Sustainability in the Workplace

One of the largest, if not not the largest, employer in Redbridge is …….. Redbridge Council. So you might be wondering what they are doing on the subject of the heading of this post.

And well you might. They don’t seem to be at all inclined to tell us. I may well have missed it – I don’t get Redbridge Life, I have installed a shredder in my letter box and arranged for the postman to hand me my mail personally – and I haven’t spotted it on the award winning, user-friendly and easy to navigate Redbridge-i either. But if I’m wrong I will be more than pleased to put my hands up and apologise. So, what has been happening?

Redbridge has run the Environment Champions Programme for the past couple of years, to encourage staff to use resources more efficiently and improve the environmental performance of Council buildings. There is a pool of about 20 Champions, with the aim of having at least one Champion per Council service area.

During the past couple of years a number of campaigns have been held around reducing energy use, reducing water use, reducing/reusing/recycling, using sustainable modes of transport etc. In the year just about to end (2010/11), the Environment Champions held three main campaigns:

1. Walk to Work Week (linking with the national campaign)
The Champions cordinated a number of activities to get people walking, e.g. arranging lunchtime walks, walking maps, a walking scavenger/treasure hunt, nature conservation walking tours around Valentines Park, encouraging walking to and from work (or part of the way, for example getting off the bus a few stops early). Over 100 Council employees took part and collectively walked 1,700 miles during the week, saving 277kg of carbon. The 'winning' service area walked 310 miles during the week and the 'top walker' 76 miles during the week.
[Ed: so what did they do in the other 51 weeks?]

2. Reducing Paper Use
This campaign aimed for each Council employee to reduce their paper use by 10 sheets per week [stop that sniggering at the back there Master Hickey, this is printing paper, and it has nothing to do with closing public toilets either Ms Beeton]. In addition, each Council service area was to investigate ordering 10% less paper with each order. A range of awareness raising was undertaken, for example 'think before you print', defaulting double sided printing where this was not already done, rationalising printers where possible. The campaign resulted in savings of over 1,000 reams of paper and 221 trees per annum. The campaign is on-going to try and save an additional 3,120 reams of paper and 663 trees per annum.

3. Energy
The 2010/11 energy campaign focused on switching off office lights, Council employees 'pledging' to undertake energy saving tasks, and raising awareness of the environmental impact of individual portable heaters. 212 employees 'pledged' to undertake one or more simple energy saving tasks, resulting in savings of over £6,500 in reduced energy costs per annum (equivalent energy to heating water for over 3.2 million cups of tea each year).

The Environment Champions will be running three further campaigns during 2011/12:

1. Walk to Work Week (again linking with the national campaign)
2. Reducing energy use
3. Stationery amnesty / resource swapshop

BarKENside High Street

Yesterday [Monday 28th] Ken Livingstone was in Barkingside High Street and he was privileged to have a special audience with Barkingside 21 in the Delicieuse Café. [Picture]. Of course the committee members who had to go to work and keep the economy afloat weren’t there, so it was just us old people and Matt, who is between situations.

We told him what we want, but we’re not sure that even he, should he once again take the reins of City Hall, can deliver. He did have some interesting ideas but again he would have to get those past central Government.

Interestingly he was very impressed with our High Street saying it was much better than many he had seen. However, I’m not sure that Charity Shops closing down is a good sign for the immediate future.

Later on there was an open public meeting in the Library. It wasn’t a fan club. There was at least one local Conservative councillor there and others who I know are not exactly Ken supporters. But it was a lively session with Ken in good form. He is a seasoned politician after all. This is an exercise in framing the debate.

See Ilford Recorder, here and here and here.

And afterwards when I left the Fairlop Oak I wondered if there had been an anti-Ken Black bloc demo while we had been peacefully debating issues and supping. It’s not clear on the photo but the outside pane of the double glazed window at KFC is shattered, and the remnants of their merchandise is what’s on the floor adjacent to a ……… litter bin.

Clayhall Eye

Pictured above is a CCTV camera attached to the lamppost adjacent to the 128 Bus terminus in Clayhall Avenue. It is facing the width restriction and the junction with Claybury Broadway. It has already nabbed a local resident for doing a legal U-turn opposite the rear access to the shops who will be contesting the PCN on the same basis as he did last time.

However, we don’t know how long it’s been there and we don’t know how many vehicles have been nabbed going through the central "Emergency Vehicles Only" part of the width restriction, those doing illegal U-Turns at the Claybury Broadway junction or those vehicles responsible for this.

But I’ll wager it has already paid for its keep and it's only taken 3½ years to install it.

I've added some photos

The sign above applies to traffic exiting the width restriction and travelling south-west towards Woodford Avenue.

These two signs apply to the junction where they are located, ie Claybury Broadway.

Note the absence of any sign where the arrow is indicating any restriction whatsoever at that point.

Time Gentlemen Please

While you were busy staying up to 2am to put all your clocks forward this morning, and while the debate rages on about whether we should do that at all, or whether we should have an extra hour of daylight in the summer evenings at the expense of the mornings, the European Union have been busily sorting the problem and have come to our rescue by cutting through the whole debate and making it redundant. They propose decimalising time.

Last Friday the European Commission On Decimalisation of East Atlantic Time and Horoscopes (E.C.O.D.E.A.T.H.) published their 4,241 page proposals. Working closely with the European Commission On Secularisation In Nations (E.C.O.S.I.N.) they propose the abandonment of outdated Pagan concepts such as the Day and Lunar Month as well as the more recent creationist concept of the Week.

From the year 2015 there will 100 periods per year, each the equivalent of 3.65 [and a bit] old days. Each period is sub-divided into 100 hourlets. An hourlet comprises 100 minutiae and a minutiae 100 secondments.

The periods will be lumped together into 10 equal Shifts comprising 10 periods each.

The consulatation, which closes on 31st May 2011, seeks views on what the Periods and Shifts [and Astro symbols] should be called. Here’s my 2d worth.

The 10 periods in each Shift:
Sickperiod
Offperiod
Bathperiod
Benefitperiod
Badhairperiod
Sportsperiod
Pubperiod
Demoperiod
Holiperiod
Workperiod

The 10 shifts (with Astro symbols):
Saleanuary (Credit Card)
Snowbruary (Skis) (alt. 4X4)
Wind (Yacht) (alt, Wind Turbine)
Shower (Umbrella) (alt. the Coalition)
Cruise (Deck Chair) (alt Life Boat)
Scorchio (Nuclear Power Station) (alt. Solar Panels)
Casino (Roulette Wheel) (alt. Bankers)
Harvest (Barbeque)
Thermals (Damart)
Shopember (Supermarket Trolly)

Note: Under the new arrangements today would be the equivalent of April 1st.

That was the Week

Blimey, this is supposed to be an environment blog and I haven’t mentioned the Climate all week, and it is Climate Week, but there is still one day to go. But then every week should be Climate Week and not some fest of PR Greenwash from those who just want to make money out of it, or brand their wares as “green”. You know the sort of thing – “The Greenest Government Ever” sort of stuff – not exactly a challenging target is it! . So, belatedly what’s been happening?

There was the:

Equinox Open day at Forest Farm last Sunday [technically not in CW but hey!]
Trash to Treasure Exhibition on Thursday
Give or Take Event today [Saturday]: for Tories and Libdems only [everyone else was on the March]
Earth hour today [Saturday]
Eco-Team Training tomorrow [Sunday]
Also on Sunday “Cut the Cold cut the Cost”

Here’s that nice Mr Cameron on Earth hour in about an hour's time.....

So, What is Climate Week?
It’s a national occasion that shines a spotlight on the positive steps already being taken to tackle climate change across Britain, and to inspire further action. Supporters backing Climate Week include David Beckham, Sir Paul McCartney, Al Gore, David Cameron [see above] and the BCS.

And the Climate Challenge - last Monday - The Climate Challenge involves thousands of people in schools and workplaces all over the country tackling the same task on the same day. Could a team from your office come up with a brilliant idea to help combat climate change?

Well, you don’t have to leave it to next year’s Climate Week. If it’s worth doing it’s worth doing now - when you have that brilliant idea.

On Green IT Forrester has found that despite a steady rise in green IT plans and adoption, only 30 per cent of organisations have taken a baseline measurement of their energy consumption. Tut!

Elsewhere: Scotland goes “Carbon Metric” Recycling

Europe's largest plastic bottle recycling facility to be developed in Lincolnshire – someone [Coca-Cola] has twigged that plastic is made from OIL and we are running out of the stuff.

IHS Jane’s Examines Climate Change and the Defence Industry
Someone has noticed that those £1m a time missiles need fuel – OIL!

Climate survey

Building for the Future

On Wednesday evening it was Area Committee 3, and lively in parts it was. Cllr Mrs Candy told the Barkingside High Street Traders to “get their fingers out”, and we learnt that the proposed traffic lights at the junction of Tomswood Hill and Fencepiece Road have been vetoed by TfL despite Redbridge having the funds to install them and the infrastruture having already been provided during the recent roadworks – by TfL. But this post is about bricks and cement.

The Draft Householder Design Supplementary Planning Document Consultation (AC3/12/230311)

Draft Householder Design Guide SPD, item12. and Policy Extract.

Take a look at these examples and see if you can spot the problem.

Yes, you’ve got it, they are all things that house owners are legally entitled to do under the new Planning Laws as amended in 2008.




What’s the point of advising someone not to build up to the boundary when they are perfectly entitled to do so, and more to the point, if they don’t, could presumably come back and sue the council for providing “inaccurate” information.




The point is that householders don’t need a design guide, they’ve already got one. It’s called looking at what your neighbours have done – if they can do it, so can I. See photos below!



This, I’m afraid is yet another example of the authorities having either lost or abdicated any form of control. “Codes of Conduct”, “ASBOs” and guidelines like these do not work and are a complete waste of time, energy and our taxes. The point is simple and it is this. Those who behave themselves and consider their neighbours will do so anyway and don’t need to be told. Those who don’t just ignore it. And when there is no sanction for ignoring it, everybody else eventually jumps on the bandwagon.

Cllr Hayes and @papanomicron disagree – what do you think?

Down[shall] and Out

Tuesday evenings Redbridge Cabinet meeting was a feisty affair. There was a packed gallery and so many applications to speak [nearing 50, I am lead to believe] that limits had to be enforced. Credit to the Chairman and Leader that he allowed as many as he did – way over that allowed by standing orders. There were two speakers on the imminent closure of public toilets and then a further three on grants to voluntary bodies. But this post is about the Downshall Centre.

Here’s the report from the Ilford Recorder.
And here’s what Mike Gapes thinks about it.

And here’s what they aren’t telling you. Speaker after speaker from the voluntary groups and charities [you know them, they are the real Big Society] who will be displaced were greeted with rapturous applause from the gallery. The final speaker was greeted with deathly silence. He was Sir something or other from E-Act. Three councillors then waded into the fray – Littlewood, Norman and Hai.

And then Cllr wriggly Weinberg, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, told us that "his" [I thought they were ours] Officers had produced a new set of recommendations – which up to that point nobody knew about. The original full Recommendations are here. Summary:

"authorise the [various people]….. to dispose of the Downshall Centre to E-act to ….. [legal paraphinalia]"

The revised recommendations are here. Summary of important bits, my emphases:

3.1 Agree in principle to the disposal of the Downshall Centre to E-act …subject as provided in paragraph 3.2.

3.2 Agree that the disposal should be subject to the prior satisfaction of the conditions in 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.3.4 below and agree that should these conditions not be satisfied then a further report on the establishment of a Free School academy be presented to Cabinet:-

3.2.1 the Council satisfying itself that a suitable programme of re-provision for the current service users of the Centre that is compliant with the Council's discharge of its statutory responsibilities to such users, including those arising under the Equalities Act 2010, will be implemented

So, the council had accepted that it had made a boo-boo and indeed to his, and only his, credit the Chairman and leader did apologise. But what does it mean? It could be interpreted in two ways. Remember these are politicians, who can be more slippery than a cockney jellied eel.

a) We’ve recognised that we have to do a bit more work but we’re gonna do it anyway. Or
b) We’ve given ourselves a get out clause so we can quietly shelve it later when nobody notices.

But hear this, if you think “Free Schools” are a good thing. Somebody pointed out that the Downshall Centre was considered by the council a couple of years ago as a possible site for a new school, but was rejected as inadequate and asked what has changed. Cllr Weinberg’s reply? “Free schools” are not subject to the same regulations and standards as state schools. You might like to read that last sentence again.

So why is it either or? Why does it have to be the Downshall centre? There are plenty of other council properties being shut down due to the cuts, as has been related in the first paragraph of this post and there are still vacant sites like the lorry park in Seven Kings.

On the Wild Side

Spring is finally here and it's time to get out and enjoy it. It’s time for.................

Tajinder’s Wild Walks.

North East London RSPB Walks 2010


Date: Monday 25th April
Event name: Easter Monday Surprise
Event details: We will be looking for spring time breeding birds including migrant warblers such as whitethroat.
Location: Claybury Park & Woods
Time: 9:30-12.30
Leader: Pat Hart/ TL

Date: Saturday 2nd July
Event name: Not just birds
Event details: Rainham has other items on the menu, not just birds, come and see what else lurks in the Marsh
Location: Rainham Marshes
Time: 10:00-13:00
Leader: Pat Hart/ TL

Booking: is essential for ALL NEL RSPB Walks.
Meeting point: will be given at time of booking
Contact: Tajinder
Text or phone mobile: 07956 463 973
or email. Cost: £1.00 donation per person goes towards group.

------------------
Please note, you can also join the following people or teams for additional walks:

East London Birders Forum - Walks
Contact: Roy Woodward
Mobile: 07855 567 332
Website: www.elbf.co.uk/walks.htm
Cost/booking: No need to book and no charge

Redbridge Bird Watching
Contact: Daniel Erickson-Hull
Mobile: 07862 140 777 Email:
Website: http://www.redbridgebirdwatching.blogspot.com/
Cost/booking: Booking essential and £1 donation goes to local RSPB group

Redbridge Nature Conservation Ranger Team Events
Contact: 020 8559 2316 Email:
Website: Redbridge Nature Conservation
Special event: They are running their 3rd dawn chorus event again at Hainault Forest Country Park, £4 per person includes breakfast on Sunday 8 May 2011 from 4.45 am.

Thank you.

Kind regards
Tajinder Lachhar
Guided Walks Leader
North East London RSPB Group

Looking for Lunch

Not wishing to tread on our local Art Critic's toes I have to point out that this post has a local Barkingside flavour.

There is this charity called EAC which sponsors a national art competition for the over-60’s every two years. This year the exhibition is in Birmingham at the RBSA Gallery from 10 – 21st May.

120 exhibits were chosen from a combined entry of 1,400.

Of those 120, there is one, pictured left, submitted by local Barkingside resident Alfred Levy, aged 85. Titled “Looking for Lunch” it is an Oil on board mounted canvas, and looks suspiciously like Fairlop Waters to me?

The full selection of successful entries is published on the EAC website and Alfred’s is nine down and two across on the block of pictures shown for the 2011/12 entries.

You are invited to vote for a winner in this competition and full information on how to do this is on the website.

An Ill-Wind or Bluster?

I had to check the date – I thought it might be April 1st already!

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today [23rd March 2011] told the London Assembly that a wind from continental Europe was responsible for 75% of the particulate pollution in London and implied that this was a major factor in Marylebone Road having 20 bad air days so far this year. London is allowed a total of 35 days in which it exceeds European limits for PM10s.

The Mayor was responding to a question from Darren Johnson regarding the requirement made by the European Commission that: "London's air quality plan will need to be revised by 11 June 2011 to include the short-term measures and be submitted to the Commission."

Darren Johnson said: "The Mayor is now blaming continental Europe for the fact that his backward steps have made air pollution worse than it should be in London. Boris appears to be saying that this ill wind is gathering up all the pollution from Paris and dumping it directly on Marylebone Road, whilst by-passing areas like Bromley, Havering and Harrow which are all under the European pollution limits."

Or maybe he was just having a "bad hair" day?

Stop and Account

Just for Papanomicron.

There are times when a police officer or Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) stops a person and asks them to explain why they are in a particular place, why they are carrying something or why they are behaving in a particular way. When this happens the police officer or PCSO records the time, date and place where the stop happened on a form and gives a record of the stop to the person stopped. This is called a stop and account.

Please note, in a stop and account the police officer or PCSO does not search the person being stopped. A stop and account is not the same as a stop and search.

We would like to know your views on stop and account. This is because the Government is changing the rules so that stops and accounts do not have to be formally recorded by the police because they think this will save the police time. Before the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) decides whether to stop formally recording stops and accounts, we want to know what you think.

Please give us your views by completing the short questionnaire by 31 March 2011. If you would prefer to complete a paper questionnaire or take part in a telephone questionnaire please contact Bennett Obong on email or 020 7202 0147.

The Road to Leytonstone

On Wednesday 16th March John and I set off for Leytonstone library for the showing of Rebecca Hosking’s award winning flim “A Farm for the Future”. Knowing how congested Leytonstone gets during the best of times, let alone rush hour, I suggested going by Tube. Oh no, said John, I grew up in Leytonstone and know it like the back of my hand. And so we ended up in Stratford – he missed the turning off the Green Man roundabout and got onto the M11 Link road where there is no exit until Stratford. Still I did get to see the Olympic Stadium. He then got lost trying to find his way back onto that road to get back to Leytonstone but did manage to find James Lane and cut throught to the Station, and so we arrived.

John was not impressed with the film – depressing he said, but I thought it was really positive. I like it when people challenge accepted conventional wisdom, otherwise known as business as usual, and make me think.

The backdrop to the film is Peak Oil and agriculture’s dependence upon it to feed us. That’s the stuff that John just wasted a load of by getting lost [see Quentin’s point 5 here]. As yer man said, it’s not a question of when it happens, but that it will happen and how prepared we are. We cannot go back to using horses to plough the fields and harvest the crop so what do we do? Two things stood out for me.

1. In the UK we overwinter livestock in barns, so the farmer has to use machinery to cut and prepare hay and get it to the animals. But contrary to popular belief this is not to save the animals dying from exposure. It’s because the ground is wet and the animal’s feet sink into the ground and churn it up making it difficult for the grass to grow again next spring. Now, there are hundreds of species of grass that grow in the UK but farmers only use 2 or 3 of them. There is a farmer oop north somewhere who has spent his entire lifetime experimenting with different combinations of grass and has cracked it, at least for his soil. The combination produces a mat-like effect between the soil and the grass leaves which protects against churning by animals. Sorted! Take the animals to the food.

2. The second and most alarming thing is that ploughing actually kills the soil. And we've been doing it for thousands of years. Most of the bugs, worms and bacteria are in the top foot of soil, the bit that gets ploughed. There was some old footage of ploughing one of Rebecca’s fields when she was a young child. The ploughed earth behind the tractor was teeming with birds tucking into a good lunch. Then a flim of the same field being ploughed recently – nothing. No birds at all. Dead. So how does that field produce crops you ask? Well, we use artificial fertilizer which is made from – oh yes, you’re ahead of me, OIL! The answer – Permaculture.

King George Reprieve

No time for a full post on this: see WW Guardian for full story.

"After pressure from a group of MPs, health secretary Andrew Lansley asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, which looks into disputed healthcare decisions on his behalf, to consider the decision.
It has now announced that a full review is needed, which anyone can submit evidence to."

And to complement Wes Tweeting’s take on it:

Ilford North MP Lee Scott, who was part of the group of MPs that pushed for the review, said: “The battle is not over, but this is a victory.
“We felt that the initial decision was flawed because of the way they conducted (the consultation).
“The arguments they put up that the doctors were behind it is not what I have been hearing and none of it adds up.”

However this doesn’t look too good. Margaret Hodge is worried about A&E being closed “at night” from July this year.

The Downshall Centre to Close

"The Downshall Centre is very much a Youth and Community Centre, offering excellent facilities, it is used by both the Youth Service and a variety of local Community Groups for socialising, educational and leisure activities – a place for all age groups." From Redbridge-i.

One of those is Charity, Training 4 Transition which supports people with learning disabilities through horticulture therapy, training and employment in gardening.

It is also home to the Afasic Youth project in which your Editor has a personal interest.

Sadly these charities and a number of others are affected by the proposed closure of the Downshall centre - with tenants and users given only one weeks notice that the decison on the sale will be made on Tuesday 22nd March.

Welcome to The Big Society!

Petition here. Go sign, now!

Concern at Downshall Centre Closure, Petition Launched – Redbridge CVS

Downshall Centre Shocker – Ilford South Labour Party

Downshall Centre “Consultation” Farce – Ilford South Labour Party

Charities up in arms over closure plans for Seven Kings Community Centre – Ilford Recorder

It's Red Nose Day!

Do you recognise him? He's been here before although not with red hair. Yes, it's Marlon, Ron Jeffries' grandson. #Just an Essex Lad!

Report here.

Livingstone, I presume?

I refer you to this post, London Mugs, and this post, Mugged again. Yes, the race for the job of London Mayor is hotting up, and the former and only previous incumbent [pictured "left" as you would expect] wants his job back.

Of course when I invited Ken Livingstone to come and talk to us when he was “in situ” he didn’t want to know, but now he wants to meet us – funny that. And as former Redbridge Councillor Roy Emmett will tell you we will talk to anybody in the Fairlop Oak, including Julian Leppert and Arsenal supporters.

We are scheduled to entertain Ken in the Fairlop Oak lounge [where else?] Change of plan: apparently a pub is not a suitable place for Ken to meet real people so we are having to go to a coffee emporium in the High Street named Delicious from about 3:30pm on Monday 28th March, after he has goosestepped his troops up and down the High Street. Do pop along if you fancy a chat or like watching military parades.

After that there will be a public Q&A [not sure about the "A" bit?] session in Fullwell Cross library from 6:30-8:00pm, organised by our local Labour Party enforcer. Everybody is welcome, including Boris, and light refreshments [water] will be available.

Apparently the former Zone 1 Mayor will be visiting all the London boroughs [you’ve been warned] as part of his campaign to host the 2012 Olympics as Mayor of London and we are privileged to be at the forefront of his efforts.

In fact, he will be back [as Arnold said] on 8th April to speak at the “Save King George Hospital” rally at the town hall ~5:30pm. Lee Scott and Keith Prince will be hot footing it from there to our Public Meeting afterwards and he [Ken] is welcome to come along. As is any other mayoral hopeful.

Obviously, as a non party political body we would welcome any other Mayoral candidate to come and talk to us and to whom we would be equally irreverent. Please note @jonesbert.

Note that on Twitter @Barkingside21 is “followed” by @mayoroflondon but NOT by @ken4london.

Bloomin' Shrubberies

Dear Editor,

You may have wondered if I have died in the extremes of weather we have suffered this winter in the light of my Great Age. But no! I remain alive and kicking - well, sort of kicking anyway. And you may also have wondered if I continue to do my work as a Guerilla Gardener - and the answer is Yes! I will attach two photographs taken this weekend in the Shrubberies in Aldborough Road North.

As someone who is not averse to being critical of Redbridge Council, I would like to pay tribute to the team of gardeners who appeared in the Shrubberies last week, labouring away for some three days. They started to prune the shrubs and I feared that they would trundle over my daffodils, hyacynths and crocus in their hobnailed boots, but no! In fact, they did a splendid job weeding around the flowering bulbs and the bluebells which are just beginning to bloom. Well done, Gentlemen - whoever you are. Most impressive - and they even cleared up afterwards.

Regards
Ron Jeffries

Crash Bang Barrier

And to round off this mini-series of road related chaos, here is the brand spanking new Gants Hill. Photos taken on Thursday 10th March.

Driver’s Eye

Sorry about graphic, it’s the nearest to us I could find. I couldn’t find anything for Redbridge roundabout, or even Gants Hill but it is a new site, so give them time. Don’t do this while you're driving!

A new website ViewTraffic has been launched to help drive down congestion in the UK’s major cities by giving drivers access to CCTV cameras from the comfort of their own homes, or through mobile devices, prior to their journey. With real-time camera updates of key points on the journey, travellers can avoid queues; locate car parking; and be alerted to likely hold-ups so they can re-assess the journey before it’s too late.

By selecting CCTV cameras adjacent to the destination, travellers can make an informed decision as to whether or not the journey will be a success. Armed with real time visuals they can select the best route, the best day and the best time to travel. Completely free to use, it can save drivers money, time and stress!

Visits to the site are growing rapidly as drivers see the value of journey planning, and last month’s snow brought record viewings from anxious drivers checking the safety of the roads. Visitors also help by submitting cameras to help fellow travellers or by giving feedback to the site through the blog and on-line polls.

Although travel updates are now available from various sources, these are usually only updated after an incident has occurred and when the site has been cleared. With ViewTraffic you can make decisions in real-time, and see the nature of the problem right away, enabling alternative routes to be taken. And using mobile technology, it is possible for passengers to access the site via laptops and phones en-route, thereby relieving the driver’s anxiety.

Speaking of Gants Hill and "driver's anxiety" - see next post in this mini-series.

Not Jeremy Clarkson

Drive like your Gran is in the back
QUENTIN WILLSON OFFERS TOP FUEL SAVING TIPS

Motoring expert, Quentin Willson has teamed up with the UK’s leading software and transport management solutions business, Isotrak, to offer their top fuel saving tips which will help consumers keep costs down when it matters the most.

Quentin Willson says 'If UK motorists thought more about how much fuel they use and drove more economically, we'd save literally billions of gallons a year. By simply getting into a fuel-saving mind-set, like Isotrak, you can cut your annual fuel bills by hundreds of pounds a year. And with oil now past $100 a barrel, it’s something everybody needs to think about’.

With a solution that facilitates effective management of driving behaviour, Isotrak has allowed major brands to use engine telemetry to improve fuel consumption, and has helped save over 58,000 tonnes of Co2 per year which equates to a large saving of £20m in fuel alone, and now anyone can take on these simple steps to start saving and see results:

TOP 5 SAVING TIPS

1) Save by Servicing
Keep your wheels well serviced. Clogged up filters, dirty oil, dragging brakes and under-inflated tyres will chomp through fuel like Smarties. A rough running motor can get through 25% more fuel than a smooth one.

2) Drive Like a Chauffeur
Drive like you've got you Gran in the back. Accelerate gently, don't race through the gears and lift off the throttle whenever you can. The smoother and more progressive you’re driving, the more fuel you'll save.

3) Get in Top Gear
Change up to the highest gear possible as soon as you can. A low revving engine will use less fuel than one that screams to the red line in every gear.

4) Use Your Trip Computer
If you've got a trip computer set it to 'average fuel consumption' and watch it like a hawk. Just being aware of how many miles your doing can improve your fuel consumption by up to five miles per gallon

5) Don't Get Lost
Plan your journey and use a map as well as a Sat Nav. Choose the best and most direct routes and check in advance for hold ups. Getting lost and sitting in jams is a total waste of fuel.

And finally finally: On that last point we have…….. see next post above.

The Road to Wanstead

Back on 23rd February we were off to Wanstead House for the Wanstead Transition meeting and a showing of a film about Peak Oil. Being the sensible chaps that we are we car shared. John picked up Matt and Harry and then me. So then it started – “we are going to Wanstead aren’t we John?”, “I wouldn’t go this way John!”. Trouble is, I was being serious. There is always a tailback from Redbridge roundabout up Redbridge Lane East, even when it’s not rush hour. But now I know why, thanks to RedRag – Redbridge Roundabout Action group. It’s the only junction with no traffic lights and the phasing does not give enough time for vehicles to get onto the roundabout. See details here.

The residents down there are fed up with the traffic jam and resultant pollution. Which leads me on to Boris, who is planning to fine motorists up to £120 for leaving their engines idling in order to tackle noise and air pollution. Trouble is, he is the one in charge of TfL who create the traffic jams in the first place. Or maybe it is part of some grand revenue creation plan?

Anyway back to Peak Oil which is not being helped by all those people sitting in traffic jams. Here’s a backlog of Carcentricity items that have piled up during my break.

Oil nears $120 a barrel on Libya and Middle East fears. – Guardian.

Food and fuel bills to rocket – Mail online.

But the Airline industry will scweem and scweem until you pay for their tax breaks.

Breakdown service Green Flag reported a 40% increase in the number of fuel-related call-outs in the second half of January, compared with second half of December. More than 30% of drivers have cut down on their motoring to offset rising fuel prices. But only 4% have taken up car-sharing and only 6% have bought a more fuel-efficient car. - Express.

UK facing 1970s-style oil shock which could cost economy £45bn says Huhne. Climate and energy secretary says an oil price of $100 a barrel transforms the economics of climate change. – Guardian.

Spanish commuters have had to ease off the accelerator this morning on their drive to work, confronted with a new speed limit of 110km/h (68mph) on main roads. The slowdown is intended to save energy in response to the surge in oil prices sparked by the unrest in Libya and elsewhere in the Arab world. Spain is heavily dependent on imported fuel and 13% of its oil usually comes from Libya. - BBC.

But UK transport secretary Philip Hammond is looking at raising the speed limit here “to put us in the fast lane” where we will be using even more of the stuff. - Sun.

A trial in Norfolk found that creating avenue of trees and hedges had a dramatic impact on motorists behaviour. The experiment at four villages Overstrand, Martham, Coltishall and Mundesley showed that drivers dropped their speed because of the cut in their peripheral vision. In all there was a 20 per cent drop in the number of motorists driving at 40 to 60mph and overall average speeds fell by 1.5 per cent. - Telegraph.

And finally: see next post above.

Wood for the Trees?

Dear Editor,
I am most concerned that the Redbridge Councillors are being asked to approve a plan to hand over Hainault Forest to an unelected Trust or Quango.

Hainault Forest was bought by public and private subscriptions from East and West Ham, Barking, Dagenham, Wanstead, Ilford UDC's, Essex and London CC's and other benefactors.
By an Act of Parliament (1903) it was declared an open space forever for the people of London. It belongs to the people of London. There were also restrictions on what forms of activity could take place in Hainault and the GLC maintained and safeguarded the wish of Parliament, to later be ignored by Redbridge.
At a time of world discussions on democracy it seems that the Council is ignoring its responsibility and wishes to take away residents' and users democratic rights.
Have London and Essex residents or the metropolitan councillors been consulted?

You may not be aware in your deliberations that Hainault Forest (Redbridge) has an area designated an SSSI or Site of Special Scientific Importance and the Councillors have a statutory duty to the Government to maintain the site under the direction of Natural England. It also has been designated an area of Metropolitan Importance. From surveys carried out by prominent natural history experts, Hainault Forest for all its small size has species present of Red data, National and Essex rarity importance. I have myself discovered a number of firsts for Essex and the UK here. A survey of the lichens shows Hainault to be the least polluted and healthiest area in the Borough.

Will a Trust which has to make money, care and understand how to manage the area - its trees, grasslands and amenity areas to safeguard the wildlife and provide a tranquil place for the near million people that use the area yearly - families, schools, disabled, special needs and a range of activities - walking, running,orienteering, picnics, kites, dog walking etc. Will they maintain the small farm which is loved by all especially mothers and grandparents with toddlers? What of the Visitor Centre now closed due to staff cuts.

What is the Trust composition? Is it the same people who ran the Councils Leisure department? If they couldn't run it for the Councillors then how will they be successful in a Trust?
Remember Horse racing at Fairlop fiasco. Remember the Claybury opening ceremony fiasco?

I received an e-mail from a member of the public to say that she and her partner had signed a petition at the weekend about the transfer of Hainault Forest and her loss of democratic rights. I went along
Tuesday morning to sign the petition only to find it no longer available. It appears that someone from the Council had put a stop to it. What of the signatories collected - disappeared as well?
It appears that no discussions are allowed on Hainault. Democracy gone mad. Is this the future conduct of the Councillors and Officers? Roll on the elections!

Please keep Hainault Forest in Council and electorate hands.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Ecott
Volunteer at Hainault, Walks in Redbridge, Conservation, Wildlife garden, Wildlife recorder.
Website.

Boris will not oppose the closure of KGH A&E

The London Mayor Boris Johnson has stated that he does not believe it would be "appropriate" for him to lobby Government against their proposal to close the Accident and Emergency unit at King George Hospital in Redbridge. This statement was made by the Mayor in response to London Assembly member Darren Johnson's question at the February Mayor's Question Time, urging him to make representation to Government to maintain the A&E unit. [1]

The population of Redbridge is predicted to increase by 13,000 inhabitants in the next decade. [2]

Darren Johnson said: "The Mayor has failed to give clear backing to the threatened King George Hospital A&E. If he is serious about his duty to tackle health inequalities, he needs to take a much more active role in defending vital frontline services"

Darren added "Closure really makes no sense, particularly as existing A&E units are already overstretched and as London's population is growing. This proposed closure will be bad for local people who will be forced to travel much further, bad for other A&E units who will have to deal with more patients and bad for general health inequalities"

[1] Darren Johnson's Question to the Mayor of London, at the February 2011 Mayor's Question Time
Threat to King George Hospital A&E
Question No: 681 / 2011
Question by Darren Johnson
Will you oppose the proposal to close the Accident and Emergency unit at King George Hospital in Redbridge? Will you agree to make a representation to Government for maintaining this unit?

Written answer from the Mayor, Boris Johnson
During my term of office there have been a number of questions raised concerning my views on proposed service changes at specific trusts. My position on these matters remains unchanged.

As you know I am not accountable for such reconfiguration decisions, however through my Health Inequality Strategy I have highlighted the importance of all Londoners having access to a good quality health system (covering primary, community and secondary and tertiary care)

On a pan London basis, the existing provision of all these services is not delivering the quality outcomes or reducing health inequalities at the pace which I would wish. I am glad that going forward, such strategic decisions will be clinically led. During this transition, I would want to support the emerging GP leadership as they develop ways of determining which of the available options will produce the best health outcomes for the Capital. At this point, I don't believe that the intervention which you are proposing would be appropriate.

I do believe that previous NHS reviews have been significantly undermined by an understandable lack of trust on the part of the public in the decisions being taken, caused by the absence of routinely available quality and performance information. To address this I am working with NHS colleagues to utilise the London Data Store and am seeking to promote other ways of getting meaningful data into the public domain. In so doing, I hope that this will also support patient choice.

Axing A&E services and population growth
Question No: 683 / 2011
Question by Darren Johnson
At a time when London's population is increasing and there is an increase demand on frontline services such as A&E units, will you agree to make representation to government to refrain from cutting A&E units?

Written answer from the Mayor, Boris Johnson
Please see my response to MQ681 / 2011.

[2] According to the GLA Intelligence Update, 2009 Round Demographic Projections for the London Plan (revised):
Redbridge's population is predicted to rise from 258,000 in 2011, to 265,000 in 2016, to 271,000 in 2021;
Barking & Dagenham's population is predicted to rise from 177,000 in 2011, to 192,000 in 2016, to 206,000 in 2021;
Havering's population is predicted to rise from 231,000 in 2011, to 242,000 in 2016, to 252,000 in 2021.

The Ides of March

I’ve already mentioned the Co-op Fairtrade event this Thursday [10th] and the Italian Market on Barkingside High Street next Sunday [13th]. See sidebar on the right.

Following that on Monday 14th you have the opportunity to meet the new Borough Commander at the Redbridge Police Community Engagement Group Public meeting. Details.

On Wednesday 16th there is a free public screening of “A Farm for the Future” - Rebecca Hosking’s forthright investigation of peak oil, its implications for farming and food production, and an overview of potential solutions. The screening is being hosted by Transition Leytonstone at Leytonstone Library, 6 Church Lane, E11 1HG, that is if it has not been “cut” in the meantime. 6:30pm - 9:00pm.

Following that is our coffee morning on Thursday 17th and with us will be Georgina Green with a slide show on Valentines Mansion. See sidebar on right for details.

On Sunday 20th we have an Equinox Open day at Forest Farm Peace Garden, where you can take a tour of the garden and discover a beautiful green space. Join the herbalist for a guided tour of the garden and find out about seasonal herbs and salads. Find out about the Buddy Scheme. Join the new Friends Scheme. Speak to members of the Redbridge Recycling Team. See how hazel whistles are made. Enjoy a demonstration of traditional wool spinning. And there will be hot food at lunch time (donations welcomed). You can also buy a tree to plant at home or in the new hedge. Details.

Area committee 3 is on Wednesday 23rd and Area 4 on Thursday 31st. See sidebar on right.

Sandwiched in between on Saturday 26th is a Give or Take day down in Wanstead. A chance to bring along unwanted items which someone else could use and a chance to take things you need for free. Saving tonnes of materials going to landfill and saving the council your money. Why waste something when it can be reused. Details.

Co-op Fairtrade

The Co-op on Barkingside High Street today. More tomorrow [Sunday], lots of money saving offers on Fairtrade products. Tea, coffee, wine, chocolate etc. On the right is Matthew Goddin, Ilford North Labour Party Enforcer “Organiser”. On the left is Mira Vogel, Green Party activist and B21s Fairtrade guru.

"Co-op aims to cut carbon emissions by 35%, increase Fairtrade product lines and invest £1bn in green energy." Guardian 18th Feb 2011.

And today [Sunday].

My Fairtrade shopping. I was specifically instructed not to buy any chocolate. The red boxes are Co-op Fairtrade 99 tea. Note the Jean Lambert linen shopping bag.
And here's me with my shopping. The bloke over my right shoulder is Ross Hatful, local Labour Party Councillor for Valentines ward. Over my left shoulder is the Chairman of B21 who turned up just in time to go to the Fairlop Oak.

Barkingside Shop Watch

Guest Post from Fullwell Autos:

We have two more long established small businesses pulling out of Barkingside.

Redbanana established 10 years here in Barkingside is to go.

Panache also established many years is to go.

This will be yet another savage blow to the local economy here. These two shops will be greatly missed by many (including my wife whom has shopped at both).

I wonder how many more have to close before the powers that be in Redbridge start to take some notice...

But wait, there is a new proposal to benefit local traders…

Part of the new budget proposals is to dramatically increase parking restrictions in Barkingside and all over Redbridge.

Follows a quote from the author of the proposal under resource implications.

'Improved utilisation of parking spaces with income benefits to the council and better trading conditions for local businesses as well as easier access to parking spaces for shoppers. Improved road safety and reduced congestion associated with current lack of controls on Sunday especially'

So we can expect improved trading conditions from this! Of course this is absolute rubbish. For anyone who has ever run a small retail business the equation is simple. Increased parking restrictions = less customers.

As for the part about reduced congestion on Sundays.. Well plainly Barkingside is a traffic black spot on a Sunday.. not.

In fact the only truth in the statement is the part about income benefits to the council. Even this will be minimal once the cost of implementation, maintenance and enforcement are taken into account.

Barkingside Business partnership drew up a petition to oppose this. Over 1,200 signatures of local people were gathered. Plainly this is not something that local people or local traders want. However I am informed that this petition is likely to make no difference. (this is how local democracy seems to work round here).

We are lucky here in Barkingside in that we have two of the most politically powerful men in Redbridge represent us here.

Fullwell Councillor Nick Hayes - cabinet member for Planning and Regeneration
Barkingside Councillor Keith Prince - Leader of Council and Finance

The final vote on the Budget is tomorrow 3rd March. I hear that all of the proposals are now pretty much a done deal and this vote is now merely a formality.

However I am making a final petition to these two councillors to block this proposal. The time has come to support your High street, local residents and local traders and to show us that you are representative of your electorate.

Your High street needs your support now more than ever. Please don't let us down.

Fullwells