Town’s mid-table place
in the league
of carbon wasters
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON ranks 200 out of 434 local authorities across the UK in a new league table of the nation’s biggest carbon wasters.
This is revealed by research unveiled by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) which, for the first time, compares council areas and provides a model to target householders street-by-street with energy saving advice.
The findings highlight which regions can save the most energy, what can be done and by who – individuals or local authorities.
Householders can now be targeted by EST with information and advice to help them cut home energy consumption, related to the type of property they live in and their individual needs.
EST is an independent organisation providing free, impartial energy advice for all.
The research – which for the first time ranks people living in local authority areas by their household and domestic car emissions – finds that the place with the highest CO2 per household in England is South Buckinghamshire.
Perhaps surprisingly, CO2 per household is the lowest in the City of London.
In Warrington the total number of tonnes of CO2 emissions is 812,061, made up of 499,069 household emissions and 312,689 of vehicle emissions. The borough has 81,322 households, according to EST.
This gives the borough a total emissions index of 109, compared with 145 in South Buckinghamshire and 51 for the City of London.
The figure for Kettering, which at 217 in the league table could be taken as the average, is 106.
The total emissions index for Warrington?s neighbouring authorities are: Wigan and St Helens: 94; Trafford and Halton: 103; Vale Royal: 116; Macclesfield: 126.
EST’s chief executive, Philip Sellwood, said: “This latest Green Barometer report isn’t about singling out local authorities, as each area is unique and has its own challenges and opportunities. We provide help and advice to local authorities and we can now work with them to offer much more tailored energy advice. This wealth of information at our fingertips means householders are more likely to receive the information they need, to act to curb their carbon emissions.
“Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, some local authorities’ overall budgets have been cut. What impact will this have on their household energy efficiency work? One thing’s for sure, a targeted, localised approach is critical for reducing household carbon emissions.”
EST has not only pinpointed the areas of greatest and lowest energy use in the UK but also developed a new way to deliver highly accurate energy reduction solutions for consumers down to individual street level.
Their new research groups people into 10 “segments”, according to the amount of energy used per household, their use of cars and attitudes towards the environment.
The “segmentation” – coupled with an analysis of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs domestic household emissions data estimates combined with the Trust’s data on car emissions – sees EST become the only UK organisation to not only identify problem carbon emitters but also provide the solutions to cut their energy use.
EST has been funded by the Government to roll out a network of one-stop-shop advice centres across England, Wales from April They will provide independent, impartial advice to millions of on energy efficiency, micro-renewables, transport, and water and waste reduction.
The new centres will reach more than three million households a year with advice tailored to where people live and the action that householders can meaningfully achieve.
In addition, EST will advise suppliers and installers of energy efficiency products such as to estate agents. This will enable the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centres to run a complete level of support, at every stage of people’s need, saving any effort and hassle from the homeowner to search out information.
The 10 “segments” are described as follows:
Environmentally mature: Rich, affluent couples living in large detached homes in the suburbs or rural villages.
Comfortable conservatives: Professional people who have established a certain level of stability in their careers and personal lives.
Ethnic Tradition: Asian families and other ethnic groups living in suburban semi-detached houses or industrial terraced housing who place high importance on the family.
Educated Advocates: A mixture of young city centre professionals and educated couples still enjoying a city lifestyle.
Britain Today: A reflection of ‘modern’ Britain – suburban couples strongly influenced by tabloid newspapers and television programmes but an indifferent attitude towards the environment
Financially Burdened: Families with high expenditure on everyday living who are aware of the environment but feel the financial constraints on their day-to-day life restrict what they can do.
Environmentally Indifferent: Poorer families and elderly couples living in council or ex-council accommodation in towns and cities. Their focus is on day-to-day survival rather than environmental issues.
Driving Dependency: Young sharers or couples living in new houses on private estates, who see the car as the only way to get around. They have a “live for now” attitude
Restful Retirement: Elderly couples and widowers who have low energy use, either living independently or in care homes.
EST says the environmentally mature occupy nine per cent of homes, the educated advocates nine per cent, discerning elders five per cent, comfortable conservatives nine per cent, Britain today nine per cent, restful retirement six per cent, driving dependency 10 per cent, financially burdened 11 per cent, ethnic tradition four per cent and environmentally indifferent 28 per cent.
Referees offered chance
to gain extra qualifications
by James Parr
FOOTBALL referees in Warrington are being offered the chance to gain an extra qualification in addition to their existing FA badges.
European governing body for small-sided football, the European Independent Football Federation, are offering training to referees in a bid to expand the base of small-sided football referees nationally.
This means that Warrington’s whistle blowers will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge as well enhancing the town’s small-sided leagues.
Once qualified, the refs will receive a badge for their kit and a certificate detailing their achievements.
Spokesperson for EIFF Olly Hitchcox said: “With more and more small sided leagues taking place it is vital we expand our base in the UK, which seems to be leading the way in five and six-a-side football leagues. We aim to increase knowledge of the specific rules for small-sided football in Britain and work alongside other organisations such as the FA, who principally cater for 11 a-side football.
“All our referees who attend our training programmes are paid a minimum of ?10 per hour and all sessions take place at a local sports centre one evening per week.
“Once inducted and fully trained, referees then have the option of refereeing weekly matches in a local league.”
Any referees interested in the scheme should contact 0870 112 2322 or e-mail [email protected]
Conmen dupe couple
out of money
by staff reporter
POLICE have issued a warning after conmen duped an elderly couple out of money at their home in Gorseywell Lane, Preston Brook near Warrington.
A man went to the couple?s home saying there was a gas leak nearby and he needed water.
While they were distracted, the man got into the house and stole cash.
Police say the offender was in his 30s, about 5ft 8 inches tall and of stocky build. He was wearing a black and white shirt and may have spoken with a Scottish accent.
Mystery of the
“historic” trees
by Lesley Wilkinson
MYSTERIOUS markings claiming trees
at a Warrington beauty spot are of historical significance have appeared.
Brightly coloured ribbons have been tied around many trees around Ackers Pit in Stockton Heath. On one side ribbons are red and on the other black.
Anonymous posters on fences around the site, currently closed for renovation, claim the trees are linked to the Royalists and Roundheads.
Stockton Heath Parish Council owns the site, which is currently fenced off with large signs saying “No Access.”
Clerk Peter Briggs said he had spoken to anglers, parish councillors and those working on the site but no-one knew where the posters and ribbons had come from and no-one was aware of the trees having any particular historical significance.
Scuba gear
puzzle
by James Parr
POLICE in Stockton Heath have been handed scuba diving equipment that was found under a bush in the village.
They believe it could have been stolen from a car as the equipment was in a bag similar to that of a laptop.
Items such as breathing apparatus, a regulator and diving knife was all handed to police by a local resident.
Anyone who believes they are the owner of the equipment should contact the front desk at Stockton Heath Police Station on 01244 612 630.
The items have been clearly checked over and details of all the distinctive features have been recorded, which will help officers ensure the equipment is returned to its rightful owner.
Trading Standards warn
over internet fraud
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE in Warrington should be on their guard against “phishing” according to Trading Standards.
“Phishing” is the term used to describe how fraudsters “fish” for security information on individual bank accounts.
Trading standards is sending out a warning about e-mails that look as if they are from the customer’s bank or building society. They say, for example, that someone might be trying to gain unauthorised access to the account or that the customer has won a bonus from the bank.
The message asks people to disclose security information so that the bank can investigate or so that the bonus can be awarded.
But Trading Standards say people should not give out the information and that banks and building societies would never ask for personal or security details by email.
Coun Roy Smith, the borough council?s executive member for community services said: “I would urge everyone to be on their guard against these attempts at fraud via the Internet.
“It is easy to see how getting a message pretending to be from your bank and advising that someone may be accessing your account could cause people to panic and supply the information requested. The message to residents has to be – stop, think and be sceptical.”
Trading Standards say criminals do not know which bank the email recipient uses. The send the same message to many people, knowing that a percentage will use the bank they name.
Officers advise looking at the bank’s website for advice or contact Trading Standards on 08454 04 05 06.
Police advise on
crime reduction
by James Parr
POLICE officers in Warrington have been out in force offering advice on crime reduction in the build up to Christmas.
Officers joined forces with the borough council?s Community Safety Team and Trading Standards and set up stalls in the town centre to give handy advice to people while doing their festive shopping.
They chatted to shoppers about any issues or concerns, handed out special Ultra-Violet pens so people can mark their property and they also handed out free key rings with small bells on them, which can be attached to a purse so the owner can hear if anyone tries to dip into their bag and take it.
Concern has been growing as over the last few months the number of incidents involving people having their purses snatched, particularly the elderly, have been on the increase.
Police Community Support Officer Matt Kirkham said: “This was all about raising awareness of various issues like theft so people can help themselves become less of a target for opportunist thieves.
“The two days were really successful and lots of people turned up to ask questions and took leaflets away with them about crime reduction advice.”
