Havant FOE Newsletter - November 2020

Tell the Chancellor we need a green recovery

Our best chance at rebuilding a resilient economy goes hand in hand with tackling climate change and restoring nature. It’s never been more important to put a cleaner, greener future that works for everyone at the centre of public spending. Have your say on how the government spends our money – submit to their Comprehensive Spending Review today and say #TheTimeIsNow for a green and fair recovery. https://thetimeisnow.uk/comprehensive-spending-review/

The Trade deal with the USA

Despite protests over the NHS, food standards, animal welfare, digital security climate action and democracy, the government is pressing on with negotiations. There was an online rally on 24th October which is well worth watching – some excellent speakers spelling out the issues. You can watch it here https://youtu.be/klTukfwMzpw

https://records.climateoutreach.org.uk/civicrm/event/register?id=137&reset=1

Havant Friends of the Earth and Havant Climate Alliance recently submitted their response to this white paper consultation. The government is keen to speed up the planning process by zoning land that could be developed, classifying it as land for Growth (usually greenfield), land for Regeneration (usually brownfield) or Protected land which will not be built on. For Growth and Regeneration land, Local Authorities and communities will agree what sort of building and what designs they want, with as many requirements as possible. However, once that is agreed, developers will be free to build, without the democratic check of each project needing planning permission. We think that this can leave places vulnerable to unscrupulous developers who can find loop-holes and not deliver the quality homes that are needed.

There is much emphasis on designing beautiful homes in the white paper, without there being enough emphasis on the need to build for maximum energy efficiency, carbon net zero and biodiversity.

For a borough with as many geographical and environmental constraints as Havant, there will be conflict between land for Growth and land for Protection.

The paper includes an algorithm for calculating the number of homes that should be built, more if house prices are higher, and existing house numbers are greater than average. For Havant this almost doubles the number of homes that are already included in the Local Plan, from 504 p.a. to 962 pa. ,which most view as already too many.

The paper seems to identify local authorities and the current planning systerm as the main cause of delay in house-building, but the Local Government Association say that the main source of delay is developers who sit on sites with planning permission, waiting for house prices to go up to make it more profitable for them.

Investigations are underway with Portsmouth Water digging large holes to investigate ground conditions on what will be the reservoir site, mainly on what is now open fields by Havant Thicket. Some ancient woodland will be lost and we are supporting its replacement, with Portsmouth Water. Cycle groups have been lobbying for an effective cycle and walking route round the reservoir, north to south and east to west. We are also supporting a proposal for the visitor centre to be built as an exemplar of self-sustainability by environmental standards.

Barratt homes have been pursuing this development since 2018 and appealed to the Planning Inspectorate about it, as Havant Council delayed making a decision about it in March, as Covid-19 prevented them meeting. The Inspectorate still wanted to know what Havant’s decision would have been, had the meeting gone ahead, so the Development Management Committee met to decide this on Thursday 29^th October. They agreed planning permission 5 for v 2 against. We are now waiting for a further decision from the Planning Inspectorate.

There are a large number of concerns about building on the Sinah Lane site.

Over 500 objections have been received against it and there were 10 deputations, which included the Chair of the Committee, Cllr. Clare Satchwell:

• Loss of winter foraging for Brent Geese and Waders
• Risk to water equality in Langstone Harbour
• Coastal erosion
• Site prone to flooding
• Impact of extra traffic on Hayling’s roads which are already overloaded
• Strain on local schools and health services
• Homes not built to high enough standards for energy efficiency and zero-carbon.

Please contact Pat Brooks if you would like more information.

Some films members recommend

Try Kiss the Soil about farming methods which value our soil and The Game Changers, a very entertaining film promoting veganism and explaining why the world needs it. And don’t forget about David Attenborough’s film A Life on our Planet. All on Netflix.

Tree Cover

Friends of the Earth have produced a new report on nature in our national parks and a map to show how much access to green space different neighbourhoods have. There are some surprising results. For instance, the Yorkshire Dales have less tree cover than London and the Peak District less than Leeds.

Find out more here https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/missing-action-natural-climate-solutions-englands-national-parks

Local Events

Portsmouth Green Drinks – Thursday 12th November at 8pm

Discuss Geology for the Future with Craig Storey & Nick Stoor from the University of Portsmouth.  Email [email protected] for details.

Tree Charter Festival – Saturday 28th November 12:30 – 6pm

Join the Woodland Trust for the biggest virtual celebration of woods and trees the UK has ever seen to celebrate the third anniversary of the launch of the Tree Charter.

The meeting on 11th December will be a sort one straight after the discussion. You are welcome to stay and join us.

Contact [email protected] if you’d like the details Find out more on their website at https://havantclimatealliance.wordpress.com or follow them on Facebook or Twitter: @HavClimate