Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of history. ‘The Time is Now’ aims to be the biggest mass lobby the UK has ever seen – with 10,000 people expected to surround Westminster on 26 June and ask MPs to take strong action for our climate and environment. Even though our local MPs are generally ‘on side’ it’s important that they know that there are people who do care and will go to Westminster to talk to them. Oxfordshire groups are working to have the largest presence possible. So if you can help, please register on The Time is Now website. It only takes a minute, and you can see how many others from your area have also signed up.
Author: Julia Patrick
‘Old houses, new houses – thoughts on sustainable homes’
We are delighted to announce a public meeting followed by our AGM, at the Baptist Church, Woodstock Road (corner of Beechcroft Road) on Wednesday 3 July at 7pm (doors open 6.30pm). The evening is open to everyone, so do invite friends. We’d appreciate it if you would RSVP via Eventbrite.
Our theme for this meeting is Cosy Homes Oxfordshire – the new local home energy efficiency retrofit service. Our headline speaker, Charlie Luxton, is an architectural designer and TV presenter who writes and speaks about the environment and sustainable architecture (see article below). His practice Charlie Luxton Design is based in North Oxfordshire and specialises in sustainable housing.
We will also hear from a representative from the Cosy Homes Oxfordshire service and there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the new service.
These discussions will be followed by our Annual General Meeting.
We’re still recruiting
LCON has an opportunity available for a talented freelance contractor. The deadline is 28 May 2019, with interviews to be held in the week beginning 3 June. We’ve extended the deadline from the earlier April date to enable us to find the best possible candidate for this important piece of work.
Project manager for the Healthy Streets and Active Travel Low Carbon Hub Community Grants Fund
Do you want to be involved with tackling air pollution in Oxford and making it a healthier, more attractive city to travel in? On behalf of a coalition of community groups, Low Carbon Oxford North is looking for an enthusiastic, capable project manager to help us deliver five, funded activities, starting as soon as possible. The time commitment is approximately 4 hours a week for nine months but is very flexible. The description of the work and how to apply are available here.
Oxford’s Local Plan
Oxford City Council has recently closed its consultation on the Local Plan 2036. LCON were able to make a response to the consultation thanks to funding from the Low Carbon Hub for the time of expert Dan Stone, who works with the Low Carbon Neighbourhood Planning Programme in the Centre for Sustainable Energy. We have asked to give evidence at the planning inspector’s hearing.
Oxford Together on Climate Change – 10,000 actions for our climate
LCON is supporting Oxford Together on Climate Change (OxToCC). This is a major new initiative looking to involve as many people as possible in Oxford and across the county in taking action in their own lives to help tackle climate change (and to tackle the idea that ‘nothing I do will make a difference’. OxToCC is seeking to get people taking 10,000 actions by June.
The OxToCC website has advice and information on actions aorund four key issues – Food, Travel, Money and ‘Making Change Happen’ – please visit the site and choose what you can do. Register the action on site and it counts towards the 10,000 target.
LCON responds to the Oxford North proposal
LCON has submitted our objection to the controversial Oxford North development. You can download it here.
In summary we covered:
Energy efficiency and energy supply
We want to see this site (if it goes ahead) pioneering a zero-emission future in energy use in buildings and in transport. We have strongly objected to the idea that solar PV might be installed ‘subject to roof design’. Roofs should be designed so that they are suitable for PV panels!
Roads and transport
We have strongly objected to road layout plans. There are no safe and attractive routes into and out of the site for people who walk and cycle. Air quality legislation dictates that no development is permitted to make air quality worse within problem areas, yet this development with its predicted extra car movements will make it worse.
Employment and housing
One of the main reasons for allowing this part of the Green Belt to be built on was ‘poor housing affordability in Oxford and ….. backlog of housing needs’. We have thus objected to the lack of provision of affordable housing, particularly social rented housing.
Climate Justice – the North Oxford campaign continues
The FairPlay climate justice campaign has various events in North Oxford this month, including this performance of Haydn’s ‘Creation’. The evening is free with a charity collection. Full information on the campaign is here: http://www.climatejusticenorthoxford.org.uk/index
Roads are for people: Andrew Gilligan calls on Oxford and Oxfordshire residents to put pressure on local politicians
“Oxford is too polite.” This was one Oxford resident’s response to Andrew Gilligan’s presentation at the “Roads are for people” event, held on Tuesday 2 October in Oxford’s Town Hall and hosted by Low Carbon Oxford North (with Cyclox, the University of Oxford and Oxford Civic Society).
Over 180 people turned up to hear Andrew talk about Oxford’s congestion crisis and the need for greatly improved cycling infrastructure. The answer to Oxford’s traffic issues, he said, was “staring us in the face”. There was huge support from the room, including from local politicians Tom Hayes (city), Susanna Pressel (city and county) and Neil Fawcett (county), and on behalf of local MPs Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran as well as Leader of the County Council Ian Hudspeth.
Andrew Gilligan’s recent report to the National Infrastructure Commission, “Running out of Road”, calls for £150m to be invested in cycling to combat unmanageable traffic volumes and create a healthier, cleaner and safer city. Specific proposals include segregated cycle lanes on arterial roads including Banbury and Botley Roads.
Andrew called on Oxford and Oxfordshire to put “pressure on the leaderships of the City and County for change”. He highlighted the importance of having someone in power whose job it is to bring about change – the equivalent of his role as Cycling Commissioner in London. And instead of being too polite, he told residents, “make yourselves a nuisance”.
Building on the success of this event, LCON will be working with other organisations to build public pressure and identify priority asks from the city and county councils.
Get Finance out of Fossil Fuels – Monday 17th public meeting
Monday, 17th Sep at 7pm — The Threshold, St Michael & All Angels Church, Lonsdale Road, OX2 7ES
Sarah Rowe, Campaigns Office for Christian Aid will give an illustrated talk entitled: “Fossil Fuel and Climate Justice. What part do the Banks Play”. The talk, which will review their work in the Big Shift Campaign with four major banks during the last year and their follow on work with HSBC, will be followed by discussion.
Roads Are for People: a public meeting with Andrew Gilligan
Roads Are for People poster
LCON is holding a major public meeting in Oxford Town Hall’s Assembly Room, on Tuesday 2 October. The main speaker will be Andrew Gilligan, who recently wrote the report ‘Running out of Road’, commissioned by the National Infrastructure Commission. The report details the need for ambitious investment in cycling in Oxford.
The meeting is financially supported by Cyclox, the Civic Society and the University of Oxford, to whom we are very grateful.
This event aims to bring together all the groups and concerned citizens looking for a sustainable 21st century approach to transport in our city. We intend to create a clear manifesto and action plan – and a coalition to take the work forward.
We hope that as many LCON members and supporters as possible will attend. The address is Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1BX. The event is free and there is disabled access. Doors open at 18.30 for a 19.00 start.
We advise that you reserve your seat in advance via Eventbrite, because there is significant interest in the meeting and we cannot guarantee entry without a ticket.
