Friday 8 August 2008

Flint on the defence over eco-town plans

Housing minister Caroline Flint has insisted the government is making “significant progress” with its eco-towns plan, despite a report from an advisory panel which pointed out serious flaws in many of the shortlisted proposals. click for more...

Local news...

Minister 'refused a tour of the site with us' – MPs
MP Nick Gibb said he was disappointed Ms Flint had decided against visiting the eco-town site with him. Click for more...

'We have to allow for needs of 21st century'
Eco-towns are an essential part of the change of living needed for the 21st century, one of those involved with the Ford proposals has said. Ian Tant was among those who on behalf of the Ford Airfield Vision Group presented the case for an eco-town. Click for more...

Minister keeping an 'open mind' over Ford
Housing minister Caroline Flint has assured residents around Ford she is open-minded about an eco-town being built there. Ms Flint visited the site of the proposed development at Ford Airfield last week. Click for more...

Thursday 7 August 2008

Minister's car engine left running for two hours during eco-visit

Eco-town campaigners have criticised a government minister for leaving her car engine running in Yapton – for two hours.

The vehicle which was waiting to transport Caroline Flint, the housing minister, away from her meeting about the proposed eco-town in Ford was pouring fumes from its exhaust for her entire time in the village. Click for more...

Caroline Flint's 'Drive-by' ...

So, Caroline Flint declined the offer of a tour around the Eco-town site, kept the motor running for the duration of her visit to Yapton village hall, but made time for a riverside photo-opportunity with a bunch of Labour councillors.

Am I surprised? ... not really!

I think this sends a very clear message about how concerned Ms. Flint is with regard to the suitability of Ford as a potential Eco-town. She plainly has no interest in facts or opinions that do not support her agendas and political goals, and all her assurances that there are no "done-deals" are starting to sound rather hollow - as is her passionate concern for the "silent, hidden homeless."

Pretty much what I would expect from a 'career' politician.

Ho hum.

Tuesday 5 August 2008

Can you afford an Eco-home?

If you read the post below, £300,000 is the average cost of an eco-home - according the The Times.

From the FEH website:
"As a whole we in Arun live in a low pay economy.

According to the Nomis annual survey of hours and earnings - workplace analysis, the average gross weekly wage for Arun in 2005 was £396. This compares to a national average of £518, a South East average of £539, a West Sussex average of £489, Adur at £480, Chichester at £432, Crawley at £586, Horsham at £507, Mid Sussex at £496 and Worthing at £438."

Based on these salaries - is £300,000 affordable to those in a low pay economy? Perhaps FEH can answer this for me?

Eco-towns: a design for life

They could be the answer to our housing and carbon-footprint problems, so why are people opposed to new towns?

It is an unlikely alliance: Germaine Greer, Sir Simon Jenkins, Dame Judi Dench, Richard Rogers, Ben Fogle, Duncan Goodhew, John Nettles and the family of Tim Henman united at the barricades. But then, eco-towns are an unusual opponent, forcing together those who you would expect to oppose them with those you wouldn't. Read more here...

Monday 4 August 2008

FORD ECO-TOWN: Waste plant plan dismissed

A suggested waste-to-energy plant to provide power for the proposed eco-town at Ford was dismissed as a non-starter at Friday's meeting of West Sussex County Council. Leader Cllr Henry Smith said 6,000 houses were proposed, and these were supposed to deliver all sorts of infrastructure benefits.

"The Government is claiming they will deliver the earth, but this is certainly not the case," he declared. Click for more...

Tories demand firm date for eco-town shortlist

The Conservatives have challenged Caroline Flint, the Housing Minister, to provide a firm date for the announcement of a shortlist of up to 10 controversial eco-towns amid further signs that the entire project is in trouble. Click for more...