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Melksham Climate Friendly Group

Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2009-02-05 07:50:27 - Graham Ellis

It's somewhat ironic that I left last night's meeting of Melksham Climate Friendly Group in a bit of a blizzard. Many familiar faces, a great deal of knowledge, and a group each of whom is taking a real interest in some aspect of the subject in their own way, with a strong and effective chair pulling together in joint efforts and coordinating with neighbouring areas and other organisations. A packed 2 hour agenda - a lot discussed from Energy monitors that the TIC will be loaning out to households, through the gardening association, renewable energy, the economies and carbon footprint of recycling, bees, what to do with leftover food, 20 future technologies, and a "vision for 2020" competition that's to be run to raise awareness. Not to forget the idea of turning the wasteland beside the "West End" into a sensory garden, their stall on 14th February and their coffee morning on 28th.

There are strong views in Melksham (as elsewhere!) on the plastic bag issue, and it was interesting to hear comments and view on this and on other matters. The safety of the new low power electric lights that we're being forced to use. Two concerns - the mercury level therein, which is said to be very low, and some medical issues that some people are said to have with them. I was well impressed by the group's background research (and following up of contacts) to check out the medical story.

I think they see me as "Mr Transport" ;-) . A good chance given to me (Thank you, madam chairman) to update them on the subject and some useful thoughts in terms of publicity, some of which I'm sure you'll see much more of - especially if you live on the TransWilts corridor - over coming weeks and months. The 'train campaign' has been a little out of the public eye for the last few months, but things have been happening behind the scenes and we're pressing for an appropriate service from this coming December. Only last week there was a meeting between the County Council and First Great Western (I am now told by FGW, so I can share!), and only yesterday I was in correspondence with some of their senior managers with a view to smoothing the way.

The group makes an impression with the local press - a relatively active web site (though scope for more traffic - haven't we all?), and certainly some folks to be working *with* towards mutual goals; I brought up the potential growth of this area in the next 15 years under the regional spatial strategy and indeed there is a need to look forward for all across the community - not only in terms of transport but also in association with business, in association with the schools (oops - THAT subject was left of my list of what was on their agenda!), and with many other local groups. Here's to a flourishing Melksham, taking a sensible level of measures to doing our bit to being planet friendly.

The Melksham Climate Friendly Group meets at the Spencer Sports and Social Club on the Beanacre Road out of Melksham at 8 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. And I am sure, dear reader, that you would be given as friendly a welcome as I was if you go along.