Peoples Republic of South Devon

Plymouth outdoors

posted by Cptn

The Plymouth Environment Centre, passed on this info from the city council. “People with a passion for the great outdoors are being invited to join Plymouth’s Local Access Forum; an independent body set up to advise Plymouth City Council on how to help people make the most of the city’s open spaces.

“Members will meet at least quarterly to discuss all aspects of managing public access to open countryside and improving public rights of way and open-air recreation. The forum will also have a wider role in advising other authorities and organisations as well as central government.

“The city council is looking for members to represent the varied views of local people and businesses, landowners and those with related interests such as tourism, outdoor education, sport and recreation, disability awareness, health and cultural heritage.

“Membership is voluntary but expenses will be paid.

For more information or an application pack, visit the Local Access Forum pages of the council’s website at or contact the Public Rights of Way Department on 01752 304233.

The closing date for applications is August 31 and interviews will be held in the week beginning September 8.

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August 4th, 2008

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Fair transition to a greener economy

posted by Cptn

The TUC has urged the government to work more closely with employers and unions to start implementing policies that will allow the UK to become a world leader in the new green economy.

The TUC report, A Green and Fair Future: For a Just Transition to a Low Carbon Economy says while countries such as Germany, Denmark and Spain are creating thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in revenue by actively supporting green businesses, the UK is lagging behind. Germany has created a renewable energy sector employing almost half a million people with a turnover of 24 billion euros. In contrast, the UK employs just 7,000 in renewable energy, generating 360 million euros.

The TUC is calling on the government to look to the success of employer-union partnerships in the workplace as a guide for how active collaboration can drive green innovation in the UK and cut carbon emissions.

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August 3rd, 2008

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Totnes Transitions to triumph, p’raps

posted by Cptn

There can be no losers in the Big Green Challenge, and the Transition Town Totnes crew have found themselves not losing right into the last 21 finalist of the competition which could give them a share of £1 million, but will definitely reduce the town’s carbon footprint,

The Big Green Challenge is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts’ attempt to find innovative approaches to tackling climate change.

The Totnes project is to a dozen team s competing among themselves to see who can reduce their carbon emissions the most. The final 21 teams undergo a Dragon’s Den style event to whittle to down to the final 10, who each run off with their share of the loot.

Go Transition Town Totnes!

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July 25th, 2008

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Rising tide for wave energy

posted by Cptn

Much as EquiMar might sound like the company behind Time Share apartments, the group is in fact, made up of 62 scientists for 11 European countries working on marine energy – that’s wave energy to you – and the south west looks set to be a leader in the renewable energy.

Professor George Smith of Exeter University’s Cornwall Campus, who leads the renewable energy group, told the PRSD: “The South West of England has a strong commitment to increasing its renewable energy generation as demonstrated by the proposed Wave Hub project off the North Cornwall Coast. Marine Renewable Energy, both wave and tidal, has the potential to provide a significant contribution to the UK’s ‘green energy’.”

And if you haven’t noticed, there’s quite a lot of coast around.

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July 25th, 2008

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Land lecture

posted by Ctpn

Creative Commons picture by Wing-Chi Poon

There’s a whole load of hoopla about providing food for a growing world population in the face of climate change, and, dare we say, alternative fuel. But rather than get all Daily Mail about it, why not pop along to the University of Exeter’s free talk on the Use and Abuse of Land Resources (not, as the wags in the office have suggested “Fear in a handful of dust”) on Thursday July 31.

As part of the Geography Department’s series of free lectures on the past, present and future of the Earth, Professor Tim Quine will move between China’s dusty Loess Plateau and Europe’s arable farm land to explain how the latest research techniques are helping gain new insights into the causes of erosion.

Professor Tim Quine told the PRSD: “As we try to keep up with the needs of a rising population, it is more important than ever before that we understand the threats to our land. At the university we are constantly striving to find new and better ways to do this. I look forward to sharing some of our exciting new research projects with local people and to hear from them how they avoid treating soil like dirt.”
Event details:
Professor Tim Quine: Use and Abuse of Land Resources
Thursday 31 July, 6.30pm, Streatham Campus, Exeter (Moot Room)
This event is free of charge and booking is not required.

Other events in the series:

Thursday 28 August, 6.30pm Tremough Campus, Penryn (Lecture Theatre A)
Bridget Woodman: Energy Policy for a Changing Climate

Thursday 25 September, 6.30pm Streatham Campus, Exeter (Moot Room)
Stewart Barr: ‘Doing Your Bit’. Can we change our lifestyles to help the Planet?

Thursday 30 October, 6.30pm Tremough Campus, Penryn (Lecture Theatre A)
Jasper Knight Climate Change and Sandy Coastlines

Thursday 27 November, 6.30pm Streatham Campus, Exeter (Moot Room)
Chris Turney: Ice, Mud and Blood: Lessons from Climates Past

Thursday 11 December, 6.30pm Tremough Campus, Penryn (Lecture Theatre A)
Chris Caseldine: Iceland - living on the margin

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July 24th, 2008

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Sustainable homes development

posted by Cptn

A £20 million sustainable affordable housing scheme is planned for the Willows are of Torbay. The project will be the first in the south west to have ‘level five’ sustainable homes – we reckon the government’s sustainable housing code goes up to six, so it sounds like it could be one of those flagships we hear so much about.

The plans will be under scrutiny at Barton School today (Thursday) by local people as part of the consultation on the project, which has yet to receive planning permission.

Some £450,000 is going towards the costs of the 4.6 acre development at the Willows through a planning obligation from Cavanna homes.

Sovereign Housing Group will be doing the developing, and the land has been given by Torbay Council, which realises that more efficient homes means lower bills. Two thirds of the 140 houses will be affordable on the mixed homes site.

If you’re interested you can pop along to Barton Primary School, between 1pm and 6pm today to take a gander.

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July 23rd, 2008

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Newton Abbot climate meeting

posted by Cptn

Newton Abbot’s climate action group is having it’s next meeting tonight in Newton Abbot Town Hall at 7.45pm, tonight.

This is the new group’s third meeting and Jackie Brodie, of the group, told the PRSD: “What we do and how we do it is very much down to the people that join the Group. We have several enthusiastic members already and plenty of ideas. We will concentrate on those ideas that we can turn into actions in our local community, things that are acheivable. This will depend on the skills and expertise and enthusiasm of those that join the group.”

Items already on the agenda include: a discussion of how our first public awareness raising event went; discussion of the Transition Town concept and whether this is something we want to pursue; transport visioning for Newton Abbot - what will transport in Newton Abbot look like in 25 years time?, what is our vision?, what are we striving to achieve?; Funding; Car Free Day; Plastic Bag Free Town; Community Garden; Networking with other local groups/organisations in town; Publicity - website, newsletter etc.

The event is taking place in council chamber of Newton Abbot Town Hall.
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July 14th, 2008

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Newton Abbot climate change

posted by Cptn

Newton Abbot is stepping into the battle against environmental erosion in a big way, and as part of its call to mobile the masses against profligate complacency, the as-yet unnamed Newton Abbot Environmental Group is holding an evening of talks and debate at Highweek Community Primary School Hall, tomorrow (July 10) at 7pm.

Ian Bateman, the Devon County Council climate change officer will discuss… er… climate change, and Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Town movement, ‘will introduce the peak oil debate and how the Tranistion Town movement is addressing the twin issues of climate change and future energy supplies’.

All rounded off with a discussion about the issues, with the speakers and a member of Bovey Climate Action.

And because we haven’t looked in on them in a while, here’s a link to Bovey Climate Action.
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July 9th, 2008

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Wildlife photography

The Devon Wildlife Trust got in touch with some spiffing details of a photography competition to capture the creatures of the coastlines (uniquely there are two coastlines in Devon donchaknow).

“Wembury Marine Centre and the Plymouth group of the Marine Conservation Society are running a photo competition this month to help promote the weird and wonderful wildlife found off our coasts.

“The competition is open to all and the theme is ‘Marine Conservation - the good, the bad and the ugly’. Entries should illustrate some aspect of British marine conservation. This could include beautiful coastal landscapes worth conserving, people working in conservation, marine or beach pollution, marine related animal or plant species at risk.

“There are four classes in the competition: Underwater Adult, Underwater Junior (under 16), Land Adult and Land Junior (under 16). The deadline for entries is 18 July 08.

“Cat Ridout who runs Wembury Marine Centre said: ‘I’m delighted to be involved with this photographic competition. I hope it will be the first of many and help to promote our marine environment which often gets overlooked. The competition is open to all and is not just for underwater pictures so next time you go for a walk on the beach, take your camera and get snapping!’

“The competition will be judged by Peter Rowlands (underwater photographer), Neil Hope (Deputy Picture Editor, Western Morning News), Paul Naylor (underwater photographer) and a member of staff from Plymouth College of Art and Design.

“The entries will be displayed at Wembury Marine Centre from Saturday 9 August to Sunday 17 August. Prizes will be awarded at an evening event at the Centre in August.

“For more information about the competition and the prizes on offer, visit the competition website or call 01752 862538.”

Pic, a sunset coral, by Keith Hiscock.

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July 4th, 2008

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Windy Mills

posted by Cptn

Way back in the smog of time, this publication carried a regular column called Mill Communication, which was intended to “pick the juiciest tidbits from those Trago Mills/UKIP local newspaper adverts so you don’t have to”.

Seems we may need to do run it again to save citizens their sanity - we got this message through from Roberto Franceschini of the European Movement, Devon Branch:

“The Western Morning News published the European Movement letter of complaint against UKIP abusing their column in the weekly Trago Mills advertisement page. Unfortunately, they inserted a paragraph from the Government Agency Natural England on windpower which made nonsense of the text I sent them. So, today I sent WMN the letter below:

‘The following extraneous paragraph was slipped probably in error into my letter “No grandees in our European Movement” published on Wednesday July 2.

‘It said: “Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on wildlife and landscape protection, has promised to publish a map setting out suitable locations for onshore wind developments in England.”

‘This error made a nonsense of the complaint I was making about the irresponsible use of Trago’s advertisement in the WMN by UKIP. If Mr Challice and his party wish to make such statements at the very least they should be factually accurate.

‘I do not consider it good enough to provide the public with misleading slurs at the expense of a respected local organization that gives the public an opportunity to hear from a wide range of experts on many topical European issues.

‘The European Movement Devon Branch which has been operating in Devon since 1975 only wishes it could say the same for UKIP’s activities.”

The whole thing seems kooky to us here in the belly of the PRSD’s barometer of bilge, but before we enter into a debate about the end-of-pier routine that is UKIP – who are quite happy to bemoan the gravy train and yet pocket the cash – we thoroughly applaud Natural England’s approach to onshore wind maps.

Creative Commons photo © 2004 by Tomasz Sienicki, tsca#sdf.lonestar.org

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July 2nd, 2008

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