South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth

SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH NEWSLETTER FOR NOVEMBER 2007

FUTURE EVENTS

24 November Buy Nothing Day. A stand against consumerism and to look at things that really matter, like spending time with friends and family (www.buynothingday.co.uk)

26 November Meeting of Dunstable Sub-Group 7.30pm at Saracens Head, Dunstable (Jane 01582 475693)

3 December Leighton-Linslade Greening Group Meeting 7.30pm at the White House, Leighton Buzzard (Victoria 01525 385097)

4 December Monthly Meeting 7.30 for 8.00pm at the Crown, Leighton Buzzard (Chris Stevenson 01525 382343)

8 December Campaign Against Climate Change Global Day of Action meet at 12noon at Millbank (Westminster tube station) (Michael 01582 606021)

5 January Christmas Social (Victoria 01525 385097)

8 January Monthly Meeting 7.30 for 8.00pm at the Queen Victoria, Dunstable (to be confirmed) 9 February Open day morning at Beaufort court, Kings Langley the zero emissions head office for renewable energy systems. ( Alison 01582 662 467)

MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY MEETING ON 12 NOVEMBER 2007

Present: Victoria Harvey (Facilitator), Heather Fox, Albert West, Barry Metcalfe, Ali Hines, Nick Lander, David Oakley-Hill, Tony Donnelly, Alison Heywood, Ken Barry. Apologies: Stella Goddard, Jane Brown, Charles Ullermayer, Peter Hatswell, Michael Taylor, Sylvia Lay- Flurrie, Chris Stevenson. Unfortunately Mary Edwards, FoE Regional Campaigns Co-ordinator for East of England who had been due to speak at the meeting was unable to attend.

Updates a. Core Strategy for Luton and South Beds Victoria, Peter and David had completed and submitted a 12 page response to the Core Strategy. The response covered all issues, and was highly critical of the Govt’s housing programme and lack of concern for the environment. b. Housing Row in Leighton Buzzard This concerns the 26,000 homes proposed for the area. Arnold Whites Estates in Leighton Buzzard are putting forward ideas for 5000 homes. They appear to be adopting a green approach with houses built to eco-friendly standard ( code for sustainable homes level 4 or 5 which means renewable energy), excellent public transport provision and green infrastructure etc. LOUD are not happy with our views and there has been a full scale row in the local press. Victoria has written to all the papers giving a detailed response to LOUD’s criticism. c. Greening The Linslade Woods working party had been very successful with 15 people turning up and good advance publicity in all 3 local papers. There had also been a successful working party at Clipstone Brook where an otter holt had been constructed. The next meeting of the Leighton-Linslade Greening Group is to be held at The White House, Leighton Buzzard on 3 December. d. Waste Day Ali and David had taken part in a meeting at which Bed’s and Luton’s waste strategy for the next 10 years had been discussed. This was the first part of the consultation process and the Councils were asking for proposals. Stakeholder workshops were set up to enable people to comment on specific sites, based on what land was available rather than looking at requirements first. Dunstable Sewage Works had been suggested as a possible site but would be a threat to biodiversity as the area is currently rich in wildlife. Other sites proposed were at Sundon and near Streatley. David had suggested a universal food-waste collection and composting system, and has arranged with Council officials for visits to be made to some of the proposed sites in the near future. A core strategy will be published in either May or June, to get a response to the Councils by the end of November. Ali will circulate details to all members by email. The fear is that incinerators may be the favourite option. Tony advised that Dunstable Sewage Works is open to the public on the first Sunday of each month for bird watching from 8 – 12noon. e. Filling Station on Linslade Western Bypass Ken, Chris and Heather had sent in letters of objection to AVDC, and Heather had sent a letter to LBO. Leighton Buzzard Society had also objected. Heather agreed to find out when the planning meeting will be held. f. Open Day. Beaufort Court, the old Ovaltine factory by Kings Langley station. You can see the windmill form the station. This is the innovative zero-emissions head office for Renewable Energy Systems. Alison reported that evening tours are only carried out during summer months but there is an open day on the morning of Saturday 9 February - details on website: www.beaufortcourt.com. We do need to book on advance, via the website.

Wind Farms Ali reported that 3 wind farms are currently proposed in Bedfordshire and all members are urged to write in support. The first to be decided is at Emberton near Milton Keynes and is to be discussed at a planning meeting on 17 December. Barry has checked with RSPB and they have no objections. Ali will be producing stock letters, leaflets and press releases.

Sustainable Transport Nick reported that Luton Council are planning to implement traffic calming but the busiest road in the area has not been included in the scheme. Nick has been campaigning with his neighbours and the Council have now suggested implementing a 20mph zone and have sent out questionnaires. Nick will check with Sustrans (who have details of creating home zones), David Bowie of Beds CC and www.newlifeformainroads.org.uk to see what can be achieved in making roads more civilised. The success in defeating the proposal to remove traffic lights in Leighton Buzzard was mentioned as was the inclusion of 20mph limits in the “Big Plan” (the town plan for Leighton Linslade) .

Campaign for Better Transport Group It was formally proposed to set up a Campaign for Better Transport Local Group with the name South Bedfordshire Campaign for Better Transport. Victoria produced a copy of their model constitution. It is proposed that the Group will run side by side with South Beds FoE, though a separate account will be needed. It was formally agreed that the officers of the Group will be Chair: Victoria Harvey, Vice Chair: Chris Stevenson, Hon Secretary: Ali Hines and Treasurer: Ken Barry.

Setting up a Dunstable FoE Group The Dunstable Sub-Group had been set up and had lots of ideas about working with local schools. Jane has booked Dunstable Library from 2 – 24 February for an exhibition and will be arranging “meet and greet” sessions on Saturdays 2nd Feb and Saturday 23rd Feb. There will be a meeting for Dunstable members (and anyone else interested) on Monday 26 November at 7.30pm at the Saracens Head to discuss setting up the exhibition. If enough new members can be attracted a separate Dunstable FoE Group with separate officers could be set up. There will still be joint meetings and actions on issues of common interest and those affecting the whole of South Beds.

Campaign Update Newsletter Ali has produced a Campaign Update Newsletter which was handed out at the meeting. It is proposed that this is produced every month and will go on our website and be distributed to all members. Ken will distribute to members who are not on email.

The Big Ask The Climate Change Bill is due to go to the House of Lords where it will receive its Second Reading on 26 or 27 November. It is expected that the Bill will have its Second Reading in the Commons in February. It will then go through the Commons Committee stage, Report Stage and the Third Reading before being passed back to the House of Lords. Due to FoE lobbying the UK is the first country to get a climate change bill but the targets need to be stronger, 80% by 2050 rather that 60% and 3% annual targets. Opposition parties are supporting FoE but we still need to get support from backbench Labour MPs. David has been doing stalls in both Bedford for Patrick Hall MP and Kelvin Hopkins in Luton, Victoria is due to attend a meeting with Patrick Hall and Parish Councils from Mid Beds( which are called Bedfordshire Councils Planning Consortium), at which the Parish councils along with Victoria will ask for a stronger climate bill . Both Peter and David have written to Kelvin Hopkins (MP for Luton North). It is proposed to arrange a public meeting in March in Luton with Kelvin Hopkins on both the proposed Luton Northern Bypass and the Big Ask. This could get more support and new members for both Dunstable FoE and Luton FoE. Grants of up to £230 are available from National FoE. The meeting can be advertised at the Dunstable exhibition. David will investigate Chaul End Community Centre as a possible venue. Gareth Ellis of the Green Party was suggested as a possible speaker and Roger Pepworth as a possible Chair for the meeting.

Other Business a. David reported that Rothamsted have an open meeting on Tuesday 20 November at 7.30pm on Energy from the Land – Biofuels Debate. Anyone wishing to attend should notify Margaret Creighton in advance on 01582 763133. Details are on www.rothamsted.ac.uk. b. Barry mentioned Connect2, a series of 79 local schemes across the UK, which will bring people closer together, making journeys quicker, healthier and more convenient by creating bridges, developing routes and opening up tunnels so people can get from A to B for everyday journeys on foot or by bike. This is one of 4 projects competing for the winner-takes-all prize of the Big Lottery Fund’s: The Peoples £50 million contest. The winner will be decided by public vote and online voting opens on 26 November with telephone voting over the weekend of 7 – 9 December. Winning the vote would mean an enormous investment in walking and cycling across the country thereby contributing to a better quality of life for all as well as protecting the environment by saving on carbon emissions. Members are urged to register their details on the Connect2 website www.sustranconnect2.org.uk, text Connect2 to 80010, or call 0845 0581373 to be kept up to date on when and how to vote. c. Dunstable’s Campaign Against the Bypass has now folded with the remaining funds being shared out between the Wildlife Trust and other conservation organisations. However the Paddocks could still be under threat from housing development so we will need to remain vigilant.

Calendar of Future Events End of November: Wing Bypass alternatives report comes out. 17 December: Planning meeting to decide on windfarm at Emberton. Dec – March: planting trees and bushes around Leighton Buzzard. 5 January: Christmas Social January: Appeal to be heard on Wendy Fair Markets - we will need to campaign for the Town Councils to take over running of Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable markets. Mid-January: Public meeting on alternatives report on Wing Bypass Jan/Feb: Planning Bill Feb Exhibitions in Dunstable Library – New members meet and greet. Late Feb/early March: Luton Northern Bypass and Big Ask public meeting in Luton. Summer stalls: May Fayre, Houghton Regis Carnival, Linslade Canal Festival, Dunstable Kite Festival – need to decide what campaigns to use on stalls.

CONTACTS Officers Co-ordinator: VICTORIA HARVEY, 41 Corbet Ride, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2SJ 01525-385097 [email protected] Treasurer: KEN BARRY, 97 Bideford Green, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2TJ 01525-372036 [email protected] Membership Secretary: CHRIS STEVENSON tel 01525 382343 [email protected] Publicity Officer: ANDY GAYLER [email protected]

Climate Change Campaigner: PETER HATSWELL [email protected] Tel 01582 663 915

South Beds FOE Website: www.southbedsfoe.org.uk