South East Forum For Sustainability

For anyone still at their computer! It’s been an interesting year for SEFS, and looking back at all we achieved during the time of the Regional Assembly (more of that at the AGM), rather a frustrating one of trying to find our voice in the confused and rather fragmented political landscape.

But we are soldiering on until the last and we do hope you can join us at our AGM on 2^nd February to hear what we have been doing. Thanks to those of you who have registered to come along, but if you haven’t yet you can still do so via the SEFS website please do let me know by 16^th January so I can make appropriate catering arrangements.

In the meantime have been keeping track of developments in the world of Planning and the Environment and here are some of the latest bits of news pre Christmas.

 1)      Planning Reforms

a.       Campaign groups target MPs: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/18/national-trust-rspb-planning-laws

b.      MPs call for a rewrite to Planning Rules to end confusion: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16271888

c.     DCLG Committee Report brands NPPF as unhelpfully vague, and amongst other things say the default “yes” to development should  be removed and that “sustainable development” is poorly defined and needs to be strengthened and extended: http://www.localism-agenda.com/2011/12/key-points-in-the-dclg-select-committee-report-on-the-nppf/ and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/8968668/Hands-off-our-land-cross-party-MPs-committee-tells-the-Government-to-draw-up-a-new-NPPF.html

 2)      Transport

a.       Statistics for 2011: http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/transport-statistics-great-britain-2011

b.       Oxford to Bedford Rail Link to reopen: http://eastwestrail.org.uk/

 3)    Energy

a.    Friends of the Earth win case against FITs changes: news story: http://www.foe.co.uk/news/legal_challenge_win_34270.html
And here’s their press release: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/solar_fits_victory_21122011.html

and a Christmas action – send a Christmas e-card to your MP calling on them to put solar back on track: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/mp_christmas_card_34263.html

b.    Select Committee warns FITs changes possibly fatal for industry: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16288267        

c.    Energy minister Greg Barker was heckled as he spoke at the Micropower Council’s Christmas drinks: http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?src=nl&id=21551

 4) LEPs

a.  South East Midlands LEP Networking Event 22d March 2012: http://www.southeastmidlands.org.uk/event.asp

Best wishes to  you all for a sustainable festive season.