Welcome to Eastleigh Transition Network

Transition is a community-led response to pressures of climate change, fossil fuel depletion and increasingly, economic stagnation. It all starts off when a small collection of motivated individuals within a community come together.

Eastleigh Transition Network aims to support everyone living or working in the Borough of Eastleigh to plan for a ‘transition’ from our current total dependency on fossil fuels – to support our local economies and move towards a more viable and sustainable future.  This includes supporting our local producers and businesses.

Please take some time to view the list of our current groups that you may be interested in. If you are interested in starting a group or would like to contact us at all, please email info@etnet.org.uk

To view our current events, plus other events happening around the area, visit the Events page.

If you’d like to be part of our mailing list and receive emails about what’s going on, you can sign up here: ETNet Mailing List

Wednesday 20th June 7 – 9pm

Fair Oak Room, WELLS PLACE CENTRE, Wells Place, Eastleigh SO50 5LJ

AGENDA

1. Apologies
2. Welcome and Introduction
3. Minutes of 2011 AGM
4. Chairs Report
5. Treasurers Report
6. Eastleigh Transition Network Community Interest Compan
7. Highbridge Farm Community Project, Celebrating Success, Andrew Ross
8. Close of meeting and refreshments

ETNet and Transition Southampton have teamed up with Cyclewise and local resident Martin Davis, to run a community bike ride through Hamble and Netley, showcasing local farm shops. The reason for this is that there is the huge Bursledon Tesco, but just around the corner are three fantastic local and independent farm shops, selling delicious local produce. On this cycle ride we aim to visit these three shops, allow time for some small shopping, and then hopefully (if the weather’s nice), go for a picnic along the coast of Hamble/Netley. So if you like cycling and also enjoy local, fresh food, join us on Sunday May 27th. Meet at Woolston station (Garton Road, Southampton, SO19 2DJ) at 9.45am, leaving at 10am. If you are driving there with bikes on the car, there is free parking at the station. You must reserve your space on this ride, so please book your place here.

On Monday 7th May, Transition Chandlers Ford and Eastleigh Transition Network had a stall at the Fryern Funtasia festival. Our stall was themed around bees and we were putting the message out about how important bees are to us – if we lost them, we’d be without a lot of our food we have now.

On the stall we gave away free leaflets, wildflower seeds, and solitary bee nests (made out of drain pipes collected from Highbridge Community Farm, along with dried hollow stems from local hedgerows and cut down garden canes to fill the pipes). We also had Hampshire Honey tasting! Many thanks to The Co-Operative for the seeds and thanks to Friends of the Earth for the leaflets.

We also gave away colourful posters listing bee-friendly plants and for the children there were fluffy bees, also donated by The Co-operative.

Despite the miserable rainy start, it soon brightened up and hundreds of people attended! We managed to give away all leaflets, seeds, bee nests and fluffy bees! A great day had by all!

The new facility can produce 216m lengths of serviceable rail, recycled from used rail removed from around the railway. The recycled lengths are up to 70% cheaper than new rail and can be safely used on low volume and rural routes.

The depot first opened in 2001 to weld new 108m rail into 216m lengths ready for renewing track. The recent upgrade means it can now produce up to 10,000 tonnes of 216m recycled serviceable rail – around 8% of the total rail required every year. This is alongside 50,000 tonnes of new rail produced at Eastleigh every year.

Network rail explained:

“When we replace old rail, we inspect it to assess how much we can reuse. We then thoroughly test it before we process it at the Eastleigh depot. We remove all rail that is not suitable for reuse, and then weld the remaining rail together to form 216m lengths.”

Martin Elwood, a Director said:

“Recycling old rail into serviceable rail which can be used elsewhere on the railway reduces the volume of rail which is scrapped and the amount of new steel used by Network Rail, both of which save money and are better for the environment. Network Rail is committed to reducing costs and this is the latest initiative which is helping the railway become a more efficient industry.”

Tea, coffee and biscuits provided, bring a packed lunch if you’re staying all day. Gloves and equipment will be provided. Wear suitable outdoor clothes, including long trousers and sleeves, and sturdy footwear – wellies if you have them.

Please let BTCV know if you’ll be attending: call 02380 402 593 or email eastleigh-projects@btcv.org.uk.

James explained that some of the measures can be very expensive for people to install in their homes, which then lead onto The Green Deal. The Green Deal is a Government iniative set to launch later this year which will help homeowners install these measures without a big upfront cost. The cost of these will be put into the electricity bill. An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) explains the steps the homeowner needs to put in place which are covered by The Green Deal, providing helpful figures on just how much they can save.

There was big stress on getting initial measures implemented BEFORE The Green Deal comes in, such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. This can be obtained FREE of charge if you live within Eastleigh Borough. Visit Insulate Hampshire for more information.

There was a great turnout and audience members left leaving happy and informed. James and Alison are interested in developing their talk to be used in other towns across Eastleigh Borough. They can also conduct an energy survey of your home. If you wish to get in touch with them their email is jhgj@hotmail.co.uk.

Photo: ©2012 Stuart Allen. All Rights Reserved
Left: Guy Partleton of Bicycle Recycling checks over bikes at Chandlers Ford Railway Station

PEOPLE are out on their bicycles on roads around Chandlers Ford knowing they are in tip-top condition following a free bike check up event at Chandlers Ford Station on Saturday 28 April.

Transition Chandlers Ford teamed up with Bicycle Recycling and the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership to offer a bike doctor session and were delighted by the number of people who brought their bikes out for a “MOT”.

The team set up in the station’s car park to offer the free service to rail passengers and members of the general public.

Guy Partleton from Bicycle Recycling, a not-for-profit bicycle recycling organisation based in Eastleigh, was on hand to offer bike maintenance advice, undertake basic repairs and give cyclists the confidence that their bikes are safe.

Chairman of Transition Chandlers Ford, Greg Hewitt said: “It is great that despite the miserable weather, so many people made the most of the Bike Doctor and can now ride their bikes in the knowledge that they have been fully and professionally maintaned.”

Owing to this success, the Bike Dr looks likely to return to Chandlers Ford Station on a regular monthly Saturday basis. Discussions are currently in place as to when this can start, but details will be advertised when known.

For further information about this event please contact:

Greg Hewitt, Transition Chandlers Ford on transitionchandlersford@etnet.org.uk

Guy Partleton, Bicycle Recycling on contact@bicyclerecycling.co.uk

Mark Miller, Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership on markmiller10@tiscali.co.uk