Grouse moor owners and their allies claim heather burning on peatland is necessary for habitat restoration and reduction of wildfire risk.
The RSPB’s management of Geltsdale reserve in Cumbria shows that this is not the case. Continue reading
A US court has recently ordered the manufacturer of the bestselling weedkiller brand, Roundup, to pay one user $80m (£61m) in damages after he developed cancer. This is the second such ruling from a US court.
Now Councils across England are reviewing their use of Roundup (the brand name for glyphosate).
Hebden Royd Town Council decided a few years ago not to use glyphosate on any of its projects, according to the Clerk, Jason Boom.
But Calder Ward Cllr Dave Young says that Calderdale Council is continuing to use gylophosate, although they are reducing the amount year on year. Continue reading
Ban the Burn and Treesponsibility are among a group of charities, academics and local campaigners with a track record of working on peatland conservation, which has today written to Michael Gove urging him to implement a complete ban on the practice of burning on upland peatland habitats.
A ban is vital in order to protect carbon stores, wildlife, habitats and communities.
We have seen plenty of evidence of continued burning on protected peatland this year, despite the government’s introduction of a voluntary ban on burning.
The lack of compliance with the voluntary ban on burning is likely to worsen, thanks to Natural England’s recent ‘restoration burning’ position statement. Continue reading
In 2017 and 2018 Calderdale Council took steps to cut carbon emissions from its buildings, through Phases 1 and 2 of its “Re:FIT” programme to reduce energy use and costs in some of its most energy-guzzling buildings. Continue reading
There was more burning off on Feb 24th throughout the day till 5 30pm, behind New Laithe plantation in the Hoar Nib area, as well as some burning in the same area last week. This photo was taken on Feb 24th, approx grid ref sd962 324.
On the basis of this new Habitats Regulations Assessment – which concludes that the track would cause permanent loss and damage to protected habitat, as well as negatively affecting protected birds – Natural England have written to Calderdale and Pendle local planning authorities objecting to the proposal to build a track across Walshaw Moor.
You can read more about this on Mark Avery’s blog here.
Now it’s up to Calderdale and Pendle Councils’ planning committees to say no to Walshaw Moor Estate’s planning application. Continue reading
The People’s Assembly against Austerity has circulated a short video (4.5 mins) showing some highlights of last Saturday’s demo calling for a general election.
The demo was quite widely reported. Even the BBC, which usually ignores anti-austerity protests, covered it, including an interview with Bristol People’s Assembly activist Jack Hazeldine.
BBC VIDEO. BBC news online article
The march and rally came after trade union leaders and celebrities, including director Ken Loach, signed an an open letter urging the public to
“stand up, resist and demand they (the government) step aside”.
You can read the open letter HERE.
On Wednesday 23 January at Better Lives, 42 Market Street in Halifax town centre (opposite Tesco Metro), between 10am and 12.30pm, Calderdale Council and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau are holding an “affordable warmth” drop-in event.
This is so people can see what they could save on their heating bills and find out more about Better Homes Yorkshire “affordable warmth” heating and insulation schemes for residents on low incomes who own or privately rent their own homes.
Calderdale Council and Better Homes Yorkshire are offering 500 households fully funded insulation for attic bedrooms and lofts. Typically, the homes that will be treated are stone-built, terraced properties. Continue reading
The Planning Inspectorate is examining Drax Power Station plans to replace its two remaining coal-fired units with a much larger power station (3.6GW) burning fossil (natural) gas. This will, if granted, allow Drax to secure its position as the UK’s biggest fossil fuel burner for decades to come!
The Planning Inspectorate held a preliminary hearing for this in October and the next hearing will be in Goole on 4th December.
Biofuelwatch intend to hold a short and respectful banner protest outside this hearing, starting at 1.30pm as people are going in to the hearing and finishing at 2pm so they can go in and listen to the hearing too.
The Goole demo will be a good opportunity to let the Planning Inspectorate know (again) that there is widespread opposition to Drax’s proposal on the grounds of climate change. Continue reading
Upper Calder Valley passengers are increasingly fed up with the rubbish train service on the Transpennine route run by Arriva Rail North – a private, profiteering company owned by Deutsche Bahn, which is turn is owned by the Federal Republic of Germany. To add to the confusion, Arriva Rail North announces itself publicly as Northern trains.
On 20th September Calderdale Trades Council held a meeting in Halifax Town Hall where Craig Johnston, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Relief Regional Organiser North, spoke about the dispute with Northern over driver-only operated trains.
Craig Johnston outlined crucial safety reasons for resisting driver-only operated trains and said RMT encourages passengers to confront Northern eg through the Facebook group, Northern Resist, about fare rises, poor rail links, poor services, penalty fares policy, closure of ticket offices and the policy of only selling the most expensive tickets on trains. Continue reading