This bulletin is to keep you abreast of all the important activities that TCN is engaged in at present. Please do note the important details about the Chippy Energy project, the Neighbourhood Plan launch evening, and the Town Teams pilot bid. Please especially could you make an effort to fill in our energy questionnaire – this is important for us meaningfully gauge the energy needs of our town.

 

Chippy Energy – our energy efficiency and generation LEAF project

 The wind and solar feasibility studies, energy strategy and business plan are all nearing a conclusion, and we will be presenting their findings at our Energy Evening on 18^th April (in the Theatre).

 Nearly all houses in the town have now received ‘Are you Switched On’ flyers directing people to our website, energy shop, survey etc. If your area has not received any, please let us know – we did our best but were not able to achieve perfect coverage.

 If you have not already done so, please do fill in the questionnaire now. It is important that we get a high response rate in order to learn the needs of our town. Plus, there are 29 prizes on offer; all of them except the iPad are valuable energy surveys or home energy consultations. Currently the odds of winning are very good indeed! TCN members could make ideal candidates for these – but only if they have entered before 31 March by completing the questionnaire!

 Our energy shop is well worth a visit, and will be open for another two Saturdays, on 31 Mar and 14 April; also other times by appointment with Kevin.

 We have had to postpone the meeting ‘Towards a Sustainable Building Network’ on 30 March. This remains a really important concept, but we need more time to plan and prepare properly in order to do it proper justice. Please watch for further announcements on this..

  

Neighbourhood Plan meeting on 2^nd April – a chance to shape the future of our town

 A new forum for Chippy residents to get involved in the future development of their town is set to launch on 2nd April. The town has won a grant of £20,000 to develop a neighbourhood development plan. Neighbourhood planning empowers communities to shape the development and growth of their local area. Neighbourhood development plans will become part of the local statutory development plan and will form the basis for determining planning applications. Chippy is one of just 200 Front Runner projects in this area; for the first time local people will have a major say in helping to shape development in their town.

 The Chipping Norton Neighbourhood Plan will rely on the input of its residents. There will be three task groups, covering the areas of housing and energy (led by Neil Homer), health and wellbeing (led by Don Davidson), and transport and sustainability (led by Ben Vanheems). Development of the plan will involve an evidence gathering stage, incorporating the views and expertise of local residents to inform the development of possible scenarios for the future of our town. From these a neighbourhood plan will evolve, which will be put to residents through a referendum. All stages of the process are to involve public consultation, so that the plan will truly represent the vision of Chippy residents.

 TCN members are actively encouraged to attend the launch evening to be held at the town hall at 7pm on Monday 2nd April. The evening will explain the background to the neighbourhood plan, offer a snapshot of the town as it stands today, before breaking up into the separate task groups for lively discussion. Please attend if you are able - this is a valuable opportunity to shape the future of the town we love.

 

‘Town Teams’ pilot bid – creating visionary, strategic management for our high street

Lady Portas recently completed a major report for the government which recommended forming ‘Town Teams’ –  strong, visionary, strategic management teams for high streets.

 The government is looking to fund about 12 high street Town Team pilots in England, worth up to about £100,000 each, in which local partnerships and consortiums will come up with innovative ideas on how to transform their local high street into ‘a social place, bustling with people, services and jobs. The pilots will test the Town Team idea in the Portas review and pilot some of the other ideas and recommendations.

 Various TCN members are currently helping to prepare a Chipping Norton bid. This will be submitted before 30 March.

 

 

Oil is the essence of modern life but it's a finite resource. It can't last forever.
Some OIL facts: World-wide we consume over 30 billion barrels of oil per year and demand is increasing.
Globally, we now discover only one barrel of oil for every six we use.
Is OIL running out? No, but cheap oil is and this fact will be reflected in the prices at the pumps and in the cost of our food and other imported goods.
It's time to start thinking beyond oil!