Maggie
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Posts posted by Maggie
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I think we all need to be aware that Lee pays for the site out of his own pocket, (server, domain, licenses) and also spends time making sure no nasty stuff gets onto the site. We all appreciate what he does as a valuable service to the villages but business advertising on the site doesn't go near what it costs). It looks like a professionally run thing from an organisation, but there is no financial or other support. It's won prizes too!
leebarnfield reacted to this -
The application for an exploratory drill in Dudlestone has gone into Shropshire Council from Dart energy.
This is in the same spot as the prevous lapsed application. Since we have been posting information about this several 'anti-fracking' (sic) organisations have sprung up opposed to these development. If this is your 'bag' then here are some links to Facebook Campaigns.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frack-Free-North-Shropshire/616884318399368?ref=ts&fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/NEWAFAN?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/NorthShropshireAntiFrackingAssociation
There is a meeting in St Martins Miners Institute on Monday 23rd, 7.30 pm.
(according to a poster up in Stans) to be attended by council leader Keith Barrow
As usual I have tried to keep a level head and open mind and concentrate on the information that is available, and have just posted the following on the north east shropshire anti fracking site, I suspect it will receive a scathing response.
'Have read it through briefly, the exploratory drill goes deep, 830m, down into the lower Coal Measures. However they state elsewhere that deeper coal seams under greater pressure have no cavities for gas to accumulate. This application is what it says, an attempt to see which coal seams have potentials for methane extraction within PEDL 185 by examining this spot at the south east and deepest part of it. I would suggest that any future exploitation of this resource would likely take place further north west in the PEDL area, ie where coal seams are closer to the surface. What does everyone else think?'
Anyhow, if you feel strongly about this I suggest you submit a comment to Shropshire Council via the application process, via the link above.
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There is likely to be a new Leader programme starting next year in North Shropshire. It will support rural businesses, and there is a survey now if you would like to contribute and say what you think is needed most up here.
Landbased/small rural businesses - help us develop LEADER in northern Shropshire - fill in our short survey - http://t.co/MgVMTAoYBh
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Now things are finally happening with Big Local might it be a good idea to have a new section in CO for Big Local discussions? Their website is calling for comments to CO.
Or
Maybe we want to see it all integrated with general chat about the villages?
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Mainstreaming economic development and putting it back into the local community is about decentralising 'economy' and realigning it with 'community', giving control and benefits of economic prosperity back to the local communities, rather than seeing the control and benefits being in the hands of distant big businesses and policical organisations.
I.e. It is what Community Online is trying to do with it's Business listings; but also what councils should do with their commissioning policies too.
We all see the definitions of 'community' and of 'economy' as separate, but actually, if you insert 'well being' into the equation, it is all the same. And keeping money in the local community grows that community and is good for us all. (Rather than exporting the money we spend into faceless international corporations).
http://localisewestmidlands.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MCED-summary-briefing-final1.pdf -
The centre bits of Gobowen, St Martins and weston Rhyn are classed as deprived mainly because they score so badly in stuff to do with 'poverty of opportunity', i.e. lack of any access to leisure, education, training etc etc. Things to do with 'Quality of the environment' (air quality, landscape, etc) are classed as good.but the lack of facilities and transport drags the overall score right down.
If you enter the post code within an area you are interested in on this site you get a map and diagrams showing the statistics broken down into types of deprivation for a lower super output area, (i.e. each Parish has 2,3 or 4 of these). http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/
If you are as geeky as me you will find these really fascinating and a mine of useful information.
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European Candidates are all from long away from here, we're in the West Midlands area for this election, so they were urbanites mainly. I agree that there was little going on in the way of canvassing here, did anyone get a visit from a party rep? We certainly didn't.
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Cllr Glyn Evans, the chair of Weston Rhyn Parish Council, died of a heart attack last Tuesday, whilst working on the Bowling Green. He dedicated himself to Weston Rhyn, (and the Bowling Club), and will be missed from the Parish Council and from all the help he gave to the village. He had been a councillor for about 45 years, his knowledge and loyalty to Weston Rhyn will be a great loss to the Parish.
His funeral is on Wednesday 7th at 11 am in the Parish Church.
There is a lovely photo of him, with his wife, Cllr Pat Evans, with this report of his death in the Shropshire Star.
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/05/05/double-family-tragedy-as-council-chief-dies/
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Well the last round of the SamDev consultation was on the 'soundness' of the process, and national planning law states that the council must consult and respond during the process... So guess what was one of the serious points made was? yep failure to listen to expert opinions, and failure to respond, or acknowledge other responses to SC plans, which will all go before the Planning Inspector, I think the council have forgotten who they act for, it is NOT central government and arguably unworkable national policies, they are meant to represent US.
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It is very like what has happened with the hillfort in that respect. SC ignoring what the majority of local people want, and what S&G Parish Council say, in favour of what they can get away with up here. Follow he money!
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Local Trust have been talking to BT, who are now offering support to Big Local areas. This can be in the form of organised labour offered from local BT, training (e.g. in Social Media), business support and small grants. All the details are here..
http://www.localtrust.org.uk/?new=bt-offers-to-big-local-areas
Local Trust look like they will act as middle men to help organise this in locla areas.
Do we have any ideas.... (e.g. Simple's cycle route project)
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Are you tweeting too?
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Don't forget there is a meeting about 'fracking' in North Shropshire this Thursday, in the Hermon in Oswestry at 7.30. and there is a campaigning facebook page been set up too, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frack-Free-North-Shropshire/616884318399368?fref=nf
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Welcome Bridget, and I am sure you will get a lot of help from the folk who read Community Online.
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There are 3 historical applications for drilling in our area, all of which have lapsed, but could all be subject to a renewal reapplication.
DUDDLESTON GAS DRILLING
Here is the current application, or rather, I assume, renewal of the previous planning application. there is no info from Dart about the plans, but there are the written responses from Natural England and the Environment Agency. This is due to be determined on the 23rd April.(although next North Area Planning Commitee is on 6th May). A report in the Shropshire Star suggests that this is a pre application to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be needed, and that the full application will be submitted in May. http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/04/15/gas-drilling-in-shropshire-takes-a-step-closer/
and this is the previous application,from 2010, to retrieve a coal core, which contains maps and diagrams of their plans.
NEW MARTON
This is the original application, to obtain a coal core,, from 2009
BABBINSWOOD
This is the original appllcation from 2009, to obtain a coal core.
Dart now own exploration rights to all 3 sites.
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I have commented on this piece from the Shropshire Star today about Dart's renewal of its planning application at Duddleston. Note that there is now a Frack-free North Shropshire group, see this from the Shrops Star article if you are interested. I am beginning to get fed up with the umbrella 'Frack' for several very different methods.
Green Party member and Oswestry town councillor Duncan Kerr said Frack-Free North Shropshire had been formed to fight the proposals and would be holding public meetings at Dudleston Heath Village Hall on April 22 at 7.30pm and Hermon Chapel on Chapel Street, Oswestry, on April 24 at 7.30pm.
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Ooooh look, there are Amazon adverts on here. Does that mean the user numbers have reached some kind of significant level?
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Looks like Dart are going to start drilling at the Duddleston site, they are talking to Shropshire Council about whether they need an EIA first.... but planning permission has lapsed, don't they need planning permission first? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-26818700
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Shropshire Council Site Allocations and Management ofDevelopment (SAMDev) PlanPre-Submission Draft (Final Plan) 17 March – 28 April 2014The final consultation is now open. You can make representations only on the 'Soundness' of the process. I.e. not dispute the allocations and areas to be developed. Soundness means whether the process has followed the legal rules, is Justified, Effective and Consistent with national policy.The definitions of what these mean are hereAll the documents are hereYou can write in, but the council seem to favour electronic responses, they will acknowledge emails, and have a form that you can submit here, http://new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/site-allocations-and-management-of-development-samdev-plan/This is a huge document, which will fundamentally affect how Shropshire develops in future, particularly where the areas are which will have new housing and why. Until Shropshire has this signed off by the Planning Inspectorate we are all subject to rogue developers applying for green belt land which does not fit into any strategic plans, as a simple way of increasing value of that land (i.e. landbanking). Have a look at this article in the Shropshire Star, and the discussion following it in the 'Comments'. http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/03/17/anger-at-15000-shropshire-homes-backlog/ -
ST MARTINS PARISH COUNCILNOTICE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 (Section 87(2))VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLORPUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVENA casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor forthe Parish of St Martins following the resignation on13thMarch 2014 of Councillor Will LanderRule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules,2006 now applies.The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the parish in which thecasual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer tohold an election to fill the vacancy. That request must be madewithin FOURTEEN DAYS, calculated in accordance with therules of the date of this notice. The fourteen-day period ends onFriday 4thApril 2014.If a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time?Rule 5(5) of the above Rules will apply. The Parish Council must, as soon aspracticable after the expiry of the fourteen-day period, co-opt a person to fill thevacancy.The Returning Officer’s address is:Electoral Services, Shropshire Council, The Shirehall,Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6NDThe telephone number for further guidance is 0345 678 9015.This notice is dated 17thMarch 2014Sue Crow, Clerk; 3 Fernhill Close, Gobowen, Oswestry, SY11 3PWTel 01691 655385(from Shrops Council website) -
Well yes, I do know geology, which is why I started looking at this in the first place, several years ago when the planning permissions were submitted for local test drills (which have now been taken over by Dart, 2 have lapsed, one is close to it's lapse date), i.e. before all the fuss about fracking, which, by the way, is a different thing to CBM extraction and is exploiting different rock type in different areas. There are lots of ex-miners living in our area, and the extent of the coal seams and where there are still big resources left at depth are common knowledge. On the other hand, the Bowland shales underly the coal measures, and sit on top of the deltaic Millstone grits (Cefn-y-Fedw Sandstones round here) which lap up over the underlying rocks to the south. The Bowland Shales come to the surface just about to the south of Wrexham (and so obviously will have degassed close to surface).
The coal seams formed later in a series of subsiding basinsoverlapping the underlying shales and sandstones. (hence the ability to accumulate a thick sequence of coals and shales and why there are no gas shales under the local coal measures).
Shales need to be broken up (fracked) to release the gasses. Gas will seep out of coals naturally once pressure is reduced, so can be collected more' easily'.
Here is a recent report which suggests that the shale gas reserves are greater than first thought.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26440101
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It will be interesting to see what they find with the exploratory drill in Farndon, as I suspect this will decide whether they will exploit the planning permission sites in St Martins and Babbinswood. It would appear from what was said by the representative of Shrops Council, on a previous post, that they may not need plannng permission for a scaled down exploratory drill.
We watch with interest.
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If Dart decide to do exploration drills in our area this blog about what has happened very quickly near Farndon indicates what it will be like. All the gear associated with one drill, plus heavy traffic, plus demonstrators and security have an impact. This makes for quite an interesting read. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2014/03/515923.html
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At Shropshire Council's cabinet meeting today John Waine spoke on behalf of the almost 9000 people who have signed the petition, and an amendment was accepted into the SamDev Plan, with the 2 developments closest to Old Oswestry taken out, leaving the Whittington Road development only. This is of course a success for the campaign, but a partial success and HOOOH will continue to fight against the Whittington Road development. Meanwhile there is a Seminar about Old Oswestry being held in the Memorial Hall in Oswestry this Saturday morning. It is fully booked, but the displays will be available for anyone to come in and see, and discuss, in the afternoon.
HOOOH Statement to the SAMDEV meeting with
Shropshire Council Cabinet at Shirehall on 19th Feb 2014:
We are grateful, on behalf of the campaign to protect Old Oswestry Hillfort, for the opportunity to make a summary statement on the SAMDev revised preferred sites OSW002, 003 and 004 by Old Oswestry Hillfort and to the Leader of the council for supporting our position from the very start of the campaign.
Let me begin by reviewing what we are discussing here. Dr Rachel Pope, Director of Fieldwork and Senior Lecturer in European Prehistory at Liverpool University recently told Oswestry Town Council that “Old Oswestry Hillfort is second in importance only to Maiden Castle in Dorset”; English Heritage describe it as “One of the greatest archaeological monuments of the nation”.
Shropshire Council too recognises its status. In the prospectus for the planned Oswestry Innovation Park, the council, in its bid to attract investors, pays its own tribute, namely – and I quote - “Key attractions include the world-famous Iron Age fort.” And so it is.
CRITICISM
English Heritage has recently updated its position, in the light of new and compelling evidence, now objecting to all three proposals. Of great concern is their most recent statement and, I quote, “Throughout the process the scheme promoters have, in our view, not taken on board the significance we, and many others attach to the hillfort and its setting.”
It would seem there is little to no confidence that the promoters have given due weight to this world famous Old Oswestry Hillfort, its significance and its on-going value for Oswestry. English Heritage go on to say, “In our view, inappropriate development will be damaging to future potential for access and tourism initiatives in the area.”;
Dr Benjamin Edwards of Manchester Metropolitan University was commissioned to produce an industry-standard Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Report (LVIA). He states: “The quality and sensitivity of the Old Oswestry landscape was described as high due to the statutory designation and national significance of the hillfort. The magnitude of change to the landscape was described as large. As a result, the significance of the landscape impact is described as major. In landscape terms, the nature of these effects is termed direct and permanent.”; He, along with RESCUE (the British Archaeological Trust) and The Prehistoric Society, have criticised the promoter’s Heritage Impact Assessment stating that they “did not follow appropriate guidance or established methodology, either in its execution, or in arriving at a conclusion of minimal landscape and visual impact.”;
This is not to mention Oxford North report in which nearly 50% of the trial trenches were never dug!
Clearly, strategic planning decisions or allocations should not be based on such flawed reports.
MANDATE
Lastly, we come to the elected members of the town itself, Oswestry Town Council, who have listened objectively to the evidence presented to them including the Heritage Statement prepared by Dr George Nash and our own group’s Statement of 17 Objections.
They have clearly stated their decision to take the guidance of English Heritage in the matter whilst asking Shropshire Council to review its figures for housing allocations and focus more on brownfield and in-town dwellings.
Most importantly, our town council has recognised the seriousness of basing any planning policy on inadequate, incomplete and non-compliant reports. To play fast and loose with one of Shropshire’s and the country’s most important archaeological monuments would be unwise.
This is why they have formally requested an independent review of all the archaeological reports from whatever source as critical before this particular allocation is considered.
Opposition to these proposals comes from every quarter - local, national, international, academic, parish & town councils, organisations such as CPRE, Shropshire Wildlife Trust and The Ramblers including over 8000 petition signatories.
There is simply no Community Mandate for these proposals whatsoever.
REQUEST
We understand the pressures that Shropshire Council are under with regards to housing, but we humbly request and propose that Shropshire Council fully respect the views of Oswestry's residents and acknowledge the latest, up to date, industry standard, professional guidance confirming the damage such proposals would bring to this national ancient monument.
Just as OSW063 and 021 were set aside because of substantial harm to the monument and the views of the community, so should these three proposals, which are much closer to the hillfort, be set aside, to protect and promote this ancient jewel of Shropshire, not devalue and damage it.
We would appreciate the council's comments on the key points as stated.
Big Local publishes Community Profile
in Coffee Lounge
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Everyone should have a look at this Community Profile. A lot of work has obviously gone into it and it is a very good report of our 3 villages. Well done.