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Autumn 2009 News Articles:
The Council is starting to look at options for ‘green’ energy generation in the Parish and your Chairman attended a workshop at Staveley in July - ‘Acting on Climate Change in Cumbria’ - to hear some ideas and recommendations from County and District Council climate change officers, sustainable energy consultants and locals involved in green initiatives. Useful messages for us from the workshop were that we should focus on micro-generation schemes, bids for funding should be linked to Community Plans (consistent with Colton’s ideas for a forward-looking Plan: ‘Colton 2020’), and the National Park’s new Local Development Framework was likely to be supportive of small-scale community projects.
Local ‘mini-hydro’ schemes for energy generation are also attracting interest. A useful presentation covered the barriers, environmental issues and success factors to be aware of when embarking on hydro schemes. For the workshop report and links to the presentations, see www.cumbriastrategicpartnership.org.uk/Climate_Change/events.asp . If you are interested in local green energy schemes, then come to our December 7th Parish Council meeting at Rusland Reading Rooms. Elizabeth Bruce, a local sustainable energy consultant, will be giving a presentation to help us with ideas, make recommendations and alert us to issues to take into account when planning appropriate green energy schemes in our area. Clerk NEW PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY REGULATIONS At the High Furness Neighbourhood Forum meeting on 12th October, we heard about new private water supply regulations, due to come into force in December. This will mean a change to practice and charging regimes for those of us not on mains water. Householders will be sent questionnaires and asked to complete a risk assessment of their water supply every 5 years, for which there will be a charge. Commercial properties will be contacted first, then those on shared water supplies. There was concern at the late notification about these regulations and the lack of information available. However, there is some useful information on: www.privatewatersupplies.gov.uk , although at present the website covers Scotland only. We will try to keep you informed as we learn more. Clerk
The Parish Council web-pages on
Colton’s ‘Green Roads’ and off-road
traffic have been updated to include the latest correspondence
between the Parish Council, the National Park and Cumbria Highways.
We will try to keep these pages as up to date as possible as we
continue to lobby strongly for recognition of the problems caused to
local people by the appalling condition of these roads, and the
damage to fellsides caused by illegal activity of some off-roaders.
The Council’s request for a temporary Traffic Regulation Order on
the Nibthwaite to Parkamoor track brought a fairly negative response
from the Park, who are unwilling to impose one unless Highways have
a definite intention to make repairs. Our County Coucillor, Rod
Wilson, is lobbying hard in an attempt to get some agreement from
Highways to allocate funds. There was, however, a much more
encouraging response to the Parish Council’s suggestion that Colton
be used as a pilot for a scheme analogous to ‘Fix the Fells’ for
green roads. This would involve cooperation between agencies
including the Trail Riders Fellowship who are keen to volunteer help
for repairs where possible. Of course, this will also require
funding, at the very least for materials and machinery. The next
step will be to establish how the necessary funds will be
obtained.
Clerk HOW CLEAN ARE OUR RIVERS AND LAKES?
Given the treasured nature of the Lake District you
might expect the lakes, rivers, becks and surrounding habitat to be
of pristine quality. Unfortunately this is not the case and urgent
action is required. At a meeting at the Waterhead Hotel, Coniston
on Sept 11th, the newly formed Coniston and Crake
Partnership was launched as part of the
South Cumbria Rivers Trust.
The objectives are to improve the water quality and conserve the
wildlife of Coniston Water, its headwaters and the River Crake. Numbers of salmon and sea trout have dropped to such low levels that there is now a statutory ban on taking rod caught fish. The population of arctic char also continues to decline in Coniston Water. A key issue is high phosphate levels which increase the rate of plant growth which in turn reduce the water’s oxygen level required by the fish. Pollution comes from many sources including mining, roads and vehicles, sewage, agriculture and land drainage. The rich diversity of wild life living in and around our rivers and lakes include otters, kingfishers, eels, lampreys, crayfish and water voles; the populations of these species are in decline or threatened by introductions of non native species. Recent good news has been the decision of United Utilities to install a phosphate stripper (to reduce phosphate levels flowing into the lake) at the Coniston Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The Partnership plans to work together with community
volunteers, the National Park, the Environment Agency, the National
Trust, the Freshwater Biological Association and local landowners.
Beck surveys will be used to identify sources of problems and
establish populations of insects and fish. Work will include the
eradication of invasive plant species and the improvement of
habitats. If you would like to find out more or to pull on your
wellies and get cracking contact Les Higgins on 015394 41861 or Paul
Chamberlain on 01229 885424. If you want to know more about the SCRT
please contact the Trust Manager, Ben Lamb, on 01539 816311 or go to
the website
www.scrt.co.uk Winter Gritting of Roads: Our negotiations with Highways have resulted in an agreement to designate the Penny Bridge to Hawkshead road (C5022) as a ‘Priority 2 pre-treatment route’ i.e. it will be routinely gritted. We have also prepared maps for Highways showing where we need salt bins and heaps this winter. Lengthsman: Some of you may have noticed our country lanes haven't been quite as tidy as usual. Our trusty ‘Parish Steward’, Chris Slater, (the Lengthsman!) has suffered an injury. He is on the mend now and we wish him well and look forward to seeing him 'out & about' again, doing his usual sterling work. Bouth Village Hall has had another grant success! Low Furness Neighbourhood Forum have given a grant of £1000 towards a disabled access toilet. Neighbourhood Policing: To make efficient use of resources, priority issues are being targeted in each ‘neighbourhood area’. The current issue for our area is speeding traffic in Broughton. Once tackled, other issues will then be prioritised. Forthcoming Parish Council Meetings All meetings begin at 7.30pm.. The Chairman, Colin Barr, is available from 7.00 before each meeting for a 'surgery session'. Agendas and authorised minutes of meetings are available from the Clerk, on this website and on your notice boards
Your Councillors
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The
Lowick Community Hall initiative is generating a lot of interest as
an example of a very successful small-scale project. The Committee
secured a range of sizeable grants for insulating the hall,
installing an air heat-exchanger and fitting photo-voltaic cells on
the roof. 
