I have long been impressed bythe reman system of encouraging consumers to make their own contribution to the challenge of global warming.

In Germany there is a system of feed-in tariffs whereby a subsidy is paid to individual households who generate their own electricity by domestic wind-turbine, photovoltaic cells or whatever. This is a payment by kilowatt generated and is paid for by a small levy on all domestic energy bills (whioch amounts to around 20p a week for most households).

The effect of this has been magical. The subsidy means that the economic pay-back period for investing in the kit is reduced to a few years rather than the 20-25 years that some systems would require in the UK. This has led to a massive take-up by households and local communities which in turn has led to an explosion of manufaturing and jobs in the sector leading to big reductions in unit costs.

If ever there was a virtuous circle this is it.

So why is the Government not doing this in the UK? A good idea is just that, a good idea, and we should not turn our backs on it just because it was not invented here.

I was reminded of this by the advert on the back page of the main section of today’s Guardian, where there is an advert by Friends of the Earth extolling the virtues of feed-in tariffs. They point to a web site www.solarplayoff.org where more information is available.

You can also use the site to send an e-mail to our Labour MP encouraging stand up for tougher government action on climate change.

Some Merryoaks residents may well have been surprised to see a number of mature trees felled behind the bowling green at Lowes Barn playing fields. Well so were I and my fellow City ward councillor Ron Dickie (independent) as neither of us had been warned that it was about to happen.

The reasons for the felling are a combination of the trees’ old age and problems that the bowls club were having with dampness and fungal growth on their green.

Expert arboriculturalist advice said that the trees should go and some were indeed cut down last year, with the remaining ones this week. New trees have been planted in their place, slightly further away from the green and of a less tall-growing variety.

I discovered all this today after speaking to a committee member of the bowls club and to the City Council Environmental Officer, who also apologised for not having informed the local ward councillors what was going on.

The new green recycling bags have been distributed around much of the area and if yours has not arrived it should do so soon. The new scheme starts next week (1 April), so please do not try to use them before that.

There are some answers to “frequently asked questions” in the following file (which also appeared in a posting on this subject on 3 March):

Recycling Questions and Answers

A copy of the recycling scheme leaflet (which should be inside the bag when delivered) which explains what you can and can’t put in the new green bags (paper, cardboard and plastic) and also what can go in the green box (glass and cans) is here:

Recycling Scheme Leaflet

I’m sure the collection teams will be working hard to make sure that everything runs smoothly. Please let me know if any issues arise. Hopefully we can double recycling rates on the back of this scheme.

On Friday evening last, BBC North East put out a programme making allegations against Premier Waste in relation to the disposal of Compost Like Waste (CLO) at the Todhills Landfill Site and the operations of the company’s aerobic digestors at Thornley.

I had been sent an e-mail by Councillor Albert Nugent, Leader of the Council earlier last week alerting me to the fact that the programme was to be screened adn responding to some of the allegations, although at that point the Council had not seen what the BBC was to screen on Friday.

Now Premier Waste is an arms-length company owned by the County Council. The Council is its one and only shareholder and I think that as its shareholder, the Council should investigate these allegations properly, and there is a formal way to do this using the Overview and Scrutiny (O & S) Committee.

So I am writing today to the Chair of O & S Committee, and the Chair and Vice Chair of the “Looking after the Environment” Scrutiny Subcommittee asking for an investigative panel to be set up as a matter of urgency to deal with this.

I will let you know their response as soon as I have it.

There is to be a new (and I hope much improved) recycling scheme from 1 April. Durham City Council has gone into partnership with Chester-le-Street, Easington and Sedgefield Councils for a new contract which will make it easier for residents to recycle a much wider range of items in future.

A leaflet explaining the changes will drop through residents’ letterboxes in the next week or ten days.

The current green box scheme allows  everyone to recycle newspapers, bottles and cans; some areas can also have  purple plastic sacks for carboard and plastic, but not everywhere.

The new contract (with a firm called Greencycle) will given everyone a sturdy large sack for cardboard and plastic.

In the meantime here is a file of kerbside recycling Frequently Asked Questions which should help residents get an idea of what is involved and the scope of the scheme.

With the end of the financial year approaching I have been allocating my remaining “local initiative” money from County Hall and have ben pleased to make a grant of £300 to the Friends of Flass Vale to help purchase nesting boxes for the Vale.

This is a good present for them and will add to their celebration of the creation of the formal nature reserve in the area in 10 days time.

Flass Vale will be formally declared an official Nature Reserve on Monday 25 February in the presence of local councillor and Mayor Boy Wynn.

This is a great tribute to the efforts of the Friend of Flass Vale over the years to improve the area and preserve it as a natural place for the enjoyment of the public.

I have just discovered that The Friends have a web site (www.fofv.org.uk) , which at the moment is just s photograph of the area. They are asking for help with developing the site, so if anyone is prepared to volunteer to assist, do drop an e-mail to them at contact@fofv.org.uk

I am hoping that it will be possible to upgrade Mill Hill Lane to allow cyclists to use it legally.

Mill Hill Lane is a very well used path from Merryoaks to the Colleges on South Road and down into the city. Over the years I have been able to get the pathway upgraded, flooding has been dealt with and extra lighting has been put in - but it remains technically just a footpath and there are signs prohibiting cycling.

Following a request from a local resident, County are now actively looking at ways to improve the route for cyclists. The main work needed is to increase the width of the path to provide separation of cyclists and pedestrians.

There are two main issues involved, the first is getting permission from the various landowners (and who they are does not seem very clear) and then putting the funding together for the work.

So it won’t happen overnight, but it will undoubtedly be a benefit for the area so I have given my backing to the project.