National Plant Monitoring Scheme

The National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) is looking for people in Maisemore with an interest in wild plants or who would like to learn more about them.

The NPMS is helping improve understanding of what is happening to different habitats across the UK and is set to run for a number of years. It has now been running for two survey seasons and over 900 volunteers have signed up and been out surveying. One of the reasons the scheme has enjoyed such good success in attracting volunteers is because of the support of local parish councils. Many of these volunteers are new to plant surveying and have found the scheme accessible, are enjoying taking part and are exploring places close to them and finding out new things. Volunteers are supported by materials which are sent to them, online resources and free training courses.

Do you know somebody who enjoys being outside? There are still opportunities to get involved with the scheme as a volunteer. In fact the more volunteers the scheme has, the more information is generated making for an even better understanding of what is happening in the landscape.

The NPMS is a partnership between Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI); JNCC; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and Plantlife and is backed by the government. Volunteers are recruited and supported to survey 5 plots in a kilometre square close to where they live. The plots will be surveyed twice a year. The kilometre squares to monitor have been identified by stratified random sampling. The plants have been chosen as indicators of the health of individual habitats. There are 3 levels volunteers can participate at depending on confidence and knowledge and support will be provided both through training; web and telephone.

Across Gloucestershire there are still 30 squares available to survey, one of which is to the south of Maisemore either side of the river Severn.

The live map on the NPMS website shows the squares that are available: http://www.npms.org.uk/square-near-me-public?dynamic-return_all_squares=true

To sign up please visit www.npms.org.uk or for further information please email support@npms.org.uk or phone 01722 342743.

Housing Strategy published

Tewkesbury Borough Council has now published its Housing Strategy – At home in Tewkesbury Borough – 2017 to 2021. The evidence base (appendices 1a-1d), homelessness and homelessness prevention strategy (appendix 2) and tenancy strategy (appendix 3) are also published.

Zero carbon Britain - new report

The Centre for Alternative Technology reports:
 
"The Zero Carbon Britain team’s research over the last 10 years has shown that we already have all the technical solutions we need to reach zero carbon. Yet changing how millions of people live is a vastly complex challenge. So for the past year, we have focused on defining the social and political shifts that could make zero carbon a reality.
We asked the question: “what are the barriers preventing us from reaching net-zero, and how can we overcome them?”
Today we’re publishing our findings in a groundbreaking new report, Zero Carbon Britain: Making it Happen."

Maisemore Parish Council's planning policy says: "The specifications of new houses should embody high energy efficiency in excess of Building Regulations requirements and, where appropriate, microgeneration in accordance with guidance on reducing carbon emissions."  This report highlights the fact that the MPC objective is achievable.

Proposed poultry unit location.

Thanks to David Jones for providing this map showing the location of the proposed poultry unit for which an Environment Agency permit is being sought.

Location plan of the proposed poultry unit prepared by
David Jones using the Ordnance Survey Open Map facility.

Proposed new poultry unit

The Environment Agency has punlished a notice of an application for a permit, which is reproduced in full here:

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ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
New bespoke application for an environmental permit under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
We've received an application for a permit from Mr Jon Smith, Mrs Josephine Smith, Mr Thomas Smith (trading as: GM Smith & Son).
Permit number: EPR/UP333ORL/A001
Regulated facility type: 6.9 A(1) a) (i) Intensive Farming > 40,000 Poultry
Regulated facility location: Astmans Farm Poultry Unit, Main Road, Overton, Maisemore, Gloucester, GL2 8HR.
The application contains a description of: the installation; the materials, substances and energy it will use and generate; the conditions of its site; the source, nature and quantity of its foreseeable emissions and their significant effects on the environment; the proposed techniques for preventing, reducing and monitoring its emissions and preventing and recovering waste; and an outline of the main alternatives, if any, considered. This information is held in a register at the following location: The Environment Agency, Riversmeet House, Newtown Industrial Estate, Tewkesbury, GL20 8JG.
You can look at our register 9.30am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday.  Please phone the National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 to arrange an appointment.  You may get a copy of documents on the register.  We may charge to cover copying costs.  If you have any comments send these by 08 March 2017.
Online: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/gl2-8hr-mr-j-smith-mrs-j-smith
Or write to P&SC - Land Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Park Avenue Sheffield, S9 4WF
Normally we must put any responses we receive on the public register.  This includes your name and contact details.  Please tell us if you don't want your response to be public.
We must decide whether to grant or refuse the application.  If we grant it, we must decide what conditions to include in the permit.

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This is not a planning application, and it is expected that a planning application would follow if the permit is granted.  It will be on the agenda for the Parish Council meeting on Monday 6th March so that a representation can be considered.  Anyone may make representations to the Environment Agency, using the contact details above.

The site is about a quarter of a mile to the north of the village, just south of Overton Farm, adjacent to the stream that runs between the A417 and Old Road and which supplies the water to the lake between Church Road and The Rudge.

Draft minutes now online

The draft minutes of the Parish Council meeting on 9th January are now on this website - here.

News from the churches

At services in January, the season of Epiphany, Rev. Penny and Canon Michael spoke of the baptism of the baby Jesus and the arrival of the Wise Men, of unity and tribes being one together. Let us hope with a new leader  in the USA. some of God's hopes will come to fruition. 

We are now heading into Lent, building up to Easter, with meetings at Pete and Sally's house on Tuesday afternoons(2pm) and around the villages in Holy Week. 

The joint 5th Sunday service in Hartpury village hall was a pleasure to attend - communion followed by tea and cake and hymns chosen from around the church congregations and accompanied by the newly formed "music group" (more members needed by them to swell the sound, if you like to play an instrument, here's your chance!!).  There was a smaller turn out for this service than we hoped,  maybe due to the dreadful soggy weather or that so many folk are poorly.

At St. Giles, things carry on as usual.  We have  a Christening and 4 weddings to look forward to during the summer.  Let's  hope as the days get longer  and the trees gain their buds, everybody will be fit and well again.  Services at St. Giles are on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays in the month and we would love to see you there. 

Marnie Mitchell.

Mobile library dates

The Mobile Library will be visiting Maisemore Village Hall between 2.15 and 3.45pm on
 
Thursday 9th February 2017
Thursday 9th March 2017 
Thursday 6th April 2017
Thursday 4th May 2017
Thursday 1st June 2017
Thursday 29th June 2017

It’s free to join the Library and a good selection of books is available for both adults and children.  You can also use a computer free of charge.

For more information, contact www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries or call the Contact Centre on 0845 230 5420