Members attend meeting with new MP

November 2024

Along with three other members of Transition Crich, Hazel Allister attended the meeting between Derbyshire Climate Coalition and our new MP, John Whitby. Read the key updates from Hazel below.

I found the audience to be very researched in all the topics brought for discussion. Some of these were: Citizens Assemblies (as this operates effectively in Ireland); aviation fuel sustainability, zero-carbonisation and electric planes; renewable energy and concerns about lobbyists; Rolls Royce’s achievements in small modular reactors.

The group also discussed whether we should be implementing large-scale renewables in Peak Park or whether we should source this from elsewhere. The opinion was that we have to do the former, as we are way past the shall we/shan’t we times. The group discussed why the Longcliffe wind turbines occasionally have to stop because there isn’t enough capacity in the system. The consequent need for overhead power lines, although not appealing, means we can go forward with renewables.

Other key updates included:

Rivers: Tideswell Brook is the second worst in the UK for pharmaceutical wastage! The problem is that when the population is below 2000, there is no legal requirement for the sewage company to update their system! Between 30 - 90% of medical and recreational drugs go down the loo! We need to enforce regulation.

Buses: Derbyshire Climate Coalition asked the MP to push for improvement.

Housing: New housing to be built with carbon-neutral emphasis. Plus, more affordable housing.

Biodiversity: The group discussed the need for nature-friendly farming, taking sheep off the hills, and reconnection with the land, stating that a whole cultural shift needs to happen. They urged the MP to end the killing of badgers, as it is ineffective in stopping TB in cows.
The group recommended Brian May’s documentary on iPlayer and YouTube.

I came away thinking that a lot of issues had been raised – a lot of positive things are happening in the background without our knowledge, and so I feel hopeful that there might be an effective move forward in at least some of these issues.