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Application 97204/16 As the consultation period has now closed I have directed this directly to you as I think it is a serious issue that you should be aware of.
I have assumed the worst case energy value (class 5) as the application does not specify what if any class of RDF is to be used. Just five years after planning application was granted for a massive wood burning CHP, on the A6 bypass – which would only be suitable for burning (virgin) wood – a request has been made for a change of use into a waste incineration plant, without any assesment of the environmental impacts. https://www.planningpa.bolton.gov.uk/…/applicationDetails.d… Several letters of concern have been submitted.
The government position on today’s decision – it “will lead to parking misery” The planning permission for access was approved today – with conditions the development was limited to 14 houses and no higher than two stories. Cllr Cunliff commented to the effect that it would be good to prevent further retail development in our town center. “The imposition of maximum parking standards under the last Administration lead to blocked and congested streets and pavement parking. Arbitrarily restricting new off-street parking spaces does not reduce car use, it just leads to parking misery. It is for this reason that the Government abolished national maximum parking standards in 2011!” http://www.planningni.gov.uk/…/parking_standards_annexes/pa… An excellent objection speech from an effected resident, quoted Wigan council who set these “maximum” levels as the minimum standard which should be acceptable. #Blackrod‘s Nightingale Farm (previously the waste recycling centre), in the very center of the village, is likely to have a further 14 houses built on it – despite concerns from local residents and the Town Council who quoted Bolton’s Core strategy”AO1 para 3. ” Ensure the local center at Blackrod will continue to serve local needs.” This key phrase appears to be missing from the officers report and summary of objections. The Neighbourhood Plan – would likely also have also added weight to ensuring the town center served the needs of all local residents. This is the only suitable plot of land in the village – close to the center. Everyone who has visited nearby residents appears to agree that the development will have an unacceptable impact on the neighborhood amenity. At the present time none of the ward Councillors are able or willing to speak on behalf of residents at the planning committee – leaving residents with 2 minutes to put over their concerns. The committee meeting is Thursday 2 June , 2pm – at Bolton Library – the public are invited to attend. The officers report can be found https://www.planningpa.bolton.gov.uk/…/95926_16-Officers_Re… At the request of the request of the Department for Communities and Local Government every Town Councillor in the Borough of Bolton was invited to an event organised by The Campaign to Protect Rural England to help inform town Councillors about the massive benefits of Neighborhood Plans to the towns and villages they represent. How many Town Councilors in the Borough of Bolton were informed about the event ? Why not ask your Town Councillor if they attended and if not why not ? 72 % of Town Councils are now progressing a Neighborhood Plan – none are in Bolton !
72% or 1800 of all Town and Parish Councils are now proceeding with a Neighborhood Plan – which enables the local community to help shape the future of their town’s and villages. Unfortunately none are in Bolton. Several groups have been surprised that, despite Bolton already having a plan, there has been a recent call for further housing sites in the Greater Manchester area- several years ahead of what most people expected. This has identified several areas in the Blackrod and Horwich area which may be suitable for house building ! The current situation can be viewed here http://mappinggm.org.uk/call-for-sites/development-sites.htm
The price of a barrel of oil has nearly halved in recent weeks. OPEC refuse to cut production – the argument to make USA shale un economic – removing the competition – but also perhaps having a massive impact on Russia – whose economy significantly relies on the hydro-carbon industry. It will no doubt be spring (perhaps just before the general election) before we any large reduction in our home energy cost prices – as suppliers will no doubt say they have had to forward buy to cover the peak winter period. A freezing in price now looks a nonsense – as for the foreseeable future the price direction is down. The one sure looser is the environment . The incentive for investing in cleaner and sustainable renewable energy diminishes. England has enough suitable “brownfield” land to build almost a million new homes, campaigners have said. More than 400,000 homes could be built on previously developed land which already has outline or detailed planning permission, according to information from local authorities compiled by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). And over 550,000 more could be accommodated on vacant or derelict land that does not have planning permission, the research by CPRE said. Almost half (44%) of the vacant space is located in the South East, East of England and London. In the capital, where there is huge pressure for housing, 146,000 homes could be built on brownfield land, a report by the organisation said. In total the report identifies enough brownfield land for 976,000 homes, providing the country with a four-year supply of new housing even if no other land is used. CPRE said the figure was an underestimate as it does not include underused land such as car parks which could be used for housing. Some brownfield sites have been identified as important wildlife hotspots for creatures such as rare beetles, but CPRE said new research suggests just 8% of brownfield land is important habitat, leaving plenty for development. But the campaign group is concerned that new national planning rules do not prioritise brownfield development, which means Green Belt and greenfield land is being built on instead. Barriers to developing brownfield land include the costs of and providing local infrastructure, difficulties for small and medium-sized builders trying to get into the market, the availability of cheaper greenfield sites and the lack of accurate data on brownfield land, the report said. Barriers to developing brownfield land include the costs of and providing local infrastructure, difficulties for small and medium-sized builders trying to get into the market, the availability of cheaper greenfield sites and the lack of accurate data on brownfield land, the report said. CPRE is calling for the reintroduction of a clear and consistent “brownfield first” policy, and other measures to boost use of previously developed land. These could include giving the Homes and Communities Agency greater powers and resources to develop large and difficult sites, a proactive approach to identifying brownfield land and incentives for smaller building firms to develop smaller sites. Paul Miner, planning campaign manager at CPRE, said: “This research demonstrates the huge existing capacity for housing on brownfield land. “At a time when there is great pressure on our green spaces, utilising this land through a brownfield first policy would protect our countryside and regenerate urban areas. “We want this new, authoritative evidence to lead to a sustained focus on suitable brownfield land. “We can and must do more to get these sites redeveloped, whether it be reviving the National Land Use Database or implementing strong local plans to deal with multiple landowners on difficult sites.” source http://money.aol.co.uk/2014/11/24/enough-brownfield-for-1-million-homes/
The Philae lander has detected organic molecules on the surface of its comet, scientists have confirmed. Carbon-containing “organics” are the basis of life on Earth and may give clues to chemical ingredients delivered to our planet early in its history. The compounds were picked up by a German-built instrument designed to “sniff” the comet’s thin atmosphere. Other analyses suggest the comet’s surface is largely water-ice covered with a thin dust layer. The European Space Agency (Esa) craft touched down on the Comet 67P on 12 November after a 10-year journey. Dr Fred Goessmann, principal investigator on the Cosac instrument, which made the organics detection, confirmed the find to BBC News. But he added that the team was still trying to interpret the results. It has not been disclosed which molecules have been found, or how complex they are. There’s a trade off – once it gets too hot, Philae will die as well. There is a sweet spot” Prof Mark McCaughreanSenior science adviser, Esa But the results are likely to provide insights into the possible role of comets in contributing some of the chemical building blocks to the primordial mix from which life evolved on the early Earth. Preliminary results from the Mupus instrument, which deployed a hammer to the comet after Philae’s landing, suggest there is a layer of dust 10-20cm thick on the surface with very hard water-ice underneath. The ice would be frozen solid at temperatures encountered in the outer Solar System – Mupus data suggest this layer has a tensile strength similar to sandstone. “It’s within a very broad spectrum of ice models. It was harder than expected at that location, but it’s still within bounds,” said Prof Mark McCaughrean, senior science adviser to Esa, told BBC News. “People will be playing with [mathematical] models of pure water-ice mixed with certain amount of dust.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30097648
The original series can be found http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/the-universe-is-scary?bffbuk All the planets in our solar system would fit between earth and our moon
There are billions of stars in our galaxy – – which is one galaxy of many.
(That’s not a picture of the Milky Way, but you get the idea.)
For a three minute animation – see wow Three years ago we ran a story. Since that that time various research has been produced showing that benzodiazepines and z dugs can lead to a massive increase in the risk of dementia. Studies however have also shown that withdrawing people from these medications can also reverse this diagnosis (by up to 33% !!) – ie there is a possibility of a pseudo dementia. There are over 130 prescribed medications which can lead to memory loss. The side effects are often mis diagnosed as dementia – and usually Alzheimers (which can only be proven after autopsy) . If you are diagnosed with dementia before you are 70 – – without a family history – you must consider the possibility it is resultant from medication (and your GP may not know) . The article is repeated below Care in the Community – I am depressedThree years ago this weekend I became aware of one of the most shameful acts (or non acts) in British history. It has been described by David Blunkett (Then Shadow Secretary for Health) – as a “National Scandal.” Twenty years later – so much has been said – so little has been done. Benzodiazepines were introduced in the 1960 – mums little helper – Librium, rapidly followed by Valium, Ativan , Mogadon. Drugs which now go by the names of Diazepam, Nitrazepam, Lorazepam, Tamazepam. The Librium advertisement stated “Whatever the diagnosis – Librium” librium. By the 1970s more than 1 in 20 prescriptions was for valium. The Ashton Manual suggests benzodiazepines should be withdrawn no faster than 10% every two weeks – although experts in the field now typically use 5% every two weeks. Illicit drug users ( of which there are approximately 400,000 in the UK), are maintained on methadone , rather than withdrawing from the medication. Ex addict Russel Brand made an excellent case to change this in his program “From Addiction to Recovery” -and things look as though they are about to change – changes to funding currently being introduced will mean that the smaller best practice rehabilitation centers are likely to go out of business and the small charities helping withdraw people from benzodiazepine s, z drugs and SSRIs likewise. The Nation Scandal gets bigger. So why is this story on a commmunity action group website. Simply this story effects somebody you know – in our community – and you can do something to help them. Tell them. DO NOT STOP TAKING THESE MEDICATIONS ABRUPTLY – this can be extremely dangerous. The best course of action is to contact CITAp – The Council for information on Tranquillisers, Antidpressants and painkillers (and sleeping tablets) See also www.benzo.org.uk
It may not surprise you – but drinking red bull does not give you wings As such the company has agreed to pay out an estimated $13,000,000 to customers who believe they were mislead by this false advertising (as long as you live in the USA) However, the plaintiff claimed that Red Bull actually has less caffeine than the average cup of coffee, he felt he had grounds for a lawsuit. Since the lawsuit settlement, anyone who has purchased a Red Bull energy drink since 2002 is entitled to a $10 or $15 Red Bull product with free shipping. However, Red Bull admits no wrongdoing It just goes to prove you cant believe everything you read – although most people who have followed our website already know that.
At last a hint of sanity may be appearing according to YAHOO
* Deal fixes 7 percent limit for biofuels from food crops BHEAG comment – sustainability is KEY – northern hemisphere forests – the majority of the world’s carbon sinks are being destroyed at an unprecedented rate.
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