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The Greening Alton & Holybourne Campaign

SAVE ENERGY, SAVE MONEY and by SAVING CARBON
help SAVE the PLANET.

We aim to motivate and support residents in Alton and Holybourne
to reduce the impact of climate change by decreasing
their carbon dioxide emissions, reducing waste and saving energy.

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Proposed New Tesco Store in Alton

Tesco has appealed against its second refusal for a store on the outskirts of Alton.
Any comments that you wish to make to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol must be received by 15th March 2010.
Follow this link for more information.

To contact the campaign either or write to:-
Mrs Chris Chappell, Greening Alton & Holybourne Campaign Secretary, 65 Ackender Road, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1JT. Tel 01420 544422

The next Greening Meeting will be at 7:30pm on Thursday 18th February 2010 in the Back Bar of the RailWay Arms (near to Alton Station).
Meetings are free!! Do please come along if you would like to join in and help us.




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More and more scientists are now concerned that we have just eight to ten years to get carbon emissions under control and so stop irreversible climate change.

The Greening Alton and Holybourne Campaign started with a small group of energetic members from Alton Friends of the Earth in January 2008. The early committee soon increased from 11 to 22 members. We published the '10 challenges' for our Phase One Challenge Cards campaign. This involved asking every household to make at least five out of ten simple ‘challenges’, Examples included changing three light bulbs, walking or cycling if the journey is less than one mile and turning off the lights when you leave a room. The official launch of the Challenge Cards in June 2008 comprised a 'green ideas competition' for local schools, short cycle routes and groups 'walking a mile' to the public gardens where we staged a concert and an exhibition of 'green technologies' in the community centre.
We hit the heights in Phase One with a massive carbon saving across the town of 213 tonnes of CO2.

We are now focussing on three community projects:
  • Growing local food
  • Increasing home insulation
  • Reducing plastic bags

    • Growing Local Food
    The World Bank says "The UK can no longer take its food supply for granted." DEFRA’s figures for 2007 show that the UK currently produces around 48 percent of its own food. As a densely populated industrialized economy with a temperate climate we can never produce all the food we need - even with all available land turned over to agriculture, too little food would be produced to sustain the current population of 60 million. But we could do better. DEFRA estimates that the UK could be 73 percent self-sufficient in food.

    That 73 percent is good news because the perfect storm of climate change, depleting oil reserves, population increases and land lost to the sea will make it increasingly vital that countries pay attention to food security.

    The Local Food Group, an offshoot of GAHC is actively working on plans to improve Alton’s food security.
    The world is running out of oil, water, land and food but the population of those who want to use what is left is growing.

    Alton is surrounded by farmland, almost all of which is given over to meat production. Of the half dozen or so farms that circle Alton and Holybourne not one grows vegetables or fruit. Alton’s fruit and vegetables are flown, containered or driven here using carbon producing fuels not just in production but in transport and refrigeration too – an expensive, climate changing and energy wasteful operation.

    But it could be different. We could develop a truly local food economy. The GAHC Local Food Group aim is to:
  • Acquire land in or around Alton for sustainable vegetable and fruit production
  • Involve local people in the planning, growing and consumption of that food
  • Develop agreements with local families, businesses, schools and organisations to commit to buying the produce
  • Make the land available for educational projects about growing and climate
  • Run workshops on all areas of sustainable food production and food storage
  • Provide a resource for local charities working with disadvantaged groups of people


    • Penney Hames. GAHC, Local Food Group. Tel via Chris Chappell 01420 544422

    Increasing Home Insulation
    The aim of the project is to enable more homes to be effectively insulated, significantly reducing fuel costs and CO2 emissions.

    A high proportion of CO2 emissions arise from UK homes: 28% of the UK total CO2 emissions arise from residential energy consumption; 35% from businesses and 27% from transport.

    There are significant gains to be achieved from increasing home insulation. It is estimated that if ten homes reduced their energy consumption by 10%, through better insulation, this would save 6,000 tons of CO2 every year. (Ref Energy Savings Trust EST)

    Most homes built before the mid 70’s were built with inadequate insulation. They may or may not have a cavity in the brick walls and were built with no loft insulation. As 35% of heat is lost through the walls of a home and 25% through the roof, the extra heating required to bring the rooms up to a reasonable temperature in winter is significant. A recent report for London (Lagging Behind, Dec 08) shows that 2.5 million homes are in need of cavity wall insulation and 1 million in need of loft insulation. At the current rate of take-up it will take 65 years to fully insulate all homes.

    According to data collected from the 2001 census, there could be over 300 homes in Alton in fuel poverty (defined as 10% of household income spent on home heating and hot water) and 60 in the Holybourne and Froyle ward. (Ref: Centre for Sustainable Energy). We cannot fail to support those most in need.

    We need to determine the scale of the problem and start helping those most in need and most likely to take up offers of help.

    Our objectives for 2009 are:
  • Conduct a survey to estimate the scale of the problem and barriers to the uptake of insulation
  • Train a few volunteers to provide a liaison, information and advice service through home visits and energy audits, based on a proven scheme from Shropshire.

    • Chris Chappell. GAHC, Home Insulation Group. Chris Chappell 01420 544422

    Reducing Plastic Bag Used
    Every year the UK uses 17,000,000,000 or more one trip bags; about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. We are using one million bags per minute. On average we use each plastic bag for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It can then last in the environment for centuries.

    Plastic production uses 8% of the entire world's oil production. At the current rate the world produces 200 million tons of plastic a year. 96% of the entire world’s plastic is not recycled or incinerated. World plastic production is increasing by 3.5% per year. This means that every 20 years the amount of plastic we produce doubles.

    Packaging represents the largest single sector of plastics use in the UK. 56% of this is used for disposable items of packaging that are discarded within a year. This debris is accumulating in landfill and the environment and the problem is growing fast. In India use of plastic is 2 kg per person per year while in Europe it is just over 60 kg per person per year.

    Taking a plastic bag is like putting the kettle on. One bag uses enough energy in production to make 4.8 cups of tea. One reusable bag can replace 1000 one trip plastic bags.

    Plastic does not dissolve; it ultimately just breaks into tiny pieces and stays there. At this size it is small enough to be ingested by every single organism in the world's oceans - animals as small as plankton feeders right up to the great Blue Whale. When predators in turn eat the plankton feeders the toxins move up a level.

    What can we do? We can make a difference in our own small way. Let's stop using plastic bags in our shops and town.

    We are questioning all the shops in Alton to find out their policy on the use of plastic bags. The results will be published on our website and in the press.

    UK shops reduced the number of bags they handed out by 26% over the last three years. This is a start but there is still a long way to go. The government is now calling on the top seven supermarkets to reduce their bags use by 50% on their 2006 usage. It may be that this voluntary agreement will help - but only if we are part of the solution.

    Bill Jabelman GAHC, Plastic Bags Group. Tel 01420 562267

    If you have a comment, idea, suggestion or offer of support (including sponsorship - none of this can happen for nothing) give Chris Chappell a call on 01420 544422 or email The Campaign would love to hear from you.
    This is a local venture and we need all the ideas, help and support we can get. Just email, telephone or write with anything that you think can help this campaign be a real success. We’ve made a fantastic start - help us keep going.

     Chris Chappell, Secretary. December 2009.

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    The next Greening Meeting will be at 7:30pm on Thursday 18th February 2010 in the Back Bar of the RailWay Arms (near to Alton Station).
    Meetings are free!! Do please come along if you would like to join in and help us.


    On Wednesday October 1st 2008, Sainsbury's in Alton removed
    one trip plastic bags from display.
    Customers now have to ask for a one trip bag.
    Reusable bags are also on sale for 10p each.

    Here are some totally sad pictures of wildlife
    entangled in plastic bags.




    Proposed New Tesco Store in Alton

    Tesco has appealed against the second refusal for a store on the outskirts of Alton.


    All comments made on the application so far have been sent to the Planning Inspectorate.
    If you wish to comment further on the Tesco Appeal it must arrive by 15th March 2010 quoting reference APP/M1710/A/10/2121155/NEF.
    The address to write to is
    The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/20, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN

    You are probably aware that Tesco has twice put forward a planning application for a new store on the outskirts of Alton (on Mill Lane at its junction with Montecchio Way).
    The second consultation ended on 30th November 2009. Both the original application and the second one - number 22467/004 were rejected .
    If you are planning on writing to the Planning Inspectorate to either support or object to the Tesco Appeal, or have not decided what to do please look at some points that the Greening Alton and Holybourne Campaign believe should be considered by those making a decision regarding this application. If you do write, you will need to ask for an acknowledgement if you want one and also you will need ask for a copy of the decision letter. The last refusal was made at 6:30pm at a public meeting on 21st January 2010 at Amery Hill School in Alton.

     Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions
    Tesco mention in their proposal that this building ‘reduces its carbon emissions by 28%’. This sounds commendable until you consider that Tesco has achieved a 70% CO2 reduction in the carbon footprint of at least one other store and the Government’s targets for CO2 reduction currently stand at 80%. Why cannot Alton have the best low carbon store?

    Power Consumption
    The planning application includes a number of energy saving technologies. However, these only appear to contribute 3% to the overall Carbon Dioxide saving. Tesco should be considering a building that would consume substantially less power for lighting, heating, cooling and electrical devices than that proposed.

    Renewable Technologies
    The application includes provision for a combined heat and power system. However, there is no commitment for using renewable energy technologies.

    Pedestrian Access
    Access to the store by foot assumes major changes to the paths and road junctions. Improvements are described in the application, but such changes are the responsibility of Hampshire County Council. Therefore this application should only be approved if there is a firm commitment from Hampshire County Council that any changes to the paths and highways are complete when the store opens.

    Public Transport
    Access to the store by public transport assumes major changes to the road layout and agreement from the relevant bus service provider. Again suitable provision is suggested in the application. This application should not be approved unless there is a binding commitment from both the Bus Company and Hampshire County Council that changes will be in place when the store opens.

    Shuttle Bus?
    At about 1.5 miles from the town centre, the proposed store is too far away for most of Alton's residents to walk with their shopping and the Bus Service that currently operates to/from Montecchio Way is infrequent with currently no Sunday service. Therefore in order to encourage Tesco customers to leave their cars at home, Tesco should provide a shuttle bus between the proposed store, Holybourne and Alton with a committment to maintain this for say five or ten years.

    Impact on the Local Economy
    Tesco has claimed that the presence of a store on the outskirts of Alton would bring shoppers to the town centre and result in a positive impact on the local economy. However, anecdotally, a store like that proposed would have the opposite effect. We would therefore feel that the range of goods on sale in the proposed store should be restricted so that it compliments that which is available in Alton. Also, Tesco should work with local producers and traders and thus help to maintain and enhance the self sufficiency of the local economy.

    You may or may not agree with the above. But if you do, do make sure that any letter of support or objection includes any points that you do agree with. Please make sure that any letter arrives at

    East Hampshire District Council, Penns Place, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4EX
    no later than Monday 30th November 2009.

    Other points to note include:
    The planning reference number (22467/004) should be included in any correspondence that relates to this application.
    If you feel that the application should not go ahead, please use the word ‘object’ in your letter.
    Details of the application including an extensive set of documents can be found at East Hampshire District Council’s     web site using this link: or
    go to this page and enter the 22467/004 application number into the Application Quick Search box.     These documents can also be viewed at EHDC's offices in Petersfield.

    It is also possible to post your comments online using the link at the bottom of EHDC’s plannng web page.

    If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the email link at the top of this page.

    Here are some additional comments about the effects of supermarkets from the CPRE in September 2008.

    The number of supermarkets has risen from 457 in 1986 to 1102 in 1997 and market share increased from 30% to 54%. Four firms now account for 75% of grocery sales. Market shares in 2008 were Tesco 31%, Asda 17%, Sainsbury 16%, Morrisons 11%, Co-op & Somerfield 8%, Waitrose 4%, Aldi 3%, Lidl 2% and Iceland 2%.
    Effect on smaller convenience stores. Supermarkets kill smaller convenience stores: 64% have been lost in Fakenham and 75% in Warminster after a superstore opened.
    Job losses. During the two year period after opening of 93 superstores, net job losses in retailing alone averaged 270 jobs within a 10 mile radius of each superstore opened. These figures do not include florists, clothes shops and newsagents which have been badly affected too.
    Local produce? Typically only 1 – 2% of supermarkets turnover comes from locally produced food. National consumer surveys show that 70% of British shoppers would like to buy local food and 49% would like to buy more than they do now.
    Local economy. The money spent in local independent shops is then re-spent 3 times before it leaves the area, while over 90% of money spent in supermarkets leaves the area immediately.

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    Biofuels are mostly a bad idea. To find out why and to contact your MEP:- Click Here
    Environmentalism now has the same legal status as religion after a landmark court ruling gave an Oxford man the right to sue his employer over his dismissal for his green views.

    If you see a mistake or wish to comment on the campaign, please send an email to

    If you would like to use any of the material on this site, please email us.
    If you have found this site useful, please feel free to link to us at any time.

    Here is the link to our home page at:- Greening Alton & Holybourne Campaign
    and here is some sample code for the link -
    <a href="http://www.greeningalton.org.uk">Greening Alton & Holybourne Campaign</a>

    Last Change - February 2010
    Legal stuff - Details are subject to change but believed to be correct at time of writing (allowing for typing errors).
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