Local campaigners have joined a national Airportwatch campaign calling for the Government's aviation policy to be scrapped. The Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign group (SBAE) says the Government's airport expansion plans will accelerate climate change, damage the countryside and inflict traffic and noise misery on communities around airports, not just in the Chew Valley, but across the UK. The Government's 2003 Aviation White Paper announced plans for huge airport expansion around the country to cater for a predicted tripling of passengers.
Bristol International Airport (BIA) will see passenger grow from 5.5 million in 2005 to 12 million by 2030, yet aviation is the fastest growing source of CO2 (greenhouse gas) emissions. By 2015, the increased flights from BIA will produce CO2 emissions more than 6 times the amount produced each year by all the cars in Bristol now. These levels are likely to neutralise the rest of the regionıs efforts to reach Government targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050.
But campaigners expect thousands of people around the country to support the Rethink campaign, which is demanding a 10-point action plan [see below]. SBAE spokesman Jeremy Birch said: "The Governmentıs aviation policy will damage communities and the environment and it must be scrapped. I would urge anyone concerned about aviation's impact on climate change or BIA's expansion to take the quick e-mail action on our website. The Government says it is reviewing progress on implementing its Aviation White Paper - but only a thorough rethink of aviation policy will do."
The Government is currently reviewing progress on its White Paper this year but campaigners from the Airportwatch alliance want a fundamental policy review. SBAE are backing the campaign because the White Paper will dictate how much BIA expands. Airportwatch is an alliance of national environmental campaign organisations and airport campaign groups* which is targeting Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander.
The campaign, recently launched with national newspaper adverts, aims to get tens of thousands of people to write or email the Minister to call for a major aviation policy rethink. Campaigners around the country will also be meeting with their MPs to tell them that only a major policy rethink will do.
The 10 demands of the Rethink campaign are:- 1. Rein back expansion so it is consistent with climate change targets 2. Recognise the limits rising oil prices will put on demand for air travel 3. Remove the tax-breaks the aviation industry enjoys 4. Reassess air freight, 5. Reduce the noise suffered by local communities 6. Respect the countyıs biodiversity and ancient woodlands 7. Revisit rail 8. Revise the economic assessment of the aviation industry 9. Review the big expansion plans for the UK airports 10. Rethink the approach to create a coherent and sustainable policy for aviation. To take the email action and to find out more about the campaign and the 10 demands go to: www.rethink.airportwatch.org.uk
The Airportwatch alliance includes: The Aviation Environment Federation, Friends of the Earth (England & Wales), The Campaign to Protect Rural England, The Woodland Trust and Greenpeace UK, and groups campaigning against airport expansion and rising noise levels at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham and East Midlands.
75
donations of blood
Blood donor Peter Sherborne
A Chelwood blood donor, who has given an incredible 75 donations, was presented
with a special Emerald award by the National Blood Service to say thank you
for his dedication to saving lives. The award presentation took place at his
local donation session in Bishop Sutton on Friday May 19. Farmer Peter Sherborne,
aged 59, who is Chairman of Chelwood Parish Council, has always been a keen
blood donor and supporter for the National Blood Service.
Mr Sherborne said: "Once you've been once, you just keep going. As a farmer I know that commitment in life does good. I've been lucky and only missed a few donations. I plan to keep on giving for as long as theyıll take it!"
Peter Sherborne now joins an elite group of just 3 per cent of donors who make 75 donations. The 75 donations he has given have potentially saved as many as 225 lives. Zoe Sheppard, Communications Officer for the National Blood Service: "Mr Sherborne's dedication to helping others is truly inspiring and we hope that his commitment will encourage others to come forward and give blood."
She continued: "It is vital that people continue to support their local blood donation session so that lifesaving treatments and operations can occur in local hospitals. We need to collect around 8,000 units of blood each and every day, and yet only 5% of people eligible to give blood actually do so. Please think of others and book an appointment at your local session, by calling the National Blood Service national helpline: 08457 711 711."
Dinner
helped young carers charity
Cheers
Dinner for 8 cooked in your own home by a leading chef, with ingredients provided by the supplier to top London restaurants (and Buckingham Palace) this was the prize that Regil resident William White bid for at a charity fundraising auction organised in Regil village hall earlier this year, as a birthday present for wife Jenny.
Owner of the fine food suppliers Taste, Steve Downey, donated the prize to help raise funds for the Young Carers of North Somerset charity, and bidding was brisk for the treat, which eventually went under the hammer for £650. The fundraiser as a whole raised more than £2,800 for the charity.
"We have to say no to most charity requests" says Steve Downey, "but Young Carers really struck a chord because the work it does with vulnerable local children seems so important." He feels the event worked so well he has pledged future support to the charity. No less than four staff and helpers from Taste turned up at the Whites' home last month to produce chef Ian Haywood's 5-course meal, which started with seafood canapes, followed by pan-fried scallops, a tiger prawn and smoked salmon terrine, then wild Somerset boar with a morel and cognac sauce, and a velvety treacle tart to finish.
Airport
Master Plan
Speculation
that the publication of Bristol Airport's Master Plan is imminent has been confirmed
by the airport. Alan Davies, Head of Planning and Development at Bristol International
Airport commented: "Bristol International Airport is currently in the process
of finalising the Master Plan taking into account pertinent comments from the
consultation process and including more detailed work on transport issues. Following
full consideration of comments on the draft Master Plan, the final Master Plan
will be published and submitted to Government, in line with their requirements.
It is expected that the Master Plan will be completed by mid-Summer 2006.
"All those involved in the consultation process will be advised of the Master Plan's completion. Copies of the Master Plan will be sent to North Somerset Council and will be made available to interested parties on the airport's website, www.bristolairport.co.uk. Consultees will be invited to forward any further comments to North Somerset Council for consideration in relation to future planning applications."
As BIA progresses to submit various planning applications to North Somerset Council, further opportunities for public consultation should arise through the planning process.
Transport
survey results
Over
900 Chew Valley residents responded to the Travel Needs Survey undertaken by
Community Action recently in partnership with 16 Parish Councils. All survey
forms are now in, and Tori Chubb at Community Action has been working hard to
complete a parish by parish analysis.
Replies were received from 20% of households, with Burrington the highest at 32%, which is quite encouraging for a survey of this sort. Not surprisingly, the overall picture was one of general reliance on private car, with many respondents expressing frustrations about the limitations of public transport.
Young people, the elderly and those unable to drive are particularly disadvantaged, and many in the over 65 age group were very concerned about potential isolation when they are no longer able to drive. Residents were asked where and how they travel for day to day activities such as shopping, work, education, medical appointments, and leisure. Not surprisingly the most popular destinations for main shopping were Bristol, with Weston super Mare, Norton Radstock, Keynsham and Wells also featuring strongly in different parts of the area.
The survey also highlighted Chew Magna as a popular destination for local shopping, education, surgery, dentist, Post Office and banking facilities. Harptree, Wrington and Churchill were also frequently used for health services. Bishop Sutton, Pensford, Langford and Winford Post Offices were listed quite often within their own parishes. Leisure activities were too widespread to identify an overall trend, although the big towns (Bath, Bristol, Wells and WSM) were all popular. Inevitably, car was the most frequently used mode of transport, by a long margin. However, where facilities were nearby, respondents were more likely to walk.
Examples of this would be Chew Stoke and Chew Magna, which also had a higher than average level of bus use. Numbers indicating potential use of public transport varied from parish to parish. Respondents nearer Bristol indicated that they were more likely to use public transport, compared to the more southerly end of the Chew Valley, and, overall the hospital was the most frequently listed destination for public transport. A key part of the survey was to ask residents what journeys they found difficult or impossible to make.
This varied from parish to parish, but Chew Magna was often mentioned, particularly by Winford residents. Bristol was highlighted by people in Winford, Chew Stoke, Bishop Sutton, Blagdon and Norton Malreward, Bath from Norton Malreward, Bishop Sutton, Chew Stoke, Stanton Drew, Hinton Blewitt and Chew Magna, Wells from Chew Magna and Compton martin, Bishop Sutton and Blagdon, Keynsham from Stanton Drew, WSM from Blagdon. The reasons listed included no bus service, infrequent or expensive buses, or a bus route that took too long to reach its destination to be practical.
Another important aspect of the survey was trying to find out likely demand for some sort of Community Transport, demand responsive, service in the Chew Valley. Although there was clearly some uncertainty about the possibilities here, a Community Transport service was a popular option for shopping and for health appointments. In particular Dundry, Bishop Sutton, Norton Malreward and Publow with Pensford were interested in this type of service. People were asked whether they would be interested in volunteering for a local Community Transport scheme.
The response wasn't overwhelming; however, the majority of parishes that took part had at least a few people who were interested in the possibility of volunteering, which could be very helpful if the outcome is to set up some sort of Community Transport scheme. Several comments related to the concern amongst older members of the community that without a car they would become totally isolated.
One respondent commented "if we are disabled /unable to drive in the future we would simply have to move nearer to a large village or town."
Others were concerned about the independence of young people and teenagers. Some respondents felt this would be severely restricted if the current bus services were reduced, in other areas, teenagers were totally dependent on parents' goodwill to take them to work, education or social activities. Links to popular destinations such as Chew Magna and Yatton were suggested.
One comment particularly highlighted the need for transport to Chew Magna from the surrounding parishes: "My children and I can only get to the doctor, dentist etc if my husband takes time off work to take us there - even to collect a repeat prescription - this causes enormous problems."
Nailsea and Congresbury were also mentioned as good destinations for public transport. The infrequency of the services to Wells, Keynsham and Bath was a bone of contention for many. Another issue mentioned was the difficulty of getting to bus stops. This highlights the problem that those who are unable to get to a bus stop (due to distance, age, disability, busy roads etc) will not be benefited by a bus that runs through the village unless the bus stop is easy for them to get to, and in some cases even a nearby bus stop will not be any good.
Dick Whittington, Rural Transport Partnership Officer at Community Action thanked everyone who had completed the survey, and all the Parish Councils who had given their support and delivered the surveys. He continued "Transport is a critical issue for people in the Chew Valley, and in a society where most people travel everywhere by car, it's very easy to forget the needs of people who are unable to drive. We hope this survey will encourage local communities to work with us to find new ways to enable everyone to get access to services that most of us take for granted"
Community Action will be completing their analysis shortly, and reporting back to Parish and Councils in July. Anyone interested in helping their local community to develop solutions should talk to their local Parish Council, or contact Dick or Tori at Community Action, telephone 01275 393837, email tori@community-action.org.uk
Community Action is the Rural Community Council covering the former county of Avon (now sometimes referred to as West of England). We are an independent Charity, and a member of ACRE (Action for Communities in Rural England), with a wide ranging brief covering many aspects of village life, including transport.
Clutton
school gets new classrooms
Two new classrooms in Clutton Primary School for Reception and Class 1 were
officially opened on Friday June 16. The whole school was present to see Mrs
Wendy Rogers who has been dinner lady at the school for 29 years cut the ribbon.
Present were Cllr Lorraine Morgan-Brinkhurst, the Chair of B&NES, David Veale, Chair of the governing body, governors Ian Myatt, Rob Creber and Sarah Williams, Chair of Clutton Parish Council Mike Williams and representatives of Inscape Architects and Biggs the builders. The cost of the classrooms was assisted by fundraising by the school PTA.
Mr Veale opening the proceedings said "These classrooms were built to commemorate the school centenary, November 1902 to 2002 and to celebrate the long service of our head teacher Mrs Kathleen Still".
He thanked architects, builders, environmental engineers, financial consultants and everyone involved in fundraising and also the school children and teachers for their tolerance during the upheaval of the building work. Cllr Morgan-Brinkhurst expressed thanks to Mr Veale and to the headteacher Mrs Kathleen Still as a great advocate of the school and the staff for their excellent standard of teaching. Bouquets of flowers were presented to her, Mrs Rogers and Mrs Still by three Reception children, Tommy, Safya and Catherine.