I put this together a few yeara go- for laugh.
A Penhill Deficiency?
From some time CLIP (Community Learning in Penhill) had been trying to get the lease to the empty shop at Braydon Court to set up an Information point for Penhill - (PIN-point project). They had found funds to help them set up the ‘shop’ and had found volunteers for a sub-committee to manage the project.
At the same time they applied for the Lease of the shop, they heard that there was another bidder – a business - fruit and vegetables. We discussed standing back from the shop bid as many people regret the loss of previous greengrocers. However, we know that the other businesses have found it difficult to make a profit at the same time as providing good quality really fresh food.
There is some provision of ‘fresh’ food within the other shops, children receive fresh fruit through the school and the Orchard will provide some of the requirements too (and for free). Local supermarkets, whilst not on the estate, can and do provide fresher fruit and veggies because of their quick turn over.
There is considerable education about diet taking place at this moment in time, both locally and nationally, especially on TV. So we considered that the information gathering and spreading would be more beneficial because of the need to engage the community in just about anything and decided to bid.
The CLIP bid had been going from pillar to post in the council, with them asking CLIP for different bits of information at different times. The decision had not been made in time for the money (which was time limited) to be spent and CLIP had no alternative but to withdraw their bid at the eleventh hour. Obviously we are very disappointed and feel let down once again by the Council.
A series of emails were exchanged to this effect and the cabinet member responsible for Housing Dept., responded to one of them, by saying that he had found there to be a serious problem of Iron Deficiency in the diet of the people of Penhill. We found this surprising, although we know that generally speaking we could be accused of having a poor diet, no data seen has indicated a particular problem. The Cabinet member used this ‘deficiency’ and his concern about it, as the excuse/reason for the CLIP bid being in direct competition with the business and therefore held up. He felt that a lack of fresh fruit/veggies was a major cause of this deficiency. However, the following is copied from a NHS Web page.
“A poor diet
Not eating enough iron is sometimes the cause of iron deficiency anaemia. This is uncommon as iron is in meat, liver, green vegetables, flour, eggs, and other foods. However, a poor diet may contribute to other causes. For example, a poor diet combined with a growth spurt in children, with pregnancy, or with heavy periods may lead to anaemia.”
We gave the Cabinet Members’ view some thought, and felt that if he was so concerned with our poor diet and determined to help redress the balance of fresh fruit and vegetables then we could seek some support for other projects. Firstly those to do with diet and that iron deficiency.
Fruit: We were hopefully going to use the information shop to distribute the free Orchard Fruit. Whilst not particularly needed for Iron, fruit is an essential part of a healthy diet. I.e. we now look forward to considerable support from the Council for the Orchard and the encouragement of development of others so that the whole estate can pick fresh fruit in season; there are several backlands suitable to be used for this, especially soft fruit.
Veggies: Should be covered by the shop now, but we must ensure that this is carried on when and during the time Braydon Court is rebuilt – every effort should be made to make our developments sustainable. In particular there should be an assurance that GREEN vegetables are available in the shop, are fresh and at a reasonable price. A backland or two could be used for growing Spinach, particularly rich in iron. (this never happened)
Meat – particularly Liver – could we suggest that a few more backlands are set aside for animal husbandry? We could grow our own meat! Setting up and training local people to tend them would also help towards skills to get people back to work, or indeed could be employed by a Community Enterprise. The older people of Penhill were quite used to having farm animals walking the streets or even, as a former Swindon Council Mayor once discovered, in his home! As one wit once pointed out, nothing would slow traffic down quicker! This would save the Council millions in traffic calming measures and grass cutting; sheep/cattle/goats could graze the verges and open spaces. Drivers would be warned of the need to be slow by the cattle grids installed at both entrances to the estate. The (organic) hay from the Nature Reserve could be winter-feed for these creatures and there would be a double benefit as the cattle could be grazed on the meadows from August to November as part of the Reserve management plan. Natural fertiliser would be a by product for the backlands in production. Incidentally, Liver offal, rich in Iron – is very reasonable to buy and was once used much by lower income families especially when they were taught how to cook.
Eggs: - some of the backlands could be set aside for the rearing of chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys, whose pooh could be used as fertiliser for the rest too. The housing department could further assist local residents by encouraging tenants to keep the chickens, maybe by providing rent relief on chicken coops. When Penhill was designed Britain was still suffering from rationing so the backlands were designed for these reasons – as allotments etc.
Flour: After giving this some thought, we could turn the Park and part of Minety Road Rec. and a few of the larger backlands into places for crops. Pathways could be cut through this to provide a Maze and contribute towards children’s entertainment and exercise throughout the summer months, adding to the healthy body and supporting a healthy mind. Community events could be organised for cutting of the crop, encouraging community engagement and participation and a harvest home evening would take on a real meaning, also leading to more spiritual well being.
Allotments: Residents will, of course, be expected to pay premium rates for their Fruit and Vegetables from a small local shop. So to give them choices, some backlands should be immediately be cleared and rotovated and offered to residents as allotments, free for the first 12 months to help them ‘have a go’. Funding and training should be found to enable them to build up the pH of the soil, be organic, provide biological pest repellents and help in making their plots work with wildlife, composting bins provided too. Security measures should be installed to protect their hard work.
School Kitchens and Cookery Lessons: In 2001 a Healthy Food Forum was set up in Swindon, with partners from PCT, SBC, Education etc. It was felt that Penhill was a food ‘desert’, with no good local shops, and transport needed to get to any of the larger shopping centres for more reasonably priced and greater variety. One very vital point that came out of the meetings of this Forum was that poor diet could be pin pointed to cessation of cookery lessons and the continuing closure of school kitchens. The Healthy Food Forum, Women’s Coalition and the Neighbourhood Renewal Task Group all wrote letters alerting the Education Dept to these shortcomings. We hope now the Cabinet Member has discovered for himself the affects of the action, then we can expect a commitment to re-instating cookery lessons and retaining and maintaining school kitchens would help with a Penhill healthy diet, perhaps the specialist subject of the new Academy could be Cookery, Horticulture and Animal husbandry, perhaps the community facilities within could include an abattoir.
If the Cabinet Member has a real commitment to the ‘deficiencies’ of Penhill, then he should know that the real one is a lack of cash. This seriously affects our ability to purchase fresh food and red meat. It also affects our ability to take part in sport and activities offered by Swindon Borough Council, after all food/clothes/equipment and bus fares cost the same whether people earn £4 an hour or £40 an hour. Can we therefore, look forward to the Cabinet member supporting the reduction of rents and community charge so that we can afford to eat and live as well as other areas? The Government has a drive “that no one should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live”.
Fuel Poverty: If there are any backlands left after the above, in fact this may be the quickest way to solve our problem, we suggest that the provision of wind turbines and wood fuel crops is examined so that we can reduce the fuel bills of residents. This would enable them to afford to cook their food in a healthier way, have more cash to purchase decent food and help towards fuel poverty too. The following link gives information on handy sized equipment.
http://www.provenenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=37In return, we understand that Omega Oils are very beneficial, we suggest that SBC Councillors be given free doses regularly! (At the expense of the Community Charge payers)
By the way – the recommended cure for iron deficiency – from that same NHS web page:
What is the treatment for iron deficiency anaemia?
Iron tablets are usually prescribed to correct the anaemia. Other treatments may also be advised, depending on the underlying cause.
Iron tablets
Various iron tablets and liquid medicines are available. A doctor will advise on one. The length of course will vary depending on how bad the anaemia is. A blood test after a few weeks will show if the treatment is working. Once the blood level is back to normal, you should continue to take iron for at least three further months. This will ensure that reserves of iron are built up in your body.
August 2006
