Solar Energy PV Arrays and Feed in Tariff

I am not a "greenie" but do think that we could all make better use of the free energy from the sun.


I was alerted to the Feed in Tariff (FIT) for Solar Photovoltaic Microgeneration units by an article in the Howden Matters magazine. Photovoltaic panels convert light into electricity. The figures quoted seemed to be too good to be true and so made further enquiries. To my surprise the data was absolutley correct and a "domestic" i.e. less than 4kW system connected to the mains supply allows the owner to claim 41.3 pence per unit for every unit generated. This electricity is yours to use in your property for free during the period it is being generated (daylight)! If you do not use it the energy is exported to the mains and you receive an additional 3 pence per unit.


There is no need to make any provision for storage such as batteries as the grid becomes the store. During dark periods when you are not generating, your system takes electricity back from the grid at the normal rates, typically around 11 pence a unit or less for E6 off-peak.


The equipment is not cheap although there are options such as allowing a company to mount panels on your roof at their expense. Under this arrangement the company gets the FIT and you get the free daytime electricity. However if it is worth it to them it should be worth it to you!


For a normal domestic situation the cost of the installation should achieve a payback period in the order of ten years and as the price of electricity rises the payback period will reduce. The FIT is guaranteed for 25 years which will give 15 years of profit once the system has paid for itself.



If you have a suitable light and sunny area such as your roof, I thoroughly recommend you look into this for yourselves. Once the payback is achieved all the energy produced in the following 15 or so years is free AND you are paid to produce it.

Progress in sight

Following the hold-ups to phase 1 of the flood risk reduction project which have been covered previously and the weather conditions over the Christmas period the large bore pipes for the work have been delivered to site. Visible movement at last despite the unnecessary delays!

Gritting in Gilberdyke

Following the Snow and its subsequent compaction into ice on the side roads and footpaths of the village many residents were struggling to get around or even to remain upright in places. East Riding County Council were working flat out to maintain the main routes open and could not give realistic dates for any clearance or gritting of these areas.
The Parish Council purchased gritsalt and by use of a borrowed trailer and Paul Robinsons 4 wheel drive Toyota, community volunteers undertook spreading on the worst sections. The footpath from Wards Hotel to the junction near the medical centre were gritted. Hansard Drive (where even the 4 wheel drive had trouble moving) Greenacre Park, Westbrook, and much of Bellasize were treated before the supplies were used up, stopping work.
This will hopefully enable mums and children to access the school and shops with less risk of falling. It was noticeable that a number of people were quick to thank the team for their efforts but one person seemed unable to grasp that the volunteers were not to blame for the ice and had a good old moan - there is always one!

ERYC upheaval

I note the East Riding Mail has extensive coverage of the fallout from the Susan Lockwood early retirement pension top up payment scandal. Four Conservative Councillors are being blamed by some for the deselection of ten of the old guard by the National organisation.


It seems quite bizarre that those who have the integrity to stand up against injustice should be portrayed as guilty, when they should actually be hailed as heroes with the courage to try to put right wrongs which exist.


I am not a party member but if I was I would feel gratitude that such people were willing to work towards improving the local government of this county.


I am absolutely certain that going over the heads of the local group is a course of action which would only be taken after making their feelings known to the local heirarchy first but obviously their representations fell on stony ground, hence the "move upstairs". Our local ward councillor Paul Robinson is one of the four councillors named in the article and I would like to offer my profound thanks to him for acting with honour. No doubt at some stage he will comment in his blog which can be reached via the link . http://cllrpaulrobinson.com

Drainage Project Stalled

Following on from the last blog article. The Parish Council held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday night (24th Nov) to discuss the situation. Five members of the public attended, three flood victims, resident W and one of his sons. The situation was reported that the contractor had been called off due to lack of written consent by resident W for access.

The proceedings were closed to enable members of the public to speak and resident W advised that he wished to have a legal agreement that the Parish Council would maintain the proposed new drain in perpetuity. (The Parish Council cannot accept such a condition but has already agreed and minuted the decision to set funds aside to cleanse the new system. Parish Council minutes are a legal document acceptable in a court of law.)

He further advised that he would not grant access as despite owning the property at 6 Scalby Lane it was tenanted by a family member and he could not say whether the tenant would allow the access. However Riparian Law relates to land owners and the council can only deal with owners not tenants. Any landlord has rights of entry for maintenance and to undertake works.

The Parish Council felt that they had reached an impasse. In the circumstances they resolved to ask resident W one more time to grant permission for access to the dyke across 6 Scalby Lane. A deadline of noon Friday to give a chance of the contractor being able to react in time was laid down and the meeting ended. If the response is not forthcoming phase 1 cannot proceed and thus phases 2 and 3 also cannot proceed. Responsibility for any future flooding can be laid directly at the door of this one individual.

Phase 1 of flood risk reduction works to start

Following a very long and torturous process the long awaited first stage of the improvement works is due to start on Monday 22nd of November. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council drainage department have slightly amended the design to move the termination of the proposed culvert downstream to make access for future maintenance easier. The residents at either side of the dyke were consulted. At a residents meeting held in the Cross Keys hotel when the scheme was explained to them by the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board and the contractor present to discuss methods proposed the required access it was agreed the job proceed with the 22nd November as the start date. Funding of this phase is arranged by the Parish Council.
As the contractor would require significant access working room at the rear of 6 Scalby Lane the parish council held a special meeting to approve payment to restore the drive and garden to its "before" condition on completion. Independant survey photographs of the drive and garden would be taken at the start of work and removeable items taken up and stored safely for the duration of the job.
On completion of phase 1 the county council will undertake the subsequent phases of the works to provide secure and improved drainage to Westbrook Road and surrounds. This subsequent work is conditional upon phase 1 completion.

Anti-Social Behaviour

The village is developing an unenviable notoriety for rowdy youth behaviour. Of late we have seen youths damaging property in the centre of the village and creating an atmosphere of apprehension among the residents. Some of the problems may be attributed to outside youths but there seems to be a hard core of troublemakers who live within the village itself.
The troubles are escalating and within a matter of only a few weeks we have seen an assault on the pensioner who locked the play area gates, a pumpkin hurled through a window, an assault on an off duty police officer, and during the last week the old Sandholme Station house has been gutted by fire. Local radio news mentioned this as being of suspicious origin - is this a euphamism for arson? The rule of law appears to be breaking down.
Softly softly policies seem to be ineffective - where do we as a community go from here?