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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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24th September '06
Did you see the report on how ‘green’ supermarkets are? Based on five indicators it covered food transport, waste, fish sourcing, trees and sustainable farming. Sadly for Bideford and Torrington Morrisons and Somerfield came equal bottom with E grades which doesn’t help if you are trying to live by green principles – and before anyone says lets get Asda in they came second to bottom. Does it actually matter? Well yes, we all use supermarkets and we all have a responsibility to look after the Earth – put the two things together and clearly the ‘greener’ our shops the better. Given that market share is seen as absolutely vital we, as customers, can have an enormous influence on the behemoths of the business world by directing our purchases towards environmentally sound products and organic food. If we do the latter that will have knock-on effects for local farmers if the supermarkets source ever more local food or buy ever more organic produce. By the way, if you are interested, Waitrose came top with a B grade – although I suspect the local organic shops like Marshford and our local pannier markets would get an A grade – as the old saying has it, you pays your money and you takes your choice.
Readers may recall me mentioning the cock-up over the bus shelters on the Quay and the way in which they were erected by Devon County Council without placing ‘ends’ on them thus negating their utility as shelters. I am happy to now say that the joint funding to add the ‘ends’ has now been agreed by the County Council, the Bridge Trust and Bideford Town Council. The support of the latter was only gained after a recorded vote was held – a very rare occurrence for town councillors. Just for the record those in favour were Cllrs.Barton, Christie, Church, Daniels and Johns and those against Cllrs. Hadfield, Isaac and Sankey – with 3 abstentions. The debate was heated and exciting and was a good example of democracy in action. If you think would like to take part in debates like this now is your chance. For the first time in over a quarter of a century the council is to co-opt a person to replace a member who has resigned. Anyone who would like their name considered should contact the town clerk George McLauchlan at the Town Hall and he will explain the process.
Last week I wrote about the ceremony to cut the first sod of the new Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre in Clovelly Road. Now I hear that a completion date is pencilled in for April/May 2007 – and not before time! One interesting innovation currently being examined is that businesses will be able to take large quantities of bottles/cardboard to the facility without having to pay fairly high commercial disposal charges – such a move is to be welcomed and hopefully will see the disappearance of those ugly collections of (fully recyclable) waste on our roads. I could name the offenders but I think most people will be able to supply their own.
This month’s full council meeting of Torridge passed off remarkably peacefully with only two items of interest. Councillor Bond from Torrington raised the issue of Tesco’s application to build on the town’s football ground. Apparently this has now been registered with the council although a letter has been received by some councillors which cast doubt on the legality of the council selling the land. It cites a fascinating legal case that suggests the council could be guilty of misappropriation of the land if it sold it. Unfortunately the council’s solicitor hadn’t seen it so the discussion had to be curtailed but councillors will be looking forward to hearing his views on the case and whether or not it has set a precedent Torridge has to follow. It also has implications for any possible sale of the old toilets in Bideford’s Victoria Park to an entrepreneur. Watch this space.
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