Bilsthorpe R.A.G.E (Residents against Gasification Experiment)
GAP Plumbing & Heating come from a former mining village in the north of Nottinghamshire. Bilsthorpe is a pleasant village in the heart of the countryside, but someone, somewhere has decided that Bilsthorpe will be the target for any eyesore, pong, experiment, noise etc. that is proposed for the locality. The village has already had the landfill and the wind turbines and now the latest proposal for this countryside village is a multi-million pound incinerator or, as the developers Peel Environmental refer to it, a Gasification Experiment to be constructed on the former colliery site.
Peel Environmental states that the incinerator will provide 46 jobs. Locals believe that this promise of jobs is simply to win favour with the planners, that the jobs will not be offered to the people of Bilsthorpe, but an experienced workforce will be brought in from other areas.
The residents of Bilsthorpe are understandably extremely concerned and have formed an action group called R.A.G.E (Residents against Gasification Experiment) www.bilsthorpe.com. R.A.G.E have decided to hold regular meetings to prepare a campaign to bring the community of Bilsthorpe and surrounding villages together to oppose the incinerator. The proposed incinerator will have 200 foot chimneys with the fumes and gases travelling much further, affecting towns and villages in a wide radius.
Local representatives Mark Spencer MP, Cllr Bruce Laughton and Cllr John Peck are totally opposed to this plant being built in Bilsthorpe.
R.A.G.E is totally opposed to the Gasification Experiment. Why?
The increased risk of cancer and respiratory disease through exposure to mercury and dioxins. These toxins are persistent and bioaccumulative, they resist breakdown in the environment and are concentrated in the food chain.
The waste gasification adds both directly and indirectly to the build-up of greenhouse gasses in the earth’s atmosphere.
Many of the materials that provide the best fuel for a gasification facility are the sorts of things most easily reused, recycled and composted. This facility takes us in the wrong direction requiring us to feed it 120,000 tonnes of waste annually.
The next R.A.G.E meeting is on Thursday, 23rd January 2014 at 1845 in the St John Ambulance building on Eakring Road, Bilsthorpe. If you live in the locality, you support is welcomed.
Gas Safety Contacts and Information Sources
by Unknown - 21:43 on 10 January 2014
Gas safety contacts and information sources
Gas safety information
HSE runs a free Gas Safety Advice Line offering information on gas safety that is open between 9.00am and 5 .30 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 5.00pm on Friday (excluding bank holidays). To contact the Gas Safety Advice Line freephone 0800 300 363.
National Landlords Associtation (NLA)
The National Landlords Association (NLA) provide a short video on their website regarding general gas safety, landlords duties and CO poisoning.
Product safety advice
The product safety for domestic gas appliances is overseen by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and enforced by the Trading Standards departments of local councils. If you have a concern about the product safety of a gas appliance you should contact ConsumerDirect on 08454 04 05 06 or the Trading Standards Department of your local council
Building Regulations
The installation of all combustion appliances, i.e. gas, oil, wood and coal appliances, is covered by requirements of the Building Regulations. In England, the Building Regulations are overseen by the Department for Communities and Local Government and enforced by the Local Authority Building Control Department of local councils. If you are having a new or replacement appliance installed you should check your responsibilities under the Building Regulations. In Scotland, the building regulations are overseen by the Building Standards Division of Scottish Government with the 32 local authorities having responsibility for enforcement within their own geographical area. For Wales, the Building Regulations are overseen by the Welsh Government . If you are having a new or replacement appliance installed you should check your responsibilities under the appropriate national building regulations.
Specialist advice
Advice on gas safety onboard boats can be found on the Boat Safety Scheme website.
Advice on gas safety in caravans can be found on the National Caravan Council website
Support for vulnerable consumers
Help with ensuring the safety of your gas appliances is available through the Priority Services Register. If you are of pensionable age, have a disability or are eligible for certain benefits you may qualify to become a member of the Priority Services Register.
If you think you may be eligible you should contact your gas supplier (the company you pay your bills to) for further advice and information.
Financial help with fuel bills
If you are having problems paying your gas bill there are sources of financial help available depending on your circumstances. Further advice and information can be found on the Directgov website .
Energy efficiency
You may be able to get energy efficiency grants and offers to help you make energy saving improvements to your home. These grants and offers come from government, your local council or your energy supplier. Further advice and information can be found on the Directgov website - Energy Efficiency grants .
Safety of non gas appliances (oil, wood, coal burning appliances) and chimneys
Carbon monoxide can be produced by any combustion appliance, including those that burn fossil fuels eg oil, wood and coal. If you have one of these appliances you should make sure that it is serviced and maintained by a competent person and the chimney is regularly swept. The following organisations offer further sources of advice on the safe use of non gas appliances and chimneys.
HETAS – Offer advice on biomass and solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services.
OFTEC – Offer advice on oil heating and cooking.
Solid Fuel Association - Offer advice on biomass and solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services.
National Association of Chimney Sweeps - Offer advice on professional chimney sweeping, safe operation and maintenance of chimneys, appliances and the installation of flue systems, stainless steel flexible liners and flue terminations.
National Association of Chimney Engineers - Offer advice on chimney lining and lining systems, flue and chimney construction, and the use of chimney components.
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