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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines

photos courtesy Steve Knight, Knights Photographers, Bear St, Barnstaple

ELECTION CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF

By Jon Hooper and L’Anne Knight

The General Elections are on the horizon, and this month saw the launch of our North Devon Prospective Parliamentary Candidate [PPC] Ricky Knight, already a familiar face with many in the constituency. Our local Green Party is stronger than ever before, and we’ve got ambitious plans to create our biggest impact yet in this election campaign.

Green campaigners have an increasing influence on Governments and policies and even though we cannot yet be represented in Westminster due to the voting system, we can nonetheless demonstrate the strength of our feelings by encouraging people to vote for a party that represents their principles. The strategic vote for the “best of the rest” can no longer be justified as all other parties are fading to the same shade of grey. For example, Climate Change is one of the biggest threats to our future, yet the local Tories and Lib-Dems are united in undermining efforts to generate renewable energy in the area.

We need to raise our profile and reach more voters and the committee are preparing strategies to achieve this. We are asking for your continued support for our activities, particularly for this year up to the election.

We send out Greenlines to around 85 addresses in N.D. and Torridgeside. Nearly half of our recipients have joined the National Green Party - which means locally, we receive a percentage to add to our coffers. What an instant boost locally and nationally if EVERYONE signed up, just for a year! (See subscription details below). Alternatively a donation - however small - helps, and motivates front-liners to keep up the action. And if you want to part with your cash in a fun and lively way, look out for fundraising social events in the Diary section.

If you’ve got some good ideas for our campaigns or are willing to get involved practically, please contact us or just check out the insert asking WHAT YOU CAN DO. We’ll be gaining momentum over the coming months, so now is the time to act: please fill it in and return it ASAP! We are counting on you…

We will keep you informed of our strategies and our progress in future issues. It’s going to be an exciting year, so don’t miss out, get involved.

Say YES to Giant Wind Turbines in North Devon

By Rosemary Brian

Regular readers of Greenlines will know that I have not always loved wind turbines. My antipathy to them stemmed from the principle of not industrializing the countryside. So when, in June, I attended the Devon Wind Power Company’s exhibition of their proposals for the Fullabrook Down Wind Turbine Site, I was prepared to be sceptical. And there it was, up on the wall, a chart showing the targets set by the DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] for each county in the South West to produce electricity from renewable sources by 2010. Suddenly, the link between the Kyoto Protocol targets for carbon dioxide emissions reduction and what we should be doing towards this at a local level became clear to me. It was a truly Damasene moment.

When the proposals were published, the North Devon Journal asked Tony Bown for a local Green Party response. Tony was quoted as welcoming the proposals, so long as they conformed to the statutory environmental protection requirements, which they did. So, as a party, we appeared to be committed. At our members meeting on 16th June, we confirmed that this would be our position.

The local Lib Dem Party and the Conservative Party have been vociferously opposed to the proposals from day one and have been spreading moral panic on the issue ever since. A campaign ‘Say No to Giant Wind Turbines in North Devon’ was immediately launched. A public meeting was arranged for 23rd July at West Down Parish Hall, with Nick Harvey MP and Orlando Fraser, the Conservative Party PPC in attendance. I decided to attend and to speak in favour of the proposals. It seemed to me that with the crisis in global climate change emerging, it would be irresponsible not to make the case for the need for this type of renewable energy.

The Parish Hall was packed with about 200 people; every inch of standing room was taken with people queuing out of the doors. As the meeting started, I advised the chairman that I wished to speak in favour of the proposals and asked for assurances that I would be given every opportunity. The case against the Wind Turbine Site was made by Tony Bohannan from the CPRE [Campaign for the Protection of Rural England]. His was probably the most negative speech I have ever heard made on any subject, and at the end of it he was given a rousing ovation. His case comprised that turbines only work efficiently for about one third of the time, when the wind achieves optimum speeds [Editor’s note: more accurately, they only operate for a third of the time; the term efficiency is not applied to wind turbines since the wind is limitless and free!], that they have to be switched off when winds exceed 50 miles per hour, and that these particular turbines would be seen from surrounding beauty spots such as the Exmoor National Park. For him this was truly the end of civilisation as we know it.

The case I made was that as a society we are using more and more energy whilst our gas and oil runs out; that we needed security of energy supplies; that this form of renewable energy, while not ideal, was off-the-peg technology which could be contributing to the national grid by 2008; that carbon dioxide emissions were leading to sea levels rising and that London and New York could be submerged under water (big cheer from the audience) and that a similar fate could become Croyde and other parts of this constituency.

Nick Harvey MP told the meeting that he agreed with everything I had said except my conclusions. His solution was for more energy conservation, development of wave power such as the Lynton project, and a power station to be built at Yelland which was a brown field industrial site. He accepted that Devon should contribute to its own energy needs. He thought that the site would have a negative impact on tourism and would harm the local economy. I countered that research showed that tourists were not put off by the presence of turbines; people were still taking their holidays in Cornwall in their millions.

So why is this new generation of turbines so big [just taller than Big Ben]? All turbines are imported from Denmark. Smaller turbines, like the ones in Delabole, Cornwall, are no longer made, as they are not efficient - so I am advised by Cheryl Cowlin, Planning and Community Advisor at the South West Renewable Energy Agency. And why not wave power as per the Lynton project? This is still at a very experimental stage, and is unlikely to contribute to the national grid before 2020. At present all government money for wave research, £50m, is going to the Orkney wave project which has just produced its first 0.75 megawatt of electricity for the national grid. For wave power, it’s very early days. And for local people who fear a permanent blot on their landscapes, there is reassurance: wind turbines are not permanent structures; they have a natural life of about twenty years. What goes up can come down. Only the concrete foundations are more or less permanent.

In August, the planning laws were changed to make it difficult for local planning authorities to turn down applications for wind turbine sites, although the Fullabrook proposals, because of the size of the scheme, will go to the DTI direct initially. There are apparently no planning grounds for NDDC to object to the Fullabrook proposals, only aesthetic grounds and the grounds that it may impact negatively on tourism and thereby harm the local economy.

It looks as if the answer may yet be YES to giant wind turbines in North Devon.

Rising Tide Network Gathering

They have an exciting range of workshops including:

The Science of Climate Change, 4 x 4s (SUVs), Oil, War and Climate Change, non-violent Direct Action Training, Media Skills, Colombia Solidarity Campaign, Anti-Airport Expansion campaigns, Personal responsibility and eco-housing, Theatre of The Oppressed, species extinction, Climate Campaigning at the G8.

They are asking for people to book and pay in advance as places are limited. Prices are £15 - £35 including food for the weekend. For more information e-mail gathering@risingtide.org.uk or write to Rising Tide, 16B Cherwell Street, Oxford, OX4 1BG or phone John on 01865 241097.

Delivering Sustainable Communities Summit

This Summit will be unlike any other event on the calendar, claims the Deputy Prime Minister, a unique forum where key people delivering sustainable communities will come together to discuss achievements and what's still to be done.

"It has attracted some of the very best expert speakers from the UK and overseas, including Mercedes Bresso, MEP and former president of Turin, John Norquist and Norman Rice from the USA, Sir Peter Hall, Director of Community Studies and Councillor Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council."

A limited number of discounted tickets will be made available, on an application basis, for delegates from community and voluntary groups, black and minority ethnic groups, faith groups, students and senior citizens. If you would like to be considered for one of these, please email summit@rslive.co.uk or fax 01564 797621.

General enquiries can be made by calling the Summit help line on 01564 797620.

About the Sustainable Communities Plan:

The Deputy Prime Minister launched his Sustainable Communities Plan in February 2003. The £22 billion programme of action aims to focus the attention and co-ordinate the efforts of all levels of Government and stakeholders in bringing about development that meets the economic, social and environmental needs of future generations as well as succeeding now.

The Plan covers a wide agenda, which recognises that to develop communities in which people wish to live, housing policy needs to be linked to improving economies, public services, transport and the environment at a local level.

Visit http://www.odpm.gov.uk

‘100 CLUB’

by Rosemary Brian

The North Devon Green Party will be launching its ‘100 Club’ at this year’s AGM. The idea is for up to one hundred members and supporters to pay a regular sum each month into a prize draw. The sum will be £5 per month or multiples of £5. There will be one prize per month, which will be a proportion of the money received that month. Payment into the draw will be by monthly standing order.

The object of the club is to build up a ‘WAR CHEST’ to ensure that the NDGP has enough money at its disposal to fight future elections. The coming general election will be expensive, and we are starting with rather empty coffers. There will be fundraising events between now and the general election, and individual donations will be sought from members on a one to one basis.

Having a ‘WAR CHEST’ will give us some financial security, so that when elections come along, our main focus will be on the politics, and not on the fundraising. So, please, come to the AGM with details of your bank account, and be ready to sign up for our very first draw! Many thanks, in advance, for your support. And don’t worry if you can’t get to the meeting. You will be contacted later on an individual basis after the AGM. Again, thankyou.

Postal Recycling Fills a Hole

An email from "loppy"

Hello my dearios,

You know those cartons you get: juice, soy milk, milk, soup, little ones & big, and also detergent cartons and paper cups, well here the Council doesn’t recycle them yet, but I have found this firm recycles them into other products like paper bags.

You rinse them out and flatten them, (you don’t have to remove the plastic pourers or anything). You then ring Jenny Francis on 02089 776116 and she sends you info and freepost labels. Once you've got enough flat cartons to fill a small cardboard box (which is more than I thought) you label it and send it off.

It seems a good idea to me, better than chucking them.

Pedantic Rail Company Leaves Cyclists in the Cold

The Correspondence of Mike Harrison

The new Tarka Line railway timetable of 23rd May introduced regulations for cycles on trains. In view of the restrictions and risks now involved for cyclists the result is close to wipe out. The main artery to the area for the non-car traveller has been scuppered. Stunned at this news I have written letters to Wessex Trains, local councillors and our MP. A potted version was published in the Journal. I also sent questions in February and in June to Edward Chorlton, Director of Environment to see what county policies are for getting people to the coast without a car – I am unimpressed that nobody in County Hall can be bothered to reply.

**Talk to cyclists and friends and urge them to write to Wessex Trains – their leaflet requests feedback – Customer Services Wessex Trains WE4 Admail 3547 Exeter EX1 1BF customer.services@wessextrains.co.uk

Excerpts from Original Letters (June): – similar comments written to MP and Councillors and Wessex Trains

…I was informed that I couldn’t take a bike on the first two trains of the day, and for the rest of the day ‘Up to two cycles on a first-come first served basis’ could mean a long wait and problems completing a long journey. Onward journeys from Exeter are ‘reservation essential’ but you can’t be sure if you are going to get from Barnstaple.

…A lot of effort is going in to the promotion of one of the country’s finest areas for cycling but then Wessex Trains makes it difficult to get here by bike. Where is the joined up thinking?

Replies:

Wessex Trains: confirming restrictions, "we aim to maximise the comfort and convenience of our carriages for all our customers… We need to consider new safety regulations, wheelchair space, disabled toilet meaning less space for cycles.”

Councillor Rodney Cann: intended to raise it at the Exeter Rail Users Committee.

Second letter to Nick Harvey (July):

…Lack of space? I can only speak about the Barnstaple train. I travelled frequently on this last summer, at different times of day, and never experienced any problems.

… A “new clear policy?” The inflexible new policy is fraught with problems and it is certainly not clear. The leaflet says "not allowed to board trains between 0700 and 0900 on services that are due to arrive between these hours into Exeter". I read this as a double criterion that covers the 0747 but not the 0642 train. Recently a guard told me that I couldn’t board a train "due to leave Exeter between 1600 and 1800" but the leaflet again has a double criterion that the train must be due to leave and actually leave between these times. If operating staff can’t understand the leaflet it is hardly surprising that many of the public are mystified.

…On Wednesday 7th July I was cycling in South Devon into the teeth of the worst July gales in memory. Not wishing to linger I reached Exeter earlier than anticipated and enquired about travel onward to Barnstaple but was refused entry to the train by the guard. This was absurd, as the train was only half full, it would lose passengers along the route and the cycle and disabled space was entirely empty. The train left at one minute to six. I was cold and wet and had to wait a further hour and twenty minutes, not getting home until late.

…The inflexibility of the new regulations does not seem appropriate to North Devon given that it is at the end of the line and has intermittent services.

…Bikes and trains are a functional match. Where there is patchy and perhaps expensive public transport the bicycle offers a quick, reliable and cheap way to get to and from the stations at either end. Trade for the railways is created. In North Devon’s case cycle tourism is important and rail companies could benefit from this. Visitors to the area or residents going abroad would think that Wessex Trains are losing the plot.

Replies from Nick Harvey:

(1) Enclosed response (29.07) from Alan Wilson, Managing Director WT: "…worked extensively to deliver improved services to the region… (Restrictions) designed to simplify understanding… and remove problems of overcrowding on peak services."
(2) Enclosed response (02.08) from Malcolm Drury, Operations Director WT: "Since the introduction of our new timetables in Devon and the start of the new policy on the carriage of cycles, we have already seen growth on the Tarka Line of almost 10%. I am sure you will agree that only by making our services more attractive and carrying more passengers can we ensure the future of our local rail services... As regards Mr Harrison’s specific concerns on 7 July… we have no train leaving Exeter for Barnstaple at 1759. The only train at that time would be our 1801 departure from Exeter Central (1805 from St David’s)… the next train would be at 1902, only 61 minutes later not 81 as described."

Third letter to Nick Harvey (August):

…Over recent weeks I have been travelling in Britain and abroad. I’m sure that no other train operator or part of the country maintains such restrictive policies. And this is an area that depends on tourist income.

…I am very pleased to see growth figures of 10% for the Tarka Line – travelling by train makes sense.

…If the Operations Director intends to use the rail services I suggest making use of the current timetable. Times quoted in his letter related to 7th July would appear to be from an out-of-date timetable.

Next steps:

I read in the cycling press that Wessex Trains has rescinded restrictions into Truro and Plymouth. In attempt to confirm this with WT I am informed that this is not the case. It is currently "under discussion" and there may be a change with the new timetable on 27th Sept. Exeter is not included as there may be greater cycle use. I need to make further enquiries and discover why Exeter/Barnstaple does not merit similar treatment.

Making Some Noise

by Jon Hooper

Elsewhere in the country, Greens are now holding the balance of power in a local Council, and I hope this heralds a new era when we can actually start applying Green Policies through local Government.

When this situation arrives in North Devon, I know we’ll be tackling many global issues on a local level such as sustainable transport and renewable energy, but I believe the electorate will be pleasantly surprised by the more immediate benefits of our other policies. The Green Party principles of decentralisation and localised self-sufficiency will bring new support to smaller local businesses, and, I believe, they will also help the regeneration of our local communities.

I find it all too easy to think about campaigning for the environment, etc, when I think of the Green Party, but I don’t immediately think of campaigning for culture, for employment or for education, even though these are equally important political issues. The National Green Party has identified and addressed the need to change this public perception of Green Politics with its recent “Real Progress” campaign, showing the benefits of Green policies in every area of politics.

One specific cause that I’ve recently started trying to support is that of The Ariel: a music centre near Ilfracombe which provides fully-equipped rooms for the rehearsal and recording needs of local musicians, at less than the cost of a village hall. My band has regularly used this centre for a year or more now, but last month a notice caught my eye saying that the local Council had withdrawn funding from the centre, and that session prices were being increased in an attempt to keep the centre from closing. The prices were still ridiculously affordable, but I was concerned that the future of the centre – one of a kind in North Devon – was still in jeopardy. My band has the resources to be able to rehearse elsewhere, but for those without adequate equipment or funds - younger musicians in particular - The Arial must be a Godsend.

I’ve talked with the manager, and he says they have no income other than session fees. Doing a few quick estimated sums in my head, I can barely see how they can afford to employ even one person. I would like to see this centre reconnected with a source of funding before it encounters any problems; it’s much easier to help it stay alive now than to try and establish a new Music Centre if it dies. In the long-term the centre has the potential to be self-funding, but the Manager tells me that currently there are not enough musicians in North Devon using it. I believe this is a reflection on our local live music scene, and that live music has a potential to grow, if only young people can be encouraged to stay in the area, and if music venues and facilities such as The Ariel are kept alive.

At first I thought any campaign to support The Ariel would be outside the remit of the Green Party, but I’ve realised it’s not. In fact, showing support for a local cultural facility may help to break a few preconceived ideas about the narrow focus of the Green Party and win some respect, maybe even support for the Party.

I’ve had some email correspondence regarding The Ariel with Sue Kay at Culture South West, and I’m looking for more contacts in local Government agencies who might be willing to arrange support for the centre. If anyone has any bright ideas, please contact me on jon.hooper@virgin.net. If you’re interested in supporting this cause, please write letters asking the Council to re-establish some funding. For general information about the centre and contact numbers, visit ariel.org.uk

Contest those County Council seats!

by Rosemary Brian

The County Council Elections will be fought in Devon next May. Wouldn’t it be a good idea if we contested some of these seats? Do the other parties really deserve to go unchallenged in the County Elections? I think not.

Are there others of you out there who would like to challenge your prospective County Councillor over issues that you feel have not been properly addressed by the County Council? Perhaps we should form a Green Party ‘County Group’ in Devon to shadow County Policy decisions.

Contesting County Council seats in rural areas is hard work, because there is no free delivery of election addresses, and one has to traipse round the area on foot delivering one’s own election material. But if there were two or three members to help, perhaps it could be done. It’s worth a thought.

Comment from your Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Ricky Knight

The very fact that one wishes to enter politics should immediately disqualify you. My son reminded me of that little epithet, when I told him that I had been chosen to stand as the PPC for the ND GP. Well, too late, the dice are cast and I’m on that slippery slope. I have just watched Greg Dykes’ documentary on the betrayal of Blair’s government – an auspicious proof of that opening sentence – an absolutely finally damning resumé of the extraordinary eighteen months that have elapsed since those heady days of dissent preceding the outbreak of hostilities. But he’ll ignore it, just as he did the millions of protestors that took to the streets. And he’ll probably win the next election. It is a humiliating reminder of the hopeless malfunctioning of the democratic process in the first world, where the majority of the electorate have taken themselves out of the equation, de-selected themselves; not because they’re feeling fine, contented, in touch, “enabled” but the reverse – disenchanted, disenfranchised, disillusioned, despairing. The nearest some can get to registering their anger and resentment is to vote UKIP, it would seem. You can’t get a cigarette paper between New labour and the Conservatives – even locally, Harvey and Fraser were holding hands in Heanton against the Fullabrook turbines, just as Blair and Howard do over Iraq.

And into this fray steps a pretty ordinary local bloke, no doubt with a huge ego – but with a huge responsibility to those thousands of North Devon voters who will be voting Green next year. I am humbled by the task, excited yet anxious, energised yet wary. It is a fantastic opportunity for me to make a difference, a sort of natural culmination to all that has gone on before. Feet don’t fail me now.

I was made to feel very welcome at Tapeley Park last Bank Holiday Monday, when I was able to make a short “maiden speech” on stage, shortly before George Monbiot, no less. I hope my confidence will not waver, when faced with a somewhat less “on-side” audience. The speech was dove-tailing nicely from musical and political analogies to global issues but never made it to the local issues I was wishing to address, due to lack of time. No matter – they are looming: transport, energy, environment, housing, sustainability…….The North Devon Green Party is going to have to find clear blue water between itself and the other parties.

We’re going to need a lot of help – and we’re going to be asking for it. This newsletter probably reaches barely one percent of our potential active support – but how can we make the most of this potential? How can we get more people active. I have a few months grace to find out – however, please make the approach to me first, by all means!

Ricky’s Wish-List:
First and foremost, I want a Campaign Team, please, preferably from the North Devon Constituency, but not just made up from the stretched Committee members and my family. I am extremely lucky to have Rosemary Brian as my Election Agent and Jon Hooper as my mentor really (as well, hopefully, as the man who will lend my campaign a hi-tech, internet-based gloss.) They have already been very proactive, letting me know in Australia mid August that two days after my return, my candidacy would be launched to the media with a Champagne Reception at Tapeley Park (thank-you to Hector too).

We are all off to Shrewsbury on the 25th September for an Election Forum, and then off to Norwich the following weekend for a Green Party symposium on “Target to Win” strategies. It is this latter concept that drives me at the moment, as mentioned in the last newsletter – the need to target certain areas of the constituency and really work on them consistently and effectively, with leaflets, canvassing and newsletters. Such ambitious plans need physical support.

Rosemary has already drafted a letter to all new coming-of-age voters in the area and Jon has established a database of names from the electoral roll – over a thousand names so far! The stationary, printing and postage for that alone is a bit scary! I need a fundraising campaign and someone to steer it – raising substantial sums of money would enable us to consider far more than just funding the deposit and the freepost leaflet. We could work towards more professionally designed secondary fliers and leaflets, posters and billboards, adverts, the setting-up of a much more impressive “table” and generally underwriting initiatives such as awareness-raising events.

I need people to set things up for me, make things happen, get me invited. I’d like individuals to commit themselves to leafleting or canvassing a part of their neighbourhood, to agree to put posters up, tell everyone they know that I’m standing and could do with their support; to write letters, allocate a weekly/monthly slot for campaigning with me – consider joining my “hit-squad” posse to head out into the Styx.

I have certain attributes in my favour (apart from modesty): I am relatively well-known – I have calculated that, in my 55-odd years in Devon, the equivalent of the population of Barnstaple must be aware of me somehow, through my own school days, through my families’ connections, via teaching, music, sport etc. That’s a good start.

I shall unashamedly go for the youth vote, for the Peace vote and for the alternative vote from those who may have stepped out of the loop in frustration at Blair’s betrayal of the electorate. At this stage, I am happy that, locally, UKIP will eat away at the Conservatives, that Labour will become a rump but that the Lib Dems, and I quote, “don’t even have us on their radar”. I will not fight a negative or hostile campaign – I apologise to those of you who may not have wanted this approach. Can’t fight dirty, sorry about that! I will try and campaign purely positively, concentrating on our own policies, not reacting to other parties’ agendas. If people slang me, I will not slang them back. The worst fear for me is that I will be ignored. Ouch! That’ll hurt. Meanwhile, prepare to hear from me – ask not what I can do for you……………………….. Be part of my Campaign Team for starters.

Biomass Investigations

by Jon Hooper

Peninsula Power’s Winkleigh Biomass Project [WINBEG] has had a high profile in the local press, and has been the subject of much discussion by local Greens. Opinion has been divided as to whether this project is in line with Green policies and should be supported, whether there’s a Green case to be made against it, or even if the Green Party should just develop general policies and not engage with specific projects. I’ve personally been spurred into spending many long evenings researching Biomass and renewable energy generally, which has been a very rewarding experience, and I’ve tried to use what I’ve learned to contribute to the debate in a helpful way.

There have been many healthy side-effects from the debate: we’ve had to look more closely at the aims and objectives of the North Devon Green Party, pay more attention to the way we conduct and advertise our meetings, and read our Constitution several times over!

At the last open meeting, it was agreed that a group of us will listen to arguments from both sides, by meeting with representatives of Peninsula Power and also with representatives of those who are against the project. We plan to have both of these meetings before the AGM, which I hope will be a good opportunity for some more “healthy debate” about the issue.

We are also waiting for the Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] to be published, hopefully in the near future, as well as submission of the actual planning application. There are many outstanding questions which can only be authoritatively answered by the EIA. I personally expect to see more people taking an informed stand publically in favour of or against the project once all the information is available.

Please join in the debate, and let us know your opinions: write to us in confidence, or come along to the next monthly meeting or the AGM.

Website designed by Jon Hooper

Published and promoted by Jon Hooper, 3 Elizabeth Court, Well Street, Torrington EX38 8EP on behalf of the North Devon Green Party, 1 Taw View Terrace, Bishops Tawton, EX32 0AW

PLEASE NOTE: Not all of the material presented on this site is necessarily Green Party Policy or endorsed by The Green Party.