Q: Are Children Eating GM Foods at School?
(Hint: Depends which side of the Blackwater River they live!)
YES! NO!
For Hampshire For Surrey Schools SchoolsThe school meals in the Blackwater Valley have been split along county lines as the controversy over whether we should be feeding our children food containing genetically modified (GM) products continues. Surrey has quite rightly acted very promptly in taking out GM foods from the school menus. Hampshire unfortunately has made no such commitment and will continue to serve up GM foods in the county schools.
Surrey should be applauded for their quick decision in which they have taken the line along with many other county and city authorities in the UK that the precautionary principle should be applied, "The decision was taken because the long term effect of using GM foods is not yet known and we would like to have assurances in this area before using it", was the statement from Surrey explaining the decision.
Hampshire however are taking a very different stance, despite a presentation made to Hants County Council at Winchester by BVFoE. At this meeting we presented what these other authorities were doing and why we thought it imperative that a GM ban was brought in immediately. We presented to them the results of a BVFoE poll taken from two local schools in which 76% of parents wanted GM food removed from their child’s plate.
Following the group’s presentation a meeting of the Hants Public Protection Committee was held. Here it was agreed only to investigate the implications of GM food. Despite so many other areas banning it, Hampshire felt that an immediate outright ban of GM foods in schools (and social services) is "impracticable to impose" !
For more GM information see our GM Page
Ministry of Defence Concede Planning Permission Required at Farnborough Aerodrome
The result of the Rushmoor Local Plan, due out this summer, is eagerly awaited by everyone concerned with the airfield. However in the latest twist to the story it seems that even if the result goes for a flying option, the Ministry of Defence have now conceded that TAG (the prospective operators of the airfield) will have to get planning permission for a commercial flying operation. This is necessary because of the "material change in use" of the airfield in going from a military testing airfield into full-blown commercial flying operation (incidentally, this probably means that the MoD should have applied for permission back as early as 1989 when the commercial enclave was first established).
The application for planning permission (expected late 1999 or early 2000) will give the chance for many of the local people to raise written objections to Rushmoor Council and if the strength of feeling is seen to be large enough then the application can be defeated.
In order for our members to get fully acquainted with developments on the airfield and to find out how to object when the time comes there was a special BVFoE public meeting on April 13th. Simon McRae from national FoE, Patrick Kirby from Future Farnborough Aerodrome Group and top environmental lawyer Susan Ring attended to give their expertise and help answer people’s concerns.
Guildford Local Plan
The Guildford Local Plan has just been on Deposit Draft for comments. The group has reviewed the document and was quite relieved to see that for once the Local Plan seemed to be reasonably kind to Ash Parish. No new housing developments have been proposed on the countryside around Ash and Tongham and Ash Common has been given extra European protection and is now a Special Conservation Area (SCA) on top of being a SSSI. The strategic gap around the Blackwater River has also been designated a Protection Area as well as just being the original Recreational Area.
The only objections to the Local Plan that the group has put in to the council concerns the three small wooded areas around the Avondale and neighbouring industrial area (Lysons Avenue). Two of these sites are rolled over from the 1993 Local Plan (although the council mistakenly seem to think that it is all three) and the council are obsessed with clearing all three sites to be used for industrial buildings. These sites are the few remaining woodlands in the area and have become active with birdlife (including many nests in the spring). It is ironic while the council is spending thousands of pounds on one side of Lysons Avenue with artificial "environmental improvements" they are intent on destroying natural environment on the other side!
In parallel with the plans that Rushmoor council (in cahoots with British Aerospace?) have for the airfield, we must not overlook the plans that DERA (in cahoots with Hart council?) have for the other side of the development.
Groups oppose new DERA road
In February, DERA put forward an outline planning application for a brand new road to skirt around a massive new complex they are planning to build at Pyestock opposite the just completed Cody complex. The existing Ively Road will become a DERA road (not for public use) , so that they can link the two sites into a Super Complex which is planned to house another 1500 people. A new bridge will also be built next to the existing Norris Bridge over the canal to give a gyratory system.
The proposed route of the new road is through virgin grass and woodland and has ignored the survey that our local biodiversity expert Chris Hall performed for English Nature. As a result EN have concluded that "species-rich grassland will be destroyed" by the proposal.
BVFoE together with other green and community groups have written an objection to the application. We are concerned that this route will destroy a valuable wildlife refuge and the gyratory system will have an impact on the canal and neighbouring SSSI. The road will give a green light for industrial and housing development on the strategic gap, thus effectively merging Fleet and Farnborough. Because of the unsafe conditions for cycling and walking and the poor bus services the amount of private car use will dramatically increase around this area.
Group Supports Hants Rally in Portsmouth for Light Rail Transit
As part of the group’s support for new public transport initiatives in Hampshire we recently attended a rally in Portsmouth for the Light Rail Transit. This new scheme will link Gosport and Portsmouth with a railway running under Portsmouth Harbour. The rally organised by Hants FoE coincided with the start of the planning inquiry.
Electricity Liberalisation Comes to Area (At Long Last!)
The long awaited electricity liberalisation came to our area on April 1st. Appropriately enough this day coincided with it being one of the hottest April 1st this century (and that’s no April Fool!), maybe something to do with climate change caused partly by the burning of fossil fuels from our electricity generators?The big day has been delayed exactly a year due to Southern Electric saying that they couldn’t get their computer to handle the many transactions that will now take place as people leave (or join) them. This limp excuse cost the company a few million pounds in fines from the electricity regulator (OFFER).
So from this day we can now choose the regional electricity company (REC) that we want to supply our electricity. We have been campaigning for a long time against Southern Electric, highlighting their mediocre environmental record and their position on last year’s FoE Green Energy League Table (9 out of 16). However look out if you are thinking of changing to another company!
Those of you who have been into Farnborough’s Kingsmead recently, can’t failed to have seen the British Gas promotion in which they try to get you to change to their cheaper electricity. British Gas (also known as Centrica) have an even worse record than Southern in the Energy Table (11 out of 16). When I questioned one of their salespersons, he said that BG did not know have any plans to introduce a green tariff (in which so much percentage of your bill goes to investment in renewable energy) nor did they encourage energy efficiency! This means that although your units of electricity may be cheaper with BG, you could end up by using more than a greener REC that encourages you to save energy. This will hit you in the pocket and because all of BG electricity is supplied from burning coal, oil, gas or nuclear will have a detrimental effect on the environment at the same time.
In fact, due to our campaigning over the last two years, Southern have now brought out a green tariff called Acorn. If you pay 5% more on top of your bill then Southern will invest this into buying from renewable sources in the future. This will boost their position considerably up the Energy Table. A belated congratulations to Southern for their change of heart !
For those who would like advice on which RECs have the best environmental records, or for a copy of the Green Energy League Table, contact Energy Campaigner, Rick Kimber .
Group Responds To Government’s Climate Consultation
The DETR (Dept of Environment, Transport and Regions) put out this winter a consultation document for Climate Change. They invited responses from as many as groups as possible including FoE local groups. To help with the debate the DETR also organised half-day seminars around the country, and BVFoE attended the one at Reading.The seminar was quite informative although it seemed very rushed and could have been one whole day. Speakers included Mr Morris from Reading Council who talked about the green examples that councils could put into action, citing Reading’s low emission public vehicles and park and rides. Mr Pickup from West Yorkshire talked about the public transport initiatives that could be put into action including much more integration. The role of business was then discussed by a representative, Mr Jones, who encouragingly said that ‘green’ companies are securing greater growth than ‘non-green’ companies in the UK. Last but not least our very own national FoE energy campaigner Pad Green talked about the great effort that would be needed by everyone if the UK was to meet its Kyoto commitment of 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2010. He also reminded the Energy Minister present, Lord Whitty, of the 20% reduction in
CO2 that Labour promised us pre-election.For a copy of the BVFoE response to the consultation document please contact BVFoE Energy Campaigner, Rick Kimber.
Local Pollution Problems
Roads around the area are showing higher pollution levels due to the traffic growth continuing at an unrestrained rate.
Surrey Heath have been measuring the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels emitted from car exhausts alongside the M3 at Brick Hill near Windlesham. This shows that the level is consistently well above the Government limit and is at its highest level for five years. The measured figure was 80mg of NO2 whereas the limit is currently 55mg and is due to drop to 39mg by 2005.
Levels in our area further down the M3 can expected to be just as high due to the massive business developments that are taking place either side of the highway and which are highly dependent on the car for commuting to.
Meanwhile, national FoE has been analysing Government pollution data from ‘A’ roads in the South East. They have published a league table of the worst roads (excluding London). Not surprisingly the A325 Farnborough Road is the 4th most polluted main road in the South East!
All this worrying data is basically verifying what our group has been predicting for this area for some time. Traffic levels are growing at 2% per year due to the lack of any policy to halt the growth. The FoE Road Traffic Reduction Act originally called for a reduction in levels of 10% by 2010. In order for the Act to get through Parliament it had to be watered down from a target to just a figure to aim at. There is therefore no current number to go for at the moment. The proposals announced in last year’s Integrated Transport White Paper would help considerably but this paper has not been considered important enough to take up Government time in passing this year. It has therefore been sidelined for another Parliamentary year.
Nitrogen dioxide can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. It can also make airways more sensitive to allergens such as house dust mite. By disrupting the body’s natural cleansing mechanisms, NO2 may increase the body’s susceptibility to viral infections.
High NO2 levels are not the only pollutant posing problems. Levels of particulates, which have not been measured, are expected to be far higher in these areas of the M3 and A325. These very small particles are mainly emitted from diesel engines and if inhaled can get trapped in lungs where there is evidence that they can cause cancer (a reason that the Chancellor is increasing diesel fuel more than unleaded petrol). As summer comes and the weather gets hotter ozone is also created from car exhausts. This ground level gas (not to be confused with the precious stratospheric ozone) can aggravate breathing conditions for asthma sufferers and can be a big problem near these busy roads.
Factory Watch is an interactive web site launched recently by national Friends of the Earth. It aims to let people look up their local area and find out who the polluters are. The local people can then start a new wave of local campaigns to fight back and clean up their neighbourhood.
A check on the Blackwater Valley area found one culprit, namely Drum Laundry Services Ltd of Lysons Avenue, Ash Vale. In 1996, which is the last year that data is available, Drum Laundry annually emitted 22kg of Carbon Monoxide, 104kg of Hydrogen Chloride, 18kg of metal fume, 87 kg of particulates, and 109kg of sulphur dioxide. This is emitted through their incineration process (when you travel down Lysons Avenue this high metal flue is obvious). However, although these numbers sound high they are in fact within emission levels agreed by the Environment Agency – the Government’s watchdog – through the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC), which is part of the initial planning process.
Although these obnoxious gases are within legal limits, Drum Laundry have worryingly been illegally emitting dioxins at an amount over the IPC agreed limit. In 1996 they emitted 1.59 milligrams of dioxins annually when the limit was 1.0 milligrams. Although this may seem a very low figure, dioxins are thought to be dangerous at any level with evidence, mainly from research in the US, that they can cause cancer when taken into the body either through inhaling or through intake of contaminated food and water. This is very worrying when the siting of Drum Laundry is considered. As well as being directly across Lysons Avenue from a large housing estate (Avondale), in the other direction, only a stone’s throw away is Holly Lodge Primary School. Most of Drum Laundry incineration (as observed from the massive plume it causes) seems to be during the day when of course the children are in school (or out in the playground). Since growing children are thought to be particularly vulnerable to dioxins this is very disturbing.
BVFoE will be keeping a close watch on Drum Laundry and we will be attempting to get their emission records of 1997 and 1998 when they become available.
It has excellent, well-researched pages of data, and produced considerable national media interest when it was first released.