Members of the Parish Council met with South Gloucestershire Streetcare, Police and other Council representatives on 10th September to discuss the street light partial switch off.

We went through the various correspondance and telephone calls received from parishioners (approximately ten people wrote or telephoned in opposition to the initiative) and discussed each one.

Two issues were brought out.

Firstly, not all the lamps are going on and off at the same time or even close. Streetcare admitted this was a real issue and affirmed they would attempt to have all the lights acting within thirty minutes of each other. Secondly, and partly due to the above problem, it was recommended that the times be altered to 00h30 = off and 05h00 = on.

The overall and estimated cash and carbon savings were presented. At current electricity prices we are saving £1, 862 per year, and 11,557 kg of CO2 (eleven and a half tonnes). We were advised that other parts of South Gloucestershire are now asking for part-night lighting and that we are being monitored by other interested County Councils.

Finally, before and after photographs were also presented. I think they show better than mere words how the night sky has changed. There is still light pollution, but it’s not ours!

BEFORE

AFTER

After the success of the Spring Clean earlier this year, one of the majority comments was that once a year simply wasn’t enough! Well, never turn down willing volunteers, eh?

The Parish Council has organised another skip and Councillors will be standing beside it in the Memorial Hall car park on Saturday 26th September, ready to hand out litter pickers, gloves and black bags to anyone willing to offer an hour or two.

The litter pick will run from ten in the morning through to four in the afternoon (10h00 – 16h00). Councillors will be in the car park by the skip. Just come up and get involved. The only thing we ask is that you return the litter pickers as soon as you’ve done with them – we have only ten (the gloves are yours to keep).

Please come and join in, and help clean up our village. It’s a satisfying and simple way to put something back into your community.

CHARFIELD VILLAGE LITTER PICK
SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2009
10:00 TO 16:00