Sidmouth Repair Café's first project > ‘The Story of the Bench’

The Sidmouth Repair Café met up for the first time on Saturday - and went really well:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Repair Café >>> Saturday 29th September >>> 10am - 2pm

But the very first project was to put together a bench:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Repair Café's first project > a bus stop bench
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Repair Café's first project > reports

And here it is - at the bus stop in Woolbrook:

With some comment from the Repair Café's chair, Angie Carney:

Community is a wonderful thing when people and organisations work together well, and this has been beautifully evident in ‘The Story of the Bench’!

We often meet for a cuppa at Woolbrook Tea Room, but one of our Monday Church friends has trouble using the nearest bus stop as it doesn’t have a bench and she has trouble standing for long.

I investigated getting a bench installed, and after arriving at several dead ends, found Tim at East Devon District Council who said he could provide us with two broken benches that we could use to make one good one.

This fits brilliantly with our plans to start a Repair Café in Sidmouth, so I took the idea to the organising team, and Dave said he’d see if carpenter and prospective Repair Café fixer, Alan, would do it for us. He has done a fantastic job in making a really good strong bench.

We then had conversations about how to paint it and, inspired by colourful benches in Exmouth, Dave suggested painting it in Repair Café colours of blue and orange.

The Youth Centre let us use their space to paint the bench, and Chris at local Builders Merchant, Bradfords, supplied all the resources we needed to get it looking bright and cheery.

After fitting a plaque acknowledging all the different sponsorship, the bench was put in place this morning… and very lovely it looks too! As we stopped to admire it, I met—and had a significant conversation with—a local man who is living with considerable sadness.

Together, a community can bring new hope, transformation, healing and connection.

And here is Angie, together with Barry the fixer and Tim of Streetscene:

Sidmouth Repair Cafe - Home | Facebook
.
.
.

Sarah's 7Rs > Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot, Recycle, Return.

The 3Rs is not enough:
Futures Forum: Reduce, reuse, recycle >>> >>> 'What's Wrong with the Three Rs of Environmentalism'

We need to go further - or at least focus on other priorities - as Sarah Allen of "Rhubarb and Runner Beans" reminds us:
Futures Forum: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Create 1 wheelie bin of rubbish per 6 months, with kids!

Transition Exmouth has the latest in its October newsletter: 

Sarah's 7Rs

Here is the link to Sarah;s blog on the subject:

http://www.rhubarbandrunnerbeans.co.uk/how-i-reduced-our-landfill-to-almost-nothing-well-about-13th-full-every-3-weeks-but-that-s-not-so-catchy 

We are all familiar with the 4Rs but here is Sarah's 7Rs take on that mnemonic: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot, Recycle, Return.

To be blunt: we all talk about it but Sarah actually does it so take some leaves out of her book. Sarah has agreed to my using her notes so here is the 1st installment, on REFUSE:

That’s what I’d been doing when I started to look for recyclable packaging. It’s the main R in tackling rubbish, so top of my list. I refuse all sorts of things now, that previously I would have accepted. Simply put, if you don’t need it or want it refuse it! Shopping is the front-line in refusing; as one thing ran out I looked for recyclable options initially but now I try to refuse plastic and packaging

• Shop around
• Plastic-wrapped fruit and veg, (The Farm Shop). Buy loose, put straight into the basket or reusable produce bag
• My Kids have a free choice but I deal with the rubbish further down my R’s system
• I still eat cakes, biscuits, chocolate and crisps!
  • Cakes and biscuits (un-packaged or homemade)
  • Chocolate (foil or foil and cardboard e.g. Green and Blacks, M&S, Smarties, Cadbury’s Creme Eggs). Pick and mix in the market.
  • Crisps (often an alternative will work e.g. pistachios (from Lidl) or olives but now I also make crisps)
• Unpackaged shops (Nourish and Plastic Free Pantry) I am now able to buy products such as pasta, rice, lentils, dried fruit etc plastic-free or without packaging).
• Refuse Bin liners (I just don’t use any), plastic sticky tape (for our own present wrapping; I use paper tape instead), cling film, most conventional cosmetics and toiletries, tea bags wrapped in and containing plastic.

Home Page
Transition Exmouth - Home | Facebook

And here is Sarah's blog:
rhubarbandrunnerbeans | blog
.
.
.

Plastic and councils: there is no one-size-fits-all solution OR a “barmy” mass of different local approaches to recycling

There's a lot of confusion around recycling - largely because each council has got its own system:
Futures Forum: Plastic and councils: introducing national recycling standards

Keep Britain Tidy thinks this needs changing:

01.10.2018

NATIONAL RECYCLING CONFUSION

The Local Government Association has rejected calls for a nationwide standardised recycling system saying that ‘no one size would work’.

The charity Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) highlighted that there are currently 150 different local waste management systems, arguing it was therefore unsurprising that recycling rates have remained flat over the last year as people were often confused.

Recycling and waste management currently falls under the remit of local authorities and LGC Plus reports that they would be ‘highly sensitive about anything that would appear to reduce their powers and hand them to central government’.

National recycling confusion - Rural Services Network

The Local Government Association on the other hand believes in local solutions:

LGA rejects call for 'nationally consistent' recycling service

28 SEPTEMBER, 2018 BY MARK SMULIAN

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England, has rejected the idea of a uniform national recycling collection scheme, LGC’s sister title Materials Recycling World reports.

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) recently called for government intervention to end what it called a “barmy” mass of different local approaches to recycling.

It said there were more than 150 local waste management systems and it was unsurprising that recycling rates had flatlined, given the public confusion this created. KBT called for the creation of a nationally consistent service, funded by contributions from manufacturers.

But in response the LGA said: ”Our current view is no one size would work.”

Most councils are locked into long-term waste contracts, and are highly sensitive about anything that would appear to reduce their powers and hand them to central government.

LGA environment spokesman Martin Tett, leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, said: “Recycling has been a real success story for councils and residents. Rates have quadrupled in the past decade and millions of tonnes of waste has been diverted from landfill.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to waste collection services, and councils always work with householders to offer the best service possible.

“We know this local approach works because our polling shows eight out of 10 people are happy with the way their local council collects their rubbish.”

The Welsh and Scottish administrations have already implemented standardised collection methods across local authorities to some degree.

The forthcoming resources and waste strategy is expected to establish a system of harmonised collections across England, after years of work by WRAP on the matter.

Environment secretary Michael Gove told the BBC’s Gardeners’ World programme recently that he wanted to see more consistent kerbside recycling.

Gove said: “There is a wide array of different rules and regulations on recycling depending on where you are in the country.

“One of the things that we hope to do…is to bring a degree of coherence so that, across the country, wherever you are, you will know how to recycle and make it easier and clearer for everyone to do the right thing.”

KBT’s action plan Breaking Bad Habits: Moving Towards a Zero Waste Society said that numerous studies had “demonstrated that the public are confused when it comes to managing household waste, having to contend not only with a complex array of packaging materials but also a bewildering landscape of collection systems comprising multi-coloured boxes, bins and bags.

“It is perhaps not surprising that our recycling rates have flatlined. We want to see the development of a standardised national recycling system, collecting a consistent set of easily recycled packaging materials.”

Chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton said, “The public has a huge role to play in helping to drive this change. But we need to get rid of the existing complexity and develop a simple, nationally consistent collection system combined with tangible rewards to encourage better recycling.”

LGA rejects call for 'nationally consistent' recycling service | News | Local Government Chronicle
.
.
.

Pressures to expand the Greendale and Hill Barton Business Parks > two retrospective planning applications approved

The Carter family have several business interests in East Devon, including the Ladram Bay caravan park, which is currently the subject of several retrospective planning applications:
Futures Forum: Ladram Bay caravan park > local business, the local community and traffic issues > three planning applications awaiting determination

It also has an industrial estate near Woodbury Common - which was the subject of investigations earlier in the summer:

Investigation launched after river becomes contaminated following incident at energy plant - Devon Live

This has also been the subject of inquiries by the planning authorities;
Futures Forum: Pressures to expand the Greendale and Hill Barton Business Parks >>> deadline to comment: Friday 2nd February

On the one hand, there is the promise of 'jobs':
Major expansion plans to transform popular farm shop and create 30 new jobs - Devon Live

On the other, there are planning rules:

'Unauthorised extension' of business park just outside Exeter must be removed, High Court says

Owners of Greendale Business Park extended the park into the countryside without planning permission having been granted

Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter
21 FEB 2018

The High Court has ordered the owners of a business park just outside Exeter to remove an ‘unauthorised extension’ which was illegally built into the countryside.

East Devon District Council has successfully fought a planning appeal by Greendale Business Park, on the A3052 just outside Exeter, against an enforcement notice requiring the park owners to remove an unauthorised extension.

The business park has been extended into the countryside after four fenced compounds were created, concreted over and were used variously for the storage of mobile homes, shipping containers, portakabins and, in the case of one of the compounds, had two permanent buildings on it.

The Greendale Business Park

Following the latest High Court hearing, it now means that the owners of Greendale Business Park, FWS Carter and Sons, must comply with the enforcement notice, remove the extension and return the land to countryside within six months of the court’s decision.

Cllr Mike Howe, chairman of the district council’s development management committee, said that the council will work with the park owners to find alternative locations for businesses on the unauthorised site affected by the enforcement notice.

He added: “This case demonstrates that we take unauthorised development very seriously and as a local authority are charged with using our enforcement powers to ensure that development carried out without planning permission is removed.

“We will work hard with the site owners to find alternative locations for the businesses currently operating from this unauthorised area. We’re pleased that the courts have now stopped this appeal from proceeding any further and the enforcement notice to get these works removed has now taken effect.”

The Greendale Business Park from the air

The works were all carried out without planning permission and a subsequent planning application was refused due to the harm that the extension caused to the countryside and the visual amenity of the area.

Following the refusal of planning permission, the council served an enforcement notice on the owners requiring the uses to cease and the land returned to its former condition including the removal of temporary and permanent buildings, fencing and hard surfacing.

Although the owners appealed against the enforcement notice, a planning inspector ruled in favour of the council and directed the owners to stop using the land in the way it was and return it to its former condition within six months.

The owners subsequently appealed against the decision in the High Court arguing that the planning inspector had made an error in law by concluding that the East Devon Local Plan specifically covered the issue of development at Greendale Business Park.

'Unauthorised extension' of business park just outside Exeter must be removed, High Court says - Devon Live

However, the owners have just won a retrospective planning application: 

GREENDALE EXPLOITS PLANNING LOOPHOLES YET AGAIN

3 OCT 2018

PRESS RELEASE:

“FWS Carter and Sons were successful in obtaining planning permission for 2 further agricultural buildings at Hogsbrook Farm, next to their Business Park at Woodbury Salterton.

The 2 planning applications were debated at East Devon’s Planning meeting on Tuesday 2nd Oct at the Knowle Sidmouth. The 2 planning applications were17/2430/MFUL and 18/0920/FUL for large agricultural sheds at Hogsbrook Farm. They were both recommended for approval by the planning department.

Although the Planning Committee were reluctant to grant planning permission for these 2 buildings only 18 months after a planning inspector overturned the committee’s decision to refuse 2 similar units being changed from agricultural use to industrial, because it was claimed they were redundant for agricultural and their remaining cattle sheds a facilities were more than adequate for their farming needs for the foreseeable future.

Yet within a short space of time after the previous units were converted to Industrial use the company applied for these 2 further agricultural buildings due to the alleged expansion to their farm business.

It was pointed out that there have now been many similar applications at Greendale and Hogsbrook Farm where agricultural building have changed to industrial or business use due to the company claiming that they were no longer needed for their agriculture needs.

Committee members were concerned that although it seemed obvious that FWS Carter and Sons are “cynically abusing” the planning system and conditions attached to previous applications which had tried to control these changes, that have by default allowed the Business Park to expand considerably and in an uncontrolled manner.

The planning officer stated that the Government and East Devon planning regulations could unfortunately not prevent these applications being approved, as the applicant had submitted an agricultural justification statement, and the applications complied with all the legal requirements, but he agreed to recommend a legal clause that should prevent the applicant from converting these further 2 units to industrial or business use in the future.

District Councillor Geoff Jung a planning committee member and the local Councillor for Raleigh Ward which includes Woodbury Salterton said after the meeting.

“There are now more than a dozen massive Industrial units at Greendale and Hogsbrook Farm which were all retrospectively changed in use and later granted permission for industrial use.”

“I totally support encouraging businesses to expand and I totally support farmers to expand and diversify and I am all for the welfare of the animals.”

“But we are also the custodians of our countryside which needs protection from uncontrolled development.”

“It very disappointing to the local community that a local developer and landowner, FWS Carter and Sons, have been successful in working the planning system.”

“I do hope the legal draft to be added the planning permission will now prevent further applications of this nature”


Greendale exploits planning loopholes yet again | East Devon Watch
.
.
.

The “toughest” swim yet highlights plastic waste entering the seas

We are drowning in plastic:
Futures Forum: Drowning in Plastic @ BBC One > "Single-use plastics should be banned immediately in Britain."
Futures Forum: Drowning in Plastic @ BBC One > "This documentary is a must-watch, because it’s only if we raise awareness, tell our friends and spread the message that humanity will really have a chance at saving our oceans."

Someone who has really demonstrated that is the endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh:
The Long Swim « Lewis Pugh: Achieving the Impossible

Earlier in the summer, Surfers Against Sewage sponsored a very long swim:

The Long Swim: Lewis Pugh Announces Toughest Swim Yet to Protect the Ocean

26 June 2018

Lewis Pugh, the UN Patron of the Oceans and renowned endurance swimmer, has just announced his latest challenge, which will see him swim the full length of the English Channel wearing just Speedo swimming trunks, a cap and goggles.

The Long Swim will mark the start of a worldwide campaign entitled Action for Oceans, an initiative that is calling on governments to fully protect at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

Surfers Against Sewage has teamed up with Lewis, Speedo and UN Environment on The Long Swim to raise awareness of the issues our oceans face and to campaign for Marine Protected Areas.

The Long Swim: Lewis Pugh Announces Toughest Swim Yet to Protect the Ocean • Surfers Against Sewage

He finished his swim last month:
Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh completes English Channel challenge - BBC News

And what he found was... lots of plastic:
Video: Swimmer Lewis Pugh retrieves plastic from sea during epic challenge | Daily Mail Online
Channel swimmer Lewis Pugh finds only plastic and jellyfish | News | The Sunday Times 

Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh set to complete Channel swim 

29 August 2018 

 

Handout photo dated 04/08/18 issued by Lewis Pugh Foundation of endurance swimmer and United NationÕs Patron of the Oceans, Lewis Pugh collecting plastic pollution near Bill of Portland during The Long Swim campaign. Mr Pugh is due to complete his swim of the length of the English Channel next week at Land’s End. Photo: Press Association Images

Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh is set to complete his 330-mile swim along the length of the English Channel as he urged the Government to better protect UK waters.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove will welcome the British swimmer to Dover, Kent, on Wednesday after a gruelling seven week-long swim.

Mr Pugh’s “The Long Swim” will come to an end at Shakespeare Beach after he set off from Land’s End in Cornwall in swimming trunks, cap and goggles on July 12.

With the end in sight, Mr Pugh on Tuesday encouraged his supporters to join him at the finish line as he tweeted: “Swam last night. Swimming today. Dover tomorrow!! Please join me at Shakespeare Beach at 1:30pm for the end. #TheLongSwim”.

His campaign, which he anticipated would be his “toughest” swim yet, aims to highlight plastic waste entering the seas.



Lewis Pugh Credit: Kelvin Trautman/Lewis Pugh Foundation/PA Images

Mr Pugh, who has been swimming the world’s oceans for three decades, has been covering 10km to 20km (six to 12 miles) per day.

The environmental campaigner and UN Patron of the Oceans also took part in beach cleans along his journey, organised by marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage.

Before setting off, he warned of a “shocking” figure which said just seven square kilometres of 750,000 of UK coastal waters were fully protected.

He earlier told the Press Association: “My message is going to be very, very simple: our oceans are in crisis. Unless we take real, serious action now, it’s very difficult for me to see how they can recover.

 

(PA Graphics) Credit: PA Graphics

“It’s not something you can keep putting off and putting off and putting off. We’ve done that for too long.”

His swim has been observed and verified by the Channel Swimming Association.

Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh set to complete Channel swim - ITV News.
.
.

County Council rejects calls to investigate Devon NHS cuts

Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a flurry of campaigning activity:
Health campaigners urge MPs to listen to their pleas | News | Holsworthy Post
SOHS campaigners visit House of Commons | Barnstaple, Bideford and Ilfracombe News - North Devon Gazette | North Devon Gazette
Members of Defend Dorset NHS will attend a meeting at the House of Commons | Dorset Echo

The County Council has looked at what it can do over the provision of health services - but even at local government level this is not without political intrigue:
Futures Forum: County Council to consider "taking a strong position on protecting our community hospitals and a strong position on resisting any future plans to sell off the buildings"

The blog of Cllr Claire Wright looks at that intrigue:

Secretary of State for Health visits Ottery Hospital but leaves at speed, James Bond style!
Wednesday, 26 September 2018 6 Comments
Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care sped out of Ottery Hospital car park, in his ministerial car, with blue lights activated this morning, in an apparently desperate attempt to avoid speaking to me and around a dozen hospital supporters.

Just before he left in a hurry, officials asked me and around a dozen residents to leave the car park where we were peacefully waiting for him to exit. We didn’t have placards and there was no chanting.

Secretary of State for Health visits Ottery Hospital but leaves at speed, James Bond style! 

Why did ITV delete the film of the Secretary of State’s car speeding through Ottery Hosp car park
Friday, 28 September 2018 1 Comment
ITV’s short clip of Matt Hancock, Health Secretary’s ministerial blue-lighted car travelling at speed through Ottery Hospital’s car park, was deleted yesterday afternoon, less than 24 hours after it was posted.
Given that the video, which was in the process of going viral, must have dismayed both Mr Swire and Mr Hancock, my suspicions are directed firmly at these two. I will be interested to hear from the two politicians whether they played a role in removing the embarrassing footage.
The tweet in question from political correspondent, Nick Smith, also confirmed that Mr Hancock’s black jaguar, using its security alert blue lights, appeared to be fleeing the apparently terrifying prospect of talking to me and around a dozen peaceable looking residents.

Why did ITV delete the film of the Secretary of State’s car speeding through Ottery Hosp car park 

Minister’s visit does not dispel fears over Ottery hospital’s future - Ottery Herald coverage
Friday, 28 September 2018
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care says he is ‘optimistic’ for the future of Ottery hospital, but would not ‘categorically’ state that it was safe from being sold off.
For full story see - http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/health-minister-matt-hancock-visits-ottery-hospital-1-5713195

Minister’s visit does not dispel fears over Ottery hospital’s future - Ottery Herald coverage - Claire Wright 

Heated debate as Devon Health Scrutiny chair rejects my proposal for review into health cuts
Sunday, 30 September 2018
I had yet another clash with Conservative Health Scrutiny chair, Sara Randall Johnson at the most recent Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee meeting, as she blocked my efforts to investigate the hundreds of millions of pounds worth of Devon NHS cuts that are ongoing.

Heated debate as Devon Health Scrutiny chair rejects my proposal for review into health cuts
.
.
.

"That Glorious Forest" > talk on Amazonia by Ghillean Prance: Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Scientific Director of the Eden Project > Friday 19th October

The next Supper and Conversation at Trill Farm hosts a rather special speaker: 

THAT GLORIOUS FOREST

Speaker: Sir Ghillean Prance FRS VMH

With an illustrious career in botany spanning over 65 years including over 10 years as the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and more recently as the Scientific Director of the Eden Project in Cornwall, Sir Ghillean will be talking about his most recent work in Amazonia.  He will focus on examining the current situation about deforestation and threats to the forest and include details of the time he has spent with the indigenous peoples of Amazonia studying their uses of plants and uses of the forest.

About the speaker:

Sir Ghillean Tolmie Prance FRS FLS FRSB is a prominent British botanist and ecologist who has published extensively being the author of 21 books and editor of a further 16 as well as publishing over 560 papers of both scientific and general interest on plant systematics, plant ecology, ethnobotany, and conservation.  Sir Ghillean is a former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and currently works as the Scientific Director of the Eden Project in Cornwall and as a visiting professor at Reading University.

Sir Ghillean was trained as a plant taxonomist and started his career with over eight years of fieldwork and botanical exploration on 39 expeditions in Amazonian Brazil between 1964 and 1988, he has returned to the Amazonia recently to complete his latest book “That Glorious Forest".

In 1993 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and was awarded the International Cosmos Prize for his environmental work in Amazonia being knighted in 1995.  He received the Lifetime Discovery Award from the Royal Geographical Society and the Discovery Channel in 1999.  Sir Ghillean holds honorary doctorates with multiple institutions across the globe.

He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society, the Explorers Club, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

About Supper & Conversation at Trill

Supper & Conversation provides an opportunity to enjoy an inspiring talk followed by a convivial supper, sharing ideas and evolving positive ways forward. Speakers include writers, innovators, critics, political agitators and environmentalists, and aim to be informative, to stimulate thinking, to make us laugh and to amaze us. 

The suppers are inspired by the content of the talk and from the seasonal abundance of the farm. We don't sell alcohol, please feel free to BYO (£3 corkage per person).

Trill Farm - S&C: THAT GLORIOUS FOREST
.
.
.