Good News for Three Wiltshire Groups
Good News for Three Wiltshire Groups
11•12•2009Three Wiltshire groups have received awards recently. Congratulations to them and good luck with the ongoing projects.
Transition Community Corsham (Transcoco) has been selected for support by the Energy Savings Trust in the design and delivery of an energy efficiency project through the Green Communities programme. An EST consultant will work with them to insulate as many homes as possible in the Transcoco area. The launch will take place at the 16 January farmers market.
The members of Climate Friendly Urchfont have been recognised nationally as Green Heroes by the Energy Saving Trust and The Guardian. Their work over four years has spanned energy efficiency, waste minimisation and local food and they are hoping to be able to generate their own renewable energy locally.
Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon was the winner for the SW of England against some strong opposition in the British Gas Green Streets programme. This means that British Gas will put in around £140.000 worth of energy saving measures (exact amount still to be confirmed) into the Bradford on Avon Community Area. Christchurch School will receive match funding to help them install solar panels on the school, Holt Primary School and Fitzmaurice will receive insulation as will three community halls and 100 houses across the community area and of varying ages and types will receive insulation. Martin Orrill, Head of Energy Technology and Innovation at British Gas, who sat on the judging panel, said: “The level of support within this community is outstanding. I was very impressed with the huge participation from across the town.”
The work is rapidly moving beyond what can be done only by volunteers so they are pleased to have been granted £5000 from the Community Area Board to help implement the Green Streets Grant, which will enable them to get some paid help to administer the fund as well as look for new funding and pay for the outreach needed to choose the houses and halls and co-ordinate everything. A community interest company will be set up to manage this work to stand alongside the existing voluntary work of the group.
And yet another grant, from the Town Council this time, will help pay for window/car stickers with the 2050 logo on which will be given to everyone signing the 2050 Declaration and which will help spread the word round town about the 2050 Carbon Neutral campaign. On which front they have also had a very generous donation of cotton bags bearing the logo which can be given to those signing.
