Erasmus28

Winchester’s increasing carbon footprint…

Efforts to reduce Winchester’s carbon footprint have failed, according to coordinator of the city’s climate group.

Catrina Pickering of Winchester Action for Climate Change said that the latest figures show that the city’s carbon footprint has increased.

The organisation aims to reach the wealthier residents of Winchester as it has been suggested that they are less sympathetic to the cause of climate change…

Catrina Pickering talks of reaching the people with a higher carbon footprint: [Audio]

A day out at The Great Hall is more ‘like a school trip’ according to locals visiting the Hidden Heroes Trail designed to ‘excite and educate’ children about the city’s history.

Mrs Dance, a mother visiting with three other families said: “The boys were quite disinterested at the start, but they did begin to enjoy it.”

“I think there must be a lot of interest generated by the programmes that are on TV like Merlin and Merlin’s Apprentice. If it had been a school trip then it would have been perfect.”

Gill Clements, one of the trail’s creators said: “For younger children it might be too wordy, but they enjoy looking around the Hall…there has been a lot of interest, it gives children stories to learn, that stretch back over 1000 years.”

Two of the younger visitors said it is “good” but that they would prefer to be playing outside as “it is half-term.”

The Trail takes forty-five minutes and includes reading a detailed 12 page booklet, essential in completing the trail, and doing a test consisting of at least 20 questions about what was read. Whilst finding images of the ‘heroes’ around the Hall.

The trail opened in February and is part of the City’s ‘hero’ theme for 2008 exploring the famous and the lesser known heroes of the area; from King Arthur to William Walker.

This April, Winchester City Council introduces the new way to pay for parking.

The new ‘pay by phone’ system will be tested in 6 of the City’s car parks and will mean parking can be paid for on either credit or debit cards.

The Council’s claim is that time and money will be saved. People will be able to select the time that they want and will have the option to extend their parking time by phone call or text.

The new service is currently being tested in hundreds of car parks around the country.

The facility will be extended to other areas of Winchester if the Council is satisfied with the results.

Council seeks local Ethnic groups.

“There are not many ethnic groups within Winchester which is perhaps something that would be prioritised.” That is the claim by the External Funding Officer.

The City Council launched the Community Chest scheme in April 2004, to make funding more accessible to local groups and to meet their priorities.

Local voluntary, community groups and registered charities can apply for a one-off grant of up to £500, if their activities are going to benefit the residents of Winchester. The Chest holds £10,000 for groups in 2008.

27 organisations benefited from the scheme last year, including the ‘Greenjackets’ Scout group, Winchester Film Society and Winchester Basketball League.

Oliver Golding, Winchester Film Society Publicity Officer said: “Grants allow the staging of film festivals and other cultural events that do not have a hope of getting a public performance as they will not make money… however there’s a strange political anomaly between the County and City Council and that is, that one won’t give unless the other does. Great if you can get them both signed up as we did, but if you can’t, you don’t get any funding.”

The Council also benefits from groups that apply. Bernice Heller, Partnership and External Funding Officer said: “the council has priorities; the grant encourages groups to undertake activities that meet them.”