Missing duck of Wadhurst.

Transition funding nearly out for a duck.

A luke warm reception was given for Transition initiatives last night at the Parish Council meeting.

It seems that the Wadhurst parish councillors would rather discuss the missing duck than to offer their whole hearted positive support for making their local community more resilient to transition from carbon based society.

Despite some support for the new group;
“This is an organisation worthy of us getting it off the ground...” their actual grasp of how to help Wadhurst to a Transition economy and lifestyle was pretty unedifying.

They do not seem to have grasped the fact that we are all involved in Transition.
That it is not simply the Parish council’s role but moreover its duty to provide not only allotments for residents but also whole hearted support for community initiatives which will give added time to our children to react to the challenges of climate change.

The generally negative attitude was exemplified by one councillor who thought that the group had already spent the money and that were coming to them for help- which he did not think they should give! This patronising attitude was unfortunately widespread amongst them, as was their negative and unenlightened stance to Transition.

But apart from not getting their facts right, the majority of councillors have failed to grasp the real challenges that Transition from carbon based society will mean. The energy saving workshops and practical seed swopping workshops which Transition Wadhurst plan to run locally will offer real and practical help to local residents to shift towards a more resilient society and a community in which more people try to help each other.

Transition seems to be poorly understood by the Parish councillors, who fear it as a militant organisation bringing change. It is not a party political group nor is it affiliated to any political party but wants to involve a whole community. We face challenges. Perhaps I am more militant than other members of Transition and these are my own views.

Transition is a very worthwhile initiative, but only half of the councillors supported it to any significant degree. This is despite the fact that it is in our Parish Plan to support initiatives like this. This is also despite the fact that they have a moral duty to support their local community.

Rotary club Xmas lights, a twinning trip to France and other far “safer options” were given more financial backing and air time than what they saw as “political or controversial issues”; namely, an energy saving workshop run by the Energy Saving Trust and a local food growing/seed swopping workshop initiative.

The Vicar of Dibley springs to mind...Politics at the local level... arcane, negative and befuddled.

The result? Wadhurst PC voted several times with motions to halve the paltry amount requested for the practical workshops to a mere £200, at one point half of the councillors suggesting that they offer only the derisory sum of £100. Some even just a room for the venue or no other help whatsoever. I would expect more from the people I elected to represent me.

Yes, we certainly do seem to have a long way to go to gain true Parish Cpuncil backing.

Transition begins at the individual and local Parish level. But this is precisely the level at which administrators like our parish councillors simply can’t see the wood for the trees. While I think that at a National level we do have braod support, at the local level, the Parish level, we do not. They cannot seem to grasp that this is a cross party movement; nor that it is a positive move towards building community resilience. Nor, can they fully grasp the urgency of the action required. If our future society is to be faced with climate change and fuel poor, we will need to build local resilience into our communities. We will need Parish Councillors whole hearted sipport; we will need them on board. The best way is to start locally.

They would much rather discuss the missing duck, prevent speed limits from being imposed on dangerous roads and dwell on grass clippings’ removal.

Perhaps we should implement some of the 300 + suggestions from the first public meeting of 100 + residents of the village.
All grass verges should be replaced by communal winter salads, beetroots and courgettes.
Safe cycling for 1 mile on every road out from the village.
Zero carbon conversion for all public buildings in the village.

Is this too much to ask?


My own personal view is that perhaps we should start with an educational workshop for our own Parish Councillors to which I would expect every Councillor to turn up.
They have a duty to support and encourage the Transition team to lead the way.