Ask The Leader 2008

Q. 1. Why aren't there any re-cycling facilities in Halland, or kerbside re-cycling, I have to drive to Ringmer and Lewes in order to re-cycle - not very green I'm sure you will agree. When will this be corrected? I have spoken to near neighbours most of whom say that they don't re-cycle as there are no facilities. Bit of an own goal when you talk about reducing land fill waste!

2. The speed of traffic on the B2192 between Terrible Down and the A22 roundabout far exceeds the 40 speed limit. Although the volume of traffic is not excessive, the heavy goods lorries and other vehicles speeding through this part of the village creates danger. There has recently been an accident at the roundabout. It also reduces the quality of life of the residents in this part of Halland. It is hazardous to walk along the pavements as they are narrow and some hedges are overgrown. Another own goal as you want us all to get more exercise. In order to walk our dog we have to drive elsewhere. Green?

In a nutshell I would like to see
1 Recycling /kerbside collections.
2 A reduction in the speed limit to 30mph where it is currently 40mph, together with a vehicle activated warning sign where the present 40 sign is; as this is a residential area.

I look forward to your comments
Sincerely
Cindy Gillman

A. Thank you for your questions.
Recycling
I am pleased to be able to tell you Wealden is planning to introduce kerbside collections to all rural areas by 2010 as required by current legislation. As there are some 22,000 rural properties in Wealden this is quite a major undertaking and work is already underway to find the most efficient way to roll out this programme to all.
Places to accommodate Bring Sites are extremely difficult to secure in rural areas due to public opposition and no sites have been identified in Halland. However there are three sites much closer to Halland than the ones you referred to in your email. These are:
Church Marks Lane, East Hoathly
Laughton Lodge, Common Lane, nr Halland
Framfield Recreation Ground Car Park
Each of these sites has facilities for glass, paper and cans.
In addition all the main towns in Wealden have facilities within the supermarket car parks and some of these also have plastic recycling facilities. Full details of our facilities can be found on our website.

Speed Limits
I share your concerns about speeding traffic. Please be assured that at every opportunity Wealden Councillors raise this issue with the appropriate authorities. I understand that East Sussex County Council is undertaking a speed review and I think it might be beneficial for you to contact your County Councillor Cllr John Garvican cllr.john.garvican@eastsussex.gov.uk who, I am sure would welcome your comments as the more we received the better we can argue our local case. I know that your District Councillor, Barby Dashwood-Hall, is already working on this issue and is in frequent contact with John and with your Parish Council.

With regards to the overgrown hedges an email or letter to the Parish Council alerting them to the problems and will enable them either to ask local householders to trim back their hedges, or if the request is received with a negative response take other appropriate steps to ensure that the footpaths are kept clear for pedestrians.
Your Parish is covered by East Hoathly with Halland Parish Council. The Clerk is Mrs Anne Newton and she can be contacted 01825 890182, email framfield.pc@virgin.net

Best regards
Pam Doodes

June

Q. We are all aware that local authorities have been overstepping their authority and using anti-terror powers to snoop on law abiding members of the public.

Could you please inform the residents of Wealden how many times surveillance has been undertaken by Wealden using the RIPA regulations over the last 12 months.

It would also be interesting to know under what heading any surveillance has been actioned ie fly tipping etc.

What is your view of councils snooping on the public using RIPA outside its intended remit.

David H (Crowborough)

A. Dear David,
Thank you for your question about the use of RIPA regulations.

Last year we made 12 applications under the Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act - an Act that is in place to make sure public authorities do not over step the mark when carrying out surveillance. All applications were granted. Ten were in relations to noise nuisance, one to fly tipping and one to graffiti. These were in direct response to concerns raised by Wealden residents.

To take action against noisy neighbours, evidence is needed and this can involve sound recording, so we make sure we put the proper regulatory measures in place before taking evidence.

Surveillance is also needed to gain evidence so that we can take action against graffiti and fly tipping. Fly tipping is a major problem for Wealden. We cover 320 square miles of some of the finest countryside in the south east and had to deal with 651 fly tipping incidents during the financial year 2006-2007. The use of cameras can provide us with necessary evidence to take action against offenders to ensure they do not repeat the crime, and keep the countryside looking the way the residents of Wealden want.

I do not agree that our use of the RIPA powers amounts to "snooping". We take our responsibilities seriously and only use surveillance technology where appropriate in order to protect our residents and the environment.

I do hope you are now reassured
Best regards
Pam Doodes

Q. I am rather concerned about the hysteria over plastic bags. My wife and I re-use our bags over and over for shopping, refuse bagging, lining waste bins, picking up dog and cat mess, sandwich wrapping etc. etc.

A ban on these very handy household items would mean only that we have to buy the bags on a roll from the same supermarkets who used to give them free. Good sales ploy comes to my cynical old mind!
Ireland has seen sales of bags on a roll rise by 400% since the bag tax came into being, negating any gains made. That will happen here simply because we need the bags.

I noticed a Sussex Express headline last week that 'Wealden was drowning in plastic bags'. Arrant rubbish! I do a lot of walking as a retired man, and I never see one, let alone drown in them!

I was a seaman for a number of years and I can assure you that the ocean is not full of them either! What I have often seen in mid ocean are rafts of plastic bottles and fishing industry detritus. never plastic bags!

I feel that this is just jumping on the 'green' bandwagon to look modern, and is entirely unneccessary. It will make no difference to plastic bag usage. We will just have to pay for them. Just as in Ireland! The supermarkets love it of course, because they will make profit on what, at the moment, is a substantial lossmaker! Roy Hills.

A. Dear Mr Hills Thank you for your email about plastic carrier bags. I wish more people followed your example of re-using their plastic carrier bags, sadly most people only use them to carry their groceries home. We would like to encourage people to act like our parents and take a bag with them when they go to shop.

As a waste collection authority Wealden is well aware of the number of plastic carrier bags that are discarded and end up in landfill and there they stay until they degrade, which can take hundreds of years. Even bio-degradable bags, which biodegrade into small pieces of plastic can take up to 20 years. Bags may be given out 'free of charge' (but the charge is included in the overall costs) by the supermarkets but council tax payers are footing the bill for disposal, so they are paying twice. Anything Wealden can do to reduce usage will be to the advantage of us all.

May I assure you we are not jumping on a bandwagon, we are just doing our small part to try to reduce usage by raising awareness of the issue. By lobbying supermarkets and other retailers we hope everyone will take a more responsible attitude and look at ways to reduce the packaging on their goods and find other, more environmentally friendly materials for bags. Best regards Pam Doodes

May

Q. Dear Pam, please could you advise what opportunity there might be as a volunteer at Wealden Council?

I am particularly interested in the recent plan to develop a Natural Environment & Biodiversity Policy for Wealden. Is there any opportunity to become involved in this project, even just as an observer? I did speak with one of the Councillors about this but it didn't really help me.

My understanding is that a working party will report to a scrutiny committee in October. The report will need to include: ‑ Management plans‑ consultation with internal and external advisors‑ How Local Biodiversity action plans will be implemented‑ Training of members and publicity (schools etc)‑ development of biodiversity indicators‑ template for an annual monitoring report My background is as a Business Development Director and I am now looking to move towards a career in conservation.

I have been volunteering in conservation on the Ashdown Forest for the past 2 years. Any involvement in this project would help my understanding of processes and give me some valuable experience. I am certain that my skills and enthusiasm could also be of benefit to the project. Thank you for your consideration. Yours Sincerely Emma Newman

A. Emma Thank you for your enquiry about our plans to develop a Natural Environmentand Biodiversity Policy for Wealden.

This work is being carried out by a working party of elected members of the Environment Scrutiny Committee.Working Parties take advice from experts within and outside the Council, and I am happy to forward your details to the working party members as it is upto them how they proceed.

It will be reporting in public to the meeting scheduled to take place at 10.00a.m. on October 14th in Committee Room 1 at our Pine Grove offices in Crowborough. May I thank you for your voluntary conservation work in the Ashdown Forest? It is one of Wealden's greatest natural assets and I appreciate the contribution from volunteers like yourself to keep it that way. Best regards Pam Doodes

Q. How is the Council making the most of the internet to keep in touch with the people of Wealden ? (27/04/08)

A. You are probably already well acquainted with what the Wealden web site has to offer, if not I hope you can find a few minutes to look at the online facilities that we offer, such as Report It, Online Payments, Planning Applications on the Web and the Benefits Payments calculator.

The site also makes use of Browsealoud software which allows it to "talk" to blind and visually impaired users. As a Council we realise the benefits of electronic communications. Councillors receive reports agendas and other documents on line, saving on postage costs. We use the internet as one of ways of consulting with members of the public on a number of issues, including the future development guidelines for the district, the Local Development Framework. We are aware that not everyone has access to the internet, so we ensure that we consult by other means as well.

We also run specialised internet sites, such as the Wealden4Youth site, which is a dedicated site for young people aged 10-19; and the Business Help website. This also provides online foreign translations. And if people are unable to access the internet from home, it is worth while remembering that local libraries provide free internet access, as do the 17 Public Information Points available in shops, pubs and other public places throughout the district.

We recently set up a web facility linking parish councils to Wealden District Council and local district Councillors can link their own web page in to the Wealden site, and I am sure we will continue to expand our electronic usage as long as it provides an efficient cost-effective way of keeping in touch with people in Wealden. (29/03/08)