12th to 15th September 2008 - Local Group National Conference

Friends of the Earth's local groups conference in Loughborough is the biggest event in the calendar of the local groups network. It is a great opportunity for local groups, staff and Board members to get together.

It includes a number of events including the John Preedy Memorial Lecture, presentations on campaign successes by both local groups and staff, setting the agenda for the year ahead, workshops, a Motions Debate, exhibitions, plenty of networking time, a party, and much more.

If you're interested in going, talk to Richard Body.

8th June 2008 - The Big Lift

The Torrs Hydro project is making great progress. The Archimedean screw arrived today from Germany and was installed by lowering it from the Union Road Bridge into the Torrs.

Visit the Torrs Hydro blog for more great pictures and information.

28th May 2008 - Save Peak Park

The Peak District National Park is one of England's most loved beauty spots. But a new judgement allows potentially uncontrolled limestone extraction, which threatens to remove the eastern end of the Park.

A High Court judgement has recently overturned a planning decision, which means that excessive limestone quarrying at Backdale Quarry in the Park is no longer illegal. This judgment could act as a precedent, allowing increased damage at other quarries in the Derbyshire Peak District and beyond.

Friends of the Earth is urging Government ministers to save the Peak District National Park from uncontrolled quarrying.

Please write to both Hazel Blears, Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government, and Hilary Benn, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary (responsible for National Parks). Ask them to challenge the High Court decision and explain why this is important for the National Park.

Click here to be taken to the National FoE webpage where you can email Hazel Blears and Hilary Benn.

25th May 2008 - Selling off Community Space

Stockport FOE has been contacted by a new local campaign group in Hyde which has just formed to save their community recreation space from being sold by the Council to a golf course.

Please have a look at their website and support them:

http://waldorf-playing-fields.co.uk/

25th May 2008 - Open Cast Mining in Derbyshire

A new open cast coal mine site is about to get underway in beautiful Derbyshire unless we stop it now.

Lodge House site which is east of the village of Smalley and spans either side of Bell Lane, is one of seven that UK Coal is to open cast.

The area is about to be devastated, despite objections form local councils, residents and local environmental groups but the Secretary of State granted planning permission in 2007.

Find out more at:

http://leaveitintheground.org.uk/

http://leaveitintheground.wordpress.org.uk

7th April 2008 - Gordon Brown Part 2

A larger than life Gordon Brown covered his eyes – hoping aviation emissions will just go away.

See the photos on the Transport Campaign page.

5th April 2008 - Stop Ignoring Aviation Gordon Brown

High Peak FoE will be out and about this weekend in an effort to urge Gordon Brown to stop ignoring the carbon dioxide emissions generated by aviation. In fact, concerned citizens throught the North West will be acting together to put pressure on Gordon Brown.

Frank Kennedy, North West regional campaigns coordinator for Friends of the Earth, said “Counting society’s carbon footprint without including flying is like totting up our alcohol intake but leaving out the whisky! Today’s cheap air fares could cost future generations far more than money. In thirty years’ time, if flying from UK airports continues to grow as at present, the airlines could use up all the country’s entire share of fossil fuels. It’s vital that we take this seriously right now, and the Climate Change Bill gives us a great chance to lead the world on this.”

For more on when and where you can see the High Peak FoE 'Gordon Brown' covering his eyes while playing with an aeroplane, see the full details on our Transport Campaign page.

Contact your local Friends of the Earth coordinator to see what's happening near you.

2nd April 2008 - Torrs Hydro Blog

The Torrs Hydro project now has its very own blog. Keep up with all the latest news on the project and see all the latest photos taken as the work is being done.

The goal is to keep it updated several times a week as the project progresses, so remember to check in regularly.

http://torrs-hydro-new-mills.blogspot.com/

11th March 2008 - Birmingham Airport

Friends of the Earth would like you to object to Birmingham Airport's planning application for the extension of the runway. This would result in three times as many flights by 2030, a major increase in carbon dioxide emissions, many more people suffering from noise, thousands more cars on the local roads and a poorer economy in the long term due to climate change.

To object visit the Solihull Council website.

To find out more visit www.flyagra.co.uk

18th February 2008 - Green Roofs

Peter Burgess-Allen has contacted us recently and asked us to let everyone know that for a limited period he is offering a 50% discount on the labour charges for creating 'green-roofs' suitable for garden buildings and structures.

These living roofs can provide a home for wildlife, keep building cool in the summer, reduce rainfall runoff and are low maintenance.

Contact Peter on 01298 71061 or 07876 150207, or see his website.

14th January 2008 - Support Stonish Hill Windfarm

National FoE recently set up an online page in support of the Stonish Hill windfarm in Nottinghamshire. The proposal is for five turbines on a former colliery site close to the villages of Eakring and Bilsthorpe and will be looked at by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Please join them in calling on Newark and Sherwood District Council to approve the project and help cut carbon dioxide emissions by visiting the Stonish Hill windfarm page on the national Foe site.

12th January 2008 - Save the Woodhead Tunnel

For some time now Translink UK Ltd has been endeavouring to get the Woodhead railway line re-opened. However, National Grid the current owners of the Woodhead tunnels are proceeding with a plan to re-route electricity cables from the old Victorian tunnels to the modern tunnel that was built in the 1950's. This would effectively put the line beyond use as a rail transport corridor.

A rally in protest of the National Grid plans has been organised and it would be great if you could lend your support to protect this national asset by attending the event. - Bring the family as it's about our children's and their children's future.

1pm, Saturday 12th January 2008. Demonstrate at Woodhead Tunnel, Woodhead, Glossop. Accessible by car from the A628 or by walking or cycling from Hadfield Station (6 miles along the Transpennine Trail).

Full details of the demo can be obtained by following this link

18th December 2007 - Christmas is Coming

Stuck for that last minute gift? Want to buy something 'green' but not sure what to give? How about a gift that gives clean, green electricity?

The Torrs Hydro New Mills Limited company are coming to your rescue with a novel gift idea – buying shares in a local renewable energy project.

Torrs Hydro New Mills Ltd, with support from High Peak Friends of the Earth, is offering people the chance to become shareholders in a renewable energy project that will generate clean, green electricity and much needed funds for community development projects.

Read the new Friends of the Earth press release "Green Energy Project Makes Ideal Christmas Gift" on the Torrs Hydro campaign page.

13th December 2007 - Climate Change Condensed

The Climate Outreach & Information Network has created a fantastic new 3-hour 'all you need to know' course about Climate Change: Climate Change Condensed. This whistle-stop tour uses the carefully-concocted recipe of expert knowledge (we bring the experts to you on film), group discussion and pair work.

Climate Change Condensed is now coming to Sheffield on Thursday 13th December from 5pm to 8pm at the Central United Reform Church, 60 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JB. £12 for individuals, £24 for charities, £49 businesses.

To book email mim@coinet.org.uk or call 01865 727911 with your name, contact email and phone number. To confirm your place, you will need to make the fee payment.

For further info see the COINET website.

6th December 2007 - Working Lunch

The Torrs Hydro project featured on BBC's Working Lunch program today with Steve and Richard explaining how the project and the associated finances work.

For those that missed it, you can view the report on the BBC Working Lunch website.

28th November 2007 - Local Group AGM

The time has come for our AGM, which is on Wednesday 28th November, starting at 7:30pm at Chalkers snooker hall in Newtown, just off the A6 and a short walk from New Mills Newtown train station. Everyone is welcome. Please let Richard know if you have anything to add to the agenda.

23rd November 2007 - Launch of Torr Hydro New Mills Prospectus

You are warmly invited to the launch of the Torrs Hydro New Mills prospectus on Friday November 23 at New Mills Town Hall, Spring Bank, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 4AT at 6.00 for 6.30pm.

Come along and find out how you can become a member of the UK’s first community-owned hydro electricity project. The scheme in the Torrs in New Mills will generate enough green electricity for up to 70 homes, as well as money to fund grants for local community and environmentally sustainable projects.

The event will be hosted by Steve Sharp, majority leader of the Town Council and Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats. Tom Levitt, MP (Labour) and Andrew Bingham, Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservatives, will also be there demonstrating the all party support the project has. Directors of Torrs Hydro New Mills and Water Power Enterprises (h2oPE), who will manage and deliver the project, will outline the terms of the share offer; explain the technology behind the project and the benefits to the local community. They will be happy to answer any questions.

9th November 2007 - New Torrs Hydro Website

There's now a new website dedicated to Torrs Hydro New Mills Limited. It contains details about the scheme and also how to invest in what is believed to be the first community-owned hydro-electric project in the UK.

Visit www.torrshydro.co.uk for more information.

30th September 2007 - Government Bio-Fuel Policy - Petition

For some months Leicester FoE has been campaigning strongly over the damage being caused by the boom in bio-fuel production from totally unsustainable sources. As part of our campaign we have been promoting a petition on the government's e-petition website, calling for changes in UK Government policy.

FoE nationally has now decided to run a major campaign on the issue and has adopted a position similar to the one Leicester has been taking locally, so this seems like a good time to ask other local groups to back our petition, both by encouraging group members to sign it and by helping to publicize it more widely.

Please read the full article on our Bio-fuel campaign page.

29th September 2007 - Torrs Hydro Scheme - Information Day

The hydroelectric scheme in the Torrs at New Mills has been given planning permission and a new Industrial and Provident Society is being setup. This will enable people to support the scheme with the aim of helping the community regeneration and environmental sustainability of the New Mills area.

Find out more by coming along to the information day at the New Mills Heritage Information Centre on Saturday 29th September, between 2 and 4pm.

The Heritage and Information Centre is located near the Central Railway Station (on the Manchester to Sheffield line), adjacent to the Bus Station. Newtown Station (on the Manchester to Buxton line) is three quarters of a mile away.

The Centre is on the track leading down into the 'Torrs', the dramatic gorge above which the town perches, and the proposed site for the new hydro scheme.

Click here for a map of the area.

Visit our Torrs Hydro page for more detailed information on the project.

15th September 2007 - New Mills Festival

High Peak Friends of the Earth are screening the film “An Inconvenient Truth” this Saturday 15th September at 7pm in New Mills at the Revival Church as part of the New Mills Festival.

It will be followed by an open forum on the issues raised. We would be delighted to see you there. Best of all, it is free!

10th July 2007 - Torrs Hydro Scheme - Planning Permission Granted

High Peak Borough Council have granted full planning permission to the hydro-electric generating station at Torr Weir. There are a number of conditions that will have to be addressed including design and appearance, technical details, archaeological survey, noise levels, etc.

Congratulations to Stephen Walsh, the driving force behing the scheme.

Latest: (12/09/2007) A new Industrial and Provident Society is being setup. This will enable people to support the scheme with the aim of helping the community regeneration and environmental sustainability of the New Mills area.

That sounds a bit heavy but there is an information day at the New Mills Heritage Information Centre on Saturday 29th Sept between 2 and 4pm.

10th July 2007 - High Peak FoE On Tour!

We shall be at the Bookstore, Brierlow Bar (south of Buxton on the A515) on Tuesday 10th July.

It’ll be all day, any help would be welcome. We can also be there on Sat 14/ Sun 15th July if someone can do the stall. These dates are part of the ‘Outer Fringe Environmental zone’.

Also part of the outer fringe, on 16th July, at the Devonshire Dome there is a talk/slide show by Geoff Simpson entitled “Nature’s Realm” followed by a panel discussion on the environment. We are providing a speaker for the panel, Christine Osborne, and I have 4 tickets for the event (7pm – 10pm). Let me know if you are interested in going.

The group needs to get out more so let me know of other events within the High Peak that we could attend.

We would benefit from a floor standing notice board, anyone got one they don’t need?

26th June 2007 - Torrs Hydro Development Update - from Steve Walsh

Planning - We are hoping that the application will go to the 2nd July Planning Committee. The date for the end of consultations was 7th June, hopefully giving sufficient time for reports to be written by the planners to get us on the agenda for the 2nd July. The new application number is HPK/2007/0346. We have successfully completed discussions with the Environment Agency, the Conservation Dept of High Peak and with United Utilities (one of whose manhole covers is next to the weir and will have to be moved).

End User - Our preferred choice would be that the High School used the electricity. The quote we obtained however, for supplying the school was very costly. We are seeking an alternative quote. As a contingency, we are exploring the possibility of supplying the Co-op supermarket (sometimes called the LoCost Co-op), off Church Road. The supermarket is about one quarter of the distance to the school. We will have to make a final decision on this matter in the next couple of months.

Lease - We now have a 40 year lease from the Town Council to build and operate the hydro scheme using the pocket of land just next to the weir

Equipment - Once we have firm planning permission, we shall order the Archimedean Screw and progress with planning the civil engineering associated with the scheme.

16th May 2007 - Who Killed the Electric Car

In the same way that Michael Moore took aim at the gun lobby in "Bowling for Columbine" and Morgan Spurlock examined McDonald's in "Super Size Me" - this film claims to have uncovered a sinister plot to sabotage electric vehicles and ensure that eco-friendly motorists are forced to carry on using petrol. The film, which caused consternation in American, features interviews with former GM employees, environmentalists and celebrities such as Tom Hanks and Mel Gibson.

A special screening of Who Killed the Electric Car, organised by Ian Muir-Cochrane of Screen Buxton, is due to take place at the Railway pub in Buxton on May 16th.

"We screen at the Railway pub in Buxton in a suite that has its own bar so you can have a drink during the show. Although we have a screen licence to show only to members we could arrange guest admission for members of High Peak Friends of the Earth at £4.50 a head if anyone was interested."

If you are interested, please email Ian at info@screenbuxton.co.uk

Click here to see the trailer for the film.

23rd April 2007 - Environment Secretary Visits High Peak

Environment Secretary David Milliband was in the High Peak this weekend where he took the opportunity to recommitt Labour to tackling climate change at all levels.

Mr Miliband told supporters that action was needed at international and national level and that Britain was leading the way. But as 40% of all greenhouse gases were under the control of individual households, people had to be made better aware of their own energy consumption. Cutting down the unnecessary use of energy would save both money and the planet, he said.

To this end the government would shortly be issuing people with equipment to better monitor and display their electricity consumption.

The meetings had been organised by Tom Levitt MP who also welcomed representatives of Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace to the events. (See David Milliband with Richard left)

Tom Levitt accompanied Mr Miliband throughout the day. As well as the two climate change meetings, the ministerial visit included a street stall in Buxton at which the Environment Secretary and Labour Party activists gave out low energy light bulbs to promote the need for action on climate change. The politicians also visited the Torrs site of New Mills Town Council’s proposed hydropower scheme, which will power 150 homes from the energy of the river.

10th April 2007 - Shadow Environment Minister Visits Torrs

High Peak Friends of the Earth recently had a visit from Peter Ainsworth, MP for East Surrey and Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary.

Keen to see an example of renewable power generation Mr Ainsworth viewed the proposed site for the Torrs hyrdro-electric scheme. He was impressed with the location, and declared that the scheme would be good for New Mills and good for the environment.

Pictured left at the proposed site for the Archimedean Screw are, from left to right: Sir Martin Doughty (New Mills Town Council, English Nature), Peter Ainsworth MP, Andrew Bingham (Parlementary candidate, HPBC Councillor), Maggie Cole (HPFOE), Richard Body (HPFOE), Steve Welsh (Water Power Enterprises – the developers).

2nd April 2007 - Time to Show Local Support

The planning application for the hydro-electric scheme in the Torrs in New Mills is in. An abstraction licence has been requested from the Environment Agency. The time has come for the local people to show their support for the scheme. High Peak Friends of the Earth are hosting a public meeting at New Mills Town Hall at 7pm on Monday 2nd April to bring the developers, Water Power Enterprises, and local people together.

Richard Body, coordinator of the High Peak Friends of the Earth group said “This scheme is a great example of local renewable energy generation and we want to ensure that the people of New Mills have the opportunity to be a part of it.”

The meeting will consist of an update of the schemes progress and the formation of a steering group to represent the interests of the New Mills residents, including helping to seek grant funding.

Contact Richard Body on 01663 746747, email Richard Body for more details.

28th February 2007 - Meeting about Torrs Hydro-Electric Scheme

Steve Welsh from Water Power Enterprises is organising an evening meeting on Wednesday, 28th February at 7pm in the [New Mills] Town Hall Library. The agenda for the meeting will have two items…

1) An update on progress with the hydro scheme

2) An opportunity to discuss investing in the scheme

Investing in the scheme is clearly an important issue and one that needs careful consideration, particularly over the appropriate legal vehicle for this to happen. Whilst the evening will provide some clear answers on the first item on the agenda, namely the update on progress, the second item may result in more questions than answers.

However, Water Power Enterprises is a social enterprise and is committed to local areas benefiting from hydro schemes – preferably by being the recipient of some or all of the hydro electricity produced and/or by the community being able to invest in some way in the project. The evening will be an opportunity to explore some possible solutions.

Press release from the last meeting available here