FATCRAG Hustings

I attended the Flitwick At The Crossroads Action Group meet the candidates meeting last night. All the parties were represented with candidates for Flitwick West and Flitwick East. There was much debate about the proposed Town Centre Development which has had a number of false starts and a lot of disappointment was expressed regarding the ineffective consultation that has gone on so far.

My view was that Flitwick needs to be aiming a bit higher than the current focus on what can be got out of Tesco. What is needed is a vision for the whole town. I think that Flitwick should put itself forward to become a true "Eco-Town". I was dead against the so called "Eco-Town" proposed for the green fields of the Marston Vale. It makes much more sense to upgrade the eco performance of existing housing, installing more insulation and solar panels for example. This would create local jobs. It would also attract extra Government and other funding. The environment is an area where increasingly funding and investment is being targeted.

Leighton Buzzard has been successful with the help of Beds CC in securing £1 Million for becoming a "Cycle Town" resulting in a number of initiatives to increase cycling in the town. I worked to get funding for Flitton and Greenfield for a major Carbon reduction project and whilst we were aiming again for £1 Million we did at least secure £50,000 for solar panels on the school, and now have the momentum to look for further projects in the villages.

Such an approach for Flitwick could begin to address the traffic congestion by securing funding for cycleways and better public transport. It could secure funding for improving existing buildings and houses. It could create local jobs. It would inform the debate about new developments. It would not be dependent on the likes of Tescos. Above all it would give people a new pride in the Town.

Green Party Video - Think again

The Green Party is not just about the environment. Watch this http://www.rupertread.net/thinkagainvotegreen.html

RATS

No its not a rodent problem but a new action group set up to do something about traffic in Flitton and Greenfield. Residents Against Traffic Speed RATS are lobbying for measures to stop these villages being used as a "rat run", and in particular to....

• Work to reduce excessive speed of HGV’s (especially through the night)
• Achieve traffic calming measures through the village
• Lobby to have the road resurfaced

They are organising a petition/survey which I will be distributing along with the rest of the Parish Council next week. Traffic has been one of the main issues I have been keen to do something about and having the evidence of the impact it is having locally is so important when arguing the case for something to be done. So please when you get the petition make sure you make you make your feelings known.

For more info on RATS contact me and I will put you in touch with one of the organisers or better still follow their progress on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GreenfieldRATS
or
Create your own report on www.Fixmystreet.com

Flitwick Town Council

I attended the Town Council Annual Meeting last week. It was well attended with a number of speakers notably from the Flitwick at the Crossroads Group well represented. There are a number of major changes in the pipeline for Flitwick and it is evident that as many people wanted to have a say.

The Town Council seem to have come to an understanding with Mid Beds District Coucnil - now Central Bedfordshire for the location of the new Leisure Centre (adjacent to the present one) with the football pitches moving to the land opposite the One O One Garage next to the A507. At the same time the Town Council will gain land on Maulden Road for a new Burial Ground and Country Park. This raised many questions - such as what the effect of locating all the football pitches (not just those adjacent to the current leisure centre) on the edge of town would be - potentially taking away provision for games areas from the middle of town; also the suitability of the land off Maulden Road either for Burials or for a Country Park was questioned.
The new Town Centre Development raises lots of questions. How much will it be shaped by a vision to benefit people in Flitwick and how much will be it be a magnet for more cars, congestion and parking problems. The prospect of a larger Tescos and a new and enlarged railway station will be welcomed by many but the side effects of increased traffic could be horrific.

I believe that a new vision for Flitwick is needed which puts people first. This would need to focus on the local environment requiring new developments to demonstrate how they are improving the environment rather than further degrading it. Protecting and increasing green space in the town is important as is making the roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians. A more joined up public transport system linking buses and trains with much better promotion and information would help ease the congestion. Fltiwick also needs to take greater pride in its heritage. One speaker raised the issue of Flitwick Mill, which I am happy to say I voted against being given planning permission as a house, when it came before a planning committee earlier in the year. However it is still vulnerable without funding and action to ensure that the current owner takes greater care of this important local landmark.

A new vision for Flitwick could be the route to levering in further funding for the Town, given the current move by Central Government to increase funding for low Carbon industries. Leighton Buzzard has recently won just over £1 Million in funding to become a "Cycling Town". I myself have been successful in helping to secure funding for a Community Carbon Reduction project in Flitton and Greenfield. A similar initiative to "Green" Flitwick could help to put the town on the map, improve the local environment, lever in funding and create new jobs.

Central Beds and Council tax

What was the aim of merging Beds County Council, Mid Beds and South Beds? To save costs, improve services and lower Council tax I hear you cry. Well the latter fell at the first hurdle with Central Beds Shadow Council setting a budget leading to a 2.5% increase for the residents of Central Bedfordshire from April.

I was quite amazed to see the proposal from the Conservatives supported wholeheartedly by the Libdem and Labour groups. It was left to the Greens (yes there are two of us now!) and Independents to speak up for the Pensioners (who had presented a petition and were waving placards outside)and others hoping for a decrease not an increase. We were allowed a brief statement each pointing out that the tax would exceed inflation and that the other Unitary - Bedford Borough was introducing only a 0.9% increase. But then the debate was cut short and a vote hastily called with Conservatives, Libdem and Labour voting together in perfect harmony.

More time was given earlier in the proceedings as to whether Councillors mileage allowance should be higher for larger cars. The Conservatives tabled a late amendment to the proposal on the agenda to change a flat rate of mileage allowance to a rate which increased dramatically from around 42 p/mile for small cars to over 58 p/mile for cars over 1200 cc. I pointed out that this would prove a disincentive for the use of smaller more efficient cars and was hardly setting a good example to others in terms of reducing Carbon emissions. There was even dissent in the Tory ranks but the vast majority were keen to point out the huge costs of running their gas guzzlers.

One of the Libdems quipped that you don't need to be a Green to champion green measures. I agree with this, but I didnt see anyone else standing up for the Green principles of living within your means - either financially or environmentally.

Big Green Challenge for Flitton and Greenfield

The presentation given at the recent meeting is displayed here

Ideas for reducing Carbon emissions

Here's a list of the ideas which were generated at the Big Green Challenge meeting.

Local wind turbine – possibly near Industrial estate
Switch off pubic lighting after 11pm
Ban Christmas lights
Ban patio heaters
Improve building insulation – homes and local community buildings
Wind power and solar power for church hall
Encourage walking and cycling
Discourage car use – school run; provide alternatives
Local green waste recycling
Local natural waste water treatment – use grey water for agriculture (and household0
Buy local or British produce whenever possible; sell produce from local allotments
Walking bus for school
Improve paths and pavements
Encourage householders to have solar powered external lighting
Encourage switching off of lights and turning heating down and closing curtains, wear woolly jumpers
Reduce traffic
Encourage car sharing – via local web site and school
Better public transport – more info and timetables
Return of village store and post office – community scheme in church hall?
More use of allotments
Unplug transformers and other standby equipment
Restore Flitwick Mill to generate electricity
Recycle batteries
Solar panel buying club
Collect cooking oil
Low energy light bulb scheme
Encourage council to convert refuse lorries from diesel to veg oil
Food waste collection
Enforce 30 mph speed limitEncourage home working and or provide local base for homeworkers e.g. Church Hall
Local timezone - Change time of getting up
Plant trees – e.g. along A507 to also reduce noise; encrouage more in gardens; seek sponsorship
Publicity re carbon footprints
Geothermal project for village
More information on energy efficient appliances
Wood burning stoves and fires – using local wood
Set up local network of energy volunteers or wardens or advisers on neighbourhood basis
Bulk purchase of energy saving appliances
Free order/collection of regular items – papers/milk
Promote public transport
Biodiesel project/ storage facility
Education
Mirrors to reflect sun into space – increase albedo

Any comments or additional ideas welcome......