This catch phrase from the film 'What a way to go' by Tom Wabbitt seems to sum up the realisation dawning on more and more people of current state of the global economy. York in Transition showed this to half a dozen of us on Friday night, with a warning that it is a dark movie, two hours long. We were watching it as the first of a series of 'viewings' to help the planning group consider material that might be used for 'awareness raising' public events in York. This should be compulsory viewing for anyone who works in the financial sector, has a lifestyle depending on a car or thinks that there is a technical fix around the corner that means we can carry on our current western lifestyles.

Dont bother trying to see the whole film - but do check out the clips available on youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8X8_wUoiq0&NR=1 (9 mins) The film makers talk about what they learnt from the experience at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFyI5ZYG_pE&NR=1 (26 mins) Perhaps it is no coincidence that the American people started to question the dodgy loans in 2007, when the makers of this film were doing a speaker tour of US cities.

 Depending on what the American politicians come up with in the next 24 hours, the scenarios in this film may come sooner , or a bit later. Time is running out for us to build our ark, get off the runaway train or whatever analogy you prefer to use. York in Transition is the local support group for people who want to do something about it rather than look the other way and continue in denial.

YiT's next public film night is on Oct 5th: FILM NIGHT - END OF SUBURBIA (Donation - for the hire of the projector) *
Sun 5 October 7.45 - 9.15pm, at the Winning Post Pub, Bishopthorpe Road / Nunthorpe Drive.
A showing of End of Suburbia, followed by a discussion.

A daring protest to intercept some of the coal destined to be burnt at the massive coal fired power station took place eariler this year. The protestors are due to appear in York Magistrates court on Oct 7th, with a protest planned in support of them. Can't seem to load up the poster, but spread the word anyway! see www.thecoalhole.org or www.yanc.org.uk or www.yancnews.wordpress.com

Climate campaign events coming soon: Dec 6th National demo, get your tickets now! New website coming soon yorkshireclimatecalendar.net

Much to the annoyance of the Tories who are pinning their electoral chances on it, plans to 'dual' the northern outer ring road look set to run into the sand after a second consultants report has shown it wouldnt get government approval as the idea is again assessed as representing 'poor' value for money. The report to the city Executive on Sept 23rd updates one with similar findings in 2005 that was largely ignored by the 'Future York' inquiry by local business interests. 'Future York' called for the road to be widened in order to solve the city's failing economic prospects, largely on the basis of the views of business leaders rather than any empirical evidence that it would cut congestion.

The consultants again suggest more lanes at the junctions as the most cost effective option to increase the capacity of the whole network. Here is the Green Party press statement issued tonight:

Greens hail ditching of dualling plan

A report to the Council Executive released today has confirmed what the
Green Party and many other groups have been saying for years: dualling
York's outer ring-road would be a waste of money as well as being a social and
environmental disaster.

The report examines options ranging from current planned improvements
through to the building of a new relief road on the north side of the existing ring road.
Each was examined against transport policy and traffic impacts. The results
were absolutely clear: dualling any section of the ring road is not worth the enormous cost.

The option recommended is to carry out highway improvement works on most of
the junctions on the northern ring road. Andy D'Agorne, leader of the Council's
Green Group, says, "The recommended option comes in at £42 million. This is
still a huge expense, and mainly brought on by the overdevelopment of
housing sites around the city (which given the current climate may not be built for
years)."

If the bid were to be successful the Council would still have to pay over
£5m of the cost itself, and take on much of the risk of unexpected project overruns.

"Even if the £42m scheme doesn't go ahead, the Council proposes to
spend £1.5m in project development costs. When you compare these figures to
the £3.6 million we got to be a Cycling Demonstration Town, it's clear spending money on the
ring road is worse value for money that if we were to invest the same funds
in cycling and public transport measures"

The report acknowledges the key fact that reducing congestion will almost
certainly generate more car trips[1], and that road space in the City
Centre must be given over to more sustainable forms of transport if the capacity
of the ring road is increased[2]. Also recognised is the fact that the greater
speeds allowed by junction improvements will cause problems for pedestrians
and cyclists and tend to result in worse collisions[3]. But as Councillor
D'Agorne notes, "as usual,the report fails to acknowledge climate change
impacts and failed to carry out a proper carbon footprint study before submitting
the report."

However Cllr D'Agorne welcomed the fact that the recommendation
acknowledges the need for improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists at the junctions,
especially for those communities in Earswick, Rawcliffe and Huntington cut off from
the city by these busy roads.

"The only long-term solution is to make alternatives to the private car
more convenient and attractive", says Councillor D'Agorne. " Whatever the current congestion problems, we should
be spending money on alternative transport modes which will be more
valuable to the city's economy in the future than roadspace on the ring
road."


[ENDS]

Notes for editors -
Report references:
1 - Paragraph 42, pg. 11
2 - Paragraph 46, pg. 11
3 - See Annex 3



-----------
York Green Party
Basement, 22a Fishergate
York YO10 4AB
01904 636239

On Monday morning I rang Radio York to advise the 'travel-line' that the Millennium Bridge was once again passable only on bikes or wearing wellies. The River Ouse levels peaked at 4.38m above normal summer levels on Sunday evening, flooding Rowntrees Park and spilling out across the Western access from South Bank to the bridge , meaning that for the second time this year the bridge became cut off with the shallowest route across the grass rather than on the tarmac pathway. 

Of course this wasnt as newsworthy as the fact that the A19 was again closed at Germany Beck, with no sign yet of Persimmon homes implementing the planning permission to raise the road as part of the new access to a planned 700 home estate on green belt land.

The water has subsided today, although the riverside path along New Walk is still underwater, forcing the cancellation of a planned community 'clean up' this weekend. This also highlights the increasing importance of better cycle facilities along Fulford Rd (planned to go in over the next 12 months) At a meeting with the engineers last week it seems that detailed plans for the section from Cemetery Rd to Heslington Lane should be ready in the next couple of months, with work starting before the end of March.  

 UPDATE: Next ward meeting will be on OCT 8th 2008 Other events organised by York in Transition are on the relevant section.

.

Feb 2008 entry:

Before that we will be holding special meetings and displays - Mon 28th at Fulford Social Hall and Wed 30th at the Danesgate Centre (was Fulford Cross School). After that there will be a display in the window of an empty shop near Fields Fayre opposite the Fulford Arms until the deadline of FEB 8th. If you havent been sent a questionnaire go to www.york.gov.uk/consultation to find the online version (one for residents and one for non residents)

The ward meeting will have a presentation from David Webster about the planned radical changes to improve sustainable transport on Fulford Rd, though the main exhibition and meeting will be the week before on Wed Jan 30th at the new Danesgate Centre Fulford Cross. The exhibition will be there from 2pm- 7pm with a formal meeting 7pm-9pm. There will be a leaflet and questionnaire to every house, as well as on the council website and on buses running down the route. This is THE BIG chance to get better facilities for cycling and walking on the main road that cuts through the middle of the ward. It is a once in a decade or more opportunity.. the deadline for your comments is Feb 8th so please do check out the meetings or website and make your views known. Anyone who uses the road can comment, if it is your route to school, to bingo, to your friends house, to your hairdressers!

New zebra lights being installed near Alligator

Overall I think the changes are long overdue. I am not convinced that we need so many pedestrian crossings, and especially think we should not replace a zebra with a bleeping traffic light controlled one which is likely to cause more delay for pedestrians or motorists at peak times than civilised road use respecting the highway code. I think parking near to shops should be for a 30 min maximum during the weekday, to ensure it is used by shoppers not those avoiding car park charges. And I think that we should do our best to keep most of the trees but provide some segregated off road cycleways where there is a wide pavement and few side roads or houses such as in front of the Barracks. This will be even more important if the vehicle lane on the road is narrowed to provide a bus lane in the opposite direction. Bus lanes in at least some places are needed to speed up the park and ride buses and discourage those car commuters who could as easily park at the Designer Outlet. These changes need to be in place as soon as possible, so that they are there when new residents in the Barbican development, Hungate etc are looking at their travel options along Fishergate/ Cemetery Rd/ Fulford Rd and the inner ring road.   

Residents of Grange St celebrated progress towards getting their streets designated 20mph by holding a street party. FOr a couple of hours the weather was kind and allowed children to play on their bikes, joining in the pavement art, face painting and generally enjoying the street as kids might have done 30- 50 years ago. Because of council bureacracy and the cost of public liability insurance that they said would be required the street wasnt officially 'closed' but a couple of adults asked drivers to use another route to exit the area (Grange Garth) and alerted children to let cars through when needed. As the residents had been leafleted and knew about the event, most were happy to detour or drive very slowly past - wouldnt it be nice if that happened all the time rather than kids being 'told off' for playing in their own street?

A typical scene at Broadway shops, where the private forecourts are littered with parked vehicles, creating a dangerous obstacle course for those with young children, the elderly and infirm. Its been like it for years, but it is getting worse, particularly now that the Fulford and Fishergate Post Offices have both closed ,meaning more people are driving to the remaining branch here. I held a meeting with representatives of the local shops, that arrived at the suggestion of formalising the parking in a remodelled 'island' area. However the council officers first refused to discuss the issue Then when I met with Highways officers last week it was made plain that 'this is a private development for which we can take no responsibility' Stalemate. The Coop is the only operation that is large enough to be able to contribute financially to any great extent, the council washes its hands of the problem and nothing gets done. Local residents have started a petition calling for a 'safe separation of cars and pedestrians, but it seems the ball is back in the court of shop keepers and local people again. The kerbs and roadway are in a poor state, not helped by the size of the delivery vehicles, notably a 16 wheel 'pantechnican' that brings bread from hundreds of miles away each morning at 5am!!

 Zero carbon clothes drying solution!

York In Transition Events  Sept/Oct 08

or http://transitiontowns.org/York/York

Sat 6 Sep 08 4-6pm          20's plenty Grange Street, off Fulford Rd Speed reduction BBQ, 24 Grange St (no cars please) Transition Talk with Edward Harland plus DVD Power of Community (free) Speed pledges, circus skills, face painting, chalk art, hair wraps.

Sun 14 Sep 8.30-10pm            Ladies clothes swap. Bring swapable, clean stuff to 24 Grange St, RSVP Anna 01904 654355 (free/donations)

Evenings of 18 & 19 Sep          Transition Training for Potential Awareness Talk Presenters at York Environment Centre, St Nicholas Fields - call Edward Harland 651323 £10 includes a copy of Carbon Detox by George Marshall

Fri 19 September 7-8pm          Transition Quiz and talk at the Friends Meeting House with Anna Semlyen and John Cossham (free/donations) Prizes to top team of 3

Sat 27 September 6.30pm        Games Night and Glut share. Come with an empty tummy and bring games, drink and food  - at least one ingredient of which was grown in York. Traditional card & board games plus any more unusual ones you can think of. From 6.30pm at 53 Hartoft St. All welcome. Free. RSVP Caroline Boreham on 670024

Sun 5 Oct 7.45pm-9.15film     DVD End of Suburbia and social at the Winning Post pub back room Bishopthorpe Rd. 50p min donation to projector hire.

Sun 12 October 8-10pm          Transition pub social at Lighthorseman pub Fishergate with Anna Semlyen  - come and chat about Transition

Sun 19 October 12.15-1.30     DVD Power of Community, How Cuba Survived Peak Oil plus short talk with Anna Semlyen, Friargate Friends Meeting House (free/donations)

Invite us to come to your group to give a talk - email us on yorkintransition@talktalk.net

The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins.... from Anna 01904 654355

And more to come!!!

Yes, York is on the way to following the model of responding to the 'Peak oil' challenge. A steering group is running training sessions for speakers, organising slide shows, talks, socials and reading up on the issues. Cynics might say we have been here before in the early 90's when 'Agenda 21' groups sprung up around the country in response to the Rio summit (remember that was before Kyoto!) But this time is different - people no longer believe that the UN or governments can be trusted to take the lead - people themselves are taking the initiative, debating renewable options, personal actions that create resiliance to climate change and the end of cheap energy. The concept began less than 10 years ago in Kinsale in Ireland, then  in September 2005 Rob Hopkins moved to Totnes in Devon, to begin a PhD at Plymouth University looking at Energy Descent Action Plans, refining the model in such a way that they can be done anywhere. This involves looking at what he calls the Head, the Heart and the Hands of Energy Descent.

To quote Rob, "By the Head I mean the concepts of peak oil, arguments for and against localisation as well as any historical examples that we can learn from. The Heart refers to exploring how to actually engage communities in a positive and dynamic way, how to use peak oil as a tool for empowerment rather than leaving people feeling helpless. This part of the exploration is about how to actually facilitate change, and the dynamics of cultural transformation. The Hands refers to the practical aspects, could the UK become self sufficient in food and how? How much well managed woodland would it take to heat a town with efficient CHPs? Can local materials be used to retrofit houses?"

http://www.transitionculture.org/ website is designed in such a way as to allow the sharing of thoughts, insights and resources that he comes across during his research. He is designing an Energy Descent Action Planning process for Totnes which will begin in the summer, once the first year of research is out of the way.

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Within a matter of hours, the back garden of the 'ancestral home' in Penkridge was transformed into a suitable setting for my Mum's 80th birthday celebration. My brother Nick and family arrived from Devon, we arrived from York and within a few hours the marquee was up (incorporating one bush that was the only obstacle to a big enough area of lawn!) , camping tables and chairs out and food prepared. There are suitable venues for hire in the village, but this was the cheapest 'self catering' option and mercifully the rain stopped for the whole day. Thankfully we didnt have to abandon proceedings with it staying fine all evening and the 40 or so people who came all made it a memorable event for the family. On looking at one of the presents given to my Mum which featured pictures of the 'Great Flood' of 1958 I realised that next year will be the 50th anniversary of the D'Agorne's arriving in Penkridge! The village town cryer and 'webmaster' was there too - very handy for summoning everyone's attention for the birthday song and cake cutting. His version of events can be found at http://penkridgecrier.blogspot.com/2008/08/town-crier-helps-celebrate-paulines.html#links