All,

 Transition Shipston, with the help of Shipston Town Management Partnership, are holding an ‘affordable enrgy for all’ even at Shipston High School on April 17th from 10am to 4pm.

 It should be a good day - there will be lots of exhibitors showing their renewable energy and high efficiency products, such as solar panels and high efficiency boilers.  On top of this, there will be stalls where you can learn about simple ways to reduce your energy bills and people who will tell you what grants are available for energy conservation.

On top of this Transition Shipston will be running seminars on Peak Oil and other issues.

The day is free so please feel free to drop in.  Hopefully local residents will learn how to take simple and effective actions to reduce their energy use and save money.  We also hope that businesses from the South Warwickshire area will be able to publicise their goods and services - maintaining and increasing jobs in the area.

The Town Council last night agreed to sponsor the event with a £500 grant mainly going to publicise the day.

The exhibitors brochure can be found here.

Regards,

 Philip

All,

With the news this morning that energy bills are expected to rise by 15-20% in the next few years, the need for us to discuss how we use energy in Shipston has never been greater.

Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities are holding an event for local people to discuss local solutions to our rising energy crisis.

Everyone is welcome, either to learn about energy saving ideas or to contribute to new initiatives.

This might be one of the most important things you go to this year!

I reprint their advert below.

Regards,

Philip

Powering Shipston

How can we work together to power our community beyond cheap energy?

St. Edmund’s Church meeting room on Saturday 13th February, 10.00 – 1.00 (doors open 9.30)

With the Earth’s climate changing as a result of carbon emissions, we need to find ways to reduce the demand for energy and our reliance on fossil fuels as energy sources. Rising energy prices pose a challenge for those on low incomes, as well as for businesses which have taken low energy costs for granted.

You can help decide the key issues for group discussions when everyone will be able to contribute their ideas… no lectures, no presentations – just your ideas and planning for local energy initiatives

Refreshments available throughout the morning and FREE ENTRY!

For more details about Transition Shipston, visit the website:

http://transitionshipston.blogspot.com/

or ring Helen Winnifrith 661244 / Dave Passingham 661816

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

All,

 Just a quick bit of advertising for an event coming up.  If you’d like more information please contact Helen or Dave (their contact details are below).

Regards,

Philip

All,

I promise to mention the fact that there’s an election coming up on June 4th soon, but in yet another bid to have a blog which mentions more interesting things, I simply reprint a press release from the excellent Transition Shipston group - which will also appear in next month’s Forum.

Regards,

Philip

“The first public meeting of Transition Shipston and the Surrounding Area which was attended by around 30 people discussed how we can make the town and surrounding villages more self-reliant so that the community can become more resilient in the face of future food and energy “shocks”.

Of major interest to the meeting was increasing the amount of food produced locally.

One suggestion was to start a Community Supported Agriculture scheme similar to Canalside near Leamington where a farmer has rented out 7 acres of his land to members of the local community who all take part in the growing and share the produce. Other ideas included community gardens / orchards and a School Farm.

Re-invigorating the local economy is a primary aim of Transition Town initiatives in other parts of the country. Supermarkets it was suggested were a threat to the continuing health of local shops. The meeting heard that some towns have issued local currencies to encourage local shopping.

The meeting discussed ways of reducing energy consumption by encouraging more energy efficiency in the home and it was suggested that local energy advisers are needed. Schools are able to get grants for sustainable energy such as solar panels and wind generators to cut down on their fuel bills.”

The Transition group is now looking for land or unused gardens that can be used for community food growing and sharing. If you have land or know of suitable land contact: transitionshipston@googlemail.com or phone 07973 846605. 

Web: http://transitionshipston.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=104035097941

All,

More publicity for non political things - Transition Shipston now have a facebook group. Members of facebook can see it here, and all are welcome to join.

It’s a bit empty at the moment, but more information will be there soon.

Regards,

Philip

Residents of Shipston-on-Stour and surrounding villages have taken their first step towards building local resilience by hosting a public meeting to discuss the effects that Peak Oil and Climate Change will have upon the town.

With global oil supplies dwindling and climate change expected to increase flooding and cause huge environmental damage, practical solutions must be sought soon. Transition Towns is a worldwide grassroots movement working to build local resilience against the effects of Oil and Climate Change. Towns have engaged in practical solutions including; shop local schemes, installation of renewable energy production and grow your own fruit and vegetables.

A public meeting will take place on the 29th April at Shipston-on-Stour High School at 7.30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to engage local organisations, residents and groups to become part of the initiative and help Shipston become locally resilient. The meeting will be open to all.

Matt McMullen; local resident and founding member of both Transition Stratford and Transition Shipston said:

“The Transition Town movement is a truly grassroots movement. To act globally we must think locally. The only way to tackle the huge challenges of both Climate Change and Peak Oil is to work from the bottom up. We hope that the meeting will engage and inspire local residents and community groups to take part and take action. We would urge all local residents to come along.”

The meeting will include an opening presentation by James Pavitt, founding member of the National Association of Farmers’ Markets, who will introduce the ideas behind Peak Oil and Transition Towns.

Transition Shipston and surrounding villages hope that the meeting will pave the way for local grassroot projects tackling peak oil and Climate Change. Transition Towns have typically worked on projects encouraging local food production, renewable energy and boosting the local economy.

Shipston-on-Stour will join the world wide Transition Movement which includes initiatives in Japan, Chile, US and Australia.

Contact:

Matt McMullen

Tel : 07969063626
Email : matt_mcmullen@hotmail.co.uk

All,

I went to a meeting of the group - I think to be called Transition Shipston (to be explained in a later post!) - planning a public meeting on April 29th to develop Shipston and its surrounding villages as a Transition Town. It’s a really exciting move for the Town, and I’d urge people to have a look at what it’s about (click on this link) and keep the evening of the 29th free.

By the way - this isn’t being organised by the Lib Dems and the group welcomes anyone who is interested and concerned about our future.

Further details to follow!

How can our community respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of Peak Oil and Climate Change?

Philip

The local press carried a report recently that John Maples MP had changed his mind about supporting the Climate Change Bill in the House of Commons.  Liberal Democrat District Councillors, including Richard Cheney and Bob White put forward a motion at the District Council
meeting on 14th July pointing this out and asking Council to re-iterate it’s own support for measures on climate change.  Needless to say the Conservatives put forward an amendment (which was carried, since they have a majority on the Council), which started:

‘Council notes that John Maples MP made a thoughtful and well informed speech in the 2nd reading debate on the Climate Change Bill.  While he did not question the fact that global warming is happening he argued that the predicted consequences have been greatly exaggerated and that many of these can better be met by adaptation than by the Kyoto process of drastic CO2 emission reductions’.

And yet the Conservatives still have the nerve to say, ‘Vote Blue, Go Green!’

Philip