February 2011 Archives

Sarah Napier, a planning graduate intern working in Moseley, has provided this update about the free Home Energy Advice scheme running from the Moseley Exchange. This will be drawing to a close in March - see blog post 17 July last year.

With all six of the major energy providers increasing their costs, some as high as 34%, it is the perfect opportunity to get advice. We offer free home assessments to keep costs down and reduce CO₂. Just contact our energy advisors (energyadvice@MoseleyCDT.com) at the Moseley Exchange and book an appointment, don't delay!

All of the people surveyed have agreed to be interviewed three months after the advice to see how they are getting along. So far we have had positive results. A gentleman from Moseley sought advice from us and has made some green steps. He requested an energy monitor from his suppliers, this way he was able to identify where the largest amounts of energy were used and target these areas. He has had loft insulation to the recommended depth of 10inches and cavity wall insulation. All of the lightbulbs have been changed to energy saving ones. The big expense was installing a A-grade condensing boiler. All of these changes have dramatically reduced his energy consumption, which he was able to track with the monitor.

As well as providing a drop in centre, we realised there was room for the service to provide sessions at various community centres such as Sparkbrook SureStart. These have proved successful, with many people finding it easier to combine advice with a visit they are already making.

The scheme has had a steady increase in demand over the past year, and we thought it would be a shame to draw it to a complete close. So we are working on finding a way to continue running it on a voluntary basis with local eco-group SusMo. Type 'Sustainable Moseley' into Facebook and 'like' to be kept up to date with developments.

Saving energy is not just about saving money, it means we release less carbon dioxide into the earth's atmosphere. We need to reduce emissions now, you will not be acting alone, many local businesses and residents are taking steps to green-up.

The project aims to give advice to people outside the normal green circles. Would you, or anyone you know benefit from this? We can help point you in the right direction to become more energy efficient.

Email: energyadvice@MoseleyCDT.com
Phone: 0121 449 8585

Or drop in to the Moseley Exchange - the home of the Moseley Community Development Trust behind the Post Office near the traffic lights in Moseley

TESCO
A month ago (blog 14 Jan) I wrote about a threat to Moseley village from the proposed development, on the Meteor Ford site, which included a new, large Tesco store. You will note my use of the past tense - the Planning Committee did not approve the application yesterday (10 Feb).

Today's Birmingham Mail headline reads "People power stops Moseley superstore plan" .

My use of the past tense may be too hopeful as the Planning Committee did not refuse permission but, by a majority of 7:5, they were "minded to refuse" the application. Council officers must now provide sound reasons for refusal and bring the matter back to committee.

Before yesterday's meeting SAVE MOSELEY VILLAGE campaigners, with the help of planning consultants, provided council officers with reasons for refusal. We hope that a new report will be brought to Planning Committee in the near future and that the decision will be refusal, but that will not be the end of the matter. The developer is likely to appeal against the decision, with Tesco's support, so the future of Moseley Village is not yet secure.

ST MARY'S
My last update on the proposed installation of PV panels on St Mary's was two months ago - and we are still waiting for a decision from the Chancellor.

Advice from the Church Buildings Council was that the installation could be permitted, with conditions to ensure that the fabric of the church is not damaged. This has been done elsewhere, and the Chancellor has been sent many examples of successful installations. As we had heard nothing after the advice from the CBC arrived, he has been sent the latest example All Saints Church in Wing, Buckinghamshire. We hope that we will soon hear that the installation on St Mary's can proceed.