Category Archives: Environment

Airspace change trial at Ockham Holding Stack

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We have just been informed that an airspace change trial will be held between 30 April-30 September 2015 on the operation of the Ockham stack. 
The Ockham stack is one of four areas where aircraft are held at busy times awaiting landing space at Heathrow Airport.  Aircraft held in the stack fly an elongated circular pattern extending as far south as Dorking and as far east and west as Ashtead and Little Bookham respectively. The area can contain up to nine aircraft ‘stacked’ vertically at 1000ft intervals from a base of 7,000ft.  Further details are given in the attached fact sheet and flight maps.
The trial will test the use of performance based navigation techniques (PBN, sometimes called PRNAV) for operating the stack as a replacement for the ground-based beacon at Ockham that currently guides aircraft into the holding pattern.
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) who are conducting the trial say it is not expecting any perceptible change on the ground because the position and height of the stack is not changing, and a similar trial at another stack at Biggin Hill has not resulted in flightpath concentration.
However, if any residents are disturbed by aircraft noise as a result of the trial, please let me know and/or advise them to register a complaint to Heathrow Airport by emailing noise@heathrow.com or using the complaint form on the Heathrow Airport website at: http://www.heathrowairport.com/noise/what-you-can-do/make-a-complaint-about-noise .
Yours faithfully
Guy Davies
Principal Planning Policy Officer
Mole Valley District Council
01306 879281

Art/Rubbish Exhibition at ex Helpshop Leatherhead

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This is a fantastic exhibition put on by the LRA  Environment sub-committee with the financial support of Mole Valley DC and the CPRE
.
These creative works have been designed and assembled by six local schools and residents. 

HAVE YOU SEEN IT?

Other organisations want to borrow it!

See it at the old Help Shop in Leatherhead High Street this week from Thursday 23 April to Saturday 25 April from 10am until 5pm each day.

MVDC: Recycling Plastics in Mole Valley

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Message from Josh Lambe, Recycling Officer, MVDC.

Hopefully the following information regarding plastics will be valuable to the group:

Firstly, it’s important to understand that ‘the message’ and how it’s presented to 100,000 residents is of vital importance. Mole Valley DC promotes a deliberately straightforward and hassle free message when communicating what items we can accept for recycling.

In practice, this means we keep the message as broad as possible, and purposely shy away from giving residents huge great lists of items which we can accept. It also means we deliberately do not publish the Recycling Identification Codes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling_codes ). Research shows that you’ll gain the highest yield of plastics for recycling when you keep the message simple, as it is understood the ‘average recycler’ will be put off by always having to check the code on every article they’re disposing of, or
having to check a long list of products/materials.
So, in Mole Valley, we try to give the consistent message that as far as plastics go we will accept:

ANY TYPE OF PLASTIC BOTTLE (LIDS REMOVED AND PLACED INTO THE BIN SEPARATELY) PLASTIC FOOD TUBS, POTS AND TRAYS (RINSED)

And that’s it.

So, when considering whether a plastic item is fit to be put in the recycling, firstly, if it is a plastic bottle of any kind, it is accepted for recycling. Secondly, if it is a plastic tub, pot or tray that held any kind of food substance, it is accepted for recycling.

*********************
For those diligent recyclers who wish to know what codes can be accepted, the codes we can accept are:

  • 01
  • 02 (but not plastic carrier bags)
  • 03 (but only in bottle form)

However, some plastic items may have one of the above codes, but will be of the hard plastic variety. We cannot accept what are known as ‘rigid plastics’. Therefore a good rule of thumb is that if you cannot bend the plastic by hand, it is not suitable for recycling via the green bin (plastic kitchen utensils and children’s toys are good examples of this). Conversely, some plastic items may have one of the above codes, but be ‘flimsy’. The second rule of thumb then is that if you can crush the plastic in your hand and it stays in that shape,it is of too low-grade to be recycled (plastic bags or cling film are good examples of this). Lastly, if you think the plastic item could fall in between rigid and flimsy but you’re still not sure, the test is that if it is pretty hard plastic that still bends, but you can snap it in your hand, then it’s not accepted for recycling (flower pots are a good example of this) I hope all that will be of use. I’m always happy to answer any further questions you may have, so please do not hesitate to get in touch. I’m sorry I could not make the meeting.

Kind regards,
Josh Lambe
Mole Valley District Council
01306 879118

=============================================
Other information from correspondence:

Thanks for the information. I only have one question, which is, what happens if we put an item in the recycling bin, which should not be put in there? Does this invalidate the whole contents of the bin, or is it just a nuisance because it has to be fished out?

Hi ,

When our crews notice something in a recycling bin that is not accepted for recycling, they will reject the bin and leave a ‘contaminated bin’ sticker on it, to inform the resident. The onus is then on the resident to fish the errant item out and present their recycling again next time round. Sometimes things are only discovered once the load is delivered to the recycling facility. This will then have to be handpicked out by one of the ‘pickers’ at the site.

We’ve had bad instances in the past where people have put things in their recycle bin so bad that it has meant the whole vehicle load has been rejected at the recycling facility. For example, someone once tried to dispose of a whole massive tin of cooking oil via a communal recycling bin. This burst inside the compacter in the vehicle and… well, you can imagine the mess. A similar thing happened when a resident tried to dispose of a bottle of engine oil. Not good!

Kind regards,
Josh Lambe
Mole Valley District Council
01306 879118

Leach Grove Wood

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Can you help Leach Grove Wood?


In the early 1980’s, SCC decided to sell this wood for housing. A group of residents fought for the woods  and won. In 1993, SCC transferred the wood back to the NHS. It has strategic open plan classification, but this does not ensure it’s safety, so I am applying for Village Green Status, (supported by the LRA),  to safeguard  the wood for future generations.

Many birds and animals are seen here,  including song  and mistle thrush, coal tits, field mice and bats. Village Green Status would ensure that the land would remain open and unbuilt on. 
If you, family, or friends have used Leach Grove Wood, (behind Leatherhead hospital) whilst living in Leatherhead, at any time in the last 20 years, would you fill out a simple  ‘Evidence of Use’ form? My application is in  and accepted. I need 340 more forms by May 1st . For forms :


Flip

Leatherhead Tip Delays

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The Leatherhead Community Recycling Centre at Randalls Road in Leatherhead was closed from 9 January by Surrey County Council for improvement works. Following delays the work is now not expected to be complete until November. The nearest alternative tip is at Blenheim Road in Epsom.

More details..

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/environment-housing-and-planning/waste-and-recycling/where-to-take-your-waste-and-recycling/community-recycling-centres/leatherhead-community-recycling-centre-and-transfer-station

Please Help Save Teazle Wood

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As many will know, contracts have been signed. Grateful thanks to all Friends of Teazle Wood who have generously donated or pledged.

Whilst the largest piece of land is secure, £90,000 is still needed for the smaller piece of the wood. (If most of the people of Leatherhead donated £9, this amount would be met!) We have until July 31st to secure this.


All donations welcome. Could you please pass this on to anyone who may be able to help.

Why save Teazle Wood?:
• Last sizable block of woodland in Leatherhead teaming with wildlife • It forms a wildlife corridor between Bookham and Ashtead • Is a well loved green space for people of Leatherhead • Is a proven educational resource for local people and schools
• Has therapeutic value for Combat Stress and Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation • it has historical and archaeological significance • it is the home of many rare and endangered species • After being neglected for years it deserves the gentle management that numerous
groups would love to give it

Please send cheques now payable to: “Friends of Teazle Wood” to Lucy Quinnell, Rowhurst Forge, Oxshott Rd, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0EN.
Please include name: address, telephone number, e- mail, & whether you would like to remain anonymous or whether you are happy to be named (amounts will not be disclosed unless you’d like. Receipts will be given) To follow on facebook: Friends of Teazle Wood

Surrey Reuse Network furniture reuse campaign

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Surrey County Council will be launching the Surrey Reuse Network furniture reuse campaign next week which aims to increase the amount of furniture and white goods that are reused, aiming to divert 2,000 tonnes going into landfill.

The Surrey Reuse Network offers a wide range of good quality items at affordable prices. Made up of a group of six charities, the network aims to find new homes for donated furniture and kitchen appliances, as well as offering training and employment opportunities and helping local families in need. Buying reusable furniture and kitchen appliances is great value, good for the environment and hidden treasures may be found.

Visit www.surreyreusenetwork.org.uk to see what sort of information Surrey Reuse Network are communicating.

Open Committee Meeting Monday, 5th December Leatherhead Institute 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm

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Agenda (7.30 pm – approx. 8.15 pm)

1. Apologies for absence.

2. Minutes of the 7th November.

3. Matters arising from Minutes (not covered later in the agenda)

4. Correspondence (None received so far)

5. To receive and consider reports from:

6. Any Other Business (None received so far)

The formal meeting will be followed by an informal session with mulled wine or soft drink, mince pies and other seasonal nibbles.
________________________________________

(The South Leatherhead Police Panel will be held in the same room earlier in the evening from 6.45 pm to 7.15 pm;
there is no North Leatherhead Police Panel this month)