Spillage in Barrows Green Lane

Today has seen quite a few tipper trucks over the weight limit travelling up and down Barrows Green Lane laden with what looks like building waste, some with cement. The Lorry Watch scheme have sent information to the police about one of the lorries.

Later in the afternoon I noticed that one of the trucks had stopped and the driver was examining his load as if he had had a problem with it. As I went past him and travelled further along the road I noticed spillage on the road's surface and the grass verge - presumably coming from the lorry I'd just seen. By the time I'd put two and two together the lorry had moved on and I'd not been able to get the reg number. This was at about 5pm. Also going further along the lane at its junction with Derby Rd I noticed more spillage.

We've informed the police about this incident but it would be useful if anyone else saw this vehicle at 5pm parked up on the lane that they contacted me on 0151 423 1692.

"The Age of Stupid" and Halton

I'd advise anyone who's interested in one possible version of the future to try to see "The Age of Stupid" which was premiered in March this year - the year of the Copenhagen UN meeting on Climate change (December 2009). I saw the film last Thursday in the Community Church in Frodsham

Its another topic I go on about and worry whether I'm putting people off. But I think it should be shown by every council in the country to their elected members and officers to push the debate on in relation to what we can all do at so many levels.

The film, a sort of documentary plus, if you don't already know stars Peter Postlethwaite (I didn't know until recently he grew up in Warrington or was it Wigan) who in the year 2050 following catastrophic climatic events looks back at "The Age of Stupid" ie now at what we weren't doing to tackle climate change.

At this very moment I'm thinking of Halton Council's core strategy document - strategical planning for the borough until 2020 and particularly its economic development plans which seem partly to be ensuring that Halton becomes a major centre for logistics and distribution (means heavy goods vehicles etc). This includes its support of expansion of Liverpool airport as part of this strategy.(not exactly a plus in terms of tackling climate change - maybe in vote winning though!)

Without being privvy to exactly what Halton council is doing regarding economic development and I must say I've not looked at the core strategy document in any depth (only just received it) and I'm certainly no expert, it begs the question what are we doing to attract what will become one of the biggest growth industry's in the next decade to the area - sustainable energy. Perhaps sincerely I'll be pleasantly surprised at the work that's going on or indeed I'll be made to recognise that attracting any industry per se to Halton is difficult!

The Green Party and other organisations are hoping to show the film in Widnes in November this year. It is not going to be a Green Party thing the subject matter is too important (sorry if I sound holier than thou but am thinking of my grandchildren) We would like to invite everyone to the viewing including council members (and officers of course). Please come, we all really need to be acting together!

Will be posting dates and times in due course

HGV's and speeding again!!!

Attended the Lorry Watch meeting on the 21st September and it was agreed to follow up the possibility of using speed and weight sensing humps (these humps are only activated when vehicles are exceeding speed limits or are over a certain weight) and also seeing whether the Sat Nav systems that are sending non local vehicles our way can be changed in such a way as to make the routes down Barrows Green Lane and Moorfield RD 'no go areas'.

I've discussed these ideas in blogs before but we are going to try and do something concrete about them. Regarding the retractable humps we'd obviously have to survey people on Barrows Green Lane and Moorfield Rd about such a possibility. Maybe it's going to be a non starter because of lack of funding we'll see!! I've written to Highways section about it and will let you know the result.

Hoping to speak to police about the Sat Nav issue as well.

The other thing is that the group is sending out a press release of some sort and contained in it will be the offer of our group helping residents to form similar groups in other areas with problems. With the plans the council have to make Halton a centre for logistics and distribution there might be an increasing need for such schemes!!


In the meantime Lorry Watch will be continuing in the area in October and possibly every three or four months to keep the Hauliers on their toes. Residents have also been asked to report incidents at any time.

We need volunteers - if you can help plse let us know

Lorry Watch meeting

There's to be a Lorry Watch meeting on Monday 21st September at 10am in Widnes.
We'll be discussing progress made to date and whether and when we'll be starting a new observation period. Police and hopefully Trading Standards will be in attendance.

Its notable that since our last observations in July HGV traffic in the area has increased. This of course could be purely coincidental.

The consensus is that we should be considering more effective long term solutions but it doesn't rule out observational periods. Anecdotal evidence suggests that our contact with hauliers has been positive and educational from both theirs and our points of view.

If you're able to attend or want to comment and prefer to speak to me directly please phone me on 0151 423 1692

Then, Now and Wow

The last time I attended a Liverpool Green Party meeting was in 2004. Then they were held at Liverpool University's Students Guild in the city centre. If I'm served appropriately by my memory, not sure of this these days, the membership seemed to be prominently young people, particularly students.

Peter Cranie was the work horse of the group, always enthusiastic full of ideas and supportive of all in a positive way.

I think I saw a little of the fruition of his work (and others) when I attended a Liverpool Green Party meeting at the beginning of this week.

A little aside at this stage before I get to the core of my ramblings. The meetings are now held at the Aigburth Bowling and Cricket club next door to St Michaels station. I mention the station not only for purposes of orientation but to relate a story about how easy it is to fall into the cultural trap of relying too heavily on the car.

I'd mentioned to several people about my intention to go to the meeting and was hoping somebody might take me up on the offer of transporting them there. This would resolve my conscience about using the diesel monster to get to Liverpool and back. But nobody responded and I was left to my conscience and pretentious and untried principles.

Could I go by train - the meeting might end late, could I get my connections - who would pick me up from the station. Its that mindset that's difficult to shake off. But I resolved to do it and to my relief found it to be incredibly easy and cheap to use the train (£2.70 return). I've got a rail card - not telling you which type!!

Whats more I discovered a way from Widnes to Southport via Liverpool Southparkway by train which would be relatively direct and inexpensive. Just shows you what can happen when you do something different!

Back to the meeting - I was struck about the quality of the debates which occurred. It seemed a much more settled group than the one I had witnessed in 2004. Its composition was more varied with more greys present including me of course. In 2004 it seemed I was the only grey in the village. It was more secure, more assured (two councillors in the bag) and this was allied by a definite vision of the way the party was heading.

I actually felt proud to be in the Green Party and to be among people who were really concerned about people who lived in the locality as much as being concerned about furthering the Green Party in Liverpool. To me this is what the Green Party is all about. (Is it the same in other parties - maybe it is) This was brought into sharp focus a couple of times when people felt that the emphasis in such and such a topic area should really be on working with other parties rather than involvement in inter party bickering.

Well done Peter, well done everybody. Hope I don't sound too sycophantic, but I mean every single word!!

Planes, Dotty and Joe

Believe it or not my dog Dotty a springer spaniel is instinctively 'Green' by nature.

The only things she barks at are shapes she's not familiar with, in response to other dogs and aircraft. She's very familiar with aircraft as they fly low over where I live every day so its not the unfamiliarity angle that activates her, its her green nature.

I have, of course, not encouraged this behaviour in any way! But she looks up on hearing the sound of aircraft and runs along an imaginary grassy flight path as the object looms overhead. I must admit I kind of like viewing planes but I don't like flying and will do everything in my power not to fly, partly because of the high altitude affects re the carbon emssions of commercial jets as well as my anxiety.

I think the way people in the Green movement are percieved as kill joys in terms of everyday activities like flying is a shame. It's partly our fault in not showing a more positive side to changing our behaviour. Like how much more healthy (and fun) to walk with the children to school or get the bus etc. Doing everyday things in a different way or becoming involved in community activities which are healthier and more environmentally friendly. Bringing the 'F' word fun back into living - rewarding people for recycling (something which Halton Council to their credit are piloting in Widnes).

But there is also a need for the Green movement as we all know, to be constantly making people aware without being too holier than thou of the immense challenges we face in relation to climate change and the fact that we all have to pull together in order to lessen the negative effects of it.

But lets step up the positives in changing behaviour, for instance let local communities create think tanks composed of you and me and those who might know a little more about the subject and work out how we can creatively enjoy and own the changes that will have to come.

Joe my grandson 4 started primary school today in Widnes. When he can officially leave school aged 16 it'll be 2021. We'll have a little more knowledge then about the problems we will be facing. Dotty won't be around cavorting along grassy flightpaths I probably won't be here but Joe will be starting his adult life.

What we do in the next ten years is apparantly going to be crucial in whether the effects of climate change are going to be either severe or catastrophic. Between now and then we all have a duty to ensure a reasonable future for him as well as all the other children starting school today - they don't have a say. Neither do peoples in the third world who are now being directly affected by climate change and who will increasingly suffer in the near future.