesticides and then washing their equipment in the river - this caused a spike in levels in the tests being done on quality so that water company folk went out to search for the pollution source....anyhow I'm rambling now and must to bed early.

More on Wessex tomorrow if I have time.....

Happy 10th Birthday Stroud Farmers Market

Congrats to all who have made Stroud farmer's Market the best in the South West and one of the best in the country.

Picture from Stroud artist Simon Watkins aka Vietnam the Movie who has helped give the market a new look.

Today Stroud Farmers’ Market celebrated its 10th birthday - the market was originally launched as a monthly experiment - fashion designer Jasper Conran and the late style icon Isabella Blow in July 1999 opened it - now of course it has grown hugely and since August 2006 it has been every Saturday. It has helped to breath new life into many local food and drink producers but also had a huge impact on the rest of the town - indeed far from taking business away it has led the rival of Stroud.

There are now new banners and there was also a cake cutting ceremony by Guardian food critic Matthew Fort and various others at 11am. In the Citizen organiser Clare Gerbrands, who also runs the Made in Stroud shop in Kendrick Street, said: “I never imagined it would capture people’s imaginations the way it has. The council asked us to run it and include local farmers. We now regularly attract 50 or more stallholders, all selling their own homegrown and homemade produce. Thousands of customers flock to the market every week and it is now the biggest farmers’ market in the South West, bringing much trade into the town centre and contributing to Stroud’s renaissance as a successful market town, even in difficult economic times.”

Loft Lagging Bid initiated by MP

David Drew scheduled this public meeting for last night - 'Stroud Loft Lagging : the next steps' - tennis and the weather I am sure kept many away but nearly 20 of us assembled in The Old Town Hall in Stroud (it's going on again at 10am today at Kingshill House, Dursley).

I hugely applaud David's move on this - far, far too little has been done by the Government and indeed local councils. Part of the meeting was to look at firm action plans 'to ensure that every Stroud loft capable of it is insulated within the next two years'. Fully lagging our lofts is regarded as the simplest and most cost-effective measure we can take to reduce our heating bills and our carbon emissions.

The meeting shared what is happening in other parts of the country, agree an outline way forward for Stroud and appoint a leader to work up a realistic and costed action plan to bring back to you within a realistic time.

The four options discussed:

• the Kirklees Warm Zone model : the council pays for all lofts to be insulated free of charge, irrespective of householder income
• the rebate model : the Council offers a council tax rebate to all households which can show they have insulation in their lofts to the specified standard – Kensington and Chelsea demonstrated the legality of a rebate model this year when they gave a £50 efficiency rebate to all households - although this was not linked to energy efficiency
• the energy company model : for example, in partnership with an energy company, the Council channels a ‘rebate’ from the energy company to all households which the company insulates.
• the Village Greening model : a ‘bottom-up’ community approach to implementing such energy-saving measures within your community (see poster on this blog and link below).

Greening Campaign

One of the speakers was Terena Plowright, the founder and director of the Greening Campaign, and there was also a presentation from Environment Agency spokespeople about the impacts of climate change on Stroud. What I loved about the Greening Campaign was how people were encouraged to take part - a leaflet was delivered with 8 action points - if you took 5 then you put the poster in the window - immediately huge numbers of these posters were put up - the messages were later reinforced by film shows, public meetings and displays in shops, libraries, etc.

The next step of the campaign is then to evaluate its success which is done by a combination of public surveys and card counts. From this information the annual CO2 cut for the community can be estimated and reported in the local paper. For Petersfield the saving was an amazing 23 tons of carbon dioxide ( a single ton of carbon dioxide would be about the size of a four bedroom house).

Next up comes the pack with opportunities - apparently just been produced - in many ways it sounds like many of the things that Transition Towns have been doing - local food projects etc - after that there is a toolkit being compiled to look at adaptation to climate change. Great stuff - if we are to pursue it here in Stroud then we will need to see how we can link to Transition Stroud and others - there is lots of overlap but my feeling is that a Greening Stroud model may reach parts that Transition hasn't...anyhow that is up for further discussion....

Other models

Out of the others my favorite is the Kirklees model - mentioned many times on this blog - it
came about by a Green party amendment and much work to gain cross-party support - locally we have not yet made so much progress in this but I am still hopeful - it was paid for largely by grants from the energy companies - but it also meant the Council borrowing which increased the Council tax by £7 per householder per year for 25 years. To me this is small fry compared to the money saved by householders - often £200 per householder per year and with Peak Oil this will be even higher in the future - plus of course the carbon savings.

In my role on Stroud District Council's Performance Scrutiny committee, we are in the process of launching an inquiry that will be looking into some of this area - plus also recently there was a meeting which I attended to see how SDC can work better with utility companies. I will be watching - and indeed offering support to this latest move which looks set to bid for money to take an innovative approach to cutting carbon - see more here.

One of the things we learnt from the Eco-Renovation Open Homes weekend that I organised last year and am planning again for this September, is that people are very enthused and fired up to take action immediately after the event but often it slips and it just doesn't happen as people are busy - we need to explore ways we can really support people to make the changes that are needed.

Another initiative I have just set up is a scheme with Transition Stroud to get energy monitors into libraries - the scheme will now be managed by SWEA and hopefully start in September. This again is a great way to get those already interested involved but how do we reach all the others? Of course there are many different routes - I hope this new bid will allow us to explore more locally - and of course really make a difference in cutting the carbon.

Kirklees Warm Zone : http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/environment/energyconservation/warmzone/warmzone.shtml

Kensington and Chelsea Council :
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/LocalTaxes/CouncilTax/efficiency_dividend.asp

British Gas/Centrica - sample energy company initiative:
http://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/products/home-insulation/council-tax.html

Village Greening Campaign : http://www.greening-campaign.co.uk/

Natural skin care wonders locally

As regular blog readers will know I occasionally feature local folk like earlier this week I-Spy author and last week artists and sound designer (see latest film here). Well did you know that in the heart of Ruscombe there are organic and natural skin care wonders being made. Tanya, an aromatherapist since 1996 along with colleague Carrie are busy handmaking in Bread Street, Ruscombe a collection of seriously luxurious wonderful smells and lotions, potions and more. They avoid all those animal products, petrochemicals and synthetic perfumes that can be harmful to you and the environment. See http://kalyaproducts.co.uk

They are also at the Stroud Farmers Market (not sure if it is every Saturday) and at The Guardian ecostore here or call direct on 753257. Last weekend we came home with a pot of relax body cream - and ooohh arrrh it does the business! Support our local businesses if you can!

"I tried Kalya products and liked them so much, I am selling them in my shop Charmed in Port Isaac, Cornwall. Come and visit." Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen

News: schools, lane closed, housing, convent, SVP and more

A quick round up of some bits and bobs of local interest:

Photos: Woodcraft Folk Willow Elfin group rafting in Chalford this evening and below Open Studios exhibitions closed on Tuesday - a truimph - well done to all who made it possible.

The Vine Tree pub fundraiser for Mesothelioma UK - well done to Naomi Hawkins and all who raised money for the charity by designing and selling calendars and more.

Stroud District's Land Availability Assessment - this evening after work I was off to make rafts with Woodcraft Folk - see photo - then arrived slightly late for the Policy Panel on land availability in Stroud - basically Stroud District Council have appointed consultants Roger Tym & Partners to undertake a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) for the District. The study should provide up-to-date information on the future housing potential in the district up to 2026 - and will form part of the evidence base on housing potential. It will also inform the emerging Local Development Framework and will contribute to how the housing provision figures in the South West Regional Spatial Strategy can be met. Lots of stuff then and important. It includes a list of sites, cross-referenced to maps showing locations and boundaries of specific sites plus an assessment of the deliverability/ developability of each identified site (i.e. in terms of its suitability, availability and achievability) to determine when an identified site is realistically expected to be developed. Plus the potential quantity of housing that could be delivered on each identified site or within each identified broad location (where necessary) or on windfall sites (where justified) and the constraints on the delivery of identified sites with recommendations on how these constraints could be overcome and when. Of course of most interest is where the housing is going - will for example Ruscombe fields be included? However this is only about availability not whether it will be developed - lots more needs to be considered but it is an important step that I will be following up....

The Lane closed in Randwick - Highways have alerted me this afternoon to the fact that they will be undertaking vegetation clearance/maintenance works at Randwick School Retaining Wall. This work is "to enable inspection work to be carried out on the wall and any required repairs to be undertaken thereby ensuring the future stability of the retaining structure, and therefore the safety of road users and residents. The works are programmed to start on the 27th July 2009, should last for approximately 3 days. There will be a no parking policy in the vicinity of the work while the works are being undertaken, though all access to local properties will be maintained. Prior to the vegetation clearance a contractor will be carrying out herbicide spraying during the week commencing 6th July 2009. This work will not require and any traffic management or road closure but we request that consideration be taken whilst driving along The Lane during this week to ensure the safety of the workforce."

Randwick Mayor to Visit Randwick - yes Mayor Bruce Notley-Smith of the City of Randwick in Oz is due in the village later this month - more details soon.

Belties at Risk - front page of the Runner had news that the Belted Galloways cattle, a traditional rare breed at the field at the top of Ash Lane have been put at risk by the litter and fires - cows are inquisitive and will seek out new things in their environment - this threatens their mouth and feet. The Runner asks us to either let those lighting the fires know about the impact of their actions or to please report fires to the National Trust warden on 01452 810052 or teh Community Police Officer on 0845 0901234 - these cattle are v important as they help ensure that our grasslands remain full of wild flowers and wildlife.

Whiteshill Primary School - Pupils will sing and dance in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Cotswold Playhouse on the evenings of 7th July and 8th July. The children were inspired to put on the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic after seeing a performance of the musical at the Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year.

Randwick CofE Primary School - reports in local papers show that it has made a good impression on an Ofsted inspector who found pupils' academic and personal development was outstanding. Here is what Stroud Life had to say: The 84-pupil school was marked good in its overall effectiveness after a visit by Shirley Billington. She said: "This is a good school. Pupils do well academically and their personal development is outstanding. Pupils make a first rate contribution to the school and local community, showing a keen awareness of the part they need to play in the wider world." If that was not enough, Randwick school was then judged outstanding when a second inspector – Muriel Griffiths from the Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools – toured its classrooms a month later. "Randwick is an outstanding church school. Christian values underpin the whole life of the school and ensure that everyone feels cared for and valued," she reported. "There is a delightful family atmosphere that permeates the whole school. The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Randwick as a Church of England school are outstanding." Headteacher Fiona Montacute said everyone was delighted with the outcome of both inspections. "They help build a picture of Randwick as an outstanding church school," she said."Randwick is a small village school and special to everyone involved within it. It is great to have the opportunity to celebrate our achievements both within the school and the community."

More Hall Convent Open Day - I missed it this year but by all accounts it was great - the nuns even turned their talents to Morris dancing during the annual fete. Here is the local press report: "The Indian and Sri Lankan sisters from the Benedictine Order of Grace and Compassion twirled, jumped and hopped to the admiration of visitors to the fundraiser. The sisters also made spicy samosas to their own recipe that were served as tasty snacks to the crowd, said More Hall spokeswoman Joanna Boddington. More Hall, founded in 1968 in Cashes Green, is home to half a dozen nuns led by Sister Elsy and cares for 10 elderly men and women. The fete provides money for extras for residents. This year's event drummed up £1,000 and will be used to provide raised flower beds in the garden.

Stroud Valleys Project - who have just celebrated their 21st birthday have also just got a grant of £5,000 to run wildlife workshops and surveys at The Lawns and Hamwell Leaze (booth on the Ruscombe Brook) along with a couple of other sites.

Social Work poem

In Scotland, the Association of Directors of Social Work commissioned this poem "for the social workers of Scotland" - I was trained as a Social Worker and now work for two charities working with people who have mental health issues. I thought it was good and worth more people seeing...

	Brothers and Keepers By Edwin Morgan
	It was heard all right; that was not the argument. Day or night it echoed from wall to wall, A voice, never incomprehensible, But a question many found intolerable: 'Am I my brother's keeper?' Some with scorn, Some with anger, some with quick dismissal, Some with the half-uneasy consciousness Of being put on the spot, some blustering, Some brazen, some bound to macho boasts, Kicking the can of pity out of play, 'Each to his own, let them get on with it!' Conflicting shouts and voices did not stop us. Threats were grist to the mill. We wanted The record of what was and is and may be To be set down if not in letters of the fire At least in good black print and clicks of mouse To open up what's wrong, what's right, texting, Probing, shaming, dreaming, countering The last indifference. Who could be indifferent When we took psychotic Steve from his filthy bolthole Into a modest hostel room and he murmured In half-belief 'Is this all for me?' The reward of gratitude is a star in dark skies. You cannot always help but trying is the crux. I well remember that old alky Bill Who shared his hovel of a house with others; They held him prisoner among the litter Of needles and syringes and empty bottles Waiting to be smashed on social workers. Another place for Bill? - possible, But he's a bloody mess from fights at the moment. We don't give up, that nothing is easy Makes it even better not to give up. Everyone alive is subject to change. Hope lies where you least expect it. Take exclusion from school, or rather don't take it! Sandra, a so-called impossible child, Made sure each class was disrupted to breaking-point. Yelling, hitting, throwing chairs about, Was she getting what she wanted, Did she know what she wanted? Was it 'What is to be done with her?' Or rather 'What has been done to her?' She was a child abused, her mother on drugs, She had become a 'case', found caring arms In social services alone, and there Not only care but cure: a worker assigned To be with her throughout school, helping, calming, A bridge of sympathy between teacher and pupil, A dedication not all that far from love. Homelessness is terrible, but a home Without love is almost equally so. We watch, we measure, we praise whatever Society can do, given the means and the people To unknot fearful twists of fate, each day Brings more, and if we are powerless We cry out in our powerlessness. If we are to blame, then we are to blame; Fair treatment is what we ask. My friends, There is always without doubt a worst case, And it is so bad because it is so rare, Call it the dark night of the carer's soul. Here you have Carl, supreme in cunning, Known to have a personality disorder, But showing the social team 'continued improvement': Ah what a mockery he made Of schizophrenia! This man, however, Took a claw hammer to his next victim's head, Fried his brains with butter and ate it - 'Very nice' he said. And unpredictable One might add, although social workers Would still have nightmares, thinking, shivering - What was needed other than what they had, Vigilance to the last degree, happy recall Of those so many they had helped, brought back To life with faith and hope blessedly renewed. Oh if you ever thought we were not required, Workers on the very edge of despair, Consider Joe, kicked out by his foster-carers At twelve, having stolen from the little they had: 'Ah don't know why Ah done it, but it's okay If they didny wahnt me back, it's okay - My ma didny wahnt me either.' To live In such an unquestioned acceptance of defeat Is dreadful, yet we know Joe can be helped. The value of a soul can be drawn out By those who are trained to do so, those Who can blow the tiniest downtrodden spark Of self-esteem into flame. You drop a tear In instant sympathy or you are filled With anger against systems and perpetrators, And this is good and fine and natural. But change is all the practicalities Of learning, funding, understanding, change Is everything we believe to be possible Whatever the squalor and sickness and stink. There will never be a paradise with people like angels Walking and singing through forests of music, But let us have the decency of a society That helps those who cannot help themselves. It can be done; it must be done; so do it.

Outrage at seizure of the 'Spirit of Humanity'

News that Israeli soldiers have boarded a Free Gaza boat 24 miles off the shore of Gaza and cut all of its official communication is pretty outrageous to say the least.

Photo: Martin Whiteside in Stroud at a recent vigil to highlight concerns re Gaza

The boat was on its way to deliver urgently needed supplies to the people of Gaza when the Israeli Navy boarded and told the Free Gaza activists to return to international waters, warning that they “will not be allowed to proceed to Gaza”. The boat’s navigational equipment was electronically jammed overnight by the navy. This boat, the ‘Spirit of Humanity’, was carrying only unarmed human rights workers and journalists – including Denis Healy, Nobel peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman and Green party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.

In an email to the Israeli embassy, Dr Lucas MEP has already called on the Israeli authorities to guarantee the safety of the human rights campaigners onboard and to prevent violence being used against the Free Gaza boat or any individuals sailing upon it. Here is the letter adapted from a campaign letter that I sent to the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband: msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk

I was very concerned to hear the news that the Israeli Navy illegally intercepted and boarded the Free Gaza ship 'Spirit of Humanity', whilst it was in international waters. It appears they have kidnapped the 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including UK citizens Ishmahil Blagrove, Alex Harrison, Denis Healey, Fathi Jaouadi, Theresa McDermott and Adnan Mormesh, and taken the boat to an Israeli port.

The boat holds medicine, toys, and other much needed humanitarian relief for the Palestinians living in Gaza under siege. Its cargo was searched and it received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before departure. As the International Committee of the Red Cross said in their report, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair."

Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel 's December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel 's disruption of medical supplies.

I urge you to insist that the Israeli Government immediately release the Spirit of Humanity and all its passengers, and take all the necessary steps to ensure it can complete its humanitarian mission in safety. I also urge you to act to ensure that the Israeli government does not commit any further acts of piracy and kidnapping of boats and their crew in international waters.

Cllr. Philip Booth

Letter to Coop re making a bee house

The Coop is to be applauded for it's 'Plan Bee' which includes research and banning eight pesticides on it's own-brand produce (The Coop Magazine Summer 2009). It is indeed time for urgent research as to why a third of UK bee hives have been lost in the last couple of years. Without bees many fruits and vegetables would become scarce and prohibitively expensive.

The honeybee is an incredibly important pollinator, but we should also remember there are more than 20,000 species of bee in the world - more than all the mammals and birds combined. Most of these live solitary lives. In the UK we have over 200 species and it seems most are facing serious challenges from destroyed habitats, changed land-use patterns, tidy and concreted gardens, changing weather patterns and the use of pesticides and other chemicals.

We can all do our bit to reduce pesticide use and grow bee-friendly plants, however I would also urge people to make a bee house. This house in the photo, I made from a log drilled with holes ranging from 4 to 10mm. The holes are sawdust and splinter free and it is in full sun at least a metre off the ground with a piece of old metal on top to deflect the rain. In October some recommend taking it into a cool dry place then bringing it out early April.

Philip Booth,

See previous blogs on this here. More info from: www.theglobalbeeproject.com
where there is now even a slot about the Ruscombe Bee Project - a little grand the title but I hope to encourage others to also make some houses. And excellent article at: http://www.foxleas.com/bee_house.htm