In the summer holidays I visited Freiburg’s latest car-free, low-energy development, the ‘Quartier Vauban’ (http://www.vauban.de/info/abstract.html). Homes there must at least meet low-energy standard, but many exceed that and are ‘Passivhaus’ (zero energy) or ‘Plus-Energie-Haus’ (houses that feed more electricity into the grid than they draw). There is a huge variety of terraced houses and blocks of flats, with communal gardens and playgrounds between them. A tram line and cycling paths connect Vauban with the city centre and other parts of Freiburg, but there is only short-stay parking for deliveries etc. Residents who own a car are obliged to leave it in a car park outside of the development - at considerable expense. There are attractive small shops with organic food, second-hand clothing etc. along the tram corridor, and a large organic supermarket on the edge of Vauban. All in all, a truly sustainable development which is also extremely pleasant to live in!

Why do new developments in Merton still look like Lego-brick houses, with parking for two cars a standard feature of even the tiniest hut? Why don’t we use CHP and solar? Why not have small quality food shops near people’s homes rather than a Burger King, Pizza Hut and a Sainsbury’s housed in ugly sheds behind vast car parks at the edge of a development? Shouldn’t we rather follow Freiburg’s example, than turn Merton into another Croydon? Sutton has BedZed - would it be possible to persuade Merton council to try something similar?

But on reflection, I wonder if this isn’t a wrong turning. Organisations like ARC are dependant on substantial community funding from various sources. Ultimately they only exist because of the profits generated by the normal high-growth, throw-away economy.

But isn’t it good that the regular economy subsidises this green project? No! Because as long as we have some green projects run on subsidies, it means that green employment can never become a ‘normal’ part of economic life. Suppose an individual wants to make their living renovating goods - how can they compete against a massively subsidised business like ARC?
We have learnt this when it comes to overseas aid. The west used to think it was doing the third world a favour when it dumped its surplus food there - but now we realise this only destroys local producers and creates a permanent dependency culture.

If we are really going to build a sustainable Merton we need to change the ground rules. We cannot do this while living off un-sustainable Merton’s charity.

· Naomi Al-Seffar

Attended the original meeting for a new group to be set up in London. Particularly interested in growing food in a confined area. Would like to be involved and then perhaps initiate something in Northwest London based on the experience with this group.

· Tim Gundry-White

Set up Spa Hill Organic Gardening Group (SHOGG) which was looking at getting started on organic growing and getting a standard agreed with Soil Association for the allotment site as a whole that could perhaps be an intermediate or “in conversion” type equivalent. The group still runs and has funding to run training courses and also does outreach work into schools. Contact: http://www.spahill.org and the London allotment website

· Auriel Glanville

FOE co-ordinator in Wimbledon. Currently involved in setting up Farmers’ Market in Raynes Park with Dave Bescovani. Runs a co-operative allotment – concerned about regulation of allotments and interested in approaching Merton for keyholder concept. Would also be interested in conducting an allotment audit.

· Erica Bower

Ecologist freelance writer and photographer on environmental educational materials, just published in a bestseller called Slice of Organic Life which has reached the top 10 in the gardening section of Waterstone’s! Based in Richmond, interested in general education of public and is an allotment-holder.

· John Barker

Organic gardener for last 18yrs runs allotment and looking into introducing bee-keeping on the allotment. Also involved in Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and wants to work with organic breweries on the dual issue of waste/compost.

· Tom Walsh

Co-organiser of Sustainable Merton info@sustainablemerton.org.uk with Mike Dees (below) which has an umbrella role for drawing together groups which want to promote the message of sustainability. Currently has funding from the Community Champions Fund http://www.dfes.gov.uk/communitychampions and is currently sorting out housing of the group in the grounds of Mordern Hall Park, a National Trust property. Interested in the education of adults and children, has been eco-schools officer and is particularly interested in taking forward projects in schools on growing, waste and connection with the Earth and where food comes from.

· Seb Mayfield

Set up Food Up Front following his experience of growing food successfully on a third floor flat’s limited balcony and the idea taking off! Now supplies about 30 people with advice, container statrer packs across Wandsworth and Lambeth and has even appeared recently on BBC2’s programme covering the Hampton Court Flower Show. Funding for his project came from Unltd http://www.foodupfront.org

· Corinne Gautier-Capes

Keen on allotment growing and producing local food. Also has connections with sustainable merton (above).

· Mike Dees

Co-organiser with Tom Walsh of sustainable merton (see above). Interested in growing food locally and explained about the food event which is planned for September/ October which this group could carry forward. Interested in getting food projects off the ground that will help Merton to source its food more locally, this could include community supported agriculture, community allotments, local box schemes, community composting, Seb’s project and many others. Has a contact at the Croydon Food Forum which is another thing we could set up in Merton. Also Sustainable Merton is holding a food event to encourage people to get involved in setting up projects

· Tom Palmer

Member of Enhance for London. Primarily interested in food recycling and food waste.

· Belinda Thomas

Became co-ordinator of this group after person intiating it moved! Member of Merton Parents for better food in schools http://www.mertonparents.co.uk and recently involved with sustainable merton. Interested in all aspects mentioned in the letter which was sent out but most importantly involving schools in food growing and producing, waste and recycling and food education. Also keen to build up network and look at food co-operatives where we could purchase as a group in bulk and reduce the cost.

*

The meeting decided that it would be a good idea to focus, as a first project, on getting something together for the Sustainable Merton food project event. It is hoped this could take place in September or October and that harvest festival time might be an appropriate time for this.

One of the group who was unable to attend the meeting, Martin Lam, is a chef at Ransome’s Dock and has kindly offered to host something for the group there. Belinda agreed to get in touch with him to see whether we could perhaps take up this offer to have this as the venue for our next meeting which could be used to plan the above event.

Finally there is a meeting of local group co-ordinators during the Soil Association festival in Bristol on the 1st September. Belinda has said that she will go but the SA are offering reasonable travel and overnight expenses plus entry to the festival for two people per group. If anyone is interested in attending this please let Belinda know asap.

email info@sustainablemerton.org.uk for more info

Main points discussed at the meeting:

 It was confirmed that the initiative will start with the implementation of the plastic bag free zone in Wimbledon Park due to the benefits presented by that area (refer to document “Notes_ Bag Free Zone 03 07 07)”. Therefore research and preparation will be focused on that area initially.

 It was agreed that at present the initiative will not include Pollards Hill or any other area in Merton so as to focus all necessary resources in one area.

 The group also agreed that Borough-wide research and assessment exercises will take place while the Wimbledon Park pilot is in place, in order to work towards gradual expansion of the plastic bag free initiatives.

 It was agreed that Mariana will coordinate the Working Group, to be formed ideally of as many committed people as possible so as to count on the necessary support to carry out the necessary tasks and to add weight to the initiative.

 The group at the meeting agreed that Tom, and more widely Sustainable Merton, will provide a key supporting/overseeing role to strengthen this initiative, in line with Sustainable Merton’s aim to play such a role with the various other projects identified through its forum.

 It was agreed that Tom would make initial contact with the Co-operative Shop in Wimbledon Park (which he had already done), and that he would also initiate contact with:
 Wimbledon Park Primary School;
 Bishop Guilpin Primary School;
 Havana Road Farmers’ Market.

 Tom will write the various letters aimed at the different target groups: retailers, local schools and organisations, local residents, etc.

 Auriel informed the meeting of her work in progress building a portfolio of pictures and images conveying clear messages on the devastation to wildlife and the environment caused by plastic bags. She envisaged the portfolio as a very practical way to convey clear messages to our target audiences, incl. retailers, local residents and local organisations.

 It was agreed that the Portfolio is an excellent tool. The other visual tool that we aim to utilise is footage, such as “Message in the Waves”, to be shown in local schools and other local community venues.

 We also agreed to try to organise screenings of Message in the Waves and other relevant footage, in local schools on Saturdays, to enable parents to attend while their children attend a screening of a children’s film at the same time.

 In order to increase the profile of the initiative, the group will seek to use marketing tools such as:
 Display of initiative in participating shop windows;
 Bags to be printed with initiative’s logo/heading and with the logos of participating shops.

 Mariana suggested headings such as: “Partnership for Wimbledon Park’s Community and Environment” and asked for suggestions from others.

 Tom pointed out the importance and effectiveness of the “Do your bit” message to residents.

 Financing of bags: various options still being explored. Tom suggested that traders donate bags to our group. No final decision yet taken, as traders may be very willing to bear cost of bags if their logos will be printed on them.

 Types of bags: various options still being explored. Jute bag companies and cotton bag companies top of the list.

 Target groups for Wimbledon Park:
 Schools
 Businesses
 Local residents’ association
 Local Churches/Mosque
 Local organisations
 Local press/media

 At the meeting there was also agreement that we need to bring the public with us rather than use coercive methods, as a more constructive and effective way of working with others.

 Finally ,it was also agreed that we shall not expect Merton council to finance the Wimbledon Park scheme, but that expansion of the scheme beyond Wimbledon Park would entail asking the council for a financial commitment.

On the evening of 3 July Sustainable Merton’s Michael Dees and Tom Walsh , along with Mariana Cervantes-Burchell of Kingston and Merton Real Nappy Network, presented a plan to initiate a plastic bag free zone initiative (“plagfree”) in Merton. Members of the audience were invited to take part in this initiative and a working table was created following a number of presentations.

Prior to setting up the working table, Tom and Mariana held a brief meeting, during which they agreed that the “Plagfree” initiative should start small-scale, i.e. through the introduction of a pilot in a small area. Tom suggested, and Mariana agreed, to start with the small shopping parade at the bottom of Arthur Road, in Wimbledon Park (SW19). The advantages of choosing such an area were identified as follows:

 The parade counts with a Co-operative shop as its largest retailer, and this shop provides an excellent prospect to work with Plagfree and to provide alternative types of bags to its customers. Indeed, Tom had approached its Manager, who appeared very interested in taking part.

 Other key potential partners were identified: Wimbledon Park Primary School, which has been recognised as being among the top 3 schools in the country for good environmental practice. And the Havana Road Farmers’ Market.

 The shopping parade is quite small, and in an affluent area. This presents us with (a) a manageable size to introduce the scheme; and (b) a target group that financially and socially should be sufficiently stable to be able to accept some changes to their shopping habits as a commitment to the environment – and the planet!

The working table itself was very well attended, with 11 participants, most of whom provided their views and appeared very interested in developing this project. The working table was formed of the following people:
Andrew Beattie; Margaret Groves; Alison Wallace; Auriel Glanville; Ruth Baber; Harriet Bazley; Gavin Watts; John White; Tom Wright (East London resident pursuing East London plastic bag free initiative); Bellinda Thomas and Mariana.

Mariana put forward the proposal of starting with a pilot. She explained the benefits of starting in Wimbledon Park, which received good response overall from others around the table. Mariana also suggested the possibility of doing a pilot in a deprived area such as Pollards Hill. These suggestions were followed by input from various people around the table, including:

 The need to assess the plastic bag needs of retailers (e.g. size, style, weight capacity);
 Use Bags for Life as advertising of Plagfree – through printed messages on the bags and shops displaying Plagfree symbol on their windows, etc.
 Start as pilot with only a few shops;
 Look at the Ireland model and see what we can take from it;
 Start a public petition demanding an end to plastic bags;
 Get retailers on board by getting them into a competitive mode with each other on the adoption of Plagfree;
 Public response: is it a question of demographics, i.e. high income vis-à-vis low income groups’ uptake of Plagfree;
 Ending plastic bag use: is it responsible of retailers to do so given they may be undermining the needs of their customers?
 Project must be do-able, i.e. easy;
 Show film footage;
 Organise a trip to Modbury – field work, i.e. interview local residents and shops; do shopping; observation.
 Need to pursue useful contacts – e.g Bellinda Thomas may have some;
 Need to agree on bag design;
 Need to look at sourcing of bags for life.

At the end of the meeting all participants provided contact details and a date was set for the next meeting to take place on Tuesday 14 August at 19:00 – venue to be arranged by Mariana.