I have mentioned before that the Civic Society does far more than just worry about planning applications. We also have an Environment Group. It appears that many folk have little interest in electricity as long as it comes down the wire when they switch on. Likewise gas, petrol etc. There is more interest when the bill arrives, or you’re negotiating a loan for a tank of petrol. Unfortunately, we just can’t keep banking on digging/pumping stuff out of the ground to supply our energy needs, as it’s going to run out in the not too distant future. As long as influential energy and petrol companies can make burgeoning profits by whacking up the price (as they have been doing big style in recent years), there seems to be limited interest in finding better solutions. By far the simplest method of reducing energy demand is to minimise the waste, although I seem to be flogging a dead horse trying to convince my Mrs. that the tumble dryer has a wonderfully effective alternative when the weather is dry.

            In an attempt to make some contribution, no matter how small, PDCS has teamed up with Kirkbymoorside Environment Group to take part in the Green Neighbourhood Challenge. This is a government sponsored initiative (but don’t let that put you off) for a number of teams to attempt to reduce their ‘carbon footprint’ i.e. waste less, use less energy and investigate other ways of power generation. However, the challenge is designed to include the whole community, with a series of workshops arranged to provide information that can help everyone save power and therefore money. You are all invited to come along to the meetings listed in the Coming Events Section.

            I have just heard that planning permission has been approved for the bunds above Newbridge, so construction should begin in June. All other strands of the ‘Slowing the Flow’ scheme have either been completed or soon will be and this way of working is gaining credence nationwide. Hopefully by October, Pickering should at long last be protected from all but the most severe floods. You would be astounded at the time expended since 2007 to make this happen. Without the work of the Ryedale Flood Research Group (including two PDCS members), it would not have happened at all.

 Mike Potter.