Photovoltaics, Bikeabiltiy, School vegetable gardens, Fairtrade Diocese, community orchards and more……

Read about them and how we plan to build on these in 2011.

                                              1. Local people take up new Clean Energy cash- back scheme & feed-in tariffs for PV solar panels.

Anyone planning to take this up needs to act sooner rather than later to get the full benefit, the rate will fall year on year from April 2012.  If sufficient numbers install PV in one area a discount can be earned.

 Watch this space for full details of one couple’s experience of going solar – coming shortly. 

 2011 – aim to get 100 local clean energy generators and earn a discount.

 2. Wiltshire Council.  Wiltshire signed up to 10:10, a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.   What they say: “Over the course of the next two years, we will develop and implement a climate change action plan.  The action plan will address energy reduction across all areas of the wider community and our own estate.”

2011 – ensure a greater level of commitment through the developing Parish Plans.

 3. Say No to Plastic Bags WE DID!  SCRAP’s shop survey in the city  found that most retailers are interested in reducing their plastic bag use by asking customers if they need a bag rather than automatically giving them one, using biodegradable bags or charging for bags.

2011 -The environmental concern is evident; can we translate this into a strong commitment to make Salisbury PBF?

4. Fairtrade Diocese.  In April 2010 the Diocese of Salisbury was recognised as a Fairtrade Diocese, marking the commitment of over half of parishes in the Diocese to using and promoting Fairtrade products.

 2011- can we persuade Wiltshire to become a Fairtrade County?

5. River Bourne Community Farm goes from strength to strength with sustainable, traditional farming on our doorstep and extensive community involvement.

2011- add to Salisbury’s network of natural green spaces and wildlife corridors.  Set up a Salisbury Greenspace Alliance to co-ordinate management for the benefit of wildlife and people.

6. Local Food.  Growing interest in allotments, community gardens and orchards.  River Bourne Community Farm sells eggs and meat from the farm, Martin Future Farms opens a shop in the village, Tisbury Community Allotment makes a profit, and Downton holds an Apple Day.

 2011- Community Orchards to be planted in Salisbury’s Parks, firstly in Fisherton and Bishopdown.  If successful these will be followed by other areas throughout the city.

7. Cycling.  100s of children in Salisbury and the surrounding area receive level 3 Bikeability training.

 2011 -  achieve first steps towards Connect 2 cycle link between Wilton and Alderbury. 

8. Schools.  More schools develop outdoor classrooms with ponds, native hedges, wildflower meadows and vegetable gardens.  Children grow their own vegetables, learn about composting and harvest their produce for school dinners.

2011- increase the number of Eco-schools in South Wiltshire, acheive more  safe routes to school for walking and cycling and encourage energy saving through the WC Climate Change Schools officer.

9. Launch of Green Café and Green Drinks. This initiative, started in October, has brought more of those interested in ‘green’ issues together for informal discussion.  Go to ‘Events and Meetings’ for future dates.

10.  Membership.  SWA21 membership reached 100 individuals and organisations.

2011 –aim to attract more young people.

If you know of other good things that have, or are happening why not send them in via our contact address.  They can then be posted on the website and more people can hear about them.

“The decision has restored what little faith I have in the planning process!”

No to Westbury Bypass / Photo: White Horse Alliance

We won! An Inbox filled to the brim told the tale. Rumours had been flying that the scheme would be approved by Government before the summer recess. But following a planning inquiry last year, it was finally announced that the Inspector had agreed with campaigners – the road scheme would damage the landscape, the traffic in Westbury was no worse than many towns, the A350 was not a strategic route, the scheme would not encourage modal shift from cars or sustainable economic development. To read the decision letter was like playing back the arguments we had been making all along.

The emails from elated campaigners, some of whom had been devoting most of their waking hours to the battle against the road scheme for years, shows the relief, the surprise, the joy which is felt:

“The decision has restored what little faith I have in the planning process!”

“Anyway, it’s just extraordinary ….so much work by so many, the equivalent of a team of 3 full-time workers at least for many years….not to mention the hours and hours that the people of Westbury must have spent writing letters, fund-raising, etc, the hours and hours of meetings etc”

“It seems that this is, as we said, a dud road on an unimportant route that would wreck the landscape and tranquility of the Wellhead Valley….. Thank you all so much for all your work and support and hard-won cash, the faith and the fundraising and the late nights and midnight compositions, the boring meetings, the troughs of despair..”

Battles against road schemes are unequal struggles – Wiltshire County Council (now Wiltshire Council) had been promoting Westbury Bypass in the portfolio of road schemes which forms the backbone of their transport policy for years. Questions to Council earlier this year revealed that £4.411 million of taxpayers’ money had been spent on the scheme to March 2009. £750,000 was spent by the Council on the Public Inquiry alone, to cover legal fees and expert witnesses. The White Horse Alliance, the umbrella group of those opposed to the road, had a fraction of the money available to the council, and all the legal fees and expert witnesses for the Inquiry, as well as any campaign costs, had to be paid for from supporters’ donations. Fund raising to cover the deficit still continues.

But at the end, for this campaign, it’s all been worth it. The Inspector’s reasoning will make sombre reading not just for Wiltshire but for other Local Authorities who still seem wedded to a road expansion programme from the last century. The ground rules are changing, sustainable development and environmental considerations can win the day. Let us hope that the Westbury decision will mark a real turning point in transport policy not just in Wiltshire but across the country.

Margaret Willmot, Salisbury Campaign for Better Transport and Committee Member SWA21

Cycling in Wiltshire / Photo: Chris Neal

Saturday 4 July 2009

Procession followed by events in Castle Meadows for all the family.

Cycle ride from Alderbury to Wilton along the proposed Sustrans Connect 2 route.

More details on the COGS website http://www.cogsbike.org.uk/

Features include:

TransWilts cross-Wiltshire Rail Service (Salisbury to Swindon)
Local Development Framework and transport impacts
Westbury Bypass
Stonehenge/A303 saga

Salisbury CfBT Newsletter June 08

http://www.salisbury.gov.uk/transport/sustainable-transport/cycling/bike-week.htm

Please join us on as many events as you can.

COGS