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May 2010 Bulletin
Recycling Made Easier
New Forest District Council has introduced two initiatives to make recycling easier for local residents. People using the district’s bottle banks will no longer have to separate their old glass bottles and jars into green, brown and clear. Instead, all the glass can now be placed into the same container.
Glass collected by the Council is taken to a processing plant at Southampton docks, where a machine has been installed to sort the glass into colours, before it is recycled into new glass bottles and jars.
According to the district council, the switch to mixed glass is good news for the environment because it means the service can operate more efficiently, saving vehicle mileage and fuel consumption.
Glass cannot be put into the clear recycling sacks for safety reasons but there are more than 100 glass recycling sites across the district. However, items such as drinking glasses, Pyrex dishes and vases cannot be recycled.
There is more good news because empty aerosol cans may now be recycled. These can be put into the clear recycling sacks or into the cans and plastic recycling containers.
Free Help for Community Groups
Many voluntary organisations in the New Forest are missing out on free help and advice available to them. That’s the message from Community First New Forest, the council for voluntary service in the area. Community First New Forest has helped over 200 local groups over the last year but they believe many more are unaware of the help on offer.
Examples of the support provided include help with finding funding, assistance with grant applications, undertaking criminal record bureau checks, advice on setting up a local group and mini bus hire. All the services are free or at low cost which is a real help in the current economic climate.
Community First is appealing to local voluntary and community groups in the New Forest area to join the organisation free of charge and benefit from advice and practical help. For further details telephone 01425 482773 or visit www.cfnf.org.uk
Solar Energy
When you get an approved renewable energy system installed you can now benefit from a Feed-in Tariff (FIT). Your electricity supplier will use one tariff for the electricity you generate and one for any electricity you export to the grid.
FITs mean that a well-sited system can now pay for itself in as little as 12.5 years. To qualify for FITs, equipment and its installers must both be approved under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
A 2.5kW peak system for a two person household could save/earn you £1000 a year and currently costs around £15,000 fitted. A new set up like this will reduce your annual CO2 emissions by around a tonne. In terms of its positive environmental impact this is comparable to getting loft and cavity wall insulation fitted together.
For the latest information on renewable energy systems and incentives, contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012.
Local Policing
Crime statistics for the Copythorne area for March include the following:
Assault: One incident at a local residential establishment
Dwelling burglaries: None again this month. However, with the nicer weather upon us, please check that you have closed and locked all doors and windows before leaving the house. Also remember to lock away all tools and gardening equipment after use and make sure all sheds and outbuildings are secure.
Non dwelling burglary: None in Copythorne
Criminal damage: None
Theft: Lead stolen from the roof of Copythorne Parish Hall.
Thefts from vehicles: Four incidents involving vehicles parked in Forest car parks. Handbags were stolen by forcing the locks or smashing windows. Make sure you don’t leave valuables in unattended vehicles – if it’s not left in the car it can’t be stolen!Your local police officers are: PC Dee Faulkner and PCSO Lisa Quinn. The Safer Neighbourhoods team is now led by Sergeant Phil Raymond. To contact your Safer Neighbourhoods team, phone them on 101 or e-mail to new.forest.north.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
The Parish Council
The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 pm in the Copythorne Parish Hall (rear extension). Members of the public are very welcome to attend the meetings and speak on any matter of concern during the first five minutes of the meeting.
Local planning applications are discussed at both full Council and Planning meetings, and the Council welcomes the views of both applicants and neighbours to help formulate a response to the planning authority. Details of applications to be discussed at forthcoming meetings can now be found on the parish web site at www.copythorne.org.uk. Just click on ‘Planning’ on the top menu.
The dates of the next few meetings are:
| Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Planning |
| Tuesday 25 May 2010 | Council (AGM) |
| Tuesday 8 June 2010 | Planning |
The Clerk to the Council (Mike Derrick) can be contacted at
3 Chichester Close,
East Wellow,
Romsey
SO51 6EY.
Telephone and fax 01794 322080,
e-mail copythornepc@tiscali.co.uk.
Web site: www.copythorne.org.uk
