Jottings around Sleaford: Water resources and weather!

Lots have happened since I last wrote on this Blog and priorities keep changing.

Loss of our Monarch Elizabeth and a  "cost of living" crisis to name but two. Especially energy which is being exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and other international problems.

Clearly, the weather this winter will be an important factor in energy usage and will impact heating bills.  

Mild or cold: wet or dry. Hard to tell:  but the Global La Nina effect is still with us and may have an important influence. 

So the links to useful information are given below. Best of luck!

News: Anglian Water confirms the proposed site for a huge new reservoir.

Site of New Reservoir

Fears being expressed 

Much anger in and around the proposed site (especially around Bourne).

Interviews have been featured in the News inc Television, on Social Media, and in the local Press. 

This development if given the go-ahead will take many years. It is sited in one of the driest areas in the UK and that alone is a cause for concern given the drought condition of Summer 2022. Would it deliver what is required?

A major issue: would it deliver the water required? 

Another: Is this the best use of agricultural Land?

So onto the weather this winter. 

Our climate is affected by Global Circulations. Two main categorisations are related to El Nino and La Nina. El Nino is the more famous but once again we are in a La Nina situation and the forecasters are wary of making predictions. I have tried to make some sense and selected passages from experts. Here goes!

Could La Nina make temperatures drop in the UK this winter? 

“In late autumn and early winter it historically promotes high pressure in the mid-Atlantic, which stops Atlantic weather systems from delivering mild air to the UK, and therefore can allow cold conditions to intensify.“However, in late winter La Niña can drive a shift of the jet stream towards the Poles increasing storminess and heavy rainfall while bringing milder conditions”.

I hope this helps for the time being and I will update when possible.

Notes on July 2022 Weather Events:

UK Heatwave breaks records: Record low Antarctic Sea Ice: The scale of European wildfires in 2022:Tropicle Storm Aere and flooding in SW Japan:: Historic flooding in parts of the USA: Unusual July rainfall around the Persian Gulf: England and Wales dry weather:  
Extreme Heat July 2022 july_heatwave (metoffice.gov.uk)

Is it me or is life now too complex? Simpler views from Sleaford!!

 Funny old world!

Lincolnshire Parched Land. July 30 2022 Drought affected land

It is 7 months since my last blog piece. At the time Climate change discussions were all the rage after Cop26 in Glasgow. So on towards Cop27 in Sharm El-Sheikh (an extremely dry part of the world). 

The Cop26 in Glasgow was a bit of a farce as most official attendees (and some unofficial) seemed to arrive in private jets. And then went on to opine about Greenhouse gases and their effect on Global temperatures.

Now, in July 2022 the country is in the middle of an inflationary surge, and in-fighting of the ruling political group to select a new leader (less than 3 years after Boris Johnson became leader). Meanwhile, industrial unrest grows as attempts to keep up with the cost of living increase tensions.

Health-wise things appear to be deteriorating with obesity levels rising, a new surge in Omicron on the cards and worries about grooming, drugs and illegal entrants coming across the Channel and being housed where possible in hotels. It never rains but it pours. This reminds me: there is the prospect of water rationing and the use of stand-pipes (1976 repeat).  My own garden is a funny shade of yellow/brown. 

Parched Farm Land 

So maybe North Kesteven and Sleaford ain't so bad after all. Hope overdevelopment doesn't spoil the party. 

What to make of 2022 after a 2021 no-one expected: Holdingham Sleaford viewpoint.

Draft: So many things that were expected are now on hold: so who is to blame (or be praised) that some events did or did not unfold: main topics include:
Holdingham Roundabout almost complete - some issues remain: 
Sleaford Moore Pride Parkway Enterprise Park (passed 2 July 2021): 
Persimmon Holdingham Grange Phase 2 development aligned to Sleaford Moor: 
 Lincoln Road Open Space: 
Cop26 implications. 

The improvements to the Holdingham Roundabout are almost completed. Personally, I think the installation of traffic lights is a good thing. 

Certainly for those coming out from the Lincoln Road. Pity about access to McDonald's (I had hoped for a safer entrance/exit) to stop traffic coming out onto the Lincoln Road to go to the Roundabout without going down to the mini-roundabout. However the footpath is welcome. 

The Lincoln Road Playing field/open space is well used and the the young people use the covered area in front of the Nets and metal framework. 

Sleaford has continued to change as new developments continue despite stoppages due mainly to Covid restrictions. Like many all eyes daily on the latest tally of Covid-cases and which variety and whether or not the NHS will be overwhelmed. At least Christmas and the New Year celebrations got through with too many hitches. Local Businesses will be pleased with that (I assume).

On a wider scale any ramifications of Cop26 appear to be on hold. Day to day problems appear to be dominating and thinking bout 2030 or 2050 seems to have lost its gloss.  However it is good to see Lincoln University taking an active role in the subject.  My previous Blog also commented at Cop26

The Lincolnite produced a report: COP26 inspired climate change conference at University of Lincoln (thelincolnite.co.uk) 

More to follow.

Are proposed actions to mitigate against Climate Change unachievable? More harm than good?

Alok Sharma

The final concluding Statement from Cop26 is here: delivered late on November 13 by a weary President!  

Latest November 13th: Cop26 goes over the time limit: disagreement on Fossil Fuel phasing out  (Coal and others?). Many looking for cash to help. Meanwhile, the scale of lobbying by the fossil fuel industry is indicated by the size of their delegations in Glasgow.

Clearly, work has been going on behind the scenes for some time: rather undermines Cop26. 

COP26: Cautious welcome for unexpected US-China climate agreement

The next Cop is Cop27 

The COP27 will take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 2022. (well at least it  should be hot and dry.)

Lincolnshire Warnings  This local effects diagram within 10 years seems unlikely but represents a warning if nothing is done. (Better defenses etc) 

Here is the latest News


Much media interest in the number of Private Jets being used (not quite in the spirit of Cop26).  The Times (2 November highlighted it)


Cop26 brief from Met Office (Webinar) on 6th October 2021 (full day session)

It is essential that societies seek ways of becoming environmentally sustainable and adaptable to unknowable environmental changes, particularly in the climate. This must happen in the context of globalization. (OU)

RMetS Resources for Cop26

Climate change is now generally recognized as a phenomenon that requires both actions to prevent further damage and mitigation to improve the resilience of those experiencing its effects. 

Many groups are putting forward their aims and objectives on behalf of their members and Stakeholders in a bid to put pressure on Ministers and as input to COP26 (Conference of the Parties) due 31st October/November 2021 in Glasgow. 

One such recommendation from Prospect is at this link 

In brief these proposals say:

1. Publish a comprehensive Net Zero Roadmap: 2. Accelerate Deployment of low carbon infrastructure: 3.  Embed a whole systems approach: 4. Develop a fair funding formula: 5. A strategy for energy conservation: 6. Maximize the benefits for UK PLC: 7. Net Zero Workforce Plan: 8. Ramp up Research and Development Programme: 9. A Just Transition: 10. A Net Zero Energy Commission. 

Another submission from CSPA (Pensioners Alliance) is identified below. But will these proposals lead to anything substantial as there is little chance of succeeding until the major world economies agree? 

Such effects impact: with particular severity on older people. They include:

 • Severe weather (storms, floods, extreme heat) 

• Sea level rises and coastal erosion 

• Threats to water and food security

 • Potential interruption to and scarcity of fuel supply

• Increased air pollution. It is vital that dialogue improves between organizations representing older people and government, its agencies and other interested parties, for example, the insurance sector. It is necessary to

• Educate older people about what may be in store

 • Prevent stress and mental ill-health arising from climate change 

• Mitigate the effects of climate change and air pollution on physical ill health • Mitigate damage as far as possible. 

This AGM instructs the EC to open cross-party dialogue on this topic with a view to strategic and practical engagement in the political and civil arena and to produce an action plan relevant to CSPA members and consonant with Later Life Ambitions. 

Further, the AGM encourages Groups to engage on this topic with regional and local stakeholders such as the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Green Summit.

All well and good but very broad brush and as mentioned above will be difficult, and futile to implement, unless everyone is on board.

County Council and Police Crime Commissioner Elections 2021

 The County Council and Police Crime Commissioners elections 

are to take place on May 6th 2021. 
Due to the sad death of Price Phillip, campaigning has been suspended for 10 days from April 9th 2021. 
The link to the candidates at County Level are here. Electoral Listings

Crime Commissioner Candidates are here in the Sleaford Standard release. 
Crime Commissioner

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It Never Rains but it Pours: a Blog Theme of our times for Sleaford & Holdingham

 As it happens it has just started raining for what is forecast to be a wet week-end.

In more ways than one it seems. 

There are several themes on the news at the moment after weeks and weeks of constant Covod-19 stories (some very sad but one or two reasons to be cheerful). Exhaustion appears to be creeping in after promises which don't always come to fruition. Here is an image from the Daily Telegraph as we teeter on (or already in) a second wave.

Whilst Closing Times have been getting a lot of attention there is a lot going on.

Zoom events, and similar, seem to be appearing on an increasing basis: and personally if I accepted all I would be busy 23 hours per day. Most are Webinars but one or two are  direct Zoom events with maybe about 100 - 200 attendees. Added to that, Podcasts and Reports, and the world has certainly changed to a more virtual mode.

I have three or four strings to follow. International especially China and Hong Kong:  Local Political issue and with effects of Brexit negotiations, Employment effects of Covid-19:  Sustainability (Green Energy) and last but not least Climate Change and TV productions bending towards productions featuring futuristic worlds based on Sustainable lifestyles.

Centre For Cities also invite me onto their Zoom discussions. Apparently Cities and Large Towns are being affected by a movement of residents out of Urban Areas. Interesting topic. 

Note: I am a member of RTS, RMetS, Twitter and Prospect - so some of my information comes from them.

https://members.prospect.org.uk/news/id/2020/September/15/Prospect-pushes-importance-green-recovery-at-TUC-Congress 

Enough for the moment.   

Green Energy: Zero-Sum Carbon Emissions by 2050 through exploitation of Renewable Sources? Lincolnshire Effect?

Reduced reliance on Carbon Fuels and the pollution: 

A Green Recovery Plan for the energy sector
Introduction

As the Government Department States:  

UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law

(New target will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.) The BBC put it this way last year (click image)

Most renewable energy sources originate from the sun (solar energy), while tidal energy originates from the gravitational pull of the moon, and geothermal energy results from heat trapped below the surface of our planet. See below!

Is Nuclear also an option? 

What is Green Energy: Here is the Open University Definition

Solar energy can be used directly in a two different ways. The heating part of the Sun’s rays can be used to directly produce hot water (solar thermal), while the light energy can directly produce electricity from photovoltaic cells (PV).

There are, however, a number of indirect ways in which solar energy can be utilised:

·       Wind energy has been utilised for mills and pumps for hundreds of years, but has been harnessed to produce electricity during the past several decades. Wind 'farms' have been set up in the UK, and around the world, both inland and offshore.

·       Wave energy technology is still in the early development phase but several devices have been tested in pilot projects. The most widely used is the oscillating water column which uses waves to push air through a turbine which generates electricity.

·       Tidal energy is utilised by allowing the tide to build up a head of water behind a barrier, then allowing the water to flow through a turbine to produce electricity. The effectiveness depends on the position of the moon, being greatest at full and new moons. Tidal currents can also be used to generate power, by installing turbines in the flows, and that is seen as a more likely way ahead than building large invasive barrages.

·       Geothermal energy is energy taken from hot regions below the surface. The available heat varies from place to place.

Note: Nuclear Energy: energy is produced by a controlled nuclear chain reaction and creates heat—which is used to boil water, produce steam, and drive a steam turbine. The turbine can be used for mechanical work and also to generate electricity. This is being looked at more seriously than previous!! This option is also being widely pushed (n addition to the above). It is safer and appears (to many) as less costly to produce. 

Virtual Meetings: Holdingham Viewpoint

At least the lockdown has brought about the use of Zoom and other interfaces through which to hold virtual meetings. Saves time and money actually attending in person but maybe shortcomings as well!

It also gives better opportunities to see the salient points and use them to fine-tune arguments on other forums. 

The ones I use most are Centre For Cities, The Royal Television Society and ITV. A mixture of planning, information and entertainment choices. I have been members for years now having worked in TV (weather Forecasts at ITN), Council work and Royal Television Society. Plus associated Meteorological forums (including international).

Obviously dying for a McDonalds: good publicity or bad?

Locally we have open spaces but with restrictions on their usage (at present) . 

Traffic on the Lincoln Road is often congested and speeding is not uncommon. The McDonalds and other fast food takeaways near the Hodingham Roundabout can only be used as drive-in collection - is the Lincoln Road as an entrance the wisest place these days.
Maybe and I am sure the Companies are aware and so is the planning authority.
See the narratives below referring to Centre For Cities and also the impact on our viewing habits from TV etc. Public Service broadcasting may survive but new addition may not. 
So back to the big picture.

I start with the growing use and informed opinion available via Zoom, Skype and Youtube. 
Here are some relevant excerpts which may have implications for the Sleaford area, including Holdingham.  

Clearly viewing numbers and viewing patterns have been affected: infrastructure spending is needed nationally but money is extremely tight: and the weather which plays havoc with plans -when one season produces a massive excess of water and the next has panic stations when it doesn't rain for weeks on end. So that is one relevant area to invest in.

But how on earth do we (as a Country) try and spread the good years to alleviate the bad (storage of excess water for instance). Centre For Cities is advising (with more to come) on relevant issues. 

Support for Local Services

So TV is looking to many habits adopted in Lock down to be carried on after Lock down   

Lockdown: a view from Holdingham

Lots happening at the moment with what seems like pressure to free ourselves from the limiting (debilitating?) effects of the Covid-19 outbreak. 

Economic forecasts are dire with many working from home or being laid-off as firms close down (Nationally) or reduce output or (in some cases) changing their mode of operation.

 Debates run as to the need and conditions of the lock-down (Stay ay Home or Stay Alert) and what that implies. 

Has the Covid-19 been handled well or badly? Whatever the answer we are where we are. 

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But back to basics. 

Two forums that I am a member of are: Royal Television Society and the Centre For Cities (which also covers large Towns and is associated with Centre For Towns). 

Below are two Events covering the titles given. They last for an hour so choosing the issues that will have impact on Sleaford (and others in Lincolnshire) have to be identified.

Centre For Cities: The future  of Urban Transport    
Centre For Cities: Exit strategy: can the high street survive?  

Additionally the RTS provided a Zoom transmitted Conversation :  Industry Impact of Covid-19 (RTS = Royal Television Society). The video is not available yet for this. 

So the issue of how we escape with least damage to our functioning as a Country is being hotly debated. 

A new Mayor of Sleaford (and a Deputy Mayor from Holdingham).

I watched the AGM of the Sleaford Town Council on Wednesday (13 May)  evening (virtual meeting using Zoom software)  https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/full-council-recordings.html

A new Mayor was elected (Anthony Brand) who represents the Westholme Ward. 

The new Deputy Mayor is Robert Oates who represents the Holdingham Ward. Their details can be found on the Sleaford Town Council web-site.

 

The direct link to Councillor Brand and Councillor Oates as Mayor and Deputy is at this link.    

More to follow. Looks like Zoom will become a regular feature. https://assets.zoom.us/docs/user-guides/zoom-rooms-full-user-guide.pdf 

More to follow. Strange times we are living in!

Coronavirus: the view from Holdingham Sleaford

Local Picture (as at 12 May 2020)

Walking along Holdingham Lane and round the pathway was pleasant in the Spring Sunshine today (6 May). We met several couples and we all observed the distance recommendations. Our regulatory daily outing if we have understood the rules (a bit vague). Very quiet in Holdingham on 7 May but traffic on the Lincoln Road was brisk around midday and some speeding apparent. 

View towards McDonalds (closed)

Farm Bridge towards Leadingham (quiet)

Holdingham Lane

Farm Bridge towards Roundabout

The Lincolnshire Live still shows concerns about Police interpretation of the rules. Our Care Homes as sources of transmission still occur.
 https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/

Broader Picture

There are several issues that keep appearing and involving: Local, National  and International Politics.
These are shown below:

Local Government Meetings (off-line) 
Latest Political Statements: 
Pandemic: where did it start?

Summary 12 May 2020
The wider picture is still blurred and a promise of a new blueprint from the PM starting Monday 11 May 2020.  Nationally the UK death rates seems to be topping the WHO (World Health Organisation) league tables for Europe but whether or not the comparisons are a fair reflection is hard to determine.

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Local Council Meetings Using ZOOM software. 

Adaptating to the Coronavirus and the need for distant (off-line meetings) has led to the Local Council adopting  such - using ZOOM software. There are pitfalls: here is a summary of what has to happen if Councils want to go ahead. Councils if they wish can also not meet until they have the facilities.  

The government has issued supplementary regulations that allow for meetings to be held online and also provides for postponement of annual meetings and such like. They are found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/392/contents/made

By and large, the old rules can still apply. That is to say meetings according to an agreed schedule go ahead as planned, with the clerk issuing the agenda and supporting documents. 

Clearly these will need to include details of how to join the online meetings. As others have mentioned, there is also the power for the chairman or two councillors to call an extraordinary meeting.

It should be feasible for all councillors to attend an online meeting, and to open it to the press and public. While it may be that not everyone will be able to set up a computer, smartphone or tablet to join a meeting, most systems also provide for participation entirely by telephone. There must be very few people who cannot gain access to either a telephone or a digital device. It is then up to the chairman to find ways to ensure that every council member is able to participate in the meeting and to vote.

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Latest Ministerial and Political Statements

The Prime-Ministers  Statement of 10 May 2020 is here: PM Statement
The Leader of the Opposition response 11 May is here: Keir Starmer

Proposed Improvements to A17 Holdingham Roundabout and junction with A153 Sleaford

Investments in the resources attributable to the Holdingham Roundabout are under discussion again on January 30th at full council.

Whether or not his investment, which includes The junction on the A153 near the Rugy Club, will meet longer erm needs are debatable (at best). It has to be set aside the Central Lincolnshire local plan and its proposed expansion in the Lincolnshire population and vehicle usage of Lincolnshire's Roads.

Here is my take on this as published on local social media.

improvements to the Lincolnshire Roads have to be set against a backdrop of increased housing and hence traffic and show via press reports

"Road safety chiefs are urging the public to help cut the carnage on Lincolnshire's roads in the New Year after yet another 12 months of tragedy in 2019. Fifty-three people died in 48 crashes in the county by this morning, December 31, 2019, compared to a total of 56 fatalities in 2018. Among those who died in 2019 were 13 young people aged in their teens and early 20s. "

The debate,, and my comments, re the NKDC proposals are at:

Agenda Item7f of NKDC Council (Thursday 30 January) relates to the Holdingham Roundabout and the Rugby Club. Listening to the traffic reports every morning where the Holdingham Roundabout is mentioned it has to be asked if enough will be done. The traffic tail-back was 2.5 miles yesterday morning. https://democracy.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=297&MId=7832

Out and around Holdingham and Sleaford: Town Council Issues

The Sleaford Town Council (on July 24th, 2019) had one or two interesting discussions. Topics that have been discussed before in other contexts. 

The Audio recording is on the Sleaford Town Council web-site but is just over 2 hours long.  However, I have listed the parts of interest in respect to the time period they were discussed. 

The audio recording is here: Audio. 

The highlights I have listed are:

Time:

Public Question 00 to 18.00 mins: Becks and River water (mainly affecting Westholme): 

Community Speed Initiative: 23 mins 10 secs to 46 mins 15 sec. (Cllr Mervyn Head)

Cemetery Access:  1 hour 30mins 32 secs to 1 hour 57 minutes 51 seconds

Other topics include: External Electricity Supply - Market Place: 1 hour 22 minutes 40 secs to 1 hour 30 mins 31 

Cemetery Gates pre 2017

Earlier
Map of Sleaford

How often should Sleaford Town Councillors meet? Holdingham Councillors included!!!

A debate (I say with some tongue in cheek) took place in the Sleaford Town Council on Wednesday  10 July. The Agenda Item was at 9.1: "Following a recent meeting of the Clerks Management Team we would like to propose that Full Council meetings are changed from every two weeks to every four weeks". 

This Motion was proposed by Cllr Snookes and Seconded Cllrs Melody Shanahan-Kluth and Bozena Allen.

An audio recording of the whole meeting is available on the STC website. Agenda Item 9.1 commences at 1 hr 12 min 45 secs and continues for 56 minutes to 2 hrs  8 minutes 45 secs approximately. 

I have also converted the audio into a video recording and placed it on Youtube (slightly less quality as far as the audio bit is concerned). Video Youtube

THERE ARE ONE OR TWO ISSUES HERE:

1. Standing Orders do not specifically state for 2 weeks.
2. Clerks Management Team is not specifically set-up to formulate timetables for Full Council meetings.

The schedule for meetings has already been implicitly approved by the AGM in May.

However, I will say no more at this point.

Trees on the Sleaford Lincoln Road Play Area: why remove them?

Sleaford Town Council: Agenda Item 10.1 on 12 June 2019

This agenda item looked at a "request" to remove trees in the Lincoln Road Play Area. I have taken photographs and assume the trees in question relate to some bounding on Barnes Close. 

 Photographs of the trees adjacent to the Lincoln Road Play Area.

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Maybe three trees under threat

The trees are near the "Basketball" area

ATrees offer shelter and noise reduction

The corner between Lomax and Barnes Close Houses. 

These trees are the boundary to Lomax

Some are adjacent to Barness Close but there are also reasonably mature trees near Lomax. Complaints have been made in the past about noise from say Basketball area and other facilities. 

There are dangers in removing trees and the roots etc have drainage effects and other benefits. STC Agenda Item 10.1 on June 12th debated this and seemed to have made a rushed decision. What do other residents say?

NKDC Leader answers Questions from Sleaford Town Councillors

Interestingly Richard Wright visited Sleaford Town Council on 12th June. The audio recording is available on the Sleaford Town Council Web-Site. 

Two Councillors from Holdingham attended: Ken Fernandes  (Ken Fernandes) and James Thomas (James Thomas)

Audio Recording: Leader Richard Wright commenced around minute  11mins 50sec and finished at Minute 42 approximately. June 12th is listed at the audio list at the address given.

Interesting topics covered and it appeared a worthwhile meeting and others will be arranged in the future.

Do we need to pay more in Sleaford & Holdingham to protect our Open Spaces?

There were several reports in Sleaford (including Holdingham Woodside Play Area), about vandalism.

On a national level (and including damage at Stamford) there seems to have been a spate of it. Headlines included "Grown men weep" and the Market Deeping Club (whose exhibition it was) was extremely upset. Not good (understatement).

Nearer home (within Sleaford and Holdingham) the local media and social media reported other cases of vandalism. Woodside  Play Area reportedly had its Goal Posts vandalised. However, on visiting two days later. there were no signs of it. Maybe the Town Council attended the matter.

Boston Road has also been affected and areas nearer the centre of Town.

Do we need further security measures or is this a society based problem that needs addressing and quickly? (also on "Holdingham" Facebook)

Towards Sleaford Wood

Woodside Play Area