Tim Ball

I though that with all of the doom and gloom around that you might like to hear a good news story for a change.

Plastic bottle recycling in Bath and North East Somerset reduced the level of carbon emissions by an estimated 1,160 tonnes in 2007/08, according to figures released by the Council today.

The amount of plastic bottles recycled last year through both kerbside and recycling centre collection points reached an estimated 725 tonnes of plastic. According to recycling charity Recoup, for every tonne of plastics recycled there is an estimated reduction in 1.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

 "Addressing the causes and effects of climate change is one of Bath and North East Somerset Council's priorities within our vision for the district. Local residents are making excellent use of the Council's kerbside plastic bottles recycling collection service and the facilities available at Bath, Keynsham, and Midsomer Norton Recycling Centres, resulting in a significant estimated reduction in carbon emissions."

"The substantial increase in plastic bottle recycling last year illustrates that the Council is getting the message across about the importance of increasing recycling to improve the environment. There is now added an added incentive for residents to reduce waste, because this performance target forms part of an agreement with the Government which, if met, could result in additional sums of funding to further improve local services."

The plastic bottles collected are melted down and moulded back into plastic shapes in the UK.  Plastic bottles are made into items such as bollards, recycling boxes, compost bins, drainage pipes and even fleece jackets.

Recycling rates in Bath and North East Somerset were 43% in 2007/08. Local residents can learn more about the recycling, rubbish, and waste facilities available from the Council by logging-on to http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/ and clicking on ‘Environment and Planning'.

Are you taking part in healthy living week in the South West of Bath if not why not there is something for the whole family?

Healthy living week has been running in the South west of Bath for a number of years now so why not take part this year and feel the effects of better health.

I have attached a PDF of the Healthy living week brochure if you would like to see it.

Heatthy_living_week.pdf

The field above Cotswold view that had recently had a planning application on it withdrawn on it by somer housing has been raised to the ground.

Yesterday morning a tractor was on site and cut away all of the small trees and undergrowth destroying any wildlife enclaves as it went.

 It seems that the private landowner who was hoping to sell his land to somer ignored environmental reports that were published in the planning application about nesting birds, newts, and other rare animals.

I have made complaints to the council and will be contacting the environment agency about what has happened here as I do not feel that it is acceptable to ignore the sort of report that was available on this land.

I am not sure what sanctions are available at this moment in time but I will pursue this matter as I feel that we need to be able to get this land under public control in order to ensure that the balance of the City Farm and it neighbours are protected.

We have two planning applications listed for Twerton this week.

The first one is on the far edge of Twerton at 144 The Hollow and is for the erection of detached rear garage and provision of new vehicle access. This application was first registered on 2nd May 2008 and has a decision date of 27th June 2008.

The application number is 08/01430/FUL if you wish to view this application then follow the link on the application number.

The Second application is for the Construction of external ramp for Access to retail Shops at the Parade (82-104) Twerton High Street. The Application is from Somer Housing who need to provide disabled access to its shops on the parade. The Application was first registered on 7th May 2008 and has a decision date of 2nd July 2008.

The application number is 08/01516/FUL if you wish to view this application then follow the link on the application number.

Any representations on these applications should be made in writing to Development Control, Trimbridge House, Trim Street, Bath BA1 2DP.  Alternatively representations can be made using the Planning Service pages of the Council's website http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/.  All representation must arrive no later than the 7th June 2008. Please also let me know of any comments that you make.

I thought that I had seen the end of the former Avon County Council when I came off that council at the end of its life in 1996.

From what I have seen & heard over the last few months then I am convinced that is what we are heading back to in one form or another.

Bath always done really badly under Avon & I for one do not want to see a return to that sort of super council or any other Super Council in whatever format over this area.

Both Labour & Conservatives seem to favour the route of a super council but I will admit that they do not all agree with one another on this matter.

The Labour Government are channelling much of the money that we need to run Bath & North East Somerset Council through The West of England partnership that is made up of representatives of the four unitary authorities that used to make up Avon County Council, is this not creating Avon by the back door.

The very matter that they are doing this is undermining the local democracy that we pride ourselves in with local decision making, although after saying that Bath is still run by Wansdyke Conservatives.

And to hear Senior Bristol conservative councillor Peter Abrahams talking about a directly elected Mayor for the greater Bristol area on the politics show today fills me with worry that our local democracy is about to vanish under either of the Labour or Conservative parties.

A message to Bath residents Peter means us as well under a greater Bristol (No Thank you Peter).

We have seen for many years central Government taking away the powers of local government and instilling them upon themselves or unelected Quangos, an easy way to sort out local government is to give us back our powers and let us get on running local authorities with and on behalf of local people.

Directly elected Mayor's or super councils will only damage residents abilities to be able to influence issues that affect their lives and local environment.

A warning to all of you who are like me and tend to chatter, as I found out to my peril last night.

Those who listen to other peoples conversations often get it wrong and that can give us councillors a bit of a problem. Especially if a chatter box is listening to what you have said and then repeats their version.

So take a message from some one who has found out the hard way (be careful you never know who is listening).

Bath & North East Somerset Council have given out some new advise about how to keep plastic out of Cardboard recyclable waste.

Users of the cardboard and garden waste collection service are being advised by Bath & North East Somerset Council how to avoid contamination by plastic materials.

The main materials that have been contaminating the loads include:

• • Plastic film - particularly from boxes that contain both cardboard and plastic such as plastic windows on cake boxes
    
  • Plastic bags
  • Cardboard drinks cartons – these cannot be composted because they contain a mixture of cardboard and plastic film which does not break down in the composting process
  • Plastic described as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compost able’ – the Council cannot compost these contrary to what the labels might say Materials such as plastic contaminate the load because they do not rot down and cannot be composted. Plastic that claims to be biodegradable, compost able or made from cornstarch or similar such labels are also unsuitable. This is because the outlets that the Council uses do not have the facilities to deal with it and also it is not possible to easily distinguish compost able plastic from non compost able plastic.
    
    All material collected is being composted at present because the re-processors can do a limited amount of screening, but there is a danger that in the future some of this might get rejected and sent to landfill. Bath & North East Somerset Council is keen to stop this happening and is urging people to make sure that they don’t put any contaminant into the cardboard and garden waste collection.
    

The Council has issued the following guidelines to help people:

• When you put material out for collection, please make sure that you remove any plastic including plastic windows, handles, sticky tape or other attachments
• Make sure that you don’t put your cardboard out in a plastic bag. Tie it with string or pack it into a cardboard box
• Please also make sure that you don’t put any drinks cartons in. These can be taken to Pixash Lane Recycling Centre in Keynsham where they can be recycled (other recycling banks for recycling drinks cartons are due to be installed in the next few weeks at various locations across Bath & North East Somerset).
• Make sure that you don’t put in any plastic material even it if claims to be biodegradable or compost able
• Finally if in doubt, leave it out.
  

For more information on exactly what can and can’t be collected as part of collections, please contact Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41 councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk or visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/wasteservices

I know it was a Saturday and I should have had a rest and perhaps I did, I could have gone to the recreation ground in Bath and watch our local team destroy Saracens 66-21 and book themselves top spot in the table.

Well don Bath but to ensure top spot at the end of the season we need Gloucester to beat Wasps this after noon and then next Saturday for Bath to Turn over Gloucester at Kings Holm.

I am sure with the way that Bath have played in their last two games that the last thing that Gloucester would want next week is a rampant Bath team that have run in 13 tries in their last two games.

Anyhow I enjoyed a very good evening at the Charity Concert organised on behalf of the Chairman of our Council. Now where do you thing I would have preferred to be you decide.

Have you ever thought what will happen when the oil fields start to close down and the supply of petrol & Diesel starts to run out?

Well there are people in towns and cities across the UK that have started to address this issue and they are easy to join and make contact with.

These groups call themselves Transition groups and we have one here called Transition Bath.

Transition Bath is made up of residents like ourselves who are concerned about the oil problems, the effects of Global warming and the effects that fossil fuels have on the environment.

Transition Bath describes themselves in their preamble as being:

Inspired by the fast growing international movement, Transition Bath is planning a positive future for the city in a world without cheap energy. We are a community in process of imaging and creating a future that addresses the twin challenges of diminishing oil and gas supplies and climate change, and creates the kind of community that we would all want to be part of.

If you want to now more why not visit their web site by following this link Transition Bath.

I wait to be convinced that Boris Johnson the new Mayor of London is capable of doing the Job that he has been elected to do.

London is one of the World Financial Capitals and a leading trade centre and has to be seen as a place where business can be done with respect and dignity.

I mentioned the name Boris Johnson to some overseas visitors the other day as probably the next Mayor of London only to be met with laughter so now I am worried and so should we all be.

David Cameron is delighted that Boris has won and so he should be, but I predict that this will be short lived as Boris will soon put his foot in it as he has always done in the past and if he does this as the London Mayor then this will reflect badly on all of us.

So let's all say a little prayer for Boris and let's hope that he does not embarrass us all with some of his past antics.

Now on to a more interesting and sustainable project as according to my good lady the grass needs to be cut and if I don't want to be in trouble for putting my foot in it then I'd better stop writing and get it cut

The full council papers have just been released for the council AGM on 8^th May 2008 and with the new rules set out by government that council will need to vote out an administration rather than vote one.

This means that the Tory Minority administration would have to resign or be voted out by council which is highly unlikely as they are being propped up by the three independent councillors on the authority which gives them an overall majority. Labour last year voted for the Minority Tory administration it only remains to be seen what they will do this year.

So what can we expect next year more stealth taxes as we have had this year and Bath again paying for the extravagance of the controlling Wansdyke Conservative group.

If you want to look at the council papers they are available on the following link. http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/committee_papers/Council/CO080508/01Agenda.htm