Newsletter May 2010

SUPERMARKET UPDATE

As we are sure you have heard by now, Sainsbury’s has been given the go-ahead for their 20,000 sq. ft store in Hind Street. We are still reeling from the EDDC’s Development Management Committee decision to accept a full 20,000 sq ft Sainsbury store in Ottery at its meeting on 15 April. This decision went against the combined wisdom of EDDC’s own planning officers, the retail specialists GVA Grimley, and English Heritage who all recommended a smaller store. It was also contrary to the wishes of Ottery’s Town Council and of East Devon District Councillors for Ottery and West Hill, Roger Giles and David Cox. Even more galling was the fact that the decision was carried by only two votes, with seven in favour of a 20,000 sq ft store and five favouring a smaller store.
By Sainsbury’s own calculations, a 20,000 sq ft store will generate 20,000 car journeys a week, causing traffic chaos and gridlock in Ottery’s narrow streets, increasing pollution in the town centre and severely compromising the health and safety of pedestrians and schoolchildren.
The effect on local shops selling food and comparison goods will be devastating. GVA Grimley’s report of February 2010 (commissioned by EDDC at taxpayers’ expense) recommended that the store should be half the size proposed by Sainsbury – i.e. 10,000 sq ft. It pointed out that a 20,000 sq ft store would be seriously disproportionate to the rest of the retail space in Ottery. By comparison, it pointed out that the Tesco store in Honiton represents 25% of retail space in Honiton, the Waitrose store 20% of retail space in Sidmouth but that a 20,000 sq ft store in Ottery would represent a staggering 70% of retail space in the town.
The GVA Grimley report warned that a store of this size would result in a 20% drop in business for local retailers. SO’s own survey of local shops’ income in the summer of 2009 indicates that a such a drop would force around 9 existing shops in the town to close. Wendy’s has now closed and is sorely missed. Who might be next?
We have encouraged our supporters to contact the EDDC councillors who made this decision to justify their decision. If you were lucky enough to receive reply then you will know that one reason given appears to be to save Sainsbury’s the bother of applying for permission to extend the store if they ‘overtrade’ in the future – a very dubious reason to approve such a large store in opposition to all recommendations. Why should our District Council, funded by our Council tax put the interests of a multi-million pound company before the interests of our local shops and the impact upon Ottery? You may also wish to alert English Heritage about your misgivings (david.stuart@english-heritage.org.uk)
The only course of action now is to send any queries that you might have about the decision to an organisation called GOSW (Government of the South West) who have some powers to look into planning decisions which appear to contradict recommendations, If you would like to do this, then please address any concerns to Neal Gray at neal.gray@gosw.gsi.gov.uk . You may also like to copy in your two District Councillors who are also angry at the decision dcox@eastdevon.gov.uk and roger.giles@eastdevon.gov.co.uk.
All we can do now is wait and see if this course of action reaps any rewards. In the meantime keep using the local shops – they need all our support. (You may find the poem at the end of this newsletter by Ana Pulteney quite poignant.)

COMMUNITY MARKET – SATURDAY 29 MAY 9.30-12.30

Fresh Vegetables & Plants at Sustainable Ottery’s Community Market. The market is now the only place in Ottery town centre to buy fresh, locally produced vegetables! We also welcome back our plant and locally grown flower stalls.
Everyone’s welcome to browse and shop among the many stalls selling organic meat, home made cakes and chocolate, cards, jewellery, gifts, fair trade goods, nature photographs, eggs, preserves and much more.
Relax with coffee and cake while children have their faces painted.
The next market is on Saturday 29 May 9.30am – 12.30pm at the Institute in Yonder Street.

DRUMMING INTO SUMMER

Sustainable Ottery’s drumming workshops continue to be a success with a great group of drummers, both experienced and beginners, now planning their Summer dates. After three very successful workshops so far the sound of djembes has become familiar in the town. The next dates are on 22 May, 26 June & 17 July at 2pm in the Old Boys School in Jesu Street. Everyone is welcome to attend and drums are available to borrow, or you can bring your own. Tutor Nick Bore will take you through the basics, before introducing more complex rhythms which fill the hall, and probably Jesu Street, with the sound of Africa. If you would like to attend please call Clive on 01404 814217 to find out more. The cost is between £12 and £15 depending on numbers and the fun starts at 2pm and lasts for three hours. There will be no workshop in August but they will start again in late September.

PARISH CHURCH SUMMER FETE AT CADHAY SATURDAY 29TH MAY

Sustainable Ottery will have a stall at Cadhay again this year. We shall have plants for sale and also a seed swap. Do you have too many seeds and would like to take part in a seed swap? If so bring them along and exchange them for something else – magic beans not guaranteed in exchange for Daisy the cow.

HERBS AND NATURAL FOOD

There is a vast resource of wild food just growing on our doorsteps waiting to be collected and Sustainable Ottery has organised a “Herbs and Natural Food Forage event” on July 10th on an organic farm near Ottery. There will be a two hour walk around the farm, two experts will guide people on what wild foods and herbs can be collected and eaten. We will then prepare what we have found and enjoy a lunch of British wild food. At the same time we will collect natural herbs and make some easy preparations that can be used in the home. There are limited places on this event and they are offered free on a first come first served basis. If you are interest and would like to book a place send an email to info@sustainableottery.co.uk with “Food Forage” in the subject line. Include your name, contact number and the number of places you would like. We are planning to car share from the town so please indicate if you can provide a seat in a car, or would like a lift. We will then send more details at the end of June.

COMPOST AWARENESS

Did you know that the first week of May was Compost Awareness Week? Otter Rotters are encouraging people to compost their own kitchen waste, garden prunings etc. or put it out for Otter Rotters to collect on the kerbside, using bags with special tags (available from Roberts).
Mandy Jennings from Otter Rotters said ‘There is often a belief that garden waste is harmless, but in a landfill tip it causes powerful greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere. Local composting is a simple alternative and Otter Rotters collection round makes it convenient for individuals to make a difference but as more areas of East Devon now receive the service, the collective effect is substantial. The compost produced is a natural resource and when used instead of composts that contain peat, further increases the benefits to the environment.
Fifty one percent of people have never used peat free compost, and twenty four percent say they are not aware of it, despite the fact that it can also make a significant environmental saving.[1] It can take anywhere between 500 to 1,000 years to replace every one metre layer of peat extracted in the UK, putting at risk wildlife such as birds, dragonflies and butterflies that depend on its natural habitat for survival. To find out more about composting visit: http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/compost_awareness.html

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.

VOLUNTEER POTTER WANTED
After the success of the reskilling day we are looking for someone who has pottery skills to run the occasional workshop for young people. We do have access to a kiln. If you are interested do please get in touch.

LOOKING AHEAD IN OTTERY
Jazz Picnic at Cadhay on Wednesday 3rd June. Gates open at 3.30 and music by the City Steam Jazz Band starts at 4.30 to 7.00. Tickets are £5 per adult or £12 family ticket (includes a visit to Cadhay gardens). Bring your own picnic. Tickets available from Ottery St. Mary Tourist Information Centre (01404 813964). All profits to Ottery Carnival Fund.

Beth Hamer from 'Growing Our Future' (based in Chagford/Okehampton) has accepted an invitation to come and speak to SO in the early summer about her recent 6 week visit to Cuba researching permaculture there. For more details see www.okehamptoncollege.devon.sch.uk

News from Vision Group for Sidmouth
Cosy Up Your Home – a free information event is on May 27 from 2pm – 5 pm at All Saints’ Hall. ‘How to save energy and money at home.’
Further information from 01395 577549 or 577707

The next SO monthly Steering Group meeting is on Thursday 20th May at 7.30pm, in the URC Church Hall in Jesu Street. All welcome to attend.

Please pass on this newsletter to any contacts you have. If a friend has sent you this, please e-mail info@sustainableottery.org.uk adding `subscribe’ to the subject line. If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know. And if you currently receive a paper copy of this newsletter but could receive it electronically (which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly), please send us your e-mail address.
See www.sustainableottery.org.uk for further details of our events and activities.
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ODE TO A GREEN SPACE IN OTTERY

(Ana Pulteney, April 2010. With apologies to Benjamin Zephaniah, a great British poet)

Our town is somethin' special
It's name is Otteree,
We 'ave a waitin' green space
It's air is pure an' free.

But now we really threatened
By the massif Sainsburee,
It's gonna build a big one,
No fit our philosophee.

Otteree is quite sustainable
We got bats, birds, flowers 'n bees,
We no wanna a supermarket
Cuttin' down our trees.

Our friendly shops will suffer,
They no need no pay freeze,
Sainsburee jus' milk us,
They no care 'bout our needs.

We 'ad a special poet
'Is name is Sam T. C.
'E'll be quakin' in 'is restin' place
'e know this plan no p.c.

We need another poet
To come and 'ear our plea,
Jus' come 'an see our cool town
An' we will give you tea.

Tell the Council they is wrong
They abuse authoritee,
They wreck another market town
An' wan' us pay their fee

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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.

Also Click Here for a downloadable version of the application form

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Skills Audit Database
To enable Sustainable Ottery to communicate better with its supporters we wish to enhance our database. If happy to do so, please could you fill in the requested details below and return, so that in future Sustainable Ottery can make better use of its hidden talents.

Experiences and skills.- don’t hide yours under a bushel, we all have something to offer. Here are a few suggestions:

Name: Post Code:
E-mail: Telephone:

EXPERIENCES & SKILLS:
Delivering leaflets Accountancy/bookkeeping
Food preservation Campaigning
Garden share, land available Organising events
Livestock rearing Poster design
Permaculture Public speaking
Putting up posters Running meetings
Seasonal cooking Writing up minutes
Staffing stalls Town planning
Tree planting Fund raising
Vegetable growing Advertising
Catering Group Facilitation
Creative activities Renewable energy
Coaching & counselling

Please tick one or more boxes and return via this email address (info@sustainableottery.org.uk) or via SkillsAudit@sustainableottery.org.uk . If we have omitted a skill that you are able to offer, feel free to write it in a space provided.

If returning this skills survey in paper form then please could you drop it into Roberts Hardware shop for collection.