Newsletter December 2011

Sustainable Ottery: Ottery St Mary’s response to climate change, carbon footprints and peak oil.

Sustainable Ottery’s aim is to try and involve many more local people in our efforts to help build a more sustainable community in the face of climate change and depleting fossil fuel reserves.
Please come and join us and spread the word!

Click here for Community Market information

Hello and welcome to December’s Newsletter. We thank you for your support during 2011 and hope that this will continue in 2012. Please read on to find out about significant changes to the formal structure of Sustainable Ottery as well as other important issues relating to the future of the town. May we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and sustainable new year. (Note there will be no Newsletter in January)

Sustainable Ottery – no longer a formal Community Interest Company
At our AGM it was decided that Sustainable Ottery would no longer remain as a Community Interest Company. With our current situation, it does not appear necessary for us to have this formal, legal status with its associated tax and accounting implications (and costs!). Therefore, it was unanimously decided that we would take steps to change our status back to that of an unincorporated association. However, we will remain a group with the interest of our community very much at our core. A copy of our chairman’s report from the A.G.M. is reproduced at the end of the Newsletter.

Ottery St Mary Town Council Meeting Monday 5th December at 7 p.m.
Ottery St Mary Town Council at its meeting on 5th December, at the Town Council Offices (The Old Convent) will discuss the EDDC Local Plan (formerly the EDDC Local Development Framework) and future development in Ottery. Attending the meeting will be LDF Panel Chairman Cllr Mike Allen. Members of the public are entitled to attend the meeting and speak at the commencement of it (at 7pm). If you have concerns then this is your opportunity to air them.
Development seems to be an important issue at the moment with the anticipated imminent Redrow Homes planning application and the commencement of the EDDC Local Plan consultation on 1 December. There will be a public display of the plans showing the proposed Redrow Homes development in Butts Road at Ottery Football Club ground in Butts Road on Tuesday 6th December from 2 – 7.30 p.m. Also the EDDC Local Plan is available at www.eastdevon.gov.uk/localplan and the chance to comment. However, the relevant Ottery St. Mary page has been extracted and can be accessed on our website.
If you’re still in the mood for getting your opinions aired then there’s another public consultation on Wednesday 7th at 2 p.m. at The Institute regarding whether the NHS trust that runs Ottery Hospital should become a foundation trust.

Free Raffle at the Christmas Community Market 10th December
Following on from November’s market which was the biggest yet – there were even stalls in the foyer and coffee lounge – December’s market looks like being even more amazing! Last minute Christmas shopping and the chance to win vouchers for Christmas produce from selected retailers in Ottery are two more reasons to visit Sustainable Ottery's Community Market on 10 December 9.30 – 12.30 at The Institute in Yonder Street. Market shoppers will reduce their food miles and ensure that their money stays in the local economy, as well as having a great range of local produce and crafts to choose from. Penny Hounslow, one of the organisers, agrees and adds, ‘there is such a brilliant atmosphere on the morning; it makes shopping fun again. And you can buy unique, one-off items that make fabulous gifts and produce that couldn’t be fresher!”
A full house of stalls will be selling a wide variety of products from knitted items to local preserves and chutneys, fresh vegetables to home-made cakes, wooden toys to works of art, Christmas decorations to home made soap, jewellery to one-of-a-kind cards; and more, something for every one. The WI will be serving up Christmas refreshments so shoppers can also unwind and soak up the atmosphere.
Help Required - So that the market keeps on improving and expanding, the market organizers are looking for somebody to put out signs around Ottery a few days before the market, on the market day itself and to collect them after the market. Expenses will be paid to the right person who has their own car and can take this on. This may suit an organization that would be willing to take this on for a donation to their organization, or to a charity of their choice.
We are always looking for volunteers to help put the tables out and put them away on the day. If we have enough people then it means that we can have a rota going so that it doesn’t have to be every month.
Please call Beatrix Godfrey on 01404 812213 to discuss how you could help contribute to our very successful Community Market.

Community Market Dates for 2012
NO JAN 25 FEB 31 MAR 28 APR 26 MAY 30 JUN
28 JUL 25 AUG 29 SEP 27 OCT 17 NOV 15 DEC

Ottery Shops
I’m sure many of you will have seen the excellent article in this month’s Ottery Gazette. I do not know who the author is but I thank them for saving me some time as we too wished to put in a plug for local shops this month. A summary of some of the main points in the article-
- Every ‘local’ pound you spend is more likely to be reinvested locally thus keeping more wealth in the local area,
- shopping locally is better for the environment and saves you fuel,
- talking with a retailer directly ensures you get exactly what you need,
- local shops are more likely to sell local goods and the local shops makes Ottery what it is! Please read the full article to see the details. Extra copies of the Ottery Gazette are available in The Tourist Information Office and from John Gaffney printers or visit the new Ottery Gazette website which has an archive of past editions – www.otterygazette.co.uk
The late-night event was very well supported but such support needs to happen every week! You will have noticed too the ‘Use us or lose us’ posters in the windows of many shops and how true… ‘you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone’ to quote Joni Mitchell. In these dire financial times and with petrol the price it is, it makes so much sense to use the local shops and don’t forget the two hour free parking in Hind Street car park.

African Drumming- Saturday 17th December
The very popular and vibrant African drumming/percussion workshops continue on our doorstep in Ottery and ably demonstrated at the Environmental Exhibition last month. The next drumming workshop will be held on Saturday 17th December beginners at 2pm, more advanced drummers at 3.30 p.m finishing at 5 p.m. The cost is £7.50 per session. It will take place at the Station Youth Club, Barrack Rd (i.e. main road out of Ottery to A30), on the Kings School side of the River Otter on the right hand side, a few metres from the bridge. For more information call 01404 814217. Drums are available to borrow and everyone over 11 years old (accompanied by an adult up to 16) is welcome.

Special Energy Event at the Community Market Last Month
A very successful energy event took place at last month’s Community market where many dozens of useful leaflets on how to save energy, save money and how to keep warm this winter, were given away by Sustainable Ottery. Lots of useful energy-saving gadgets and equipment that can be bought in Ottery were on display too – you don’t need to travel to Exeter to get these! We also managed to distribute 36 draught-excluders for free, made from donated material and sheep’s wool insulation. There is still some insulation left so if anyone has any old material, curtains that are torn, shabby or generally not reusable then they might be suitable to cut up and make into draught excluders or even the leg of a pair of jeans makes an excellent draught-excluder too! Any offers of material to Jill Dixon (01404 811067 please) and more freebies will appear in future Community markets. If you wish to make one yourself it’s simply
· Cut a rectangle of fabric about 1m by 30 cm (or 3 ¼ feet by 1 foot in old money) folded in half lengthways and sown along the wrong side of one short length and one long length
· turn inside out and stuff with suitable material (old tights would do but you would need loads!)
· turn open end in on itself and carefully sew to finish off.
If you wish to go ‘retro’, instead of a rectangle shape to start with, make a tapered snake shape and add a tongue and buttons for eyes! Have seen similar for sale for £20 on the internet!!!

Community Orchard / More Allotments?
Currently, Justin Pollard, a research student at Exeter University is working with local transition groups in East Devon and Exeter He is keen to explore the idea of a community orchard, allotments or growing space in Ottery. He is successfully investigating this with the other groups too. If this is something that you might like to get involved in either as a grower, investor or land supplier(!) then please contact Justin on justin@sustainableottery.org.uk

An Appeal from The King’s School
The textiles’ department are on the look-out for any odd beads or broken brooches, etc. Also, oddments of fabric always required. Please contact the school on 01404 812082.

Proposed Cuts to D.C.C. Budget
If you missed the recent public meeting in Ottery you can send any ideas about the proposed cuts to the Devon County Council budget to Kirsty at communication@devon.gov.uk . Also visit www.toughchoices.co.uk

Quick and Easy Gift-Bags
And finally... turn small boxes (cereal packets, mince pie boxes etc.) into wonderful gift bags. Simply cut the top or end flaps off one end/side. Push in the side panels (starting at the end just cut) and squeeze the edges together to achieve a ‘concertina’ affect. Continue until about ¾ way down the box until they make the ‘classic’ tapered gift bag shape. Cover in good quality wrapping paper (so pictures on box are not visible through the paper). Make holes at the top and thread through suitable ribbon for handles. Easy peasy and costs next to nothing yet looks great! Recycling at its best.

Other Events in the Area
(Please contact us if you need assistance with transport to any of these events or could offer lifts and we will try and co-ordinate arrangements)
‘La La Choir’ Thursday 8th December Ottery Primary School 7-9 p.m. A new choir in Ottery St. Mary is being considered along the lines of those recently shown on the television with conductor Gareth Malone trying to teach choral music to people with little singing experience. A free taster session is planned for Thursday 8th December at Ottery Primary School from 7 until 9 p.m. with conductor Sam Abrahams and everyone, regardless of ability, is welcome. See www.lalalympstone.co.uk for more information about this. If there is enough support it is hoped to start an actual choir on Thursday 5th January 2012, 7pm to 9pm which will then run on a weekly basis.
Saturday 10th December 7.30 Ottery St. Mary Choral Society Concert at Ottery Parish Church. Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, Barber’s ‘Adagio for strings’ , Widor’s Toccata and community carols plus mince pies and a glass of wine/soft drink. Tickets £ 9.50 from Stagestruck or 01404 811311.
Devon Wild Food Foraging Courses in Sidmouth Stalking Edible Wild Mushrooms. For the last 12 years Rob Ridlington & Tim James have been ‘obsessively’ intrigued by wild edible mushrooms, and every year during the season, can be seen hunting for them around Sidmouth, Devon. During this two hour wild edible mushroom walk, Tim & Rob will be uncovering the fungal food delights that country dwellers have enjoyed for centuries. Costs £ 20 for two hours – next walk on September 11th and every Sunday after that into early October. For more details please visit www.foragingcourses.com/timrob
Forest Garden Open Sundays The Old Pavilion, Cuckoo Down Lane, Honiton EX14 9TT is holding an open Sunday on the 2nd Sunday of each month for volunteers to go and work in the garden and learn about forest garden techniques. In return lunch is provided. More information from www.oldpaviliondevon.co.uk or 01404 45699.

Become a Sustainable Ottery signed-up member
What better time to become a signed up SO member than the New Year! Below you will find an application form. The benefits of being a member:

Supporting the work of Sustainable Ottery as described on the website
· Voting powers at AGMs (notice of these will be posted on the website)
· The right to stand for election as a director of the company
· Regular e-newsletters keeping you up to date with news of Sustainable Ottery, environmental and local issues
· Membership of sub-groups that interest you
· An influence on the direction that the organisation takes in pursuit of its aims
· An open invitation to attend Directors’ meetings

Sustainable Ottery Ltd.
Community Interest Company
Application for membership

I would like to apply to be a member of Sustainable Ottery and I support the aims of the organisation as described on the organisation’s website at www.sustainableottery.org.uk/

Name:………………………………………………………………………………..

Address: …………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………… Postcode: ……………………………………..

Email: ………………………………………………………………………………..

Tel: ………………………………………………Signature………………………..

Membership is open to everyone over the age of 16.
Annual membership fee £3 (renewable on 15th October annually)
I do not wish to be a member but would like to be a supporter and receive the e-newsletter
Please return to: Sustainable Ottery, c/o Roberts, Broad Street, Ottery St. Mary, Devon. EX11 1BU
Cash, or cheques made out to Sustainable Ottery please. Your details will not be passed to any other organisation at any time. By signing this form you are agreeing to us keeping your information on a computer system.

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Sustainable Ottery

A local response to global change

Newsletter December 2011

Sustainable Ottery: Ottery St Mary’s response to climate change, carbon footprints and peak oil.