Climate Change Update

Thank you to those people who attended out Climate Change Update Evening in February. We had some new faces to welcome to the village too. For those who couldn’t make it here is a brief summary.

Tenbury Transport Trust introduced the volunteer scheme run by volunteers which includes regular minibus routes but also bookable lifts for those in need of door to door assistance for appointments. Some social groups book the minibus service for special trips.

https://www.tttrust.org.uk/

Tenbury Transport Trust is also looking for volunteers who are based in Abberley who can offer some time to help as drivers, using your own car. This is allowed in the scheme following CRB or DBS checks and informing your insurer. Fuel expenses are paid. This is offering a vital service to those who need direct transport so do consider if you’d like to help.

Climate Matters

We reviewed the current grant offering from the government on renewable energy technology called the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or BUS. We discussed the best order to approach reducing your household carbon footprint.

If you are not ready to progress replacing your oil or LPG boiler then start with Loft insulation. Make sure that the installer does not affect your roof ventilation! This is affordable and reduces heat loss as 25% of the heat typically escapes through your roof. Think minimum 300mm or 12 inches and more if possible.

Adjust controls on your boiler flow temperature and turn down your thermostat or radiator valves.

Ready for a HEAT PUMP then the £7,500 grant is deducted from your quote.

Contact MCS accredited installers for heat pump quotes. You can save between 3.5 to 5.5 tonnes of carbon emissions per year depending on how much fuel you use!

Seek advice from installers if you think your house is not eligible as exemption certificates are possible. You need loft and cavity insulation if this applies to your house design and a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations. You can still have solid walls and apply.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme/check-if-youre-eligible

Some asked about noise– new designs are quieter and about the same as a washing machine or similar to the exhaust noise on your boiler. Ask a friend to go and stand in their garden and listen to one. They will not be running much in the summer when you are sitting outside. Oil and gas boilers will eventually not be an option. Or you can install a biomass boiler or Ground Source Heat Pump but these options are more expensive.

You can still save VAT on PV panels to generate your own electricity, around 4,000-6,000 kWh/year depending on roof size saving £1,200 to £1,800/year if you use it all. You will export around 40% if you don’t have a battery or car connected.

If your car is due for replacement or you are driving enough to justify the investment, around 8000 miles/year then look at EV cars- there are now second hand vehicles with good range too. They are cheaper to run with no road tax and reduce emissions by at least 70%.

A diesel car running 8,000 miles will emit around 2.7 tCO2 compared with 600-700 kgCO2 for an EV using grid electricity.

The key thing is to pick something and find out more.

Talk to others and share your experience.

Make sure you seek more than one proposal and use MCS accredited companies as this provides a minimum standard and access to the grants.

We shared an interesting graph on heat pumps installed across Europe which showed we are the worst with the lowest number of installations per 1000 households. So plenty of catching up to do……

Abberley Parish Council cannot recommend installers or give specific advice.

‘The Parish Council are enormously pleased to announce that, as a village, we are now the proud owners of circa 11 acres of land which we hope will be enjoyed by all. 

We were able to purchase the land by utilising section 106 money which was provided to the Parish following the recent housing developments. Section 106 has many conditions about how the money can be applied for and spent. In our case, as Abberley Parish Council did not have ownership of any land the money was to be spent on acquiring some public open space for the Parish. Fortuitously, some land came up for sale in an idyllic setting and we started our process.

The land is situated centrally, connecting both sides of the village. There is already a footpath, well used, which goes through the land; you gain access through a grass passageway opposite Churchfield Terrace. The initial, large field is what we now collectively own. 

For the next 12 months, we intend to turn the field into a grass meadow to see how the Parish utilises the space before making any longer-term plans.

We will post updates on progress as and when it happens. 

Of course, we need to christen our newly acquired plot and we would welcome any name suggestions to be emailed to me: 

’

  

Climate Change News

from your Parish Council

 

 

Dear Parishioners

It is starting to cool down and heating is going on so it is timely to consider the best energy savings ideas and see what improvements you can make to reduce your carbon footprint and your bills at home.

Have you checked how much loft insulation you have? To meet current Building Regs you need at least 270mm of loft roll whether it’s sheep’s wool or hemp or mineral wool. Aim for 350mm. Most people have about half this… and 25% of your heat goes out through the roof. If you can’t get in your loft for safety reasons then ask a trusted person or qualified installer to do this for you. Make sure air gaps for roof ventilation are not obstructed. Seek advice if you’re not sure.

Is your cylinder insulated? Are your pipes all insulated? Draught proofing? Use thermally backed curtains to reduce heat loss through your windows. Have you got double glazing? If you have cavity walls have they been cavity filled if suitable?

Consider turning down your thermostat by 1^oC which could save 8% on your bills according to Carbon Trust.

If you have a condensing regular or combi boiler then turn down the heat flow temperature to 55^oC (usually inside the front cover) or ask boiler technician to do this for you. Check your manufacturer’s instructions- see useful U tube videos on how to do this correctly.

https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/energy-saving-advice/

Want to go further then make the most of the heat pump grant under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which is now £7,500 and will cover the cost for a small heat pump or make a big contribution to a larger installation. The grant is also available for biomass boilers. If your gas/oil boiler is old then check out heat pumps!

https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme

We can’t advise on installers but make sure you look for MCS accreditation (Microgeneration Certification Scheme). These installers are on a register so they ensure staff are trained. They also use specified MCS certified products with published performance figures.

The parish council will have a Climate Evening in the new year to share experience and ideas in the parish.

Cathie Eberlin

Parish Councillor

CLICK HERE TO CHECKOUT Operation Snap | West Mercia Police

As part of Operation Snap, members of the public can report and submit digital footage showing potential traffic offences via a secure online form.

Submit footage

This can range from driving dangerously or carelessly to overtaking on solid white lines, using a mobile phone while driving, ignoring traffic lights or dangerous driving around other road users, such as horse riders and cyclists.

Please note; issues with number plates, windscreens and minor traffic offences are unable to be dealt with via Op Snap and general parking complaints should be raised with the relevant local authority. Notification of untaxed vehicles can be reported directly to DVLA, reports of no MOT or no insurance should be logged to 101, not via the Op Snap portal.

Your submission will be sent to West Mercia Police where the evidence will be reviewed by one of our road traffic police officers.

One statement is required for each submission/offending vehicle. We are unable to process multiple offences sent as one submission.

West Mercia Police will strive to update each submitter regarding the outcome of their allegation. All submissions are dealt with pro-actively to help reduce risk taking and poor driving on our counties roads.

Any footage submitted through the portal can be used by us to help educate other road users and to advise on case results.

Please note – if you operate a recording device in a public place, you may have obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is in your interest to familiarise yourself, and comply with, any such obligations as apply to you. If you are in any doubt as to your obligations, please obtain independent legal advice to ensure you do not put yourself at risk of prosecution. By submitting footage you acknowledge you have read and understood this before proceeding.

 

There is an app, “Speedcam Anywhere 2” that can be downloaded to use.  The content is then submitted to Operation Snap.

https://speedcamanywhere.com/. The app charges £14.99 for 100 recordings which can then be passed across to the police.

(Please take note of the GDPR alert highlighted above)

 

For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section or email