Newsletter Number 11 October - December 2006

The SoS Newsletters are produced to keep the communities of Aston Ingham, Aston Crews, Gorsley, Kilcot and Linton informed about the status of the 2 x 56 metre (183ft) Wind-Turbines, each the height of Nelson’s column which Green Amps propose to erect at Withymoor Farm, (grid reference SO:674. 241). We also aim to provide some general information about wind turbines and renewable energy.

The Wind Turbines

In October we attended the AGM of Country Guardians: a national group that has campaigned against wind turbines since 1991. The former Bishop of Hereford, the Right Rev John Oliver, is amongst the patrons and was in attendance. Ideas considered during the debate included how to use the advanced body of opposition to turbines that has grown up in the national assemblies of Wales and Scotland to influence our national Parliament. It was also reported by a member who has attended several recent Appeals against such planning applications that Planning Inspectors appear to be more receptive to local voices of opposition.


Widening Our Area of Interest

In the last Newsletter we highlighted the following issues of possible concern that impact on our enjoyment of our countryside
The volume, speed and weight of traffic on some of our rural roads.
Levels of litter and fly-tipping.
The growth of roadside clutter (mainly signs.)
Recognising the significant contribution made by hedgerows and veteran trees to our country-side.
The traffic issue has touched a nerve and comments have been received on
o The increased volume of traffic using narrow lanes that access the M50 brought about by the popularity of ‘sat-nav’ systems
o Size and weight of some (contractor) agricultural vehicles and the potential damage they are causing to our lanes and verges.
o General concern over the speed and volume of traffic which is not compatible with pedestrians, cyclists and horses on narrow lanes.

With this in mind we have decided to undertake further research into the recent Dept of Transport Regulations to promote Quiet Lanes. We are also following up on Gloucestershire CC’s new initiative, Lorry Watch, which uses local community groups to identify vehicles that may be in breach of weight restrictions. Local Trading Standards team follow up these leads, having obtained details of the vehicle owner from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea. You may have noticed the distinctive road signs that have appeared on the Mitcheldean road, just off the A40, indicating the operation of the scheme on that route.

Quiet Lanes

What is a Quiet Lane?
It is defined as a ‘minor rural road appropriate for shared use by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and other vehicles.

What is the aim of a Quiet Lane?
To maintain the character of minor rural roads by seeking to contain rising traffic growth.

What do we need to do to set up a network of Quiet Lanes?
Dept of Transport Regulations require
Community involvement to encourage a change in user behaviour;
Area-wide direction signing to discourage through traffic;
Entry and exit signs to remind drivers that they are entering or leaving a Quiet Lane i.e. a place where they may expect people to be using the whole of the road space for a range of activities.

What we don’t want from Quiet Lanes
Unsightly urban traffic calming measures and signage. Some signage is essential but it must be thought through carefully.
To damage the local economy. The network must be planned carefully.


Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)

As previously reported, SoS is now a member organisation of the CPRE with specific affiliation to the local Herefordshire branch. The Herefordshire branch is active in many aspects of the CPRE’s work including the monitoring, and opposing where appropriate, of poly-tunnels, countryside clutter (signage, road ‘painting’ etc) and wind-farms as well as scrutiny of planning applications with particular regard to the conservation of pastoral landscapes.

Our intention is to send a representative to the monthly meeting in Hereford which normally takes place in the afternoon of the second Tuesday in every month. If you would be interested in attending any of these meetings please let us know.


Renewable Energy Stop Press
The Alternatives investigated by SoS member Chris Tormey.

Last month I promised to report on three Companies that I was reviewing. I have received a comprehensive quote for a Solar panel for heating hot water in my three bedroom bungalow from Powertech Solar. I have not pursued the other two for reasons I will explain later in this report.

The quote from Powertech is specific to my property and cannot be taken as representative for any other property without reference to Powertech. Powertech would undertake the installation at a cost of £3,500.00 inc VAT, or, to supply the system only would cost £2,685.00, (Fitting to be undertaken by myself).

My installation would consist of a 22 Apricus x 1.5 m tube collector connected to a Grundfos bronze pump, Thermix valve, solar controller, all ancillary pipe-work and fittings, pipe-work to be closed cell lagged to B.S.S. The collector would be fitted to the roof using stainless steel purpose designed building bands securely fitted to the roof battens or trusses. All entries through the roof to be weather sealed and made weather tight. The system would be freeze free, not requiring anti-freeze! Powertech estimate that an 18-tube collector would save approx. 500.0 kilos in CO2 emissions pa.

If the hot water cylinder proved to be unsuitable (which it would be as it is old, without fitted insulation, only a wrap blanket) there would be an additional charge of approx. £500.00 inc VAT. The replacement cylinder would be to a higher spec than that obtained through B&Q or such like.

In order to ensure optimum performance a top up air source Heat Pump located in the loft utilising residual heat from the property would be supplied at an additional cost starting at £2000.00 approx.

So my installation minimum cost would be in the order of £6000.00 complete (fitted). Certainly better than the ridiculous cost of £8000 for a single Solar Panel quoted in an earlier Newsletter by another Company!!!!!

But this is where, I, as a pensioner began to look at another alternative which may be within my budget and would come near to being ‘green’. A condensing boiler.

Looking at a selection of this type of boiler shows efficiencies of 94-95% and the prices vary between £1,085.00 to £1,550.00 plus a Flue kit at about £280.00. This is without the fitting charge of which I do not have details as yet! But this would never bring the cost to anywhere near the cost of the Alternatives!

In my book there is no contest and I would, at this moment in time, plump for the Condensing Boiler as my contribution to ‘green issues’, so saving me a lot of money in oil usage and give some CO2 saving.

You may have noticed that B& Q are selling Wind Turbines at a huge rate of knots to homeowners. The Sunday Times on November 12th (Robert Booth and Iain Hollingshead) remarked in an article that “Energy experts have warned that the turbines produce less energy than householders expect and can take as long as 15 years to repay the initial investment. A typical Turbine with a span of 5ft 8in, attached to a gable wall, would produce enough power to light six low-energy light bulbs when running at a wind speed of 5metres/second, according to BDP Sustainability, an Environmental Consultancy. That is just below the average speed of 5.6metres/second in Britain. It would save up to £100 a year for a 4 bedroom suburban house. By contrast, the Energy Saving Trust estimates that the average householder could save up to £400 a year by installing six low-energy light bulbs, turning the heating thermostat down 1 degree, insulating the hot water tank, installing cavity wall insulation, and draught proofing windows and doors.

According to Nick Martin, an expert on green building techniques, the lateral thrust of turbines in high winds would be enough to topple a Victorian chimney stack. One user has reported that his house vibrates slightly when the turbine is in operation, and in the two months it has been fitted it has produced 1.3 kilowatt hours. That is about enough to light ONE low-energy light bulb!”

The Solar panel plus tank on offer in B&Q at £1728 (approx) looks quite attractive but as all the literature had run out when I visited I will report on this next time.

Government Supports Zero Carbon Rated New Homes

In his pre budget statement, Gordon Brown, announced stamp duty exemptions on new homes which are zero carbon rated with the aim of having all new homes zero carbon rated within 10 years. At last the government has announced a financial incentive that might allow you and I to make fundamental green decisions about our homes without the associated punitive costs that our series of articles on domestic Alternative Energy systems has revealed.

But why has Gordon Brown chosen to limit this incentive to new homes? Why has he tied it to the achievement of zero carbon emissions? Why has he delayed its introduction for 10 years? Why didn’t he provide a financial carrot that could be used to encourage all of us to be green in our homes, instead of just the small percentage of the population living in new homes? Tying the improvements to zero carbon emissions will also depend on even more, as yet unproven, technological development. Why not take advantage of the technology that is available now and we know works, to deliver significant reductions in domestic CO2 emissions? And why delay any of this for 10 years?

After all it’s not difficult to think of a common sense alternatives that would reduce domestic CO2 emissions now. Here’s just one such suggestion. The Chancellor could have made existing heat pump and solar technology compulsory in all new homes now, not in 10 years time, as 8 other Countries in Europe have already done. The increased take-up of this technology would drive economies of scale, reducing the unit price, and making this existing technology financially more attractive to the owners of older properties. Simultaneously if this existing technology was made ZERO VAT Rated it would ensure that heat pumps and solar technology would be more attractive to fit than conventional systems.

This alternative would also make the financial carrots available to people living in rural areas where a far greater proportion of the housing stock is made up of older properties.


The Action Group leading the SoS campaign is chaired by Jane Bradney (01989 750862). Other members are Chris Tormey (01989 720861), Lesley Rackley (01989 720358).
If you are interested in supporting any of the issues raised in this Newsletter or would like to join the group please ring Jane Bradney on 01989 750862. Alternatively visit our blog http://www.southherefordshiresos.blogspot.com/