Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Theatre in Thornbury

Having recently seen Jeremy Hardy at the Sundial Theatre in Cirencester, I was convinced that the word theatre is more to do with the performance than the surroundings so I checked in the dictionary:

  1. building designed for the performance of plays, opera, etc.
  2. plays regarded collectively as a form of art
  3. world of actors, theatrical companies, etc.
So why should Thornbury need a new theatre (the building) to stage theatre (the performance)?

The Sundial Theatre and the Armstrong Hall seem to be treated differently in their respective communities. They are very similar, both seating just over 300, offer raised seating and both have a bar, although I prefer the one at the Armstrong Hall.

There is a different atmosphere at the Sundial where the volunteers who run it seem totally dedicated to bringing performance to Cirencester at every opportunity. Their focus is on performances not the venue.

Perhaps the names of the buildings constrain their use? The Armstrong Hall was built at a time when Thornbury didn't have a sports centre and many of the smaller venues had yet to be built. It was logical then to call it a 'hall'. Perhaps we need a simple rebranding, for example by changing the name to Armstrong's?

If live theatre is viable in Thornbury someone needs to demonstrate it by hosting more entertainments. Perhaps introduce regular Saturday night performances? Or introduce a week in Autumn to counterbalance the Arts Festival in the Spring?

We already have a team of volunteers with the energy, enthusiasm and skills to stage professional shows on a regular basis - ACT - it's just that they are directing their talents towards theatre (the building) rather than theatre (the performance). How much better if they were to direct their efforts towards demonstrating that there is a future for frequent professional theatre performances in Thornbury?

That brings me to the key issue - financial viability. Operation of the Sundial seems to be financially viable and that will be the key to its long-term success. I don't know the extent to which it relies on grants from Cirencester Town Council or subsidies from Cirencester College. What I do know is that the people of Thornbury deserve to know the factors underlying its viability and understand the context and extent to which they might be asked to underwrite new theatre (venue or performances) in Thornbury.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Policing Thornbury

Sale of Thornbury's police station is imminent so the police will be looking for somewhere to host their face-to-face contact with the public. Perhaps they'll follow the lead set by the Metropolitan Police who are closing front counters at police stations and opening access points in places of worship, coffee shops and football grounds.

Thornbury is very well endowed with coffee shops and churches so perhaps, even as I write, one of these is being considered by Avon & Somerset Police. A church would offer the possibility of prayer, and in some cases confession, while waiting to be seen. A coffee shop would be less private but would have the edge when it came to whiling away the time.

While I'm on the subject of the police presence in Thornbury, I note that the South Yorkshire Police are deploying cardboard cut-outs of uniformed police officers in order to deter thieves...... Coming soon to Thornbury on Friday and Saturday nights?

Monday, November 26, 2012

Horizon completes transition to Hitachi

So it's a done deal. Horizon, its assets and its staff have now been acquired by Hitachi as a going concern.

The good news is that the current preference for hybrid cooling towers is likely to remain unchanged.

The bad news is that development at Oldbury will follow development of the lead site at Wylfa on Anglesey. This means that Hitachi's local multibillion pound investment, with a peak of around 6,000 construction jobs and around 1000 during the operation of the station, is unlikely to materialize until mid 2020s. So plenty of time for local pressure groups to dream up even more reasons why not.

Sunday, November 04, 2012

Severn barrage decision pressing

I see that Hafren Power is concerned that the Severn Barrage will be sidelined unless a final decision is made within the next three years (BBC News). Given the tendency of Liberal Democrats to procrastinate over decisions on infrastructure, it looks increasingly unlikely that the coalition will take such a decision. Given that decisions are also required on other major infrastructure projects, e.g. airport capacity, perhaps the time has come for the Conservatives to govern as a minority party relying on the 'national interest' to carry the day? At least that would send out a very clear message to the electotrate about which parties are genuinely committed to a prosperous future for the UK.

Blinkered politicians will not see it of course but what a fantastic boost to the prospects for nuclear investment at Oldbury. Why do I say that? Because the reviled cooling towers would be unnecessary so long as cooling could rely on the water contained by the barrage! Oh yes and it would be cheaper to build reactors at Oldbury because the cost of the cooling towers could be saved.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Hitachi to build reactors at Oldbury

So it's a done deal. Hitachi have bought Horizon (see news release) in a deal expected to be concluded by the end of November and will seek to license their reactor design within two years. Their UK partners will include Babcock International and Rolls Royce. Hiroaki Nakanishi president of Hitachi Ltd commented:'Today starts our 100 year commitment to the UK and its vision to achieve a long-term, secure, low-carbon, and affordable energy supply.'

The impact on our local economy will be massive and should ensure a more vibrant economy for decades to come.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Oldbury's nuclear future reviving?

Bloomberg has reported that e.on and RWE are to sell their joint holding in Horizon Nuclear Power to Japan's Hitachi for £600 million. While the deal could be completed in days, the licensing of Hitachi's reactor design could take up to 4 years.

EdF has already started preliminary work for construction at Hinkley Point so the future for UK nuclear is beginning to look a little more positive. It will be too little to have any significant impact on global carbon dioxide emissions but at least there's a chance that the lights won't go out in the UK in 2025.

More importantly for Thornbury, there is now the prospect of a significant boost to the local economy during construction and later in operation.

Thornbury Gazette will no doubt be overwhelmed by protests from the anti-nuclear lobby as soon as the news is announced. It's a pity that it has to be a design that is not yet licensed in the UK but better that than nothing.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

500 new homes for Thornbury?

So campaigners are dismayed as a plan for 500 homes at Park Farm Thornbury is backed by councillors (Thornbury Gazette, Thursday, 25 October 2012). It comes as no surprise then that Save Thornbury's Green Heritage are suggesting a judicial review.

I happen to favour an increase in Thornbury's population because I am convinced that the alternative is a town that gradually dies. I also favour putting the heart back into Thornbury with the High Street becoming less peripheral. I'm not holding my breath though because there are sites at Filton and Emerson's Green, amongst others, where there is little opposition and these will be favoured for immediate development. These will also be the communities which will have first call on investment in shops, health facilities and transport. The consequences for Thornbury? In my view we will be left with our heritage and very little else!

And on a final note, I hope that our heritage is not being hyped up. For examples, are our fishponds really medieval? Presumably someone somewhere has some facts?

Solar panel protest grows

I feel very sorry for the resident in Castle Street whose installation of solar panels has attracted such wrath. He followed the rules, his installation is legal yet he is still subjected to attack.

As I've said before, the architectural merit of Castle Street's skyline is at least as badly damaged by the neighbours, many in listed buildings, who adorn their chimneys with unsightly aerials. If the solar panels have to go, no doubt the aerials will be next. And what then? Installation of Victorian gas lighting? A return to cobbles? A ban on traffic except for horse-drawn carriages and carts? Demolition of all buildings in Castle Street which are not listed?

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Hospital completion date put back as discussions continue

So it's happened yet again! (Thornbury Gazette, Thursday, September 27, 2012)

Why am I not surprised? Simply because it's happened before and it will happen again - the decision on the new hospital at Southmead, now work in progress and hopefully soon to be operational, was a classic example of obfuscation and delay. Whether we like it or not, both politicians and planners have a vested interest in keeping issues alive rather than nailing them.

Let me explain what I mean.

Politicians, whether local councillors or MPs, love nothing more than a battle. It makes headlines and keeps them in the public eye. It builds their credentials for the next election. Once the battle's won that's the end of the headlines and they have to look for the next cause. So they have a vested interest in prolonging the fight by picking on every minor issue and using the protest groups as cannon fodder.

Planners also have an interest in delaying decisions. In these difficult times they don't have the money to spend so they will seize every opportunity to delay investment. Every £1 million deferred is £1 million 'saving' this year.

What's really sad is that the well-intentioned actions of protest groups are used as excuses for delay. And inaction of the majority allows politicians and planners to get away with it. Once again the people of Thornbury are left wondering when they will ever benefit from a modern health centre with diagnostic services and a minor injury unit.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Thornbury Police Station - ripe for redevelopment?

So the police station in Thornbury is 'under offer'! Perhaps it will continue as offices but it's been on the market for over a year now so a change of use is possible so my money is on demolition and building new homes and/or a care home rather than commercial use. Watch this space.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Thornbury's energy consumption - profligate or miserly?

While idly scanning through the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) website, as one does, I came upon a gem - the National Heat Map. Commissioned by DECC, the Centre for Sustainable Energy has created a map showing heat use by area in England.

Just zoom in to Thornbury, choose whether you want to see total, commercial, residential or industrial heat density. I've set this link so that you can see total heat consumption for England, the Bristol area and Thornbury. Please remember that the colours in each map represent relative rather than absolute values so you'll need to look at the legend for each map. Also remember that heat density is presented per unit of land area, so the jury's out on whether Thornbury folk are profligate or miserly with their use of energy!

Total heat map for Thornbury:

Friday, September 14, 2012

Steve Webb's view on the Severn Barrage

I contacted Steve Webb MP via his website on 19th August as follows:

'In view of your welcoming the apparent abandonment of Horizon's plans for Oldbury Power Station, I would be grateful to hear your views on how future needs for electricity generation will be met and particularly how you perceive the resurrection of proposals for the Severn Barrage.'

I received a prompt acknowledgement from a case worker and then his response which is reproduced in full at the foot of this page.

Yet again Mr Webb displays his tendency to defer big decisions in favour of muddling through. Sadly this is nothing new, witness his condemnation in January 2009 of Ed Miliband , then Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, who had just announced five preferred options to generate green energy from the river, which also included two smaller barrages and two lagoon schemes. Mr Webb's response then was to advocate consideration of more options, prove feasibility with pilot schemes, and no reasonable prospect for power generation until well into the 2020s. So guess what, nearly three years have passed and the timescale for generating power from the barrage is heading for the 2030s. Taken to the extreme this philosophy will leave us in the dark some time very soon!

So Mr Webb's solution is gas. We will become increasingly dependent on this fuel for electricity supply, not to mention heating and transport. Yes it releases less CO2 than coal or oil so that's good news. Sadly it leaves us increasingly hostage to countries which are politically unstable and less favourable to the West than we might like. Luckily there is an alternative. We can raise the pace of exploration for shale gas which looks to be plentiful under the UK and the search is on locally. I wonder how Thornbury folk will respond to fracking in the vicinity? I'll come back to that soon.

Steve Webb's letter:

'Dear Mr. Rodliffe,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding meeting our future energy needs, which I have just read on my return from a family holiday.

In brief, my view is that we need a diverse range of energy sources to sustain us over the coming decades, including to reduce our reliance over the long-term on imported and increasingly expensive oil and in order to reduce our CO2 emissions in line with national and international agreements.

By far the best first step in my view is much greater effort at energy conservation and energy efficiency. Rather than build more and more generating capacity simply to continue to be as profligate as we currently are with energy, we should first prioritise using the energy that we do generate much more efficiently. There is huge potential for using subsidies, taxes and regulations to encourage energy-efficient behaviour and this can be cost-effective for the individual as well as for us as a nation. Even now the regulations on the energy efficiency of new homes are less strict than in many other countries, and the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock still leaves a great deal to be desired. This is to say nothing of public buildings such as schools and hospitals where energy is often extensively wasted.

In terms of generating capacity, I am sure that we will need to rely heavily on gas – ideally with carbon capture – for decades to come, but I also want to see a diverse range of renewable sources. This must include everything from continuing the growth in domestic renewables such as solar panels to large-scale off-shore wind and wave infrastructure projects. Whilst there is a big upfront capital cost to many of these projects, they will in due course generate relatively cheap and reliable energy, especially relative to what I anticipate will be the ever escalating cost of crude oil.

I hope that this is helpful in setting out my views.

With best wishes,
Steve Webb MP '

More on the Severn Barrage

So nearly a month after the plans were announced nationally, an article titled 'Severn barrage plan is resurrected' makes its way into the Thornbury Gazette, Thursday, September 13, 2012.

Somewhat surprisingly in view of the rabid anti-windpower stories reported elsewhere in this issue, it only carries the views of one sceptical councillor, a past chairman of the Severn Estuary Partnership, and the concerned chief executive at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. However, it does ask for reader's views so I await the next issue with interest.

Saturday, September 01, 2012

St Mary Centre Thornbury for sale?

Lots of work going on down in St Mary Centre. New railings here, coats of paint there. Does this mean that Peer Group are tarting it up for a quick sale?

Perhaps it's just routine renovation to keep the empty shops lettable and to generate more rent. But what if Peer Group have decided that their business model isn't working in Thornbury any more?

Their strategy is:

" .... to secure growth through the asset management of the existing portfolio and the acquisition of carefully chosen new investment and development opportunities."

So do they view the Centre as an appreciating capital asset or as a revenue stream from lettings? If they've lost confidence in future lettings then I wouldn't be surprised to see a swift sale as they seek to rescue whatever gains they've made.

If my surmise is correct it will be interesting to see who buys them out - Americans, Germans, Chinese or Arabs.

Not all bad news if the new owners were to value their holding by the NPV of its future rental income because they might then have a stronger incentive to eliminate empty premises by offering keener rents.

Let's see what happens.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Fury at solar roof blot in Castle Street

So "furious neighbours of a cottager who put solar panels up on his roof in the middle of Thornbury's heritage trail have blasted his act of visual vandalism" (Thornbury Gazette, Thursday, August 23, 2012, page 4)

Surely the architectural merit of Castle Street's skyline is at least as badly damaged by the neighbours, many in listed buildings, who adorn their chimneys with unsightly aerials? When South Gloucestershire Council's planning bosses and Thornbury Town Council meet to discuss the matter I hope they give some thought to the unintended consequences of a decision which gave more weight to the negative visual impact than to the environmental benefit.

Aerials certainly have a negative visual impact but no environmental benefit whatsoever. Once the solar panels go, aerials must go. And what next? Oh yes, look at the hideous street lights which are totally inappropriate for the setting. Anyone for Victorian gas lighting?

The only certainty is that council taxpayers will end up footing the bills for hearings, actions and compensation?

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Severn Barrage resurrection ....... again

So one time Labour minister Peter Hain has presented redrawn plans for the Severn Barrage to David Cameron, who has instructed his officials to study them closely. Promoted as a £30bn investment by the sovereign wealth funds of Kuwait and Qatar, amongst others, it would give a welcome kick start to the UK economy at little capital cost to the UK. It would also help the UK to meet challenging targets for carbon emissions and begin to resolve the looming energy crisis as existing power stations are retired.

Reaching across the Bristol Channel from Lavernack Point, south of Cardiff, to west of Weston-super-Mare it would create 20,000 or so jobs during construction and generate power equivalent to three nuclear power stations or 2,500 off-shore wind turbines. It might also carry road and rail links.

Construction could start as early as 2014, so what's stopping it? Once again the impact on mudflats and wild life will feature strongly; and quite rightly so. No doubt MP Steve Webb will argue against it on the same grounds that he argues against nuclear, i.e. that it cannot meet the demand for power because it will take too long to build. That argument is self-fulfilling of course because the longer people like him defer decisions the more likely it is to be true.

And what of the people of Thornbury? I am confident that this week's issue of Thornbury Gazette will front page the opposition of one local group or another.

PS Off-topic perhaps but worth observing that politicians, our own included, are adept at deferring decisions in order to delay capital investment. How do they do it? Simple! Just run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, witness the excruciatingly slow progress deciding on Frenchay or Southmead as the site for a new hospital.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Putting the heart back into Thornbury

I happen to think that Thornbury needs a larger and more sustainable population if we are to support a thriving town centre and one day to benefit from many of the facilities enjoyed by larger communities. If the majority think otherwise then we must all live with the consequences of that decision.

However, I find it bizarre that the current debate centres almost exclusively on which green space should be preserved rather than on broader environmental considerations. Criteria should include ease of access to the High Street. How do we encourage folk in the new homes to walk rather than use their cars? Surely an environmentally responsible Thornbury should be discouraging folk from burning more fuel and increasing pressure on our already over-stretched parking? Surely a commercially viable Thornbury should discourage them from getting into their cars and heading off to The Mall where the parking is easier?

If we decide to build more homes let’s build them as close to the High Street as possible. Let’s put the heart back into Thornbury.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Rail 3. Greater Bristol Metro Campaign

Thanks to all those who joined Thornbury 2050 in lobbying for Thornbury to be included in the Greater Bristol Metro Campaign. It looks as if your efforts have ensured that Thornbury is at least on the map!

Government money to the tune of £100 million is about to be pledged to the first phase and it looks as if Thornbury is now in with a chance for later development. Read the breaking news and the full story in The Post

Wind power storm brewing

It brought some metaphorical sunshine into another soaking wet day when I read in the Thornbury Gazette that:

The Olveston Wind Farm Action Group (OWAG) is growing in strength under the leadership of new chairman Claire Barnard, and after receiving pledges of support from Olveston and Aust councillors as well as MEP Ashley Fox, it has now been endorsed by Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council.
The more the merrier I say. Let's face up to the real challenge which is to build a substantial amount of new generating capacity with the least overall damage to the environment by concentating the visual detriment in very few locations. Trouble is the nimbies will just switch their destructive attention to the next scheme. Most of them will have lived out their natural span by the time that the real crunch comes and electricity will have become a luxury enjoyed by the few who can afford it! Will future generations remember nimbies with affection or hatred for the havoc that they wreak?

PS I'm hoping the weather will improve soon so that I can turn my attention to more healthy activities than sitting at the keyboard.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Size 2: What's viable for a town of Thornbury's size?

How many supermarkets, high street names and small independent traders could be financially viable in Thornbury? So many businesses are falling into administration that one wonders how long it will be before the majority of our town centre shops are either empty or occupied by building societies, banks, estate agents and charity shops.
How many commercial and light industrial enterprises could we service with premises and staff? Once again not a thriving sector with at least one large office block lying empty.
How much potential do we have as a dormitory town?
Answers to questions such as these would help to define the flow of income into the town and that in turn would enable a judgement on the type and scale of facilities that we could afford.
A simple example of the balance that must be struck is provided by ACT's promotion of Thornbury's very own 500 seat theatre. We already have the Armstrong Hall which is capable of seating over 300 and is used by Thornbury Arts Festival for a week each year to stage professional events which are by and large well supported. We also have several other smaller venues which are regularly used by amateur groups and for 'one off' events. But is Thornbury disadvantaged compared with other rural towns of comparable size?
A trawl through rural theatres in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire and a few further afield shows that most towns of Thornbury's size don't even have a venue comparable to the Armstrong Hall. Those that do have a theatre are presented in the attached plot:

Let's focus on the those towns with a very similar population to Thornbury, i.e. around 15,000. The most significan outliers are the Pavilion at Whitby and Theatr Brycheinog at Brecon (both selected by the study for ACT) and Monmouth's Savoy and Blake theatres (amongst the others I've trawled). It doesn't take much thought to work out that these benefit from circumstances that are unavailable to Thornbury. So it looks as if Thornbury is already blessed with quite a large auditorium for a town of its size.
Of course size isn't everything. Undeniably the facilities at the Armstrong Hall need updating and fund raising is well under way to improve backstage. Whether we need or can afford the running costs for a state of the art 500 seat theatre is a matter for debate - one based on a sound business case, a realistic assessment of financial viability and hopefully no need for a subsidy by Thornbury folk.

The Chinese are coming

It could have surprised no one when RWE Npower and E.On announced their withdrawal from Horizon Nuclear Power - how could the Germans have faced down opposition to their plans when the German Government had withdrawn from nuclear at home. More to the point the Germans just don't have the money to invest in us - it's all going to prop up the economies of Greece, Spain and the other southern states of the Eurozone. Germany might change its mind on its own membership of the Eurozone but that probably would make sufficient funds available to invest in nuclear outside Germany.

For those of us who are supportive of nuclear as an environmentally and, in the longer-term, commercially sound means of generating power it seemed that we would be doomed to a future of nimbies squabbling over wind turbines, incinerators, barrages ... none of which on their own stand any chance of meeting our energy needs.

So it is fascinating to read in The Gazette today that

The Areva group and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) group announced this week they would bid for the Horizon project in Shepperdine, as well as its other site at Wylfa on Anglesey in North Wales.

A large scale investment by the Chinese makes incredible sense - they are amongst the few nations in the world who have capital and we need it if we are to rescue our dwindling sources of electricity.

Or should we go big time for power stations fuelled by gas? There is definitely oil shale beneath Thornbury. Whether or not it holds significant quantities of gas to be commercially viable remains to be proved. The only certainty is that the nimbies will be out in force, ears to the ground listening for rumbles and noses to the tap sniffing for gas!

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Size 1. Does size matter?

The population of Thornbury is around 12,000; over 15,000 if Alveston and the surrounding villages are included. Is that big enough to justify a Minor Injuries Unit, a good choice of supermarkets and a range of chain stores alongside local shops, a theatre, and so on? With whom should we be comparing ourselves?

Let's consider the following towns:

  • Glastonbury, recently trumpeted by BS35Local in Meet The Neighbours as a town from which Thornbury should learn. A somewhat smaller population at less than 10,000 including many with New Age leanings, swells to more than 150,000 when Festival hits town.
  • Yate combined with Chipping Sodbury has a population of 27,000 or so and may be considered by some to be a step too far for Thornbury though it illustrates what can be viable in a community that size.
  • Bradley Stoke with a population around 28,000 is still developing the facilities that it needs and is rapidly catching up with Yate/Chipping Sodbury.
  • Cirencester, with a population approaching 20,000, is an old market town with a tourist trade founded on its Roman origins. It hosts the Royal Agricultural College. It has a 24/7 Minor Injuries Unit with X-ray facilities and an out-of-hours GP service for emergencies. The Sundial Theatre was opened in 1998 as part of Cirencester College; with seating for up to 275 it hosts drama and musical events by community groups and professional touring companies.
  • Portishead has grown rapidly over the last decade from 17,000 in the 2001 census to 22,000 today. It had a long history as a fishing port before the docks expanded rapidly in 19th century; two power stations and a chemical works created employment in first half of 20th century. A marina and housing have sprung up where the docks and power stations were demolished. It boasts several supermarkets and a wide range of high street names. It's now unashamedly a dormitory town for Bristol and the surrounding area and probably has a strong case for reinstating the passenger rail service to Bristol along exisiting lines. It doesn't have a Minor Injuries Unit; the nearest is at Clevedon (pop. 22,000) 6 miles away.
  • Dursley, a small market town with a population of about 6,000, still suffering from the decline of employment in engineering and manufacturing.

It seems that we have aspirations for Cirencester with the characteristics of Dursley!

Thornbury needs to find a niche and fast. Can we expect tourism to bring a major influx of visitors and income when we compete with the likes of Cirencester? How can more employment be brought to Thornbury? And if opportunities are limited here, shouldn't we be comfortable with a proportion of our working age population commuting to Aztec, Filton, Yate and Bristol?

We need to stop saying no to every detail and start looking at the wider picture. If we don't grasp opportunities they will be eagerly snatched by Yate, Filton and Emerson's Green.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Rail 2: Greater Bristol Metro campaign

Surprise, surprise! Steve Webb has hitched his wagon (please excuse the pun) to the Greater Bristol Metro campaign by cosying-up in a cross-party alliance with 19 MPs from around the South West, including Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Jack Lopresti and Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore. The Gazette trumpets his support for a new hourly service from Severn Beach to Bath Spa and from Portishead to Severn Beach and Temple Meads from 2013. Apparently he welcomes calls on the Department for Transport to increase services for commuters in Yate and Severn Beach, including half-hourly connections for Yate by extending Weston-super-Mare to Bristol Parkway services with a new turn-back facility.

Nothing for Thornbury then; not even as part of some longer-term vision for rail transport in the region? Not unless a carefully worded afterthought is intended to offer us hope:-

"I will continue to press the Department for Transport to look hard at upgrading the whole rail system around the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area."
Dream on Thornbury!

I'm beginning to wonder whether strategic thinking is somehow incompatible with the Lib-Dem mentality!

Monday, April 09, 2012

Teen's Activity Centre

It's good to hear the views of Thornbury's young people. Some positives: the parks, Leisure Centre, safe environment and schools. Some areas to improve: nothing/not enough for young people to do, 'naff' shops, unattractiveness of High Street to under-18s, and lacking big retail names, 'trendy' independent stores, and places for young people to hang out. And some suggestions: climbing wall, basketball hoops, bowling alley, building a cinema and putting on regular music concerts and festivals aimed at young people.
Thornbury is a rather small town with a population about half that of Yate/Chipping Sodbury or Bradley Stoke. Whether we like it or not, our size means that we are much less attractive to big retail names who would struggle to make a business case for investing in us. And we should remember that even the youngsters of Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Bradley Stoke have to travel to Cribbs or into Bristol for cinema and tenpin bowling. Since significant growth seems to be off the agenda, we will all have to live with that fact.
So what's to be done to turn the aspirations into action? Perhaps start with better use of the facilities we already have? I don't know all the answers but I can illustrate the sort of possibility I have in mind:
  1. Start by asking not what Thornbury can do for young people but rather what young people can do to make Thornbury a better place for themselves and the teenagers of tomorrow.
  2. Start with something simple like the climbing wall. There is one at Thornbury Leisure Centre but it doesn't meet current health and safety standards. Meet with someone from Circadian Trust and ask how much it would cost to bring it up to a satisfactory standard. And check how much it would cost to provide qualified instruction/supervision. Circadian should also be able to comment on provision of basketball hoops.
  3. Choose the first project and start raising money for it. For example, we don't have a cinema but we do have several halls and films are shown regularly. So why not organise a showing of the type of film that young people want to see? Or put on a concert?
Is it beginning to sound like killing two birds with one stone? Films and concerts raising money to subsidise sports facilities!

Friday, April 06, 2012

Energy 3: Power from Thornbury

By hosting Oldbury Power Station for the last 40 years, Thornbury made an excellent contribution to sharing the burden for all the energy that it consumed. Now that Oldbury has ceased generation, what contribution can and should Thornbury make to carrying the burden of its future energy needs?

Blown Away, The Sunday Times, 4 March 2012

The Sunday Times recently reported the details of a now not to be published KPMG report on electricity generation - 'Rethinking the Unaffordable'.

The precise mix is subject to a hot debate. Whatever the outcome, the certainties are:

  • The UK has made a firm undertaking to meet CO2 emissions reduction targets of 34 percent by 2020 (against a 1990 baseline), ensuring security of supply and aiming to eliminate fuel poverty.
  • Substantial contributions will be required from each of gas, renewables and nuclear.
Within a few miles of Thornbury it is possible to host wind turbines, a Severn Barrage, redevelopment of nuclear at Oldbury and possibly even shale gas production. So which of these are viable, would bring benefits to the area and how much of a burden would we and the next generations have to shoulder?

I will consider each of these in turn but first let's ask who suffers if global emissions of CO2 are not curbed.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Still a quiet little market town?

It is always useful to place the future in the context of the past. Black's Guide to Gloucestershire published in 1875 notes of Thornbury:

'This ancient town is charmingly situated on the eastern bank of the Severn, in the lower part of the fertile vale of Gloucester. It is a quiet little place, of little bustle or trade; but its weekly market brings together a goodly number of farmers and others with the produce of the surrounding country. Its history comprises few facts worth mentioning. Its principal associations are connected with the dukes of Buckingham, proprietors of the manor, of whom one, the builder of the castle was executed for treason.'

By 1897 the railway had arrived and in 1914 Kelly's Directory of Gloucestershire describes the town as:

'... a parish, market and union town, and formerly a municipal borough, and is the terminus of a branch from Yate of the Midland railway, 24 miles south-south-west from Gloucester, 11 north from Bristol, and 118 from London; .........
.... The town is lighted with gas by a company from works in Back Church lane, and is partially supplied with water by the West Gloucestershire Water Company and from local wells; the town is under the control of the Rural District Council.'

The Shell Guide to England published in 1970 describes:

'... a quiet little town with good views across the Severn. It has many interesting houses which witness its earlier importance and a broad street sweeping down to an early 16th-cent. church with an earlier buttressed and parapeted tower. This is a landmark for miles around.'

It is interesting to note the reference to 'little bustle or trade' in 1875 and a century later to a 'quiet little town'. Despite these references to a tranquil environment, the town was not averse to new technology as evidenced in the last years of the 19th century with the coming of the railway and gas lighting. And by 1970 the nuclear power station at Olbury had been commissioned.

So how do we see ourselves now? The Official Town Guide published in 2012 portrays Thornbury as:

'Jewel of the Severn Vale, an old market town off the beaten track, .... a popular home to many who work in the surrounding towns and the many nearby business parks. ..... the town has not lost any of its character or charm which is safeguarded by sensitive and closely monitored conservation, ensuring that it remains a typical English Market Town.'

We can be justifiably proud of our heritage but I can't help wondering whether we might be stretching the truth if we continue to describe ourselves as a market town. The cattle market closed long ago, the Saturday Market consists of a handful of stalls on the Library Car Park, the farmers' market is only on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month and occasionally there is a food fair in Castle Street. However, it is nice to see open recognition that we play a significant role as a dormitory town.

Friday, March 09, 2012

Energy 2: Who suffers to meet Thornbury's energy needs?

Extraction of coal, oil and gas bring high costs in human lives and environmental damage. Whether we like it or not Thornbury folk have a part in causing that damage so long as they drive cars fuelled by petrol or diesel, heat their homes with oil or gas, use washing machines and tumble driers, buy goods manufactured in China … the list is extensive.
What if we consider our total energy consumption? Once we have taken into account the contribution that the power station at Oldbury has been making, how much of the inconvenience falls on other communities?
Oldbury Nuclear Power Station is closing after 43 years of safe operation during which it generated 130 TWh of electricity (source), equivalent to about 700,000 toe per year. Assuming that average annual individual consumption of energy in all forms throughout this period was 3 toe, means that the total energy needs for around 230,000 people were supplied by the station, roughly the population of South Gloucestershire (currently estimated at about 265,000).
Others may have suffered the inconveniences of mining coal, extracting oil and gas, etc. but the people of Thornbury can rest easy at night knowing that over the last 40 years they have taken their full share of the inconveniences associated with producing all the energy that they have consumed. And doubly so because nuclear generation avoids fossil fuel burning, lessening production of CO2 and easing the pace of global warming.
As Oldbury shuts down, Thornbury loses a good neighbour which has provided employment, boosted the local economy and been a generous benefactor to many local good causes. And for the next 40 years will the people of South Gloucestershire be reliant on others to suffer all the inconveniences created by the energy they consume?
Thornbury is an affluent community so perhaps we could pay others to take all the inconveniences while we enjoy all the benefits. Or perhaps there is a slightly different way to view financial compensation for inconvenience?

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Rail 1: Greater Bristol Metro Rail campaign - no Thornbury link

Why has Thornbury missed out on the Greater Bristol Metro Rail campaign to bring improved rail links with Bristol? South Gloucestershire is one of the four councils which have launched the initiative yet Thornbury is conspicuous by its absence from their proposals. Imagine reaching the centre of Bristol reliably in 30 or 40 minutes rather than 60 with a service every 30 minutes! Commuting into Bristol or Yate for employment would be easier and more enjoyable. Thornbury would be able to attract visitors from a far wider area. So why not do it?

Closed to passengers in 1944 and goods around 1966, the Thornbury branch line remains substantially intact and today continues to serve the quarry at Tytherington. A return to passenger traffic would require a comparatively modest capital outlay to improve signalling, upgrade a level crossing and construct a rudimentary station. One only has to look at the phenomenal success of the Severn Beach line to realise what might be achieved.

Are the costs considered too great or are the benefits too small to make the investment worthwhile? Or has South Gloucestershire decided yet again to kowtow to the BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody) tendency in Thornbury and leave the town in glorious isolation?

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Our legacy

I am going to look beyond the intellectual vandalism of individuals and groups who want to Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody (BANANAs), whom I view as one of the most destructive influences in modern society. (Visit Wikipedia for more information on this term and others such as NIMBY.)

I want to explore how we might preserve the best of our heritage whilst building a thriving community which enjoys all the benefits that the 21st century can bring. How do we decide what is worth preserving for posterity? How do we identify developments that will bring long-term benefits to our community? How do we strike a balance between all the competing short-term and long-term pressures? If we can get it right we'll earn the respect and gratitude of the folk living in Thornbury in 2050.

Every month or so I will consider the future for Thornbury in an area such as education, healthcare, energy supply, homes, crime, shopping, industry, employment and leisure. I welcome your comments - whether you agree or disagree with my point of view - and will be very happy to enter into a meaningful debate on any of the issues that you wish to raise.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Energy 1: How much benefit do we enjoy from energy?

1. How much energy do we use?

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the average annual energy use in the UK in 2010 was equivalent to about 3.3 tonnes of oil per man, woman and child. Quantities of gas, coal, renewables, nuclear, etc are adjusted for the energy they provide and are converted to the amount of oil that would need to be burnt to provide the same amount of energy, i.e. tonnes of oil equivalent (toe).
(IEA key world energy statistics)

Putting UK consumption in a global perspective:

World1.7 toe/person
USA7.3 toe/person
China1.8 toe/person
Senegal0.2 toe/person

Individual UK consumption is about twice the global average, less than half that in the USA and more than ten times that in Senegal. China is around the global average and rising fast. Since so many goods for UK consumption are manufactured in China, we must never forget that we are consuming a large amount of energy by proxy.

South Gloucestershire folk probably consume more than 3.3 toe/person if we were to take account of the prosperity of the area and our consumption of goods manufactured in China.

2. What are the benefits from its use?

Some benefits are immediately apparent:

  • heating and lighting our homes, shops, offices, hospitals, schools and factories
  • fuel for our cars, taxis, buses, delivery lorries and emergency services
  • fuel for rail and air transport for business and leisure

Some are less obvious but are vital to the economy on which we all depend:

  • Production of steel, bricks, cement, glass to build our homes, shops, offices etc.
  • Production of vehicles, aircraft, goods and services for domestic use and export
  • Construction and maintenance of roads, tunnels, airports

Some people in South Gloucestershire may have made personal choices which will reduce their consumption of energy. For example, they may have decided to cycle everywhere, seek their entertainment at home, use only local shops and shun holidays involving air travel. Others may have fewer options because this is a rural area and they may need a car to get to work. There will be some variation from one person to the next but overall our energy consumption is averaging about 3.3 toe/person.

So which communities suffer inconvenience as a result of Thornbury's energy consumption?