FEBRUARY NEWS
Village Survey, Litter Picking and Council Plans for the Climate Emergency
We need your help!
The Parish Council
in partnership with the
University of Bath
wants to find ways to
improve the natural environment.
The village survey is now live. Please fill it out and encourage your neighbours to do so too. The more input, the more impact and influence we can have.
If you know anyone who can’t fill it out online and would prefer a hard copy, please ask them to text 01761 452746 and one will be provided.
RESULTS will be presented at the Village Hall on Friday March 11th at 8 p.m.
Do Fallen Trees Make Good Logs?
After the storms, many of us have a lot of new logs and windfall. It can be tempting to toss it all on the fire. But wait, slow down….
Burning green wood (that is, unseasoned and wood that was, until recently, still alive) is inefficient – it won’t produce much heat—and it’s bad for air quality. A tree that’s been recently felled contains about 60% moisture so it takes a lot of energyto boil off that water before it even starts to generate any heat. Green wood sizzles, crackles and pops, because it has so much moisture in it. It creates more smoke and harmful particulates, causing more air pollution. It will also damage chimneys more, because it allows tar and soot to build up.
This is why the government is banning the sale of green wood. Small packets (less than 2m cubed) have already been phased out and larger units will have to come with advice on seasoning and may come with a “ready to burn” logo.
If you’re collecting and chopping your own timber, the drying process can take anything from 6 months to 2 years. Really dense hardwood trees, like oak, take longer. Properly seasoned wood is lighter than green wood, has loose bark, radial cracks in cross-section and is usually a dull colour.
And bear in mind that these days, air pollution kills more people than cigarettes!
BANES TAKES ACTION ON CLIMATE
Over the next 5 years, the council will be spending more than £38million to reduce carbon emissions. This includes some pretty innovative initiatives like:
A new state-of-the-art recycling hub in Keynsham which will incorporate renewable energy generation from a 3800m squared solar panel array.
£14.2m to modernise waste services to further improve recycling rates
£754k to expand the council’s green vehicle fleet
£2.3m to refurbish the council’s Commercial Estate and planning energy efficiency
£150k investment in green infrastructure to include the development of a Nature Recovery and Delivery Plan
£800k matching contribution towards the new City Region Sustainable Transport Infrastructure projects
This comes on top of more than £11m previously allocated in the council’s five -year capital programme to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.
£5.062m for Bath’s Riverline project developing a 10km walking/cycling connection between Newbridge and Batheaston/Bathampton, improving biodiversity, landscaping and green space
£1.5m for vehicle upgrades through the financial assistance scheme as part of the Clean Air Zone
£2.206m for the development and delivery of Liveable Neighbourhoods to promote healthier, more sustainable communities and reduce car usage
£1.736m for Renewable Energy Development
£206k for Air Quality Management
£561k for Active Travel schemes to encourage more walking and cycling
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel said: “Despite challenging financial pressures, it is important we do not lose sight of the pressing need to take action to reduce carbon emissions. Time is ticking, we have just eight years to reach our net zero goal. It’s why this investment now is so crucial.”
First Litter Pick 2022
Sunday March 6th @ 10am.
Meet at Farrington’s Cafe