Here are the minutes of the last meeting held in Dec. We’ve tried to keep them as short as possible and hopefully the main points will be conveyed.
General Points:
- 18 people attended the meeting
- Attendees were happy for officers to present themselves as Sustainable Harwell representatives where appropriate.
- Whenever possible, responses on behalf of Sustainable Harwell should be circulated for comments beforehand. It was recognised that time constraints may not always allow this.
- It was felt that outcomes, such as plastic reduction due to reuse by purchasing from The Hive, should be put in terms that are meaningful to people, such as ‘reduction in use of plastic bottles’.
- Submissions for the February edition of Harwell News need to be in by January 15th
- Our grateful thanks to David Harris who provided an interesting presentation on non-environmental indicators of sustainability which we could consider tracking in Harwell. We propose to discuss these at the next meeting in Feb. The list of indicators suggested by David is available here.
Projects:
In order to keep focussed on action we worked at tables to agree action plans for each of the following projects in Harwell.
- Building new cycle routes and footpaths;
- Planting more trees in public places;
- Lobbying for new-build houses to be more sustainable;
- Setting up a recycling scheme for items that aren’t currently able to be recycled
The following is a quick summary of the main points for each:
Building new cycle routes and footpaths
We are hoping someone will volunteer to co-ordinate activity on this project. If you would like to be involved with this activity drop us an email at sustainable@harwellvillage.uk.
There are lots of initiatives to increase cycling. Cycling can increase health and sociability and, if it displaces driving, can reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The latter only really occurs if commuter cycling increases.
It was felt that Sustainable Harwell should probably focus on actions in the village itself and support actions of the wider Oxfordshire Cycling Network, where possible.
The cycling and walking table suggested the following actions and points:
- Undertake a survey of Harwell residents to find what would encourage them to cycle more and what other cycling provision they feel would be helpful – Action Aisling Irvin to compile and circulate.
- Use the results of the survey and other knowledge to propose priority actions to increase cycling.
- It is likely that at least some of the actions will require lobbying.
Planting more trees in public places
Penny Kinloch has kindly volunteered to lead this project and will be co-ordinating the work. If you would like to be involved with this activity please let Penny know by dropping her an email at sustainable@harwellvillage.uk and we will pass it onto her.
The tree-planting table suggested the following actions and points:
- Draw up a map of public land where we will seek permission to plant/re-wild – Action Martin Ricketts
- Approach farmers/land owners/ Sovereign Housing with the idea of re-wilding having identified suitable areas – Action Giles Barwell
- Arrange planting of hedgerows/trees to be done by the local community – volunteers/school/Scouts/Brownies/WI etc.
- Concern raised over who would be responsible for maintaining the health of the trees – needs investigating
- We need to seek out funding for this – chase up grants for this sort of activity/approach Feast Committee for donation/approach Village groups to sponsor planting of trees (this was done successfully for the new area in the Cemetery)
- Contact organisations already involved with tree planting – e.g. CPRE, Oxfordshire Trees for the Future – Action Penny Kinloch
- Start re-wilding/planting The Holloway
Lobbying for new-build houses to be more sustainable;
Alan Spence has kindly volunteered to lead this project and will be co-ordinating the work. If you would like to be involved with this activity please let Alan know by dropping him an email at sustainable@harwellvillage.uk and we will pass it onto him.
The new-build houses table suggested the following actions and points:
- Respond to individual planning applications in Harwell as individuals and as a group
- Lobby/email Vale councillors and climate committee to urge retrospective action to ensure Valley Park is more sustainable – Action Giles Barwell attended the first meeting of Vale of The Vale White Horse Climate Emergency Advisory Committee on 15th Oct
- Respond to the government consultation re new housing standards. Close date 12th January – Group Action required. (Alan has drafted a response and we will shortly be sending a separate email on this)
- Visit hustings and make views known to candidates – Action David Marsh, Giles Barwell and Martin Gibson visited hustings meetings in Dec.
Setting up a recycling scheme for items that aren’t currently able to be recycled;
We are hoping someone will volunteer to co-ordinate activity on this project. If you would like to be involved with this activity drop us an email at sustainable@harwellvillage.uk.
The recycling table suggested the following actions:
- The recycling table suggested the following actions and points:
- Vale doesn’t currently recycle video tape, cassettes, CD/DVD cases, garden/flower pots, plastic/metal hangers, plastic toys, plastic trims, mouldings etc. See http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/services-and-advice/recycling-rubbish-and-waste/recycling/what-can-i-recycle/what-cant-be-recycled List and PDF available.
- Lobby government to limit the different types of plastic that are used
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste can be re-cycled at dentists in Abingdon
- Terracycle. Contact and explore what they could do in Harwell. – Action Giles Barwell
- Contact and arrange visits to re-cycling plants – Action Penny Marsh
- Mobilise primary school e.g. set up a scheme to encourage next generation
- Publicity – Harwell News, Community Facebook page, Sustainable Harwell website, Shops
- Scouts – tie it in with Duke of Edinburgh scheme
- Recycling champions in each household
- Work with Garden Centres for re-cycling flower pots
Next meeting at Harwell Village Hall on Wed 5th Feb.
2020 Main Group meeting dates for you diary: Additional project meetings will be communicated separately by project leaders.
- Weds 5th Feb
- Weds 1st April
- Weds 3rd June
- Weds 7th Oct
- Weds 2nd Dec
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