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New pilot for Transition Streets

Published on: January 26th, 2021

In 2009, we set up Transition Streets, to enable groups of neighbours to come together for a series of meetings to support one another to take action to reduce household carbon emissions. This led to nearly 500 households locally making savings of 1.3 tonnes CO2 per year on average and saving £570. What also emerged from the project was just how supported and connected groups of neighbours felt as a result of taking part, creating friendships and support structures that are still active and every more relevant during the pandemic. Watch this video to find out more about Transition Streets ten years ago!

In recognition of the impacts of the climate emergency and Covid-19, we recognise the potential to breathe new energy into updating Transition Streets to offer a structure for households and the community to develop localised support hubs to catalyse action for long term carbon savings, and at the same time co-creating much needed social support processes and activities as we recover from the pandemic.

Knowing and feeling able to call on neighbours for help with shopping, buying groups, child care, spending time together, being creative are just some of the ways we can support community wellbeing, and Transition Streets offers the tools for groups of neighbours to do just this.

We are working on updating and developing new content to the project materials and will be trialling this during 2021. Our hope is that this project can grow to offer tools and support to many more people in the coming years.

We are looking for community members who are interested in being part of a Transition Streets group. Please contact Myrtle@transitiontowntotnes.org for more information.

TTT is grateful for financial support from the Halleria Trust and Totnes Town Council to make this work possible

Work starts on Transition Homes CLT

Published on: January 13th, 2021

For those of you unfamiliar with our project Transition Homes Community Land Trust is a community housing project which grew out of Transition Town Totnes building and housing group. After many years of work, we have now bought land, received planning permission, and funding to build an environmentally friendly community of homes on 3 acres situated between Totnes and Dartington. The homes will share a community-building, green spaces, food growing, and an orchard. The houses are highly insulated and with a community PV array supplied and managed by local renewable energy company TRESOC.

As for many of us, 2020 was a year of COVID induced delays so it feels great to be finally at this stage where we have a contractor ready to get going on site.

So, all being well, by the time you are reading this we should just be starting infrastructure works on site. Locals may become aware of this due to our having to close one lane of the A385 for these works to take place – so big apologies for any delays caused. We needed to get on with this work in order to take up a government grant which is only available until the end of March, so fingers crossed that has all gone ahead smoothly!

As we discussed at our public meeting back in February last year we are seeking to amend our planning consent to add a few houses that will be sold to cross-subsidise the costs of providing the affordable housing. With these new homes, our affordable housing still constitutes 59% of the total units on-site compared to the 30% required of conventional developers. Due to so many delays, our costs have risen and hence adding a few houses is the simplest way to bring in more funds. The new housing will remain within the original built area hence preserving the communal green spaces and growing areas so important to the project.

There is lots of information on our website for those who are interested in learning more about the project. Some of the detail is a little out of date but the bulk of info is correct and there are drawings and links to our consultations and planning applications and you can download a form if you would like to become a CLT member and show your support for the group.

Devon Climate Emergency- Public Consultation

Published on: January 6th, 2021

Transition Town Totnes is really proud to support the work of Devon County Council in setting up the Devon Climate Emergency response group.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has advised that carbon emissions must reduce globally by at least 45% by 2030 from 2010 levels. There is a chance we can avoid the worst effects of climate change by keeping warming below 1.5 degrees. To achieve this we must be carbon neutral (net-zero) by 2050.

In response, a range of public, private and voluntary organisations from across Devon came together in May 2019 to form the Devon Climate Emergency (DCE) response group, to declare and respond to the climate and ecological emergency. This response group have been working with the Net-Zero Task Force (a group of fifteen experts in areas including renewable energy, transport, and the built environment), and the general public to prepare the Devon Carbon Plan- a collaborative roadmap to create a net-zero Devon where people and nature thrive.

The time has now come for you to offer further thoughts and feedback. Devon residents are asked to take part in the Interim Devon Carbon Plan consultation, which runs until the 15th February 2021. DCE wants to hear your views on key actions that outline some of the transformational changes which are required to create a thriving net-zero Devon. The actions cover a broad range of topics from active travel; air quality; home insulation; diet; clean energy; to improving the natural environment.

Devon Climate Emergency is requesting feedback from Devon’s citizens to indicate to what extent they agree with the proposed actions and give their views on issues that are more controversial or challenging to implement. These controversial issues will be prioritised for discussion at a Citizens’ Assembly to be held in 2021 to ensure the recommendations in the Final Devon Carbon Plan reflect the views of Devon’s citizens. Together, we can create a net-zero Devon where people and nature thrive. Have your say at: www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk/interimcarbonplan

CANCELLED: Incredible Edible Events this January

Published on: December 3rd, 2020

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel all Incredible Edible Events in January due to the current lockdown. Please check the TTT events page after restrictions have eased to see what we're up to.

Bridgetown’s Big Feast – Sat 9th Nov

Published on: October 8th, 2019

Come and enjoy a community meal with your Bridgetown neighbours, feasting on the bounty of local farmers and growers. A chance to get together, share a delicious three-course meal cooked by Food in Community, and talk about your food ideas, inspirations, aspirations and concerns.

Totnes and South Hams offer an abundance of amazing food, much of it locally grown and processed, but we are still vulnerable to external political and environmental pressures – what can we do together to make sure we are food secure and everyone has access to affordable and nutritious food?

The feast will be held at St John’s Church, Bridgetown. This is a fully accessible building, with a lift to help you get upstairs. If you need help getting there, we can arrange this for you (details to follow). There is limited parking on site so please walk/ bicycle/ lift share where possible.

Cooking Workshop for kids 9.45am - 12pm, Sat 9th Nov, St John's Church, Bridgetown (Free, Booking essential via Eventbrite)

Cooking Workshop for adults 9.45am - 12pm, Sat 9th Nov, St John's Church, Bridgetown (Free, Booking essential via Eventbrite)

Big Feast 12.30pm - 2pm, Sat 9th Nov, St John's Church, Bridgetown (Free)

Please note- this event is for Bridgetown residents only. We intend to put on additional events in Follaton and the town centre in the near future though.

This event is brought to you in partnership between Food in Community, Bridgetown Alive!, and Transition Town Totnes

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Transition Town Totnes
Phone: 01803 867358
Email:info@transitiontowntotnes.org
The Mansion 36a Fore St, Totnes, TQ9 5RP
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