Transition Shipston April News
Save
Shipston
Town Centre
Transition Shipston and
surrounding communities sent the
following objection to the planned supermarket at the Norgren site to
Stratford
District Council:
The
proposed supermarket of 2500 sq.m., larger than the Stow Tesco’s, would
be the
largest in South Warwickshire outside major towns. The proposal states
that it
would sell food, alcohol, cleaning products, toiletries, pet food,
flowers,
kitchen goods, stationery, newspapers etc.
Shipston
town centre is a unique and precious area where people shop for all the
items
listed above and many more. It has rightly called itself
“A 6-days-a-week farmers’market- with a roof” The
supermarket would be in direct
competition with 2 smaller supermarkets, 2 butchers, 2 delicatessens
with
bakeries, a separate bakery, a greengrocer/fishmonger, a pharmacy, a
newsagent,
3 outlets selling stationery, a florist, a hardware shop and an
electrical shop
both selling cleaning products and kitchen goods, a toy shop and a pet
shop.
Trade in these shops would go down and many would probably close, as
happens
inevitably in similar small towns where a large supermarket has opened
nearby.
Once
these shops start closing, the delicate balance of viability in Shipston
town
centre will be tipped and a second group, indirectly affected by the
supermarket, will start closing. This group includes 4 clothes shops, a
haberdashery, a wool and embroidery shop, picture-framers, clock seller
and
repairer, several hairdressers and an art gallery. Also affected will be
pubs
and cafes, two banks and the Post Office
Once people stop
shopping for
their regular needs in the centre of the town, Shipston will lose all that is unique and precious. This
special atmosphere is much treasured by those who live here, and much
appreciated by the growing numbers who come here for the pleasure of
shopping
with independent retailers.
Jobs: One of the arguments used to promote the idea
of a
superstore in a local community is that it provides employment.
There
is evidence that other communities have managed to persuade local
councils not to grant planning for supermarkets
in their area by providing evidence that many more jobs will be lost than gained – not to mention the
quality of work which local
businesses provide compared with the monotony of supermarket
employment. We believe that the loss of our local shops – which is
almost
inevitable to happen if the superstore idea goes ahead - would lead to a
greater loss of employment than a gain.
A recent survey by
Transition Town
volunteers around the town centre shops tried to ascertain the jobs at
risk
from the supermarket proposal, including direct employment and people
employed
in supply chains of local food and other goods being sold in local
shops. 26
shops responded, giving a total of 170 people employed in these shops
with an
estimated 113 people employed as suppliers within a 50 mile radius.
These are the jobs at
risk from the
supermarket - real jobs in small rural businesses. The jobs that might
be
created by a supermarket would be largely part-time low paid or minimum
wage
shelf-filling or checkout workers.
Master Gardner Talk
On Wednesday 31/03/10 a group of interested people gathered at the Old
School
to listen to a presentation by Kate Newman from Garden Organic on their
new
Master Gardener volunteer programme. Following on from Garden Organic’s
successful Master Composter programme this new scheme is being launched
in Warwickshire,
as well as London and Norfolk before being expanded nationwide.
Kate Newman from Garden Organic talking at the
meeting
More and more people want to grow their own vegetables for a healthy diet and lifestyle and to grow food naturally and locally. Many are starting from scratch and having access to advice and support on growing techniques will hopefully encourage their motivation and success.
Kate explained that enthusiasm was just as important as having some growing your own experience and volunteers didn’t need to be an expert on organic growing techniques. Training is provided for this through a 2 day course at Garden Organic’s site at Ryton-on-Dunsmore for anyone interested in signing up to the Master Gardener programme. These two days will also provide all the knowledge and resources needed to become a successful Master Gardener. The first courses are scheduled for Fri 23 and Sat 24 April, and Sat 5 and Sun 6 June, with more dates planned.
As the Volunteer Co-ordinator Kate will be supporting the Master Gardeners in their role as growing mentor to inspire and support local households and groups to grow their own. Master Gardeners will be providing around 30 hours a volunteering a year offering seasonal advice and demonstrations to householders as well as promoting the benefits of growing your own through events, talks and community groups.
Master Gardeners have access to free resources, badges and clothing, insurance, expenses, discounted subscription to Grow Your Own magazine and of course Garden Organic membership.
Anyone interested in finding out more or to request an application pack can contact Kate Newman (phone 024 7621 7721 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Rebecca Stewart Harris, Transition Shipston secretary (phone 07770 948 124 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Composting Event -
Saturday
24th April 14:30 to 17:30 at Holycombe, Whichford
This session will discuss the various means of home composting...
compost bins wormeries bokashi.
It will give
advice on what
and how to compost and how to solve problems that can arise. There will
plenty
of time to ask questions and explore the benefits of the different types
of
composting.
Following this we will then look at a real example of a compost bin,
Sally's,
and discover if all is going well! If there are any issues then we will
advise on a course of practical steps to solve them, if it is perfect
then we
will congratulate Sally and raise a cup of tea to her success!
Please let us know if you want to come along.
Liz -
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Sally -
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or call 01295 680045
Proposed
Visits
Todmordon: Weekend camping trip to Todmordon, Yorkshire
This is home to the Incredible Edible people www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/projects Day long event, but really a weekend visit to the area because of the long drive.
Totnes:
There are a couple of neat events
going on on the 9th May weekend. It might make a really “cool” camping
weekend...
Transition Totnes 9th May 10am Spring WIld TreeFood: http://totnes.transitionnetwork.org/calendar/2010/5/all
The Wild and the Mundane: exploring art as connective practice for transition.
http://totnes.transitionnetwork.org/node/2227
And we may be able to incorporate a visit to the Dartington Edible
Gardens on
the Sat http://totnes.transitionnetwork.org/node/2190
Forest Garden Tour Dartington, Totnes
130pm VERY LIMITED
NUMBERS on this tour. Waiting to hear back on spaces avail. (Would you
like a
list of their forest course dates? Might be nice to put out to the group
in
case someone might be interested...) If this is not avail. I would
suggest we
try another weekend date - 20th June...
Contact: Jenny Lanham
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Shipston Library – is loaning out Owl energy monitors for local
residents
to investigate their domestic energy consumption
Lighter
later
-Join the thousands of other supporters of the Lighter
Later
campaign at
www.lighterlater.org.
2010
Transition Network UK
conference...
will be held at Seale Hayne, (an old
agricultural
college in Devon), just outside Newton Abbott, over the weekend of 12 to
13-June. It'll start on Saturday morning 12-June and close up at
lunchtime on
Monday 14-June.
Transition
Shipston
Meetings: (All Welcome)
Saturday
17th April
Affordable Energy for All
Exhibition & Seminars, 10 to
4 Shipston High School
Monday
19th April
Transition
Shipston
Steering Group
7.30
Black Horse
Pub, Shipston
Thursday
22nd April
Shipston
Mid-Summer
Festival committee
6.00, 24 Railway
Crescent
Monday
26th April
Transition
Shipston Food
Group
7.30
Black Horse
Pub, Shipston
Wednesday
28th April
Transition
Shipston Energy
Group
7.30
Black Horse Pub, Shipston
Shipston
Bee Keeping Assoc
Wednesday
14th
April - Bee Keeping get together, Gate Inn, Brailes
Contact:
Douglas
Nethercleft
For
more information about Transition Shipston
contact:
Dave Passingham
07973 84
6605
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