Time for action! - Sustain Britain

Positive progress on the Sustain Greenprint continues with good feedback from the peer review group so far. As a result, we are working on revisions, including the withdrawal of some of the more controversial national policy ideas, which we concede could have detracted from the core idea of communities delivering solutions.

As momentum gathers around Sustain Britain, it appears we are inspiring others who are now pioneering ideas in their own communities.

Only last week, I had a meeting with John Turton, who is working in Tetbury to develop community-based waste collection and energy solutions. We had an excellent discussion and have agreed to support and assist him where we can, including the provision of preferential waste disposal rates.

People like John are truly inspiring, giving up their time, knowledge, and experience to help deliver local solutions that provide employment, keeping money in the community.

As Sustain Wiltshire approaches the crunch date for the planning decision on its Super-Midden, we are considering how to apply Sustainable Anarchy, should Wiltshire Council fail to meet the much-delayed date of 17th May for approval.

The thought of implementing this approach genuinely makes me nervous. But after the Wiltshire Council ecologists giggled at the concept of working to deadlines, what alternative do we have?

The current thought is to carry on with the works and present a Sustainable Anarchy certificate to Wiltshire Council. This will outline the many bureaucratic delays that the project has been hampered by, and will detail the damage that this is having to the environment through the loss of CO₂ savings; justifying precisely why the council is being presented with the certificate.

Could this spur them into positive action in the future? Will they scythe through red tape? We certainly hope so.

Until next time…

Nick Ash