Flagship eco-town plan falters in tough climate

Oh dear, it looks like Gordon Brown's flagship plan to build a string of environmentally friendly 'eco-towns' across Britain has been dealt a critical blow, with only two of the 10 sites promised now expected to be built. Click here for more...

UK's ancient woodland being lost 'faster than Amazon

Ancient woodland in Britain is being felled at a rate even faster than the Amazon rainforest, according to new research today. It shows that almost half of all woods in the UK that are more than 400 years old have been lost in the past 80 years and more than 600 ancient woods are now threatened by new roads, electricity pylons, housing, and airport expansion. Click here for more...

Rich and poor gap 'narrows' in UK

The gap between rich and poor in the UK has decreased since 2000, an international survey has concluded. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says the decline in inequality in Britain has been "remarkable".

The report's author told the BBC: "...the poor have been getting richer more rapidly than the rich since 2000." Click here and here for more...

China's Dongtan demise is mirrored by bad news for Britain's eco-towns

The failure of Dongtan, which has been praised by Gordon Brown as a vision of the future, raises questions about Britain's plans for similar eco-towns. Click here for more...

Brown's army to tackle climate change?

Gordon Brown announces large numbers of draught-proofers to provide jobs, aid the poor, and help the environment. I wonder if this has something to do with this? www.tescoinsulation.com

Trains, pains and automobiles

I occasionally commute from Ford, so if you think the A27 is rammed at peak times you want to try the 'South Coast Cattle Cart Express', and this situation looks like it will get worse. Southern Railways increased the number of trains and carriages last year, however, this has had no impact on overcrowded trains. Those who settle in the ‘Eco-Town’ at Ford will increase passenger numbers further as they commute back to their old jobs around Sussex and beyond. That is if they cannot find work at the humorously imaginative 'Technology Park’ of course.

Half the residents of the Eco-Town won’t be allowed to own cars, so they will need a reliable and cheap mode of transport. Ford is served by less trains than Bognor and Littlehampton - so, unless Ford station is upgraded (which is a big IF), the people living in the Eco-Town could end up with very poor commuting options. Oh, and has anyone mentioned the cost? An annual season ticket between Ford and Brighton will set you back £1,664 or Ford to Victorica £3,400 - not a cheap or convenient option for those living in Yapton and Ford already struggling on a low income... Sally!!! Get me cart oot!!!

UK has 'pent-up housing demand'

Now that Gordon has sorted out his credit crunch, his 'one' political eye is now focussed on that big labour issue, housing! Mr Brown told a city audience the US and Spain had "overbuilt" homes during the years of rising prices. In contrast the UK had "pent-up demand" because not enough had been built. This item has more questions than answers...

Moving the goal post again...

The government is considering not using the Code for Sustainable Homes for its contentious eco towns scheme. According to an item in 'Building' magazine last Friday, draft guidance, written by external consultants for the communities department, suggests that the new eco homes should instead be measured against a European model of energy output per square metre. Click her for more...

The idiots

Over on the Littlehampton Gazette website is an article about the petition being presented to Downing Street last Thursday, click here to read. On the same page are various rants by people calling themselves, anon-e-mouse, food4thought, surfh0g and nickisplight.

At the very end comes an hilarious comment from anon-e-mouse, "Anyways, no matters, the voice of the minorities are louder than you think..."

OK anon-e-mouse you squealy squeak! It is no good trolling news sites ranting about the rights and wrongs of this campaign! Get your faces in the papers and start a pro Eco-Town campaign or just fight for whatever injustice you believe in!!!

Why do people like you make anonymous comments on websites and then expect us to believe your opinion is right when you won't even reveal who you are..?

My advice to anyone is not to respond to their comments as they cannot be taken seriously.

Any bets on Beckett then..?

Margaret Beckett, MP for Derby South, has taken over the position of Housing Minister from Caroline Flint, becoming the third person to hold the top spot within a year, and the eighth since Labour came to power... Sounds like a tough job to me - I'll give her 6 months... Click here for more...

Flint out Beckett in!!!

News just in, Margaret Beckett is to become housing minister, replacing Caroline Flint... Yep its official - Flint is off to the Foreign Office as Europe minister. Beckett is a highly respected and experienced minister, so what happens from here is anyones guess... I think Mr Brown is planning a Hallowe'en party!!!

MORE TO FOLLOW

CAFE hand in 10,000 signatures to Downing Street

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/7648898.stm

A small group of us went up to London today to hand over the petition signed by 10,000 people from the communities around the proposed Eco Town site. I caught the 10pm news on the Beeb, and saw the piece about the handover. I guess they weren't to know, when the date of 2 October was set, that there would be a lot of TV crews outside No 10 waiting for news of a cabinet re-shuffle. But it won't have hurt - and the press release includes a great picture of the group outside Gordon's house. Let's hope for some good publicity tomorrow!

No 10 Petition

Well the 'original' petition I started on the Number 10 website, before CAFE got together, ended yesterday - and reached 1000 - an amazing number really, given the focus on the CAFE petition!

So that one is in Gordon's in-box now - I wonder what he'll say?

Green and unpleasant

Pity the residents of what New Labour politicians think of as the strong and joyful ecotowns, one of which might yet blight a stretch of landscape near you by 2020. Not only will they have to live in developer-built dormitory suburbs given a fashionable name, they will also be the subject of unprecedented scrutiny by quango folk who, in a holier-than-thou spirit, will check on just how "eco" ecotown folk will be. Click for more...

Thanks Jez for alerting me - occasionally I miss those buried ones...

Crunch time for green housing

Just 12 months ago, eco-towns were at the forefront of the government's plans to build more new homes and reduce carbon emissions. But now, with the credit crunch biting hard and the housing market in real trouble, their future direction looks uncertain. Ministers should shift their green focus to existing buildings — both residential and commercial — which together account for around half of the UK's carbon emissions. Click here for more...