Perseverance and publicity - Sustain Britain

In recent weeks, it has been a busy time for Sustain Britain. We have been actively supporting Sustain Wiltshire, trying to find the best way to resolve the planning issues that they have been blighted by in relation to Wiltshire County Council. This has included approaching Roz Savage MP for assistance, who responded positively and quickly provided the contact details for her Lib Dem council colleagues. 

In a way, the council changes resulting from the local elections have reduced the number of councillors that have a link to Sustain Britain. The majority of those councillors that attended the inaugural conference are now no longer in office. So, new relationships need to be built.  

Conference update 

Plans are progressing well for this year’s conference, which will see the launch of the ‘Greenprint for a Sustainable, Independent Britain’. This will outline in detail the principles of the Sustain Britain movement, our vision for the future, and governmental policy changes that would help to make sustainable and self-sufficient communities across the country achievable sooner.  

We are also in the process of finalising speakers for the conference and are happy to confirm that Sir Johnathan Porritt will once again be joining us. He has such a wealth of knowledge and provides a healthy degree of challenge and rigour to the debate. 

The first draft of the fully designed Greenprint document, which will be unveiled at the Sustain Britain Conference, is now with us and I’m pleased to share that it looks good. 

In the news! 

We have also seen a whirlwind of media activity in recent weeks, with interviews on Jarvis Smith’s influential podcast Lean into Clean, which you can listen to here, as well as pieces on both BBC Radio Wiltshire and on the BBC Scotland Radio Breakfast show. 

The accompanying BBC article written by Wiltshire reporter Sophie Parker became headline news on the BBC’s main site! This was picked up elsewhere and even resulted in a piece in ‘The i Paper’.  

What this shows is that the principles behind Sustain Britain, and the Sustain Wiltshire Super-Midden in particular, are sparking wide interest, are well supported and are gaining ground. If only this were the case with Wiltshire Council’s bureaucrats. 

Unbowed, we will continue to support Sustain Wiltshire in their struggle with those in authority that are killing the planet through small-minded incompetence. 

The next few months will be pivotal in the development of the sustain movement. 

Until next time… 

Nick Ash