ROTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP

ANNUAL REPORT      NOVEMBER 2008          

 

Meetings have taken place each month and have been well attended- particularly by members from Bexhill. They have been “facilitated” (rather than chaired) by Barbara and Ed Echlin, Richard Holmes, Stephen Hardy (twice), Dominic Manning (three times) and Christopher Strangeways. They have taken place in the Ostrich in Robertsbridge, Leeford Place Hotel, the George in Rye, and the Kings Head in Udimore. REG would like to thank the proprietors of each of these excellent establishments for providing the use of their premises free of charge. REG members continue to be exhorted to drink as much as possible when attending meetings in appreciation of this kindness.

 

The administration of REG has been assisted this year by Valerie Catt. This has been made possible by the generous support of Dominic Manning. Valerie also works for Dominic’s busy architectural practice in Northiam.  We are very grateful to Valerie and Dominic for this valuable help.

 

Following the launch of the cardboard collection in Rye organised by Dominic Manning and the Chamber of Commerce, there has been the launch of a second similar scheme in Robertsbridge – this was organised by Emma Watkins of Green Bottles together with Stephen Hardy and the Other REG. Culverwells provided the location and Smurfit (the end user of the cardboard) the container.

 

REG and Rye Churches Together, arranged the showing of the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” at the Community Centre in April following the showing in November last year of “An Inconvenient Truth”.

 

A number of REG members attended a talk, part of the Rye Arts Festival, by the former Government Chief Scientific Advisor Professor Sir David King. Despite his controversial opinion of Nuclear this was a very informative and stimulating talk. Subject to formal agreement of the committee, REG has offered to sponsor an Environmental Talk at next year’s Rye Arts Festival.

 

Tom Coates, from the Energy Saving Trust, came to our last meeting. He is looking for up to four community groups interested in reducing energy bills and carbon emissions. We hope that at least one group or parish council takes up his offer of help.

 

REG has continued to be represented on Rother’s Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the Environment Agency’s Harbour of Rye Advisory Committee (HORAC).

 

The Sustainable Communities Act became law in October 2007. This law seeks to give real powers to local communities – reversing the “top-down” style of government we are all too familiar with. Local councils have the choice to opt in or not – Rother has yet to decide – we very much hope they will opt in.

 

The Energy Bill is at the “Ping Pong” Stage in the Lords and there is an amendment to introduce Feed- in Tariffs for renewable energy. Hopefully it will be made law soon.

 

The 26 turbines of Npower’s Little Cheyne Court Wind farm have been erected but will not start generating until January. The visual impact on Rye and the surrounding countryside has been greater than anticipated. Questions continue to be asked about the benefits.

 

Rother’s Draft Core Strategy has now been published and hopefully REG will be submitting some comments on this before the deadline on 30^th January.

 

Environomix continue to develop their eco- building business and showroom in Rye.