Transition Island Blog

Litter louts, illegal smokers and graffiti vandals, will soon be fined on-­the-spot around the Island.

In response to public con­cern, from April 2, the IW Council introduces this new initiative. Built on the Clean Neighbourhood and Environ­ment Act 2005, it allows fines from £30 to £300 to be imposed by fixed penalty notice.

Offences will include dropping litter, includ­ing cigarette butts, spraying graffiti, fly posting or leaving refuse outside their homes  too far in advance of collec­tion day.

It will be similar to the Council’s strategy with dog owners who fail to clean up after their dog.

The fines will not be used to gen­erate income, as the Council has been accused to profiting from car-park charges, and the Government from speeding fines.

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The Isle of Wight Council is set to trailblaze a number of key Eco-Island initiatives to make the county a beacon of excellence for green issues.

A number of One Island initiatives outlined by IW Council leader Cllr David Pugh on Wednesday will help the county towards its goal of having the lowest carbon footprint in England — and, in doing so, be a fully sustainable, prosperous and healthy community.

Two high-profile events are being organised to engage the whole Island community, from public sector organisations and large companies through to individuals and families.

Date published: 20 February 2008 Read more

yet more announcements

• Financial help to insulate homes, making the most of leisure centres and tackling homelessness are among One Island schemes to make the Island healthier and more supportive. [more]
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• A list of 30 projects, schemes and initiatives each designed to make an improvement to life on Eco Island have been unveiled by the IW Council. [more]
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• One of the world’s leading architects has been appointed to become the Isle of Wight’s design champion. See our previous article.
  [He will] initially work for the Island for a year to develop the Eco Island theme, acting as an ambassador for the Island and also to helping to ensure the council’s strategic ambitions are realised. [more]

Letter from Andrew Turner, MP
“Congratulations on being accepted into the national Transition Towns Network.

I was pleased to read of the work that you do, encouraging those who work to meet the challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change, and I certainly think that it is a good idea…

I wish you every success with the project…”

Three Island projects are going for green energy.

This will lower their carbon footprint and their utility bills, thanks to the Council’s Eco-Island initiative.

Yarmouth Harbour Commission headquarters has been fitted with solar panels funded by a government grant. This will help to heat the water at the building, where visiting yachtsmen and women take around 25,000 showers each year.

The Brading Centre has also been fitted with solar panels, which have been connected to the electricity grid. This project was part-funded by the Low-Carbon Buildings programme, with the IW Council.

Shorwell Village Hall has also benefited from a green energy project and is being fitted with a heating system which uses a pump to extract low grade heat from the ground to warm it.

Great News! Read more at the County Press.

Government announced an independent review of water metering
- at least in the most drought-hit parts of England by 2030.

New legislation also aims to encourage gardens and driveways that allow water to drain into the soil. Hard surfaces that run water off into the drains and waste it, will need planning permission.

The measure is included in a document published recently by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which sets out proposals aimed at improving water conservation and efficiency in England.

Defra wants us to limit…

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New Award for Smoke-free Island Businesses 

A new scheme is being launched to reward businesses who go beyond the letter of the law in promoting a smoke free environment.

The IW Council, IW NHS Primary Care Trust and the IW Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Industry, together working as the Healthy Business Partnership, are promoting the new scheme that they hope could lead to the Island being a UK leader in terms of being free of cigarette smoke.

Read more at VentnorBlog

County Press shows off VentBag volunteers (8/2/08)

Eco-friendly bags are being snapped up by Ventnorians as the project catches towns imagination.

Sewing bags in a shop window in the High Street, they got attention and praise. The bags are made from recycled fabrics, doubling their positive eco-impact for the good of the Island.

We recently reported that Hawaii is surrounded by plastic bags and other non-biodegradable rubbish - we don’t want the Island to end up like that!

The project aims to make Ventnor the first plastic-bag-free town on the Island. They hope to make enough to deliver one to every household in the town. “People are already ordering bags” said Shiela, project volunteer.

Action: Get involved, help sew bags!

A comment received recently…

“I have read your blog with interest. I agree that rural schools are vital for rural communities, however I also believe that urban schools can be just as important to their communities.

Our local primary school, Greenmount Community Primary School, has been earmarked for closure under all three options of the council’s reorganisation of education despite it being a vibrant and popular school. It was one of few on the island that have been oversubscribed in the past few years.

Greenmount is in the heart of Ryde and 74% of its children walk to school…” [more]

our feeling

It seems that too many people from the Government Minister down are blaming everyone else, and no attempts to find ways to compromise or create new opportunities from the situation are being reported. Community action does not always find excellent answers, but ideas are what is needed at the moment.

Saturday 9th February: Greenmount protest leaving from Greenmount school to the Esplanade.

NOTE: the Samba Protest in Ryde this Saturday has been changed from the afternoon to 11am so that it will not clash with the rally in Shanklin at 2.30pm.

Ancient trees are living relics.

They have stood and watched many generations of native humans pass.  Their incredible age inspires awe and mystery. Some began their lives before the Norman Conquest!

They have helped shape our history, and could help shape our future. They are survivors - for example, many ancient oaks will have lived through the medieval mini-ice-age.

This may mean they are important genetic reservoirs, which could be very relevant as we enter the climate change era.

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Taken from the County Press, 1/2/08.

Joe Duckworth, chief executive of the County Council, hinted world-renowned urban designer and architect Sir Terry Farrell had been lined up as design champion for the Island.

In this role, he would be responsible for overseeing major developments on the Island, including the developments in East Cowes and the regeneration of Sandown Bay.

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