Environment

The Strategic Plan for the Coleford Area includes three highly important items, namely the sewer, Whitecliff Brook and flooding issues.

The summer of 2007 proved to all of us how important these issues are. The Partnership has been working together with Welsh Water, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Coleford Town Council (through the Mayor, Mr Clive Elsmore) and Newland Parish Council (through the Vice Chairman, Mr. Terry Hale)

We have been able to convince the County and District Councils of the need to invest financially in a land and road drainage survey and the South West Regional Development Agency has also agreed to make funds available for a Feasibility Study to be carried out based on this survey work. This may not result in funds being immediately made available, but will make it easier for the relevant officers to provide proof of need. This work in total is going to cost around £60,000.

GlaxoSmithKline is to carry out work to their connection to the old sewer pipe in the near future. There has been a problem with this connection which is just above Whitecliff House for some time. It has been caused by the process of cleaning out the tanks at the factory when large amounts of fluid enter the sewer system. Although the froth is disconcerting, there is very little chance of pollution when this happens as only six houses feed on to the system.

Welsh Water will also be able to make use of the information we can provide through this work to enable them to better understand the needs of Coleford in improving the present sewer system. It is important that our area is not allowed to stagnate due to lack of infrastructure.

The sewage system that runs through Coleford does not serve Coleford alone. Sewage from Staunton is pumped along the A4136 then gravity fed down through the Crossways area. Likewise, Berry Hill and Christchurch effluent is pumped back up from The Lonk and down through Berry Hill Pike. Parts of Mile End and Broadwell North enjoy the facility of the pumping station in Cannop Road, whilst Broadwell South and Coalway sewage is pumped back to the ridge from Jugs Hole.

One of the greatest problems that we have is due to rainwater entering the sewers from the roofs of houses. It is not generally appreciated that the rainwater flow from one terraced house is the equivalent of the sewage output of 100 houses. Houses these days are fitted with water meters. Imagine the benefits of using the (filtered) rainwater from the roof to flush the toilet and for the family washing. After all, many of us can remember doing just that. There can be a saving on water bills and less detergent is needed for soft water. The Partnership is currently looking for funding opportunities to encourage people to look at this.

Other Environmental matters: The Partnership Strategy Document lists other environmental matters that have been raise by the public. Whilst we are particularly fortunate in the Forest of Dean to live in such a beautiful area, we must not take it for granted and should do our utmost to ensure our environment remains pleasant and healthy for us all to enjoy its benefits. Our working life is already much healthier that in the 18th and 19th Centuries but this did not happen by chance. We also need to ensure that the quality of the air around us remains high and we can help this with good planting in our gardens and common areas. All too often we hear that schools have sold off their playing fields for development. We must ensure that local authority and public play areas remain secure and this includes supporting them financially. The end of the First World War brought improvement in community facilities but now we must ensure these remain for the benefit of future generations.

As individuals, we can plant native species hedges that help to feed the birds and support wildlife rather that have fences and walls. We can use gravel paths instead of concrete to reduce runoff, and decking is still better than block paving for the patio. What can be better than our own vegetables grown in our own garden or even in pots on the patio? Our local schools are preaching this gospel already.

As communities, we can talk to our local authorities about Community Landscaping areas and perhaps some of these companies who want to buy off their carbon footprints could be persuaded to invest in more deciduous trees. The possibilities are endless.

Individual Transition groups have been set up in each of the forest towns

General Information Leaflet - April Newsletter - Website

Some of the contacts for Transition Forest of Dean have changed. Below are new contact details for the Steering Group - for general enquiries, and for the town-based groups.

Steering Group

Email: Transition: Forest of Dean
Phone: 0117 2305192 (This is not a Bristol number. It's a Skype answer machine so different members can access your messages. Calls at standard UK rates.)

** New Members wanted for the Steering Group **
If you are interested and would like to find out a bit more please get in touch by email or phone as above.

Cinderford
Email: marilyn@jones479.wanadoo.co.uk
Phone: 01594 825898

Coleford
Email: jwsmith@phonecoop.coop or transitionColeford@live.co.uk
Phone: 01594 832 517

Lydney
Email: joy.simpson@cooptel.net

Newent
Email:
Ken & Ann Allen 01989-720646 (NOTE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS)
Michael Dunwell 01452-840258
Chris Wooldridge 01531- 820594
Bailey Curtis 01531-828664

Interest Groups
There are also people meeting or discussing transport, building, communication, energy, food and prehistroic technology. To find out more contact the Steering Group or come along to the Miners Arms, Whitecroft on the second Sunday of the month, 7.30pm. Next one is the 12th October.

November 08

Community Action For Energy Conference

Partnership Chairman Peter Chamberlain and Janet Marrott, attended this conference in Oxford and have come away full of confidence in ways that we can help to improve our local enviroment.

If you are interested in becoming part of the Greening Campaign please telephone Peter on 01594 832222 or Janet on 01594 832925.
More info at www.greening-campaign.co.uk