Your comments please on the ‘Pictorial Meadows’ project
If you have heard about the Pictorial Meadows project being undertaken with local primary schools, or read about it in our Current Projects section, we’d be grateful for your comments.
Also, members of the project (teachers, children, parents or members of the community) are invited to use this post as a basis for their updates on the project – to keep everyone informed.
Can we really make going green pay off?
Rosemary Speed writes:
I have recently been interested in the series of articles in the Sunday Times regarding green energy and environmental matters, and in particular the article which appeared in the Money section on 19th July entitled ‘Can you really make going green pay off?’ I think that to look for monetary reasons for going green is a little naive, but I do wonder what experiences local householders have had in their attempts to adopt green technology.
Has anyone actually saved money, has it come up to expectations and what steps would locals recommend? It may be that some systems are expensive, but nevertheless successful in cutting emissions. I would love to hear how individual wind turbines have fared and how they are recieved by neighbours. I know there are a couple of turbines in Kingsbridge.
I am also mystified as to why Britain seems to be so far behind in green technology – surely we can ask Germany for the benefit of their experiences before making basic errors. I would love to hear from the people with first hand experiences.
Ideas for raising Grassroot’s profile in the community
Hi everyone
As we discussed at the AGM, an objective this year should be to raise the profile of the Grassroots website (and that of Agenda 21) within the local community. I’d welcome any ideas for how we should do this, which we can discuss at future meetings.
Come on, what are you waiting for!?
Help make Youth Vision a success
The Agenda 21 Group’s report on the needs of young people and the facilities offered in Kingsbridge and its surrounding area has been well received so far. The report, entitled ‘Youth Vision’ was the result of several months of work capturing young people’s views and opinions through questionnaires and via a lively event on the Quay. It has been presented to the Town Council – who have been kind enough to provide some funds for the event and for printing.
If you would like a copy – please send an email and ask for one. if you would like to get involved, come down to Quay House at 7pm on Wednesday 10th June and join in the Open Forum at which the report and its findings will be openly debated by anyone interested in young people’s needs. The aim is to identify some priorities for action, and start planning.
See you there!!
Bob Willars
How about keeping cars off Fore Street?
The success of Kingsbridge’s Celebration of Christmas event showed just how vibrant Fore Street can be without the presence of cars. It was lovely to see people wandering from shop to shop and stall to stall, without dodging the traffic.
Imagine a summer’s day, with cafe tables outside and local people and tourists alike being able to sit down and enjoy the sunshine before carrying on with the shopping or sightseeing. This would be a real possibility if firstly the shopkeepers could see past their natural resistance that cars equals shoppers equals trade. The reality is that cars disrupt shoppers meaning less trade. Of course the second barrier would be getting the County Council to even consider pedestrianising Fore Street.
Bu why not? If continental towns can manage it – allowing vehicles to enter the area at particular times of the days for loading and unloading – then why can’t we?
What are your views?
Financial crisis?
As a member of Kingsbridge Agenda 21 Group I take an interest in all aspects of local sustainability, and one relates to the sustainability of the local economy and people’s personal finances.
The worldwide financial crisis (credit crunch) was itself brought about by unsustainable financial practices – such as ignoring people’s ability to repay their mortgages, and paying bank staff exorbitant bonuses. The resultant financial meltdown has implications for us all.
But does living in and around Kingsbridge bring any special concerns, or on the other hand offer any ways in which we can protect ourselves from the worst of the troubles?
An immediate thought relates to the benefits of using the local Credit Union. Are we all aware of it? Have you any comments about local implications of the situation we face?