Radio News Day Story

Air Pollution in Winchester

 

Outdoor air quality in WInchester City Centre is being monitored as the government released new air quality objectives.

The effects of poor air quality on the health of individuals has caused concern, particularly for those suffering from lung or heart conditions. 

Two air quality monitoring stations have been placed around Winchester, along with mounted devices measuring particle levels and over forty other receptors across the City’s centre and the district. 

Results will be released over the next few weeks, and an action plan has been drawn up from discussions to improve air quality and reach the targets set.

News Story- Anneka’s Report

 Article 1- Recycling in Winchester  Recycle for Hampshire is on track to meet its target of recycling and composting 50% of total household waste by 2010. In 2007, Winchester was reported by the WWF as ‘the least green’. Winchester City Council has teamed up with campaign group Recycle for Hampshire as Executive Member for Environment, Mel Kendal said `it was essential to recycle more waste`. Hampshire residents produce approximately 900,000 tonnes of household rubbish each year. The Councils of Hampshire have been awarded £5 million from the government to improve recycling facilities throughout the county.  Winchester is the only location which recycles all waste materials in Hants. The city is in partnership with Project Integra – Hampshire’s integrated waste management scheme for the next 25 years. Executive officer of Project Integra Steve Read said, “We want to help expand the recycling habit from the house and workplace”.  Over 1600 recycling banks have been provided for the residents of Hants, and the Winchester City Council has placed recycling bins in student halls at the University of Winchester as they make up almost 10% of the population. First year Winchester Student, Harriet Pollard claimed that “The university is not doing enough to recycle in West Downs Student Village. Bins are only placed by the car park at the very front of West Downs”.  Despite government’s best efforts, Hampshire is only ranked 9th place in composting, with an appalling 7.81% composting rate.Director of Environment, Alison Quant wants to “Ensure recycling services are available a major public sector sites”.  Winchester City Council are pleased to see that over 95% of homes now have a kerbside collection of recyclables.  There are 26 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) situated in Hampshire, one of which is in Bar End, Winchester. This is the only HWRC which recycles harmful toxic waste alongside domestic recyclables.  The recycling rates are steadily increasing in Winchester – 30% of our household waste is recycled – making Hampshire 3rd best in the country.  Winchester City Council aspires to recycle up to 500,000 tons of material through creating awareness with slogans such as “It’s not rubbish – recycle it!”. Spokesman for Recycle for Hampshire Roger Black said, “People who already recycle will be encouraged and reassured that their efforts are worthwhile, and those who do not currently recycle will be able to see it as easy and not just something other people do”.

News Story for Print News Day

Eco-town faces Criticism

Application to build a new eco-town in one of Winchester’s districts has caused controversy.

Plans for a major development of 12,500 homes and a self-sustaining community of ‘eco-town’ status has been issued to the Government, to be built around existing railway station in the district of Micheldever.

The new community is one that could be largely self-contained with employment opportunities, and education, shopping and community facilities.

Eagle Star Estates has submitted this application to the Government for their planned ‘eco-town’, with an aim to make 5,000 houses sit in the ‘affordable’ bracket, to meet the demands for cheaper housing.

The town aims to set the standard and be the leader in usage of sustainable technology, such as renewable power technology, and systems to allow for efficient use of water and effective disposal of waste, as well as measures to ensure each house creates zero carbon emissions.

The Leader of Winchester City Council, Cllr George Beckett, expressed astonishment at their application, stating ‘it has already been specifically rejected in the report of the Inspectors’ Panel into the South East Regional Plan that was published just this August’.

The report he was referring to included, ‘Notwithstanding its location and its rail station, it is a remotely rural area with very few facilities for the existing population’.

It is being questioned as to whether Micheldever is the ideal location for such a development as the local road network would not be able to cope with the extra traffic, and there is currently no natural water supply.

The plans have caused the local residents to start campaigning in opposition, as one member of the public states, ‘This would be a disaster for this small rural area’, with another adding, ‘building on a countryside isn’t green, even if a house is zero carbon’.

However, the authorities themselves seem to be of two minds, as the Conservative MPs in Winchester City Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council appear to be on opposite sides of the argument. 

Martin Tod, Lib Dem parliament candidate for Winchester, is urging Cllr George Beckett, leader of Winchester City Council, to take immediate action and sort out this split of opinion, adding; ‘the eco-town proposal will be really bad for the local area’.

Despite this, the project director of the Station Market Town is confident, responding that this is a ‘unique opportunity to help satisfy unmet housing and economic needs’. 

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My name is Gemma Harvey, this is my new blog, i am going to be updating this over the coming months with very interesting news stories!! Watch this space…

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