I found Labour's piece about HGV's in their latest "Talking Points" both welcome and interesting.
Welcome as it indicates that Labour do really sense that we could take the seat from them in May. I cannot remember a 'Talking Point' in the last 6 years that has carried as much about the Green Party as the present issue does.
Interesting in that reading the item you would think that the Labour group of councillors in Halton View are against HGV's travelling unecessarily on the roads in Halton.
Not so if Labour's plans for making Halton a distribution hub in the northwest go ahead as planned. The borough will find itself faced with an increase of up to an estimated 1000 HGV's every 24 hour cycle.
The 'Talking Point' article suggests that the Mersey Multimodal Gateway (3MG) development will reduce HGV traffic but this reduction only relates to long haul national travel. It will in fact increase local traffic on Halton's roads. HGV's from neighbouring areas will be accessing the road/rail head etc.
The Green Party, for several years, has been objecting to planning proposals to a range of developments which relate to this plan of creating in Halton one of the most important distribution hubs in the region, whereas Labour have seen such developments as economically important to the bourough. This is questionable if we are talking specifically about the economic gains of residents living in Halton and does not take into account other important factors like health and safety.
Monday 29 March 2010
Tuesday 23 March 2010
Air pollution in Halton
Evidence given at a Commons Environmental Audit committee meeting in February this year would suggest that we are underestimating the adverse health effects that particulates emitted by diesel traffic and pollution from power stations like Fiddlers Ferry is having on the population, particularly in urban areas.
The report was critical of Government action in failing to tackle the issue suggesting that up to between 35,000 to 50,000 early deaths per year nationwide are caused by such emissions. Responding to this latest research Professor Kelly Kings College London giving evidence to the environmental audit committee suggested that in areas that have high concentrations of particulates emitted there should be reductions in the movement of diesel powered traffic( HGV's etc) by between 20% to 30%.
This latest research is relevant to Halton council's position on the Mersey Multimodal Gateway. Although Halton Council maintain that their plans for the Multimodal Gateway would reduce HGV road traffic this reduction only relates to long haul travel. In fact HGV movements in Halton would increase dramatically in an area which has high incidences of chest related problems. I am all in favour of moving HGV traffic onto rail but I would question actually using Halton as a hub for such a distribution link because of its health related problems.
Its reckoned, in fact, that developments like the Multimodal Gateway in Halton along with other proposals will create a situation where there will be a possible increase of up to at least 600 vehicles (this figure has been obtained from information provided by Halton Borough Council and estimates from other sources) but more likely 1000 vehicles every 24 hour cycle. Maybe there will be employment for some but it is not going to have a beneficial effect on the majority of residents here when health is factored in.
It's important that the council has joined up thinking with regard to their strategic planning in the health and economic development fields.
The Lancaster University's 'Health in Halton study 2003' recommended that,"...all reasonable efforts should be made to work with industry and other organisations...to further reduce levels of pollution within the borough".
In view of the most recent research this adoption of the precautionary principle would seem to be even more relevant. The council has a duty of care to ensure that its economic development plans don't take precedence over other issues of legitimate concern to the citizens of Halton.
The report was critical of Government action in failing to tackle the issue suggesting that up to between 35,000 to 50,000 early deaths per year nationwide are caused by such emissions. Responding to this latest research Professor Kelly Kings College London giving evidence to the environmental audit committee suggested that in areas that have high concentrations of particulates emitted there should be reductions in the movement of diesel powered traffic( HGV's etc) by between 20% to 30%.
This latest research is relevant to Halton council's position on the Mersey Multimodal Gateway. Although Halton Council maintain that their plans for the Multimodal Gateway would reduce HGV road traffic this reduction only relates to long haul travel. In fact HGV movements in Halton would increase dramatically in an area which has high incidences of chest related problems. I am all in favour of moving HGV traffic onto rail but I would question actually using Halton as a hub for such a distribution link because of its health related problems.
Its reckoned, in fact, that developments like the Multimodal Gateway in Halton along with other proposals will create a situation where there will be a possible increase of up to at least 600 vehicles (this figure has been obtained from information provided by Halton Borough Council and estimates from other sources) but more likely 1000 vehicles every 24 hour cycle. Maybe there will be employment for some but it is not going to have a beneficial effect on the majority of residents here when health is factored in.
It's important that the council has joined up thinking with regard to their strategic planning in the health and economic development fields.
The Lancaster University's 'Health in Halton study 2003' recommended that,"...all reasonable efforts should be made to work with industry and other organisations...to further reduce levels of pollution within the borough".
In view of the most recent research this adoption of the precautionary principle would seem to be even more relevant. The council has a duty of care to ensure that its economic development plans don't take precedence over other issues of legitimate concern to the citizens of Halton.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Earth Hour 2010
The WWF are arranging an earth hour on Saturday March 27th at 8.30pm (its second earth hour). This is a world event aimed at publicising their activities in relation to climate change and have the world act together in one big gesture to reduce carbon emissions for one hour or more.
So if you're inclined/able please switch off all unnecessary electrical appliances get those romantic candles out and invite friends around for a drink. For further info check out their site wwf.org.uk/earthhour
WWF blurb sums it up:
'Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing people and nature, and demands urgent global action. Unless we prevent average temperatures rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels, we face a high risk of severe and irreversible changes in the planet’s natural systems'.
So if you're inclined/able please switch off all unnecessary electrical appliances get those romantic candles out and invite friends around for a drink. For further info check out their site wwf.org.uk/earthhour
WWF blurb sums it up:
'Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing people and nature, and demands urgent global action. Unless we prevent average temperatures rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels, we face a high risk of severe and irreversible changes in the planet’s natural systems'.
Thursday 4 March 2010
Dog Fouling - the answers?!
I got a response from the Environment Dept about my email to them. But it was not in the form that I'd expected.
It was a card through my door. An environmental operative had called when I was out and had left his calling card. For a split second I thought - what has my dog been up to? My dementia hasn't gone that far has it?
I later found a letter he'd dropped in at the same time which contained info about what to do if you're affected by dog owners acting irresponsibly. I summarise some of the contents of the letter below:
There's a fixed penalty of £50 for dog owners concerned and failure to comply with this carries a maximum fine of £1000.
If you observe dog fouling or have noticed an area where dog fouling is a problem you can report it to the dog warden - phone 0303 333 4300 (24 hour line).
You need to provide details of where the offence occurred, address of dog owner if known, the time of day the offence usually occurs, a description of the dog if the owner is not known.
All the information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence.
I haven't had a chance to talk to the environment dept about the other issues I raised but I'll keep you informed. Also check out in the previous blog what to do about getting the mess clearded up.
It was a card through my door. An environmental operative had called when I was out and had left his calling card. For a split second I thought - what has my dog been up to? My dementia hasn't gone that far has it?
I later found a letter he'd dropped in at the same time which contained info about what to do if you're affected by dog owners acting irresponsibly. I summarise some of the contents of the letter below:
There's a fixed penalty of £50 for dog owners concerned and failure to comply with this carries a maximum fine of £1000.
If you observe dog fouling or have noticed an area where dog fouling is a problem you can report it to the dog warden - phone 0303 333 4300 (24 hour line).
You need to provide details of where the offence occurred, address of dog owner if known, the time of day the offence usually occurs, a description of the dog if the owner is not known.
All the information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence.
I haven't had a chance to talk to the environment dept about the other issues I raised but I'll keep you informed. Also check out in the previous blog what to do about getting the mess clearded up.
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