Newsletter JulyAugust 2010
Sustainable Ottery: Ottery St Mary’s response to climate change, carbon footprints and peak oil.
Welcome to the July/August 2010 edition of
Sustainable Ottery’s monthly newsletter
This month we have, unfortunately, the supermarkets back on the agenda but on a more positive note and keeping things local, a meeting to discuss the possibility of Community shop, more local produce at the Community Market and an opportunity to see solar panels and solar thermal system in action in Ottery. Read on whilst enjoying the current sunny weather (great for the well-being of us all and solar panels too) …
COMMUNITY VEGETABLE SHOP
Following the sudden closure of Wendy’s Greengrocers, leaving many Ottery shoppers at a loss , there has been much discussion about whether the Community Market could meet more often or whether local producers might set up a shop in town. Many of these discussions about setting up a Community shop have been directed to Sustainable Ottery as one of our main aims to make Ottery as sustainable and resilient as possible and that includes providing for itself, especially food and keeping things local. This will not only reduce the food miles but should ensure fresher food and more money will be kept in the local economy if supplies are sourced locally. We will know who is growing the food too.
There are many benefits to a shop being run on a community enterprise basis. In principle it would not be run for any one person’s gain, it would run on a not-for-profit basis so that all net profits would go back into benefitting the community.
A venture of this kind will need a committed core group of people to manage and steer the setting up of the shop. It will also probably need a paid manager to run the shop as it is a committed responsibility, along with volunteers and there is no doubt that a shop of it's kind would command enough takings to be able to sustain a paid position.
Sustainable Ottery would like to explore the potential of this idea at a meeting to be held at the Town Council Offices at 7.30 on Thursday 15th July. We have arranged several speakers to help us with the discussions from Community Enterprise Unit in Exeter, Talaton Community shop and Vanessa Coxon from Ottery Healthfoods. If you would like to be involved in this exciting new venture either as a volunteer, a supplier or as a potential manager or simply plain curious then please join us at the meeting. If you cannot make it but would like to be involved then please e-mail us (info@sustainableottery.org.uk ). Maybe you have had experience of running such an enterprise before and wish to pass on some lessons learnt. We look forward to seeing you there or hearing about any ideas you might have on this .
SAINSBURY’S UPDATE
Unfortunately the Government of the South West has not recommended that the decision by EDDC (to grant Sainsbury’s permission to build a 20,000 sq. feet store) be looked at by the Secretary of State. It does make you wonder how much evidence has to be ignored before it is deemed a case for further investigation. As stated in last month’s Newsletter, the issue of the likely traffic problems likely to be caused by Sainsbury’s is still being investigated. We couldn’t possibly say ‘ we told you so’ could we? However, in Exeter itself an application by Waitrose to build a 24,000 sq. feet store with 227 parking spaces in Heavitree Road has been turned down by local city planners because of ‘concerns about traffic increase on already congested road(s), middle of a residential area, impact on vitality of city centre....’.All sounds so familiar - except for the outcome! Also, note that although this store is 20% bigger than the proposed Sainsbury’s store there are over 70% more parking spaces on offer (Sainsbury’s has only129 spaces for their 20,000 sq. feet store) and it isn’t doubling-up as a pubic car park too. Talking of which, EDDC’s Executive Board have the subject of Hind Street car park on their agenda for their next meeting on 14th July. Unfortunately these discussions will not take place before the public or the press.
TESCO UPDATE
Just when you thought it was safe …Tesco have raised it’s head again and are appealing against EDDC’s decision to refuse them permission to build on the old factory site. For those who lodged a comment on this application with EDDC, have been informed about the chance to speak at a public meeting. Unfortunately, at the time of writing neither the date nor venue are known to us. However, we will endeavour to pass the details over when they become available.
LOCAL FOOD AT SUSTAINABLE OTTERY’S COMMUNITY MARKET
SATURDAY 31st July and 21st August at 9.30-12.30.
New food stalls selling certified organic beef and lamb, beautiful cupcakes made in Ottery, and amazing homemade chocolate are proving to be very popular at the monthly Community Market in Ottery St Mary.
The stalls are a welcome addition to the thriving market, which already sells locally produced, organic fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs and egg products, a huge selection of preserves and chutneys, apple juice and home-baked goods. All this food is produced within 5 miles of Ottery!
There is also a Traidcraft stall, which sells those other essential staples, such as tea, coffee, rice and dried fruit, which cannot be grown locally. These Fairtrade goods are sold at a price and in a way that benefits the producers in the developing world
This month’s market takes place on Saturday, 31st July and August's market is not the last Saturday but 21st August 9.30am – 12.30pm at the Institute in Yonder Street.
SOLAR POWER IN ACTION
Are you interested in solar power? Have you been tempted to generate your own energy and get paid by the Government for doing so? Then why not come along to an ‘open house’ on Saturday 18th September (10-1) at 35 Oak Close, Ottery St. Mary and see both a solar thermal system (heating hot water) and 15 PV panels (generating electricity) in action. Sun Gift Solar (local installers of the system) will be there to answer any queries you might have about their systems or generating energy in general. Please e-mail info@sustainableottery.org.uk for more information or directions.
DRUMMING TAKES A BREAK
The African drumming which has proved so popular is taking a break in July and August, but will be back in September. Please see the September newsletter and local press for details.
TEXTILE REQUEST
Do you have any old sheets, curtains, duvet covers, surplus lengths of fabric, buttons, threads, whlte shirts or ties you no longer require? If so then Mrs Merrygold at the King’s School would love to receive them to use next term to encourage students to reuse and recycle textile items. King’s School tel. no. is 01404 812982.
HARVEST HUB UPDATE
OPEN DAY – SUNDAY 18th JULY 11-2 The Hub at Escot, is “opening its doors” to the general public to show how permaculture can grow wonderful fresh vegetables without harming the planet. There will be guided tours of the growing areas, books and publications to browse and short videos on permaculture. You will also be able to buy some of our produce and plants.
WWOOFing WEEKEND- SUN 29th-30th AUGUST For those of you who haven’t yet discovered WWOOF yet (it stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms www.wwoof.org.uk), this could be your chance to learn more. This weekend, which starts on the Saturday evening, is focused on permaculture and involves some hands-on activities; permaculture videos followed by discussion and will finish at the Harvest Hub’s Open Day on the Sunday.
WOODBURNER The Harvest Hub has been successful in its grant application to purchase and fit a woodburner in the Appleshed. We can now visualise spending warm periods through the winter toasting out toes after a hard day’s work in the garden.
NEW MEMBERS We have recently been joined by several more keen gardeners. But if you follow permaculture principles or want to learn about it, we are still looking for more people to join us. To find out more see our blog at www.harvesthub.blogspot.com or contact Phil on 851048 or philfoggitt@gmail.com and Christina on 814086 or christina@davidwilkinsacd.co.uk
EVENTS IN OTHER PLACES –
Sidmouth Vision Group invite you to their Big Lunch on the Ham Field on Sunday 18th July from 12.30 p.m. Bring a picnic and make some new friends or meet some old ones.
Permaculture course on 24-25th July in Bovey Tracey organised by HogCo. Contact George on 0845 458 0194 or e-mail terrafirma@gn.apc.org
SUSTAINABLE OTTERY COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY
Sustainable Ottery is a properly registered Community Interest Company, or CIC. This means that it has directors, who will be elected at AGMs, members who can stand as directors and move the company in the direction they see appropriate, it can apply for funds from a large number of organisations that non-official organisations can’t. It also has what is called an asset lock, which means that if SO COC ceases operating the assets – money, equipment etc has to be given to a designated local charity or CIC and these can not be shared out among the directors.
Directors do not get a share of any “surplus” made as they might in an ordinary limited company, any “surplus” is ploughed back into the CIC.
If you wish to read the aims and objective of Sustainable Ottery CIC you can see them at www.sustainableottery.org.uk/#/so-governing-document/4530303192 or we can email them to you.
At the end of the newsletter you will find an application form for membership of Sustainable Ottery. 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
You will also find a form which we would really appreciate you looking at; it is our skills audit and is a way we have found of discover what you, our supporters and members, are skilled at. This means you can offer to get involved in the way that you want to. Please take a look, fill it in and email it back to us. Thank you.
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)
Benefits of membership
• 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 Director’s meetings
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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