Deal Beach Clean 4th March

Despite windy and wet conditions we had 18 volunteers out on this morning's Deal Beach Clean.

In just under an hour we managed to collect and log nearly 45kgs of rubbish off the beach.

Well done to all who braved the elements and thank you to Sue Delling from Deal Fairtrade for suppling fairtrade goodies to keep us all going.

The next Deal Beach Clean will be on Sunday 27th May starting at 9am at Deal Pier.

Dover District Council offer discount water butts & Composters

DDC have re-launched their discount home compost and water butt scheme.

Some good bargains on composters and water butts especially if you buy several (they have buy one get another 1/2 free deal).

This offer is welcomed by Deal With IT as it is the sort of thing our council should be doing to promote growing your own and conserving water. Especially so with water issues we are going to face this year and the new charges for garden waste collection the council are introducing in April.



"Dover District Council has teamed up with evengreener.com to offer residents home composting bins and water butts at bargain prices!

To order a reduced priced compost bin, water butt or accessories please telephone 0844 571 4444.
To order on line or view the compost bins, water butts and accessories available visit www.dover.getcomposting.com."

Ofgem outlines plan to build cheaper offshore wind grid links

DECC and Ofgem report argues coordinated transmission links could shave £3.5bn from cost of offshore wind

By Jessica Shankleman

From  Business Green

01 Mar 2012

The government's goal of cutting the cost of offshore wind energy to £100 per mega watt hour has moved significantly closer, after energy regulator Ofgem released a series of proposals on how to deliver a cheaper and more efficient offshore energy grid.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Ofgem today published the findings of a joint study into developing a co-ordinated grid network, which would make it easier for marine energy developers to build oversized transmission links which later projects could plug into when they are ready.

Until now developers have built individual connections for each wind farm, but the report found that a more co-ordinated approach in line with government targets to build 11GW-18GW of wind farm capacity by 2020 could save between £500m and £3.5bn.

Ofgem said such an approach could help meet the government's target of reducing the cost of offshore wind to £100 per mega watt hour (MWh) by 2020, and could also pave the way for an offshore network in the North Sea linking wind farms off Britain's coast to other European countries.
The new regime could also be used by wave and tidal power developers as they scale up arrays to commercial levels.

Ofgem has today launched a consultation to establish the best way of encouraging developers to build shared links, given the risk that assets could become stranded if developers scrap plans for later wind farms.

read on at http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2156481/ofgem-outlines-plan-build-cheaper-offshore-wind-grid-links

Victoria's Green Matters - 1st March 2012

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:


The subject of Canadian oil from tar sands (oil sands) has reared its very ugly head again this week. This oil is extracted from sand and the very process of extraction uses more energy than can be obtained from burning the oil. Also causing great concern is the environmental degradation caused by extracting the oil that leaves areas of land polluted and unusable. People who live near the sites where oil is extracted have reported negative health effects and illnesses.

The European Union (EU) has been working hard to finalise the details of their Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) that requires that suppliers reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the fuel they supply by 6% by 2020. Oil sands fuel is highly polluting and produces 22% more greenhouse gas emissions than lighter oils.

Canada looks upon this fuel as a proven strategic resource and several of the big oil companies have interests there involving huge investments. It is keen for its fuel not to be labelled as ‘dirty’, thus discouraging other nations from using it. It has lobbied governments, including our own, oil companies and banks to mitigate the effects of the EU directive.

At a time when we need to be reducing our use of fossil fuels and cutting our carbon emissions, the UK government is actively involved in trying to avoid probable EU sanctions against tar sand oil. Far from being the ‘greenest government ever’ it is guilty of putting big business first over the needs of the planet.

Brixton Energy Co-op share launched

From Inside Housing:

A Brixton-based co-operative has launched a share issue, to fund the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on a Lambeth estate, using an innovative model which it hopes to roll out to social housing across south London.

Brixton Energy is selling 75,000 shares, each worth £1, in Brixton Energy Solar 1, a co-operative society set up to install 50kW of solar PV on the roof of a block on the Loughborough estate. The building is owned by Lambeth Council and run by arm’s-length management organisation United Residents Housing.

The co-op, made up of investors in the project and which sprang out of community climate change campaign group Transition Town Brixton and Brixton Low Energy Carbon Zone, decided to go ahead with the offer despite cuts to the feed-in tariff - the subsidy payment made to generators of renewable electricity - which has seen the returns fall from around 10 per cent to 5 per cent, leading to warnings from the solar sector that investor confidence has been shattered.

Investors in Brixton Energy Solar 1 will earn about 3 per cent a year, the offer document predicts, with another 2 per cent diverted into a community energy efficiency fund which will invest in greening the estate.

The co-op decided to push on with the plan regardless of the FIT reforms, which will see the tariff fall by 10 per cent every six months, because of the community benefits set to emerge from the fund.
The panels will earn a FIT of 15.2p/kWh, plus 3.1p/kWh from the sale of the electricity back to the grid, and the co-op plans to sell some of the electricity at a discount to URH.

‘It’s a beta model [a prototype] for re-powering South London,’ said Agamemnon Otero, one of the directors of Brixton Energy, a Stockwell resident and former analyst at investment bank Better World Finance.

Lambeth Council has installed some solar panels on some of its housing stock, however, Afsheen Rashid, who is part of the co-operative and works for the council, said that there wasn’t enough funding for the Loughborough Estate.

In the first five days, the share issue had raised £14,000 from 17 investors.
The co-op hasn’t yet signed a lease with Lambeth to rent the roof, but according to the offer document, this should be agreed by March when the co-op also hopes to install the panels.

The offer is open until 10 March.

https://brixtonenergy.co.uk/

http://www.transitiontownbrixton.org/

Victoria's Green Matters - 23rd Feb 2012

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:

 A mixed reaction this week to the news of the construction of eight, new nuclear power stations in the UK. There is good news in this item because it involves work for one of our oldest and most renowned engineering companies, Rolls Royce. This deal is worth some £500 million and can create 1,500 new jobs in the UK. It is a joint venture with France, a country that has many years of experience in producing nuclear power.

Nuclear power is very expensive and these power stations will not be generating electricity for between ten and fifteen years from commencement. We need alternatives to fossil fuel generation much sooner than this if we want to reduce our carbon emissions.

What we really need is the installation of many solar photovoltaic (PV) systems so that more and more buildings can generate electricity. How many south-facing roofs could have PV systems in place for £500 million? In addition to this we need to cut our energy use by reducing waste. It is sad that so few buildings have adequate insulation in roofs and walls. Together with other renewable energies such as wind, wave and tidal the UK is ideally placed to generate its own energy from renewables.

If we have to make a choice between electricity from nuclear on existing sites or by gas produced by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), the carbon emissions that will produce, the possible contamination of ground water and the disruption of the countryside, the choice looks like nuclear.

Jumble rumble at Fowlmead 31st march

There will be a Cycle Jumble organised by Deal Tri - At Fowlmead Country Park, North of Deal on Sat 31 March Bring and sell or Come and Buy !

 

P.S. anybody want a dog cycle trailer that the dog has voted against ??

Deal Beach Clean Sunday 4th March 9am

The next Deal Beach Clean will be on Sunday 4th March at 9am - meet Wendy our beach warden at the Pier.

Equipment and bags will be supplied but please wear suitable footwear and warm clothes.

As it is Fairtrade Fortnight in the Town there may also be a Fairtrade treat at the end!

DEAL FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT 27th Feb-11th March

DEAL's FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT: 27TH FEBRUARY TO 11TH MARCH 2012
The theme this year is “Take a Step for Fairtrade”.

1. 21st February 2012. Pancake Evening at Trinity Church, Deal. Delicious pancakes served with Fairtrade lemon juice, sugar, honey, jam, chocolate spread etc.

2. Friday 24th February. We plan to have a stall at Café Eden in St. Richard’s church hall from 10am to 12noon.

3. Monday 27th February, Friday 9th March, Saturday 10th March - information stall in Deal Sainsbury's. 10am to 1pm.

4. Monday 27th February to Sunday 11th March. Deal Library - information stall.

5. Monday 27th February to Saturday 10th March. Skylight Cafe in the new Golf Road Community Centre is promoting Fairtrade and selling cakes and biscuits made with Fairtrade ingredients. We are having an information table here.

6. Wednesday 29th February. As this year is a leap year Happy Walkers are dedicating their Wednesday 29th February walk to Fairtrade, taking a step rather than a leap. They are finishing at the Skylight Cafe afterwards for some Fairtrade refreshments.

7. Friday 2nd March. We are supporting the Women’s World Day of Prayer taking place at Walmer Baptist Church.

8. Saturday 3rd March. Walmer Baptist Church is having a coffee morning from 10am to 12noon. We plan to supply Fairtrade biscuits for this and they are using Fairtrade tea and coffee.

9. Sunday 4th March. Wendy Boorman who is our beach warden for the Marine Conservation Society is working with Deal With It and Fairtrade to have a beach clean, meeting at Deal Pier at 9am. All are welcome for this and we pray for fine weather.

10. Thursday 8th March. We are working with Cllr. Eileen Rowbotham to celebrate International Women's Day.


Sue Delling 

Co-ordinator 

Deal Town Council Fairtrade Working Group

Dover District Cycle Forum Greenway & Times Campaigns

(1) RIVER DOUR GREENWAY Phase 2


The consultation for phase 2 of the River Dour Greenway cycle route between Ladywell and the seafront in Dover has just opened. A lot of thought has gone into how to skirt Pencester Gardens, approach and cross the Market Square, nip through the alley past the Museum, and use the precinct and the underpass to reach the far side of the A20 and the seafront.
CLICK HERE
or go to this link:https://shareweb.kent.gov.uk/Documents/roads-and-transport/major-transport/current-schemes/Consultation%20leaflet%20Phase%202%20-%20Proposal%20%20Questionnaire%20and%20Maps.pdf

...for the consultation documents which include maps of the route and a questionnaire.

Please fill this in and return to Traffic Schemes Team, Highways and Transportation, Kent County Council, Ashford Highway Depot, Henwood Industrial Estate, Javelin Way, Ashford, Kent,

TN24 8AD. Alternatively you can email traffic.schemes@kent.gov.uk, making it clear that you’re commenting on this scheme.

Consultation responses need to be received by Monday 5th March.
============================


(2) SUPPORT "THE TIMES" "CITIES FIT FOR CYCLING" CAMPAIGN!

Please sign up to support this nation-wide call for safer cycling on roads. This link shows three ways you can take action and help generate more support for the safer cycling campaign:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/

Most important is to persuade our local MPs, Charlie Elphicke and Laura Sandys (and as many others as possible) to attend the parliamentary debate on the measures called for by The Times's campaign on February 23.
Please take a moment to click on the link above, through which you can write to them with your concerns.




There's lot's more in the newspaper daily, most also appearing (for free) online, e.g.:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3307439.ece

best wishes,

Ian

Ian Killbery earlystart@me.com
Chair, Dover District Cycle Forum
representing everyone interested in cycling in Dover District
affiliated to SPOKES East Kent Cycle Campaign http://www.spokeseastkent.org.uk

GP Dover & Deal Meeting 19th Feb

From Sarah:

 

"Invitation to a Meeting for Green Party Members of Thanet and the Dover / Deal areas (and anyone thinking of joining the Green Party )

 

Sunday 19th February @ 4.30 pm -5.30pm in the Black Douglas - Beach Street opp the Royal Hotel, Deal"

Victoria's Green Matters - 9th Feb 2012

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:
 We were almost thinking about Spring, with longer days and sunshine leading to thoughts of getting the garden into trim for the coming growing season. But it was not to be and winter is here again with a vengeance to remind us that it isn’t finished yet.

We can think ourselves lucky that we live inside nice warm houses and don’t have to forage for food. Our garden birds aren’t so lucky and many will not survive this desperately cold spell of minus temperatures and heavy snow falls.

We can do lots to help them. Small birds in particular often lose weight overnight with the effort of just keeping warm. Unlike humans, birds need saturated fat to keep warm so suet balls are a good option. (Don’t put them out in the nets that they are sometimes sold in – birds can get trapped in them). Grated hard cheese is another source of fat and is loved by shyer birds such as wrens and dunnocks.

Fruit, such as apples, is good too, and will be quickly eaten by starlings, blackbirds, robins and thrushes. Peanuts are a favourite, of course, but always use a feeder to minimise the chance of birds choking on whole nuts. Shelled sunflower hearts are very popular with lots of birds as they are easily converted into energy.

Water is vitally important for birds, too, for both drinking and bathing so take steps to de-ice your bird-bath or garden pond.

Look after your birds and enjoy their antics!

DWI Meeting 28th Feb - Banish Plastic Bags

Deal With It's Feb meeing will be on Plastic bags and their impact on the environment and wildlife

We have Amber Bytheway from the Deal based 'Banish The Plastic Bag' Campaign (if you have not signed the petition you can find it here ) and Patrick Old Chair of the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

The meeting ison Tuesday28th Feb at 7:30pm at Dealability, 43 Victoria Rd Deal.


All welcome

Deal Sea Defenses

Just in case you missed the consultation exercise by the environment agency and DDC at the Deal Town Hall on 3/4 Feb - You can get submissions into before it goes to DDC planning later in Feb

The work seems to be in two parts a) more shingle & rocks on beach between Sandown & Deal Castle b) a new sea wall on the prom between Deal Castle & the Royal.

The work will start in Sept - The main disruption will be the closure of the prom for some of the time between Oct-Dec? Limited money to from either EA or DDC to turn this into something interest on the seafront...

EA Site & Contact: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/135503.aspx

New Transition Film is coming....

New Transition Movement Film [Transition 2.0] is coming!

Here is the inspirational trailer.

Who knows the next one may cover what we are doing here in Deal
http://youtu.be/XKN3RLkEGfM

Great Mongeham Society Meeting 23rd Feb

Christopher Alexander and "The Nature of Order" presentation

The Great Mongeham Society is now in its twelfth year and the scheduled  evening's entertainment is a presentation by Sajjad Afzal-Woodward on  the architect Christopher Alexander, the author of "A Timeless Way Of Building" and "A Pattern Language".

His work has already inspired many of us in the green and transition movements and now in "The Nature Of  Order" he presents the core of a new cosmology that will hopefully guide all our efforts in the future to heal ourselves and the earth.

Great Mongeham Society Meeting, 23 February 2012 Village Hall 7.30pm

thanks to Sajjad for the info.

For more info on Christopher check out Transition Culture or http://www.patternlanguage.com/leveltwo/ca.htm