An appeal against Calderdale Council’s refusal to approve the development of an Asda supermarket on Hope Street, Halifax Road, Todmorden has concluded unsuccessfully. On 13th November the Inspector in charge of the Inquiry and appeal issued his decision to dismiss the appeal.
Continue reading
The MDA Report on Proposed Water Turbine Facilities at the Mytholm Works site seems to lack basic information about the potential of the proposed installation. I can see no figure for the water flow which would enter the turbine. Without this figure, it’s impossible to calculate the potential output of a hydro electricity generator.
This means that there is no evidence to support the Report’s claims about the amount of electricity the proposed installation would generate. These claims are also very unclear, with the Report giving different figures for the power output – either 120-140kW, or 375kW.
Continue reading
Watch this Greenpeace video about a Yes Men-type revelation of a Tory plot to undo the Coalition commitments on green energy and climate change mitigation, as well the the Climate Change Act. And there’s a petition to sign too.
You can contact your MP (Craig Whittaker for those of us in Calderdale) via the World Development Movement website to ask for a Parliamentary inquiry into the latest ConDem manoeuvre to redistribute wealth in favour of the already rich, – in this case, by using international aid to boost business profits rather than to help poverty-stricken citizens to benefit from something approaching decent, essential public services.
Info here about what you can do about Ash Die Back disease
Pennine Community Power’s community wind turbine at Blackshaw Head is up and running, generating an income for the local community.
Pouring concrete for the PCP turbine's base
On November 15th an enthusiastic meeting of people from Mytholm and other parts of Hebden Bridge and the Upper Calder Valley set up Incredible Edible Mytholm (IEM) as an unincorporated association, with the aim of nominating the Mytholm Works site as a community asset, and elected the IEM steering group and officers.
Anyone who shares this aim and wishes to join Incredible Edible Mytholm is welcome to become a member.
Locality have confirmed that the draft constitution is fit for purpose and have suggested a minor modification to allow people to join the group who aren’t Calderdale residents. This doesn’t alter the fact that the group needs 21 members who are eligible to vote in Calderdale Council elections, in order to qualify as a group that can nominate a community asset.
Hebden Royd Town Council has voted (9-4 with one abstention) to support the Setbray/Belmont Homes planning application for a supermarket and hotel at the Mytholm Works site on King Street, Hebden Bridge – with the proviso that additional traffic safety measures should be a condition of approval.
In recommending that Calderdale Council’s planning committee approves this planning application, Hebden Royd Town Council has shown its low expectations for new employment in the town. If the development goes ahead, the supermarket and hotel would create mostly unskilled, minimum wage jobs – around 31 full time and 41 part time.
Continue reading