June 2014 Newsletter

Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities
June 2014 Newsletter

Diary:
Sunday 8th June 3pm to 6pm – Flowers Wood Open Afternoon
Flowers Wood, Darlingscott Road, Nr Ilmington
Tuesday 10th June 7.30 – Transition Shipston Steering & Energy Group
Black Horse Pub, Station Road
Sunday 15th June - Permaculture Group Visit to Forest Garden
Grahame Bale's Forest Garden near Rugby
Saturday 28 June 11.00 - Community Energy Warwickshire’s AGM
Lifeways, Stratford




Shipston Supermarket Development
The appeal at a Public Enquiry by Ainscough Strategic Land against the rejection of their proposal to develop land on the Campden Road for housing and a supermarket will be re-convened on 8th July. 
The Public Enquiry was adjourned last year in order that a further Retail Impact Assessment be made. The updated Assessment was published a few weeks ago and contains no change from the original assessment. It states that Shipston requires 400 square metres of additional retail space in the town centre... not the 2,500 square metre out-of-town supermarket that is being proposed by ASL! We also understand that ASL have reduced their funding offer to the town if the planning application is accepted from £1.7m to £0.8m. Besides the impact of the proposal on the town centre there would also be detrimental effects on jobs. Additional population will put stress on the already overloaded roads and the medical centre.
It is important that the Inspector has the benefit of the spectrum of views from local residents, local traders and businesses and local councillors.It is extremely important that the inspector has the views of the opposition to the scheme .
You can help by sending your objection in before 10th June by email to:
leanne.palmer@pins.gsi.gov.uk
Or by post to: Leanne Palmer, Major Casework, Planning Inspectorate, 3/26 Hawk Wing, TQH,
2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN

Some key points for the objection:
1.       There is no pressing need to develop a supermarket – satisfaction (in general) with current provision and options in the town centre, online or happy to go to Stratford etc if needed
2.       If the appeal proposals were allowed, the experience of other towns shows that too much trade is taken from the town centre, changing the character of quintessential English town centres for the worse and for ever
3.       The proposed development would reduce the likelihood or necessity to use town centre shops. 
4.       The proposed development would not increase the likelihood for people to shop in the town centre
5.       Certain stores (such as the Coop) catalyse footfall and town centre patronage and you would not want to see that reduced
6.       Happy with the town centre balance of retailers and local services
7.       Happy to see the Coop and others willing to invest in the town centre. Coop store expansion and new Post Office (terms are in the process of being agreed) will be open at the end of this year.
Dramatically reducing footfall and destroying sustainable trade in the town centre jeopardises the future of both the Post Office and the last remaining bank in the town centre
8.       You do not want anything to jeopardise the town centre and therefore consider that the development of a supermarket on Campden Road is not worth the risk
Shipston Heritage Centre
The Shipston Heritage Centre was launched at the Shipston Wool Fair on Monday May 26th. It will be available to move around locations in Shipston to give people an insight into how important the wool industry has been to the growth of this area. The first home for the centre will be the Post Office, with a number of artefacts at other locations around Shipston on a ‘wool trail’.
The Heritage Centre is a community-led project to provide visitors and local people with an overview of the history and significance of the wool industry and sheep farming to the area as well as increased footfall into Shipston shops and eateries,
The Centre will be made up of a number of different portable, mobile units and graphics to provide visitors with an engaging overview of the interesting facts about how significant the wool industry was to the development and wealth of Shipston-on-Stour and the surrounding area. This pop-up centre is modular and easy to move around any number of locations in Shipston, including empty premises and visitor-friendly venues in Shipston.
Volunteers are needed to help run the centre. If you would like to volunteer call on 01608 662180 or contact Susan Banfield, Project Manager, T: 01789 228012 susan@s2mmarketing.co.uk

Anyone interested in Brewing?
Last year several Transition Shipston supporters started brewing cider from the glut of apple juice we had. Now a group is being set up for anyone interested in home brewing (all types). The group is for beginners or those who have knowledge to share. If you would like to be involved in forming a new group based in Shipston contact Alex on 07764753530 or alex@redwax.co.uk

Extreme Energy
At his excellent talk organised by Transition Stratford on “extreme energy” the speaker Paul Mobbs mentioned that he had undertaken a detailed analysis of Public Health England's report on the health impacts of shale gas, showing that it produced conclusions at odds with the evidence it had reviewed.
Towards the end of the article there is also a useful summary of the various actions being taken by the UK Government to weaken the assessment and monitoring of the risks of unconventional gas and oil - so much for the argument that the industry might cause health and pollution problems in America but in Britain there will be proper regulation!
We’ve now set up an e-mail group to keep people interested in the topic in touch with developments – one of which is Paul’s publication of a detailed review of the health effects of shale. If you would like to join the e-mail group let me know.

The RSPB has launched a petition calling for the Government to protect from fracking areas of importance to wildlife. That may see a bit limited, but it will cause problems for the Government as it prepares to announce the award of licences for oil and gas exploration across large parts of the country.

Flowers Wood Open Afternoon
Sunday 8 June at 2pm till 5pm
Organised by Stretton Biodiversity Group & Ilmington 20:20 Group
Its twenty years since the late Dennis Flower gave four acres of land half way along the road between Darlingscott and Ilmington to the Woodland Trust.  Children from Ilmington School were amongst those who on a chilly December day a year later in 1995, to plant the first trees.
Come along on Sunday afternoon and explore the wood and its ecology... learning about the butterflies and insects that have made the site their home. There will be walks and talks by local experts about the birds, insects, wildflowers and trees.
This is a family outing open to all from Ilmington, Stretton on Fosse, Shipston and surrounding villages. Refreshments will be provided in a gazebo but it would be wise to bring weatherproof clothing and wellies.
Directions from Stretton: take the gated road out of Stretton... cross over the Campden Rd... carry on along the lane for 1.5 miles... at the tee junction turn left... after 0.5 miles turn left... the entrance to the wood is after 100 yards on the right.

Green Doors
In September - the weekend of the 20th -21st - Cheltenham holds its fourth 'GREEN DOORS' event, where homes that have installed ecological measures to be greener are open to the public. Mark it in your diaries and visit http://www.cheltenhamgreendoors.org.uk/

 
Phone: Dave Passingham 01608 661816
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