This year`s Action Mesothelioma Day has now taken place.
I posted short articles on some of the events that took place around the country earlier today at http://bookshelvesandbrownale.blogspot.com and http://webdub.blogspot.com. If you would like more information about the day, please contact either Liz Darlison or Tracey Heseltine at www.mesothelioma.uk.com.
I had intended to post a fourth bulletin on the subject of AMD on this blog before it happened, but with one thing and another it didn`t get done.
Slightly belatedly, I will just now mention a couple of sources that I`d intended to highlight in that bulletin.
One is a report on asbestos in schools from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Health and Safety. As you might know, APPG`s are informal groupings of MPs usually from the Con,Lab and LibDem parties who share an interest in a particular issue or subject.
Although the APPGOHS has close links with the trade union movement, if you thought it was Labour-dominated you`d be wrong - as far as I can see, it is divided evenly between Labour and Coalition MPs.
The report can be found here ;
www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/2/1/asbestos_in_schools_booklet_lo_res.pdf
The other couple of items I`d wanted to mention are here ;
www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos
www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm
As I`ve said before, anything anyone can do to help publicise the issues surrounding asbestos, by means of blogs and social networking sites would be very much appreciated.
Monday, 23 July 2012
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Hoonaloon Books July 2012
Just to let you know, the latest Hoonaloon Books Newsletter is online and can be viewed at http://hoonaloon.blogspot.com.
As mentioned previously, the current Hoonaloon Books Sale is already underway, and ends on 27 July 2012.
Respect the Book !
Monday, 2 July 2012
Hoonaloon Books Sale July 2012
Once again, I need to introduce a note of sordid commerce into the proceedings !
The latest Hoonaloon Books sale is already underway and runs from 1 July 2012 - 27 July 2012.
During that time, all the items we have on sale via ABE (roughly 4,000 titles) will be discounted by 25%.
The prices shown for our stock on ABE sites have already been adjusted automatically so all you need to do is choose your books and place your order.
Any questions, just ask.
Happy shopping !
Nick & Ann-Marie
Hoonaloon Books
P.S. While you await the next newsletter, here are some of our `forthcoming attractions`. These aren`t showing up online as yet, but should appear within 24 hours.
The latest Hoonaloon Books sale is already underway and runs from 1 July 2012 - 27 July 2012.
During that time, all the items we have on sale via ABE (roughly 4,000 titles) will be discounted by 25%.
The prices shown for our stock on ABE sites have already been adjusted automatically so all you need to do is choose your books and place your order.
Any questions, just ask.
Happy shopping !
Nick & Ann-Marie
Hoonaloon Books
P.S. While you await the next newsletter, here are some of our `forthcoming attractions`. These aren`t showing up online as yet, but should appear within 24 hours.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Butterflies and Brownfields
We often assume that housing and other developments should take place on brownfield sites in order to relieve the pressure on green belt land and open spaces.
Sometimes that`s right, but look a little deeper and you soon start to think, as the song says, "it ain`t necessarily so".
Brownfield sites can be something of a lifeline for rare and endangered insects and invertebrates.
As I understand it, there are two main reasons for this ;
One is that changes to agriculture and the countryside mean that some species no longer prosper in rural areas where they used to be common.
The other is that the wildflowers that some species feed on can actually do quite well in an arid environment (because they have a chance to thrive without competition from more vigorous plant types which rely on richer soil).
The organisation Butterfly Conservation points out that "low nutrient, thin or contaminated soils, with areas of bare and uneven ground...can provide a habitat with an abundance of nectar-rich wildflowers and foodplants" but notes that "these are the type of sites often overlooked for their wildlife value and are often ear-marked for development or landscaping."
All is not lost, however, and they also state that current legislation and planning guidance means that "developers and planners can no longer ignore brownfield invertebrates."
Fortunately, they have found that "brownfield wildlife can co-exist with industry and regeneration."
I believe that the Wildlife Trusts* provide some information and advice on this, but for now we will return to Butterfly Conservation who are running a Butterflies and Brownfields Project which focuses on former industrial sites such as quarries, railway lines, former collieries, demolition sites and former landfill sites.
Two leaflets of theirs, `Brownfields for Butterflies` and `Butterflies in Towns and Cities` can be downloaded from their site.
Butterfly Conservation can be found at www.butterfly-conservation.org .
*see www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/habitats/brownfield
Sometimes that`s right, but look a little deeper and you soon start to think, as the song says, "it ain`t necessarily so".
Brownfield sites can be something of a lifeline for rare and endangered insects and invertebrates.
As I understand it, there are two main reasons for this ;
One is that changes to agriculture and the countryside mean that some species no longer prosper in rural areas where they used to be common.
The other is that the wildflowers that some species feed on can actually do quite well in an arid environment (because they have a chance to thrive without competition from more vigorous plant types which rely on richer soil).
The organisation Butterfly Conservation points out that "low nutrient, thin or contaminated soils, with areas of bare and uneven ground...can provide a habitat with an abundance of nectar-rich wildflowers and foodplants" but notes that "these are the type of sites often overlooked for their wildlife value and are often ear-marked for development or landscaping."
All is not lost, however, and they also state that current legislation and planning guidance means that "developers and planners can no longer ignore brownfield invertebrates."
Fortunately, they have found that "brownfield wildlife can co-exist with industry and regeneration."
I believe that the Wildlife Trusts* provide some information and advice on this, but for now we will return to Butterfly Conservation who are running a Butterflies and Brownfields Project which focuses on former industrial sites such as quarries, railway lines, former collieries, demolition sites and former landfill sites.
Two leaflets of theirs, `Brownfields for Butterflies` and `Butterflies in Towns and Cities` can be downloaded from their site.
Butterfly Conservation can be found at www.butterfly-conservation.org .
*see www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/habitats/brownfield
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Annesley Community Committed to Ensuring Sustainable Settlements (ACCESS)
Here`s an extract from an article written by a member of the Ramblers* recently concerning Oak Wood at Annesley in North Notts recently ;
"Last November, Taylor Wimpey acquired the wood from the Forestry Commission. However, their intention was not to leave the wood as it stood...Instead, a planning application was made for a large soak-away** which will waterlog part of the area and require the removal of a large number of trees, thus destroying its` wildlife.
The first application was turned down but a revised scheme has now been submitted.
Local residents have got together to fight and save the wood : they have claimed several paths in it, applied for tree protection orders, and tasked a professional to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment.
This is an excellent example of why our woods should not be sold off."
Chris Thompson - Saving our Woods and Forests, Area Footpath Secretary`s Report, Nottinghamshire Walker, Spring/Summer 2012.
A quick search shows up that the area in question is also known as Little Oak Plantation, Little Oak Woods and/or Bluebell Woods and that the local people mentioned by Mr T are in fact ACCESS (Annesley Community Committed to Ensuring Sustainable Settlements), a well-respected local group with some experience in these matters.
The group appear to have no website, but I have found some articles online that may be of interest. The most recent is ;
Unsigned - Campaigners Fight to Save Woods - www.chad.co.uk , 11 April 2012
And these two may be of interest for background ;
Unsigned - Campaign to Save Ancient Woodland - www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk, 17 Nov 2011
Unsigned - Annesley Residents Call for Woodland to be Protected - www.chad.co.uk, 2 Nov 2011
Articles on the group`s other activities have appeared in The Chad from time to time if anyone wants to seek them out. Surprisingly, there seems to be little or nothing online from group members themselves (unless I`ve missed it !).
For want of a better way to end the article, here`s another picture of Reggie the Hedgehog.
* For more on the Ramblers see www.ramblers.org.uk and/or www.walkmag.co.uk/news .
** Taylor Wimpey have plans to build on land adjacent to the wood, hence their desire for a `soak way`.
Friday, 22 June 2012
Action Mesthelioma Day 6 July 2012 #3
During the run-up to Action Mesothelioma Day, I want to do as much as I can to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos.
For the third of this year`s postings on the subect, I`d like to draw your attention to the British Lung Foundation`s Take 5 and Stay Alive campaign.
Details can be found here ;
www.take5andstayalive.com
For more links and information about this year`s event, please see my previous articles on the subject. Over the last three years, I`ve posted regularly on this subject on this blog and also at http://bookshelvesandbrownale.blogspot.com. Cheers.
For the third of this year`s postings on the subect, I`d like to draw your attention to the British Lung Foundation`s Take 5 and Stay Alive campaign.
Details can be found here ;
www.take5andstayalive.com
For more links and information about this year`s event, please see my previous articles on the subject. Over the last three years, I`ve posted regularly on this subject on this blog and also at http://bookshelvesandbrownale.blogspot.com. Cheers.
Monday, 18 June 2012
Bradford Odeon
Bradford Odeon closed as a cinema in the year 2000.
Planning permission for demolition of the building was granted in November 2001 but the building is still (thankfully) standing, due in large part to campaigning by the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, a group whose aims are shared by Bradford Civic Society and the Theatres Trust.
There have been various changes of ownership of the Odeon during the period in question, which makes the recent history of the building a rather confusing saga. However, an important point to note is that, despite earlier claims to the contrary, a structural survey in June 2008 found no major defects. Internal photos taken by `urban explorers` during the period 2006 - 2008 show a building in a state of neglect as one would expect but also highlight many features that to my mind would be worthy of preservation.
I`m planning to ask the BORG if I can use a couple of pictures from their site to illustrate this article, but in the meantime, here are the websites of the relevant groups ;
www.bradfordodeonrescuegroup.co.uk
www.bradfordcivicsociety.co.uk
www.theatrestrust.org.uk
...and here are details of a recent newspaper article ;
Jane Merrick, Elsa Nightingale - Hockney Joins Battle to Save Derelict Cinema, 20 May 2012 at www.independent.co.uk
Planning permission for demolition of the building was granted in November 2001 but the building is still (thankfully) standing, due in large part to campaigning by the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, a group whose aims are shared by Bradford Civic Society and the Theatres Trust.
There have been various changes of ownership of the Odeon during the period in question, which makes the recent history of the building a rather confusing saga. However, an important point to note is that, despite earlier claims to the contrary, a structural survey in June 2008 found no major defects. Internal photos taken by `urban explorers` during the period 2006 - 2008 show a building in a state of neglect as one would expect but also highlight many features that to my mind would be worthy of preservation.
I`m planning to ask the BORG if I can use a couple of pictures from their site to illustrate this article, but in the meantime, here are the websites of the relevant groups ;
www.bradfordodeonrescuegroup.co.uk
www.bradfordcivicsociety.co.uk
www.theatrestrust.org.uk
...and here are details of a recent newspaper article ;
Jane Merrick, Elsa Nightingale - Hockney Joins Battle to Save Derelict Cinema, 20 May 2012 at www.independent.co.uk
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