Green Building Forum - Green Councillor Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:32:10 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301525#Comment_301525 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301525#Comment_301525 Thu, 11 May 2023 22:10:22 +0100 bogal2 Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301526#Comment_301526 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301526#Comment_301526 Thu, 11 May 2023 22:26:41 +0100 Nick Parsons
Some LAs used to ask for 10% or more carbon savings over and above (or under and below, but you see what I mean) bog-standard Bldg Regs levels on Housing Renewal schemes. The problem was that some developers would rather add SWH or PV than improve insulation or air-tightness.

Asking volume housebuilders to agree to invasive random sample testing (and get them to pay for 3rd party reports) of their products could be a good start.

I'll come back when I can think of something which has a chance of happening!]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301528#Comment_301528 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301528#Comment_301528 Fri, 12 May 2023 07:33:03 +0100 Dominic Cooney We got one Green Councillor through in Staffordshire Moorlands (the first one ever)
Having put up at least 13 candidates in order to give people the choice to vote Green.
I came the closest 2nd place with 45% of the vote, 51 votes short of the Conservative (if I hadn’t stood, there would not have been a vote, the Tory would have got straight in!)]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301532#Comment_301532 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301532#Comment_301532 Fri, 12 May 2023 08:55:19 +0100 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: Nick ParsonsAsking volume housebuilders to agree to invasive random sample testing (and get them to pay for 3rd party reports) of their products could be a good start.
+1
But do the builders have to agree to the random inspections up front or is it enough to tell them that random inspections will happen.

Over here all new build has to show a minimum of 20% renewable energy use, easy if it is all electric (our grid is now 20% renewable (includes nuclear)). but more challenging if you want to install a gas combi.

And yes our grid is struggling to cope with electricity demand and domestic PV

Oh and congrats to bogal2]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301533#Comment_301533 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301533#Comment_301533 Fri, 12 May 2023 09:04:55 +0100 Artiglio
Then once you get the pushback from the various departments and bean counters you’ll have a much better understanding of why things aren’t as easy as thought and that creating dictats for others is a tad hypocritical.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301535#Comment_301535 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301535#Comment_301535 Fri, 12 May 2023 09:55:15 +0100 djh
edit: coincidentally there's a story about it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-65557814]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301549#Comment_301549 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301549#Comment_301549 Fri, 12 May 2023 23:02:21 +0100 Mike1
https://en.greengrenoble2022.eu/29-why-is-grenoble-a-green-capital.htm

Lyon's policies include:
- reducing land-use density to provide more green public space
- requiring the building & renovating sector to further cut buildings' energy use, improve winter & summer comfort, use green materials & renewable energy sources, and incorporate biodiversity.
- planting 300,000 trees to reduce the heat-island effect
- planting local public orchards
- replacing hard paving with permeable surfaces - grass, planting, etc.
- linking up parks and other green spaces to form green corridors for people & wildlife
- turning vehicle lanes to cycle lanes & footpaths
- providing bicycle servicing, parking and storage facilities
- providing bicycle purchase subsidies
- boosting car-sharing, car-hire and bicycle-hire schemes to reduce car use & ownership
- a 30kph (19mph) city-wide speed limit, except on major routes
- an upcoming ban on diesel vehicles
- preventing through-traffic crossing the city, except by the ring-roads
- major additional pedestrianisation of the city centre
- providing additional public transport
- on-demand street lighting after midnight in certain areas
- veggie food in schools on 2 days / week (all food locally-grown where possible)

Probably enough for your first 4 years.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301554#Comment_301554 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301554#Comment_301554 Sat, 13 May 2023 11:13:34 +0100 djh
1 to make it easier to live healthier lives, whether through better walking and cycling provision, access to green spaces and healthy food

2 to ensure housing is available for all needs, is well insulated and residents have easy access to local employment and services

3 to achieve a zero carbon future for all, enhancing biodiversity and supporting renewable energy.

Which seems woolly enough :bigsmile:]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301561#Comment_301561 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301561#Comment_301561 Sat, 13 May 2023 18:09:49 +0100 philedge Posted By: bogal2Just got in as a Councillor in Cheshire West for the Greens. Any good suggestions of what I should be trying to get done over the next four years.
Close off one lane of the inner ring road and turn it over to cyclists
Ban private cars from inside the inner ring road
Add dedicated cycle routes from all the cities urban areas to join up with the inner ring road
Charge a pollution tax to all city parking except park and ride
Remove street furniture planted in the middle of cycle paths- see the path outside Wickes
Get cyclists to design any changes you make
Finally, maintain whats there- the footpath by the Vauxhall garage on Sealand Road is completely overgrown and pedestrians walk in the cycle lane

Give yourself a pat on the back if you get a tiny fraction of that done]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301584#Comment_301584 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301584#Comment_301584 Sun, 14 May 2023 22:54:10 +0100 bogal2 Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301585#Comment_301585 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301585#Comment_301585 Mon, 15 May 2023 07:15:33 +0100 Jonti Posted By: bogal2Yes, great about Suffolk getting the first Green majority council. Lyon sounds like its doing well. Its hard to know where to start and what you can achieve as 2 greens on a council. Id like to start with trying to getting some locking cycle storage facilities at train stations. Cycling infrastructure could be a lot better in Chester, but look at the backlash from the cycle lanes that got removed after 5 months a couple of years ago- Id get lynched if I tried to get all that done Philedge- although I quite agree with it!

You have to have a rounded package of measures and introduce them in the right order. You cannot do points 1,2,3 or 4 without first having very good, functioning park and ride schemes mentioned in 4 first. You also need to think how businesses and consumers can carry on operating within a low/no emissions zone.
You could do points 5 and 7 straightaway.

Maybe the reason it failed five years ago was not because of the cycle lanes but because of the effect of the consequences of them. Change the consequences and you may get the result you are looking for. You are elected because of what the voted perceives you will do once in power but you will be judged on the consequences of what you do which is not the same.

Unpopular decisions can have popular outcomes. You are not elected do do what is popular with the electorate but to do what is in their best interests.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301587#Comment_301587 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301587#Comment_301587 Mon, 15 May 2023 09:46:49 +0100 philedge Posted By: bogal2Id like to start with trying to getting some locking cycle storage facilities at train stations. Cycling infrastructure could be a lot better in Chester, but look at the backlash from the cycle lanes that got removed after 5 months a couple of years ago- Id get lynched if I tried to get all that done

Isn't there a load of bike storage inside the station already?? You have to put the infrastructure in place to get people to the station in the first place.

I dont know which cycle lanes got abandoned unless you mean the bus lanes?? The problem is people wont transition to bikes unless the infrastructure is there first. It has to be properly laid out and funded then left in place for years to give people time to think it over and make the right choice. At the same time dissuade them from driving with pollution levies and unfavourable infrastructure.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301591#Comment_301591 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301591#Comment_301591 Mon, 15 May 2023 13:42:52 +0100 Artiglio
Cycling schemes largely rely on funding from central gov and spent by county councils, we had such schemes in kent, not counting the equivalent of low traffic neighbourhoods that were done in a hurry by highways departments who patently didn’t do site visits and did the plans working from home using duplo sets and google earth images. Didn’t consult with bus companies and concocted schemes where buses had to block roads to manoeuvre round some of the corners.

The notion of pricing /fining/inconvenience to do away with cars is out of step with most peoples working , daily and social lives. The school run alone is a minefield.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301593#Comment_301593 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301593#Comment_301593 Mon, 15 May 2023 16:19:28 +0100 djh Posted By: ArtiglioThe whole concept of cycle lanes is effectively irrelevant, the future will be something like scooters, but as they’re effectively illegal there’s a problem.I think more of a problem is the number of accidents and fatalities associated with e-scooters. And not all with them being knocked off by cars as is more normal with bikes (or by guided buses if you're in Cambridge :cry: )

Local councillors are elected by generally a very small portion of the local electorate
The turnout here was 37%. I don't call that very small. Low turnout is a warning sign that the electorate don't like the council/government.

The school run alone is a minefield.
I never understand the school run. What's wrong with walking or cycling to school? Or taking a bus or train if it's further. I certainly agree that a better way to reduce car usage is to make it safe enough and with enough public transport that people don't need to use their cars. Only then might it be sensible to start to penalise car driving.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301594#Comment_301594 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301594#Comment_301594 Mon, 15 May 2023 16:49:20 +0100 borpin
Everything is wrong with the planning system, time, NIMBYs, style.

Get in there and make reasonable decisions that benefit the majority and not the minority interests.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301595#Comment_301595 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301595#Comment_301595 Mon, 15 May 2023 16:55:11 +0100 Doubting_Thomas Posted By: djhThanks for those details. It'll be interesting to see what happens in our more rural environment.

I'm now in a Neighbourhood Plan group alongside councillors for my very rural area. What has been both eye-opening and depressing is the realisation that the town is totally dependent on cars and vans.

We are essentially a service town for the nearest big city, so most people are self-employed tradespeople who drive to work and have a work vehicle as well as a personal one. As a result the local pressure is to provide more parking spaces as a minimum than the maximums already defined by the Local Plan, because what works in the city just doesn't reflect reality around here.

I do a combination of bus and cycle to work, but the bus system has been effectively destroyed through shareholder profit-extraction and the roads are all very steep hills and dominated by HGV's.

I'm resigned to my 1.5 hr commute because the other aspects of my life, job and location outweigh the dire commute, but I fear that until we clear some of these big hurdles around protected bike lanes and reliable & affordable public transport, we aren't going to win many hearts and minds to a lower carbon lifestyle.

Does anyone know if there are good traffic engineer consultancies out there that aren't tied to the Highways Agency groupthink? I'd love to persuade my town that the busy A-road that currently severs our town centre into tiny pieces should be re-routed in favour of more pedestrianised streets, but it would take some decent statistical traffic-flow analysis to prove that to the powers that be.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301596#Comment_301596 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301596#Comment_301596 Mon, 15 May 2023 18:15:16 +0100 djh Posted By: Doubting_ThomasI'd love to persuade my town that the busy A-road that currently severs our town centre into tiny pieces should be re-routed in favour of more pedestrianised streets, but it would take some decent statistical traffic-flow analysis to prove that to the powers that be.You mean building a ring road, or something more complicated? I'm not sure what analysis you think is needed?]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301599#Comment_301599 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301599#Comment_301599 Mon, 15 May 2023 22:09:12 +0100 Artiglio Scooters are here to stay, the accident rate will increase, all because it’s going to become the local personal transport of the future. They’re a menace round here, makes the pavements lethal for pedestrians and use the roads when it suits them, with not a care in the world, i’ve yet to see any interest in the illegal use by the police. It’s only a matter of time until they are seen as being “bikes” in the eyes of legislation.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301605#Comment_301605 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301605#Comment_301605 Tue, 16 May 2023 00:37:31 +0100 Mike1 Posted By: Doubting_ThomasWe are essentially a service town for the nearest big city, so most people are self-employed tradespeople who drive to work and have a work vehicle as well as a personal one.For some people the personal vehicle can be swapped for a car-sharing / car-hire scheme - the work vehicle will be harder to crack.

In France many towns now have the Citiz not-for-profit coop, where you can hire a vehicle all-inclusive in 15 minute chunks. I use myself, from time-to-time, in place of owning my own car. It's also handy of I need a van to run to the builder's merchant / DIY store. Details in English at https://citiz.coop/english

As a 'social enterprise', Co Wheels (https://www.co-wheels.org.uk/) is perhaps the closest equivalent in the UK. There's also Zipcar (https://www.zipcar.com/en-gb/about) and Enterprise do something similar (https://www.enterprisecarclub.co.uk/gb/en/home.html). Probably others too.

This is certainly something that the local council could facilitate (by persuading an operator to set up & providing parking bays, for example) and promote, as in France.

Pretty sure it's Lyon where the local council is piloting a scheme where some people can apply for free membership of the car scheme + free e-bike use + free e-scooter use + free local public transport tickets for 1 (or maybe 3?) month(s) in exchange for agreeing not to use their car, so people can experience living without it.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301622#Comment_301622 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301622#Comment_301622 Tue, 16 May 2023 12:35:33 +0100 Doubting_Thomas Posted By: djhYou mean building a ring road, or something more complicated? I'm not sure what analysis you think is needed?

The town was historically divided up by two old railway lines which are now A-roads leading to bigger towns in the North, East and West. As a result, what was the heart of the town is very much bisected by routes to other places and most people only experience it as a through-town to get elsewhere.

I think that removing some of the mini roundabouts in lieu of a different type of junction, and (more controversially) pedestrianising the route marked in yellow, would at least allow a big chunk of the town centre to be walkable, safe, and viable for business, albeit still ringed by busy roads.

However, at present even the slightest roadworks etc. leads to long traffic delays and irate drivers so it would need some clever thinking and traffic management to avoid displacing the issues elsewhere. I completely understand that in Highways lore the roundabout is the most efficient way to maximise throughput.

Of course, to quote Jan Gehl "you get what you invite" and so if you make it easy to drive through a town then that's what people will do by default.

A complete bypass/ring road would probably be terrible too, because it does need passing trade. However I'm fairly sure that at least 80% of the current car traffic is not carrying people who even stop in the town or use the shops. They are just using the roads to get elsewhere.

This isn't a unique problem, but it does highlight the issues faced by a lot of small rural towns that have become enslaved to through traffic.]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301710#Comment_301710 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301710#Comment_301710 Wed, 24 May 2023 19:03:51 +0100 bogal2 Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301729#Comment_301729 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301729#Comment_301729 Tue, 30 May 2023 10:20:38 +0100 Doubting_Thomas
I've also subsequently found out about Telraam, which is a nice citizen-powered approach to monitoring local traffic modes and publishing the data openly.
https://www.telraam.net/en/what-is-telraam]]> Green Councillor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301730#Comment_301730 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17837&Focus=301730#Comment_301730 Tue, 30 May 2023 12:58:36 +0100 djh https://www.telraam.net/ is ! :bigsmile:

Simple clear design and no need to enable javascript to get it to render properly :bigsmile:]]>