£20,000 awarded to Shropshire community climate change projects
Ten community projects across Shropshire have been awarded a share of a £20,000 fund that aims to help them deal with the effects of climate change.
The projects receiving funding are:
· Ditton Priors Parish Council – awarded £3,000 for streetlight renewal with LEDs.
· Wyldwoods, Broseley – awarded £500 to insulate and sustainably refurbish a workshop for community activity.
· Cleobury Country – awarded £3,000 to install grid link for 10kW hydro power at Neen Sollars.
· Shrewsbury United Reformed Church – awarded £571 for loft insulation.
· Stretton Climate Care – awarded £1,840 for community awareness activity.
· Berrington Hall – awarded £500 for forest gardening activity.
· Willowdene Training, Chorley – awarded £3,000 for a demonstration renewable energy training resource.
· National Trust, Attingham Park – awarded £3,000 for a weather station and bee hide to study local climate change issues.
· Transition Town Shrewsbury – awarded £1,942 for community awareness activity on energy and transport in Shrewsbury.
· ReaVEN – awarded £2,647 for community awareness fair and open homes event in the Rea Valley (including Minsterley and Pontesbury).
The money was available from Shropshire Council’s sustainability team to encourage more action on climate change in Shropshire. It was available to fund any scheme or project that delivers a community benefit to mitigate or adapt to the effects or climate change.
Councillor Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for energy and carbon reduction, said: “This fund provides an excellent way to help community groups in Shropshire looking at addressing climate change and develop some really exciting projects that are helping Shropshire to become more resilient to climate change. I’m delighted that we have been able to award this funding to such a wide range of local groups, organisations and projects.”
Ruth Hudson, sustainability officer with Shropshire Council, said “Shropshire is vulnerable to the effects of climate change and is likely to experience more extreme events. The recent flooding and cold periods demonstrate how vulnerable Shropshire is and it is essential that communities understand how they can help themselves prepare for future changes in climate.”
