Blog Archives

green transition worth £71bn

31/1/2023

Contrary to the idea from climate contrarians that 'we can't afford net-zero' the CBI is reporting the transition to a green economy is already worth £71bn with 20,000 businesses and 840,000 jobs already in the sector. But the report also contained a warning. Peter Chalkley, Director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit who commissioned the research says "if the UK doesn't build on the good work that has already been done, we will lose out and lose jobs."

Environmental Improvement Plan 2023

31/1/2023

Our delivery plan for the environment, building a greener, more prosperous country.
Plans to restore nature, improve environmental quality, and increase the prosperity of our country will be set out by the government today (Tuesday 31st January) as it publishes its Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.

Building on the vision set out five years ago in the 25 Year Environment Plan, with new powers and duties from the Environment Act, Agriculture Act and Fisheries Act, it provides a comprehensive delivery plan for the government’s approach to halting and then reversing the decline in nature.

It covers how government will:

Create and restore at least 500,000 hectares of new wildlife habitats, starting with 70 new wildlife projects including 25 new or expanded National Nature Reserves and 19 further Nature Recovery Projects
Deliver a clean and plentiful supply of water for people and nature into the future, by tackling leaks, publishing a roadmap to boost household water efficiency, and enabling greater sources of supply
Challenge councils to improve air quality more quickly and tackle key hotspots.
Transform the management of 70% of our countryside by incentivising farmers to adopt nature-friendly practices.
Boost green growth and create new jobs – from foresters and farmers to roles in green finance and research and development.

The public will also benefit from a new commitment to access green space or water within a 15-minute walk from their home, such as woodlands, wetlands, parks and rivers.

Sewage overspills result from lack of infrastructure investment, research shows

30/1/2023

T. Giakoumis et al, Combined sewer overflows: relating event duration monitoring data to wastewater systems' capacity in England, Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology (2023). DOI: 10.1039/D2EW00637E

The recent uptick in sewage overspill events is due to infrastructure not keeping up with demand, according to Imperial College London research. The conclusion suggests other proposals for dealing with the problem—such as preventing blockages and separating rain and foul water—will not be enough to solve the issue of polluting sewage overspills.

Sewage is regularly being released into English rivers and seas because about 80% of the country’s wastewater systems seem to be frequently pushed beyond capacity and can’t cope with the size of the population.

The UK sewer system combines wastewater from domestic, commercial, and industrial activities and storm water runoff and funnels it to Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs). In times of extreme flow however, such as very heavy rainfall, Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) may be used to discharge some of the sewage to natural watercourses before it reaches a WWTW.

There are 14,346 CSOs in England and although they have been assessed for their environmental risk, their increasing use, even in dry spells, has led many to question their role in the country's wastewater systems. Raw sewage overspill from CSOs directly into rivers and the sea can pollute the water, especially when not used at times of high rainfall that could dilute the sewage.

These overspills can lead to environmental deterioration and present a human health hazard, for example through enteroviruses that cause gut infections, or the proliferation of antibiotic resistance. This has a knock-on effect on tourism and leisure activities like swimming and boating, as well as the consumption of seafood that can accumulate toxins and microplastics.

In response to increased use of CSOs, water companies were ordered to release data on the frequency and duration of overspill events for each CSO for the last two years. However, this raw data doesn't explain what the cause of the increase in their use has been. Without understanding the causes of these spills, the problem cannot be tackled with appropriate solutions.

In the first analysis of this data, Imperial researchers show that most of the increase is due to WWTWs' lack of capacity to deal with increased flows as populations have risen and industrial activities have scaled up.

The team matched the CSO use data with the relevant WWTWs and combined this with data on their treatment capacity. This analysis shows the capacity of many WWTWs is not sufficient, even in the absence of extreme rainfall.

This refutes suggestions of reasons for increased CSO use that blame unpredictable weather, with changes in rainfall causing increases in wet weather runoff. The results are published in the journal Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology.

Lead researcher Professor Nick Voulvoulis, from the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial, said, "Our findings reveal the chronic under-capacity of the English wastewater systems as a fundamental cause behind the increased frequency and duration of CSO spills. We hope this work can help the water industry demonstrate the need for capital investment in infrastructure. It is often taken for granted but investing in infrastructure is critical to our future prosperity."

Between 2000 and 2008 just over 1% of the sewers in England and Wales were replaced or rehabilitated. Considering that much of the infrastructure was built with a lifespan of 60-80 years, at that rate of replacement, it would take 800 years for this to happen for all the sewers in England and Wales.

Part of £102m cycling, walking and bus route work on hold

29/1/2023

Parts of a major programme to improve cycling, walking and bus routes are to be put on hold as the £102million budget can no longer cover the costs of the work.

BCP Council and Dorset Council were awarded £79million from the Department for Transport’s transforming cities fund (TCF) for the south east Dorset region.

This was topped up by around £23million from the councils, business groups and transport companies.

The investment was due to deliver 78 kilometres of new cycle and walking options and bus improvements across six “sustainable travel routes”.

Work has already started on part of all six routes, with various sections at 10 locations complete or under way.

However, it has now been confirmed to the Daily Echo the councils have tabled revised plans to the Government department with parts of the original programme deferred until more money can be found.

No details have been given on which schemes in the programme will be put on hold as a result of the funding issue.

The local authorities said escalating costs of construction materials and labour due to the pandemic, and rising fuel costs and inflation were factors in the finance problem.

Changes to the national design standards for cycling infrastructure had also had a “considerable” impact since the funding was awarded in March 2020.

A spokesperson for south east Dorset’s transforming cities fund programme said: “These unforeseen financial increases, which are outside of BCP Council and Dorset Council’s control, mean the TCF budget is no longer sufficient to cover the full network of cycle, walking and bus improvements originally planned across the region.

“As part of a national TCF review by central government of all 12 city-regions who received TCF funding, we have submitted revised plans proposing the improvements that can continue to be constructed and funded through south east Dorset’s TCF and those that are proposed to be deferred until further funding has been secured.

Dorset CAN Transport Team meeting notes Tuesday 24th January 2023

24/1/2023

As part of the intros, Belinda advised she is looking into a West Dorset-wide approach to Dorset Council for a project to establish car clubs and e-bike rental hubs around here, linking to Axminster, Seaton, Crewkerne and other places on East Devon and South Somerset which have or will have these facilities. Her perception is that there is more focus at DC for East Dorset transport, and she would like to know what others interested in transport think. She also advised that Ray Bryan is seaking to the Transport Select Committee, the only Cllr speaking to them.

TAG updates

Nick gave an update on PTAG activities (copy of latest PTAG Newsletter and Purbeck Transport Plan attached), including that PTAG have sent some transport issues to Ray Bryan for raising at the Select Committee. He als advised there was generally support for a Car Free Day, except for Studland as this would be rather cut off, although it was discussed that such a day could publicise this issue.
Diane advised that WeyTAG are still starting up, nad have volunteers for more transport types but not rail. Beryl suggested contacting either SWR to come and talk about rail, or contacting Friends of Upwey Station.
John said WATAG had a lot of rail experts but not so many active travle people! The WATAG AGM is Thu 26th Jan. Their main concern at present is regarding changes to bus routes and timings without prior consultation. This has led to the loss of tow people’s jobs. THere is also a perception that DC do not listen to WATAG. It was mentioned the public transport section in DC now has on 2-3 officers in it. Also there is a discussion about 20mph limits at Bridport TC. ACTION Dilys to email John the latest 20mph policy and info from the campaign HQ.
Giles ran through the key areas of the DTAG meeting on that morning (Draft minutes attached).

Plans for Car Free Day coming on, probably 2 dates, one to coincide with Dorset COP on 9/9 (road closures ), and one to coincide with International Car Free Day on 22/9 (close car park and host fun events).
Their slightly amended questionaire has gone to 30+ parishes, responses not expected until end Feb.
Dorchester TC are hosting a very interesting Walking Festival.
DTAG AGM will be held sometime in June as a public meeting again.

The levelling up and other funding for Dorset was discussed. £6m from the shared prosperity fund to develop skills training, £19m LU fund for Weymouth harbour - not know if this is to make it suitable for ferries again, plus £110m for flood relief schemes.
It was suggested that the TAG leaders meeting should push for recognition as formal stakeholders for transport consultations.

Dilys advised Chesil Council as considering 20mph at their meeting next week.

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Dilys mentioned she has a new stock of wheelie bin stickers with a 20mph in a heart. Belinda and Beryl would like some.

Frances mentioned a recent trip to Banbury which has implemented 20mph, with Oxfordshire keen on the lower speed limit.
Dilys doesn’t know how many Town and Parish Councils have applied for a 20mph limit. ACTION Belinda to try to find out.

Feedback on Cargo bikes seminar

Dilys briefed that this was a really interesting event (link to Youtube video). There will be a summit on cargo bikes in London on 31/3. it is emerging that they are not just useful for the last mile, but are actually taking vans off the road where used, reducing carbon as their emissions are 20% that of a Berlingo van. In Southampton, they have been used for servicing 20 hospital buildings, transporting rubbish, bed linen, etc around using 18 bikes, which has been very succesful. Waltham Forest Council has partnered with a private E-cargo company, again this is working well. There were some discussions at the seminar about such bikes in rural areas, such as providing a collection and delivery hub, perhaps using existing and ideally located buildings such as churches.

HVO as an alternative fuel for freight vehicles

No update.

Cordite Way Footpath / Cycleway Update

Beryl advised she is meeting Katie Black from Dorset Council next week. This route was publicised in the press last week, and will be added to OS maps when they are updated.
Jade-Aden Ltd will replace the bridge and funding is available to provide the new footpath, which will be disability compliant, and it is hoped the landowner will agree to it being a permissive cycleway. The Poole Harbour Trail and a Friends Group will look after the route.
There is an aspiration to link up Rockley Jetty with Rockley Park across the Lychett Gap, but the recent funding application for a feasibility study failed, and Network Rail have ruled against the path sharing the railway bridge across the harbour. The proposed Upton - Bakers Arms foot and cyclepath (part of the Transforming Cities funding) will now not happen as there is insufficient funding, which is a positive for the Cordite Way route.

Co Cars meeting

Belinda stated she met with Co Cars in December. The pervious person she spoke to who offered a free car for Lyme has left, and his replacement seems more business like - there was no offer of a free car mentioned. There is still the probmlem of the fast charger not being sufficient, a rapid one is needed. CoCars have since sent a proposal to Belinda, but this quotes DC instead of LRTC so needs correcting.
An officer in DC has said that Lyme can have as many EV chargers as they want, and that in principle CoCars could use a DC parking space.
Ray Bryan’s is thought to consider that before there are a series of bike hubs, the cycling infrastructure should be sorted first. We think both should be progress, with grass roots demand being made for these hubs; they could link up villages, reduce social isolation, etc.
DC are likely to stick with Beryl Bikes anyway.

LGA Decarbonisation Meeting

Belinda advised there are a series of Action Learning Sets on Transport, more info here.

Transport Team Strategy

20mph countywide and car free days will be progressed in parallel, as they are linked.
There was not much time for discussion at the meeting, so the next meeting will concentrate on Car Free Days.
Helen advised that Planet Purbeck have refined the focus for the Festival and do not really have the resources to plan the Purbeck event, and so she was not really able to commit to leading this. ACTION Nick offered to contact Sustainable Swanage to see if there is any interest.
Dilys advised not to use the term safe, but to use risk assessment, pointing out there is safety in numbers of cyclists and walker - if a car driver is expecting cycles to be over a hill or round a bend, they will drive accordingly.
Dilys also repeated that there needs to be a positive message , rather than a car free day there needed to be another name for the events, possibly and Active Transport Day.
Frances advised that the opposition to such an event came from businesses in Dorchester, although a Waltham Forest case study indicated a 44% increase in footfall (see attached TfL Evidence Pack for supporting info).
Giles and Helen both agreed their Car Free Day documents could be used by other to support their event plans (both attached as a reminder).

AOB

Frances mentioned that CPRE are looking at rural bus service improvements, with a 3 phase plan:

A Transport Deserts report
An Every Village, Every Hour Report
Local branches taking action by contacting Town & Parish Councils.

Dilys mentioned that her theatre trip for those who haven't used the bus before has proved very popular, with 17 people going to Yeovil Theatre and coming back on the last bus.
Colin D provided a Youtube link to a talk he gave about using history to influence an increase in cycle routes; note only the first couple of minutes are in Portuguese!

2023 starts with flooding across dorset

16/1/2023

The year has started with an indication of what might be to come as temperatures continue to rise. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to more frequent and intense downpours.
Dorset faced 37 flood warnings, which included groundwater flooding along the Bere Stream from Bere Regis to East Stoke and the Lower Frome from East Stoke to Wareham, while Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue were called to multiple incidents across the area including rescuing 23 people who were stranded in an industrial park.

Gaia and Dorset wildlife trust

13/1/2023

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We match you with the products and services that are doing more for the people and the planet. Promoting a vegan meal over a meat one, a plastic-free alternative over a plastic product, and help offset your daily activities with our reforestation and regeneration projects.

We realised that even one small change daily in the way we consume collectively can be HUGE! We partner with brands doing more for the people and the planet.

We realised that even one small change daily in the way we consume collectively can be HUGE! We partner with brands doing more for the people and the planet.

Supply the most environmentally friendly products or services we can, to replace the demand for non-green products and/or services. Gaia uses its partner and supplier sustainability criteria and score-card to make sure both partners and suppliers are aligned to our values. We evaluate our network’s performance based on important environmental, social and governance issues. This covers everything from responsible recycling and ethical banking behaviours to the promotion of diversity and inclusion as well as philanthropic activities.
Unlike its competitors, Gaia only works with inspiring brands who are trying to do more for the planet and have scored 50+ of our sustainability criteria check-list. Gaia offers a number of solutions and training for partners to become more sustainable and improve their sustainability score.
Dorset Wildlife Trust has been chosen by Gaia as one of the four environmental charities to which the company donates a portion of its members' fees as part of their commitment to sustainability. As an additional benefit of their membership, Dorset Wildlife Trust members will gain access to a digital Gaia card which offers hundreds of ethical discounts and offers with local and online companies who meet their sustainability criteria.

The donations will go to Dorset Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserves Fund, the proceeds of which are used to care for and maintain 40 nature reserves across Dorset.

Review of Net Zero Policy

13/1/2023

Chris Skidmore launched the net zero review on 26 September 2022. Its purpose was to identify how the UK could meet its net zero commitments in an affordable and efficient manner, specifically one that is “pro-business, pro-enterprise and pro-growth”. It examined:

what the most pro-business, pro-growth and economically efficient path to reaching net zero would be
how to maximise the economic opportunities that the net zero target presents, as well as increase innovation, investment, exports and jobs in the UK
what economic costs and benefits are associated with new and emerging policies and technologies

The review engaged with businesses, organisations, local government, academia and the public across the UK. A call for evidence also informed the review and received over 1,800 responses.
The review’s findings were published in its final report, ‘Mission zero: Independent review of net zero’, on 13 January 2023.

The review described net zero as the “economic opportunity of the 21st century”. Citing an analysis by global consultancy firm McKinsey, the report said the supply of goods and services to enable the global net zero transition could be worth £1tn to UK businesses by 2030. As part of the British energy security strategy published in April 2022, the government estimated that the energy transition could support 480,000 UK jobs by 2030.

The economy and climate change are intertwined. While this Review has a clear focus on ways to achieve growth and reduce the costs of net zero, it is impossible to consider this in isolation from the physical risks that climate change presents. In a high emission future, the level of global disruption will be so severe that ‘normal’ economic activity will become very challenging.

The Review has heard loud and clear that net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century. The evidence presented to the Review has shown that the pace of recent change has created a rush of economic opportunity at a massive, global scale. With more than 90% of global GDP covered by a net zero target1 there is now huge global momentum to reach net zero and capture the economic opportunities. This is driven by businesses of all sizes who have recognised that net zero can help them grow.

We must move quickly. We have heard from businesses that economic opportunities are being missed today because of weaknesses in the UK’s investment environment – whether that be skills shortages or inconsistent policy commitment. Moving quickly must include spending money. We know that investing in net zero today will be cheaper than delaying, as well as increasing the economic and climate benefits.

Ultimately, the benefits of net zero will outweigh the costs. In some estimates, the UK would see approximately 2% additional growth in GDP, through the benefits from new jobs, increased economic activity, reduced fossil fuel imports and cost savings (for example cheaper household bills).

Energy support scheme – Dorset Chamber comment

11/1/2023

Ian Girling, chief executive of Dorset Chamber, said: “The new deal on energy support offers cold comfort for businesses in Dorset.

“Although continued assistance and the 12-month duration of the scheme is welcome, the 85% drop in the financial envelope of support will fall short for those who are seriously struggling – and these costs are significant enough to cause the closure of businesses.

“Clearly, the Government must consider the public finances but the correct level of support must viewed as an investment in business to help turn the economy around and get the UK back to growth and prosperity in in a critical year ahead.

“In the short to medium term the Chancellor must be ready to intervene with additional assistance should it be required while long-term solutions must be considered as a matter of urgency.

“This must include reform of the business energy market, including the potential strengthening of Ofgem’s powers, as part of an energy strategy to promote longer-term market stability and ways to allow firms to improve their energy efficiency.

“Dorset Chamber will continue to provide support for businesses in the county and support the British Chambers of Commerce in its lobbying of the government.”

Dorset Council to create new nature reserve

10/1/2023

Dorset Council has purchased 13 acres of land near Blandford to transform into a wildlife haven and is looking for volunteers to help plant trees and hedges.

The land, which is currently arable fields and woodland, adjoins the Green Flag award winning Milldown Nature Reserve and North Dorset Trailway near Blandford.The aim of the land purchase is to create new habitat and wildlife corridors to support the survival of one of the rarest bats in Europe, the Greater horseshoe bat. The project will see hedgerows restored, a wildflower meadow established, and more trees planted.

This purchase has been made possible through our Habitat Compensation Fund, using money secured through developer contributions. With extra funding for the project coming from Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme (administered by Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Blandford Forum Town Council and Dorset Council.

The new nature reserve will provide crucial habitat for adults and juvenile bats from the nearby Bryanston Site of Special Scientific Interest roost, whilst also supporting other bat species and a host of other wildlife.

Zero Carbon Dorset