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...
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...
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...
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.
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?
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...
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...
"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...
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Welcome all...
Over the last 24 hours there have been postings to this blog and other websites linked to the No Ford Eco-Town campaign... I welcome all comments, rants, abuse and I have no issues with anyone, no matter how strong their opinion is - for or against.
This blog is an open forum - there is even a link inviting people to join in... It also happens that most of the people living in the surrounding area are against this Eco-Town development - hence the huge support for CAFÉ and this Blog.
This blog is an open forum - there is even a link inviting people to join in... It also happens that most of the people living in the surrounding area are against this Eco-Town development - hence the huge support for CAFÉ and this Blog.
Friday, 1 August 2008
Spirit FM - Caroline Flint interview
Usual political sound bites and spin...
Quite a few well - welll - wells.
A bit of old tosh!
And those carefully chosen words,
'Articulate, confident & Rich!'
Listen here...
Quite a few well - welll - wells.
A bit of old tosh!
And those carefully chosen words,
'Articulate, confident & Rich!'
Listen here...
DCLG publishes full sustainability appraisals - but doesn't know where Ford is!
The Department for Communities, & Local Government have published full sustainability appraisals on the shortlisted "Eco-town" proposals.
The one for Ford includes this little gem....
" Arundel bypass site: AONB to north. At the western end the road would
cross through 1.5km of Tortington Common Ancient Woodland and through Binstead Wood Complex SNCI. There are also protected species in this area (adder (BAP species), grass
snake (BAP species), common lizard (BAP species), and common pipistrelle The eastern section crosses the Adur, but is unlikely to affect the SSSI.
Oops - do they know where Ford is? You'd have thought the name of our local authority would give them a clue to the name of the river running beside the proposed site (that they still insist on calling an airfield)?
Also....
"Ford parkway (railway station): May be issues with watercourse, ditches and water voles, depending if footprint changes.
Residential development site: Issue with watercourses and ditches.
Industrial/commercial development site: Watercourses and protected species (great crested newt and watervoles (EA lead, BAP species).
Marina: Climping Beach SSSI and Littlehampton golf course SNCI to the south (see Ford Airfield above). Issues with protected species, flood risk, and watercourse."
Erm have I missed something???
Thought the PARKWAY station was rejected (not v green inviting 1000's of motorists from all over the coastal strip to DRIVE to the station's supposed fast and frequent rail services.
And MARINA? Isn't the riverside supposed to be wetland and greenspace? Or do they want to inflict another aesthetically challenging - oh, and very 1980's marina development on the south coast?????
Read the full sustainability appraisals here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/910920.pdf
The one for Ford includes this little gem....
" Arundel bypass site: AONB to north. At the western end the road would
cross through 1.5km of Tortington Common Ancient Woodland and through Binstead Wood Complex SNCI. There are also protected species in this area (adder (BAP species), grass
snake (BAP species), common lizard (BAP species), and common pipistrelle The eastern section crosses the Adur, but is unlikely to affect the SSSI.
Oops - do they know where Ford is? You'd have thought the name of our local authority would give them a clue to the name of the river running beside the proposed site (that they still insist on calling an airfield)?
Also....
"Ford parkway (railway station): May be issues with watercourse, ditches and water voles, depending if footprint changes.
Residential development site: Issue with watercourses and ditches.
Industrial/commercial development site: Watercourses and protected species (great crested newt and watervoles (EA lead, BAP species).
Marina: Climping Beach SSSI and Littlehampton golf course SNCI to the south (see Ford Airfield above). Issues with protected species, flood risk, and watercourse."
Erm have I missed something???
Thought the PARKWAY station was rejected (not v green inviting 1000's of motorists from all over the coastal strip to DRIVE to the station's supposed fast and frequent rail services.
And MARINA? Isn't the riverside supposed to be wetland and greenspace? Or do they want to inflict another aesthetically challenging - oh, and very 1980's marina development on the south coast?????
Read the full sustainability appraisals here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/910920.pdf
Thursday, 31 July 2008
The Video passed to Caroline Flint by Cafe
Cafe over the weekend of 26/07/08 managed to shoot and mix together a video to show the Minister the area that could be lost forever. Thanks John for sending this in...
VIDEO: Campaigners tell minister how they feel
Housing minister Caroline Flint this afternoon visited Yapton to meet eco-town protesters and supporters.
Ms Flint spent two hours in the village hall, which is on King George V playing field next to part of the site of the proposed 5,000 home development. Click here for more...
Ms Flint spent two hours in the village hall, which is on King George V playing field next to part of the site of the proposed 5,000 home development. Click here for more...
Is the eco-town dream dead?
It all looked so different just 12 months ago, when Gordon Brown won national plaudits for making housing – and the construction of five “eco-towns” – one of his principal priorities. The prime minister was even applauded when he somewhat opportunistically increased the number to 10 at last year’s Labour conference. Since then, however, the popularity of the eco-towns programme in the national press has closely matched that of the prime minister.Read the article from building.co.uk
Challenge Team Report
This is the link (PDF), to the second report of the eco-town challenge team, who are "independently" assessing the proposals.
They say of Ford that “The proposal has been brought forward an impressive amount since the first session.”
“The amount of thinking and work that has gone into the project is appreciated.”
“Good progress, but issues still to be addressed in the areas of transport and land use.”
Where may I ask is the transparency of this thinking and work?
Other developers for the other sites publish a huge amount on their websites. FAVG have only updated their website with a 2 page re-hash of the plans (very very draft) shown at the exhibitions, and included a rather comical day in the life section about some imaginary resident of the new town.
Why are FAVG so secretive? Why aren't these proposals being developed in the full public arena?
They say of Ford that “The proposal has been brought forward an impressive amount since the first session.”
“The amount of thinking and work that has gone into the project is appreciated.”
“Good progress, but issues still to be addressed in the areas of transport and land use.”
Where may I ask is the transparency of this thinking and work?
Other developers for the other sites publish a huge amount on their websites. FAVG have only updated their website with a 2 page re-hash of the plans (very very draft) shown at the exhibitions, and included a rather comical day in the life section about some imaginary resident of the new town.
Why are FAVG so secretive? Why aren't these proposals being developed in the full public arena?
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