Transition Towns website
A number of comments left here over recent months following posts on high petrol prices indicate that in Rhuthun as elsewhere people are concerned about the increasing cost of motoring. But is there *anything* we can do in Rhuthun in the face of the increasing petrol prices?
In the short term, probably not. But in the medium term, it’s said that people are beginning to alter their habits by car sharing, reducing non-essential journeys, and even eventually buying cheaper to run cars. Reports over the weekend suggest that demand for petrol’s down in some areas by 20 per cent.
We’ve said before that this was easier in urban areas, where more often there’s a choice. There’s less of an alternative in Rhuthun, as distances to travel are greater. But does this fatalistic approach mean there’s nothing we can do?
Perhaps Rhuthun and its town council should consider becoming a ‘Transition Town’.
A Transition Town is one that is adopting a transitional model in response to the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change. TTs aim to:
But look at the few TTs in Wales. Llandeilo, Rhaeadr, Presteigne, Lampeter, Bro Dyfi. These are rather similar to Rhuthun’s situation and all are smaller in size. Llandeilo in Sir Gâr/Carmarthenshire, for example, is the closest in population and situation, and one that is about as far from a sub-regional centre (Abertawe/Swansea) and is Rhuthun (Caer/Chester).
Does anyone agree that Rhuthun would be ideal as a TT, because:
A number of comments left here over recent months following posts on high petrol prices indicate that in Rhuthun as elsewhere people are concerned about the increasing cost of motoring. But is there *anything* we can do in Rhuthun in the face of the increasing petrol prices?In the short term, probably not. But in the medium term, it’s said that people are beginning to alter their habits by car sharing, reducing non-essential journeys, and even eventually buying cheaper to run cars. Reports over the weekend suggest that demand for petrol’s down in some areas by 20 per cent.
We’ve said before that this was easier in urban areas, where more often there’s a choice. There’s less of an alternative in Rhuthun, as distances to travel are greater. But does this fatalistic approach mean there’s nothing we can do?
Perhaps Rhuthun and its town council should consider becoming a ‘Transition Town’.
A Transition Town is one that is adopting a transitional model in response to the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change. TTs aim to:
- Increase a town or area’s resilience in the face of the economic chaos promised in years to come as oil prices continue to rise.
- Reduce local carbon emissions in answer to the increasingly pessimistic forecasts for the immediate and longer-term future.
- I would add that TTs might also aim to mitigate the social, environmental and economic costs of rising food prices associated with higher oil & agribusiness payments, and in the face of the increasing international competition for food. It’s a kind of up-to-date Schumacher’s ‘small s beautiful’.
But look at the few TTs in Wales. Llandeilo, Rhaeadr, Presteigne, Lampeter, Bro Dyfi. These are rather similar to Rhuthun’s situation and all are smaller in size. Llandeilo in Sir Gâr/Carmarthenshire, for example, is the closest in population and situation, and one that is about as far from a sub-regional centre (Abertawe/Swansea) and is Rhuthun (Caer/Chester).
Does anyone agree that Rhuthun would be ideal as a TT, because:
- Rhuthun is a small town
- It still has a large number of local services
- Its carbon footprint currently quite high
- Residents value its environment and have demonstrated a concern for the town
- The immediate countryside is said to be productive and is probably self-sufficient in meat raring