One effect of all the rain we have experienced recently is the tremendous growth of plants, particularly weeds. Kate and I spent a peaceful couple of hours yesterday weeding part of our allotment. We had planned to continue this morning (Saturday) but it is raining again. While we were quietly working away I was listening to all the noise around- the roar of two motorways, each about a kilometer away, the traffic on Passfield Avenue and Derby Road and the occasional take off of a plane from Southampton airport, a kilometer in the other direction.
Most of the town of Eastleigh is hemmed in between the M3 to the west, the M27 to the south and the airport to the East. The motorways are heavily congested and occasionally gridlocked. Traffic flow around the town is poor; it can sometimes take an hour to travel a couple of kilometers. Air pollution is bad. Monitoring sites in various places around the town frequently exceed UK National Air quality standards and mean annual levels are above safety limits.
Eastleigh Borough Council will soon be examining plans to build 452 houses on South Street Allotment site and an unknown number of houses on the Woodside Road Allotment site. For each new dwelling there will be an estimated additional 6 traffic movements. What will happen to the Nitrogen Dioxide levels? They will rise further. Do the people of Eastleigh want to live in an increasingly unhealthy environment?
In the 1970's I conducted a piece of research on the park lakes of Liverpool for my M. Phil. degree. The 7 Liverpool parks were constructed because "the researches of sanitary science show incontrovertibly that the general health decreases and the rate of mortality increases in proportion to the density of population in a given area......it was suggested to construct a series of parks in such a relation to each other as will secure a central line of open space, to act as a kind of lung which will in a few years be the heart of Liverpool." (Anon 1868 - quoted in my thesis).
It appears to me that those 19th century Liverpool planners were more enlightened than 21st century Lib. Dem Councillors who are intent in pushing through plans to destroy places which have been public open spaces for over 80 years. By building more houses and roads they will further damage the health of Eastleigh people.
Mean annual Nitrogen Dioxide levels at a few sites around Eastleigh
Notes
Figures are in microgrammes per cubic metre, μgm-3
The National Air quality standard for Nitrogen dioxide is a maximum annual mean of 40 μgm-3 with 200 μgm-3 as a maximum which must not be exceeded more than 18 times in a year.
References
1. http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/site_search.php
2. http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/tools.php?tool=background04
3. http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/tools/95_2004.csv
4. http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/data_and_statistics.php?
Saturday 30 June 2007
Air pollution: the consequence of more building in Eastleigh
Tuesday 26 June 2007
Flooding and the Eastleigh Allotments High Court Decision.
In a week where much of England has experienced exceptional rainfall and floods the people of Eastleigh have mercifully escaped. However the High Court decision this week to allow building on Eastleigh's allotments will only bring that risk of flooding closer. Just today I heard a professor from Liverpool's John Moores University stating on the radio that building houses, roads and paving gardens all increases the risk of flash floods. He urged people to keep woodlands and green spaces within towns as these absorbed up to 50% of the water falling on them.
If, as the Lib Dem run council in Eastleigh desire, these two prime sites are sold off for hundreds more houses the risk of flooding to low lying parts of Eastleigh will incrase dramatically.
We have been warned by this week's weather!
It is a sad week for Eastleigh people. A couple of years ago 14 000 people signed a petition to keep Eastleigh's South Street and Woodside allotments. Hundreds of people are on waiting lists for allotments near their homes. We are being encouraged to go green, grow our own, reduce the food miles, eat more fruit and vegetables, get fit by undertaking more exercise, plant more trees - all things which are promoted by having an allotment. Yet because of overpopulation in the South of England and poor planning of housing needs we are forced to relinquish one of our most precious assets.
Monday 25 June 2007
Eastleigh Allotment Holders Judicial Review Appeal denied
I am publishing the Allotment Holders statement directly as released. Please let me have your views!
HIGH COURT CHALLENGE OVER ALLOTMENT SALE
JUDICIAL REVIEW PERMISSION HEARING – Monday 25th June 2007
On 12th July 2006, the Secretary of State granted permission for the disposal of South Street and Monks Way allotments in Eastleigh, Hampshire. It is our firm belief that the Secretary of State’s decision was flawed. It is an anomalous decision that is inconsistent with the requirements and application of allotments legislation and has relied upon conclusions that are factually incorrect.
Whilst the Secretary of State’s decision was of considerable disappointment to plot holders on the affected sites in Eastleigh, its potential impact upon the future of other allotments around the country is more worrying.
Today, the High Court has refused permission for Ruth Kelly’s controversial decision to be subject to a Judicial Review. This is a huge disappointment for the plot holders and supporters who have fought tirelessly for over 4½ years in a campaign not only to save the threatened sites in Eastleigh, but also to prevent the basis of protection for all statutory allotments from being undermined. By not proceeding to Judicial Review, this decision increases the uncertainty surrounding the protection that can be expected for statutory allotments across the Country. Should it result in, or even encourage, the erosion of the Country’s allotment resource, it will have helped to achieve precisely the opposite of the Government’s stated intention in 2002 to provide better protection for allotments and ensure that future demand for allotments can be met.
On behalf of the Eastleigh and Bishopstoke Allotments Association, I would like to thank everyone who has committed so much in support of this campaign and enabled us to bring it this far. Such commitment comes from a deep passion for allotment gardening and a determination to adhere to the principles of democracy.
Tim Holzer
Association Chairman
Thursday 14 June 2007
Local Conservatives
do not attempt to deceive the electorate, do not lie and do not indulge in personal attacks.
Conservatives believe in:
honest debate
the role of the family in promoting discipline and a stable society.
safe, clean, streets properly policed at all times
discipline and respect for our teachers in our schools
only more housing development where the infrastructure (water, sewers parking and roads) can cope, and where the plans are supported by local people
an independent Great Britain, the primacy of our own Parliament
strict control of immigration.
Local Conservatives will:
continue to work for the preservation of our greens and open spaces.
oppose plans to build 6000 dwellings on the ‘green belt’
seek to introduce a waste collection policy that collects rubbish, green and food waste weekly and recyclable paper and glass, fortnightly. All for free! No new charges!
News of Eastleigh Conservatives
Membership of the Conservative Party in Eastleigh Borough has increased by hundreds over the last couple of years. We are currently in the early stages of selecting our Parliamentary Candidate to lead us forward.
A new Conservative branch began in Eastleigh town last Autumn and we meet monthly to discuss local issues.
We’ve already enjoyed a party and a dinner together since the May 3rd election.
Issues facing Eastleigh
Are you concerned about these issues facing Eastleigh?
A. Litter
B. Refuse problems e.g. flies, rats and smells
Are you prepared to help do something about the problems?
Gerald Sewell is launching a clean-up campaign. Please contact him, telling of your experiences and what you think should be done about it.
Phone Gerald Sewell 023 8061 6324
Or write to him at 6 Starling Square, Eastleigh
A message to UKIP voters
We ask you to seriously consider the result of voting UKIP in the Eastleigh area.
By voting UKIP at the last General Election, you have allowed Chris Huhne, a pro- European Lib Dem to gain a slim majority and get into Parliament.
By voting for UKIP in local elections you may be keeping out anti - European Conservatives and helping pro-European Lib Dems to be elected.
Is this really what you want? Please vote Conservative next time.
Conservatives want trade with Europe, not control from corrupt Brussels Bureaucrats.
Council Offices in Winchester: the truth
Do you re-call the Lib Dems made a great fuss about the cost of the refurbishment of the Council offices in Winchester? On checking it was found this was the most economical solution to a building in a bad state of decay.
Guess what
The Lib Dems attended committee meetings on this, and at County Council gave support for the work to be carried out! How can they then go to the electorate and repeatedly slate the Conservatives for something that they had supported?
Sunday 3 June 2007
Velmore Plans withdrawn!
Dear Member
I have this morning received a letter from the First
Wessex Housing Group withdrawing all 7 of their planning applications for the redevelopment of Velmore estate. This is to enable them "to embark opon new consultation and full engagement with the local community." They say that "once we have concluded this process incorporating their needs, we will be resubmitting a revised scheme for the estate".
Colin Peters.
Head of Development Control
Let us hope that next time those of us who care about the community can have a full imput into the planning process.
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