CLG finds only one eco-town site is 'suitable'

Another blow for the 'eco-town' project, in a report today only one of the 12 shortlisted bids to build eco-towns is ‘generally suitable’ for the flagship government programme, according to the Communities and Local Government department. A CLG appraisal published today rates 10 of the proposed sites as ‘grade B’. These are locations which ‘might be’ suitable for an eco-town ‘subject to meeting specific planning and design objectives’. Only the proposed site in Rackheath, in greater Norwich, was rated ‘grade A’, or ‘generally suitable for an eco-town’. Click here...

The Paul Foot Awards 2008

I was delighted to read in Private Eye that Jim Oldfield of Rossington Community Newsletter, South Yorks Newspapers, has been nominated for the Paul Foot Award 2008. This is an annual award for campaigning journalists.

Here is some of the explanation of why he was nominated:

Before Britain had ever heard of eco-towns, Rossington Community Newsletter was featuring the activities of a group of landowners and speculators to plant one in the village of Rossington - apparently against the wishes of 13,000 odd residents. In month by month reporting the Community Newsletter:
- "Outed' one local councillor for helping frame this and other developments while not declaring his interest as a significant landowner, in partnership with former Metro Centre developer and Newcastle United Chairman, Sir John Hall
- Ran a village poll which showed the residents to be overwhelming against development in their village
- Exposed the government's short-listing of the Rossington bid as having a huge number of houses planned for green belt land. After the resultant national newspaper publicity, the government u-turned and said that no green belt land would be used for eco-towns... and the Rossington bid was cut from 15,000 to 5,000

Beckett softens approach...?

Planning Resource website


Government plans to build ten eco towns by 2020 is now a "hope" rather than a target, new housing minister Margaret Beckett has told a Commons Select Committee.
Beckett also called the government’s target of building three million homes by 2020 an “ambition”.

It is markedly different language from the defiant line taken by former housing minister Caroline Flint.

Beckett was first responding to Sunday newspaper reports that the DCLG has concluded only “one or two” of the 15 short listed projects are genuinely viable.

“We are only at the first stage of consultation. We have had a substantial response and we are continuing with the hope that we will be able to identify ten (sites) at a later stage,” she said.
When asked if government is sticking to its pledge to increase house building to 240,000 homes a year by 2016, she replied: “I think the most challenging of the targets was the three million, but that was an ambition actually, rather than a target.

“The target was the figure for 2016 and that is something we will have to see how we can address.”

The incoming minister said there were no plans “at the present time” to scrap the target.

Neither green, nor towns!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/10/28/dl2802.xml

The Telegraph focusing back on Eco-Towns today!

What does this mean...?

Just had an email to say:

"In case you missed it, the 7.00am South Today news slot confirmed that the Government South East Plan has included the Eco-Town development at Whitehill and Bordon. "

No mention of Ford - hopefully something will become clear later...?

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...