Sustainable Shaftesbury Projects: our most recent meeting only had time for a brief review of the projects we selected last month. We arranged a separate meeting for 9th May when we'll be better able to get things moving. There's a lot of support available for us to tap into ... the initial ideas are based on practical initiatives researched by SSWG members and already being successful somewhere. Please join us if you have an interest in supporting any of these initiatives:
Build support for a community climate resource space (hub) to encompass information on energy, recycling, repairs, sharing tools etc. For inspiration see https://weymouthclimatehub.com/ Current contact: Richard Thomas
Planning: monitoring applications submitted and subsequent development to ensure that opportunities for enhancing biodiversity are recognised, commitments fulfilled and appropriate continuing management plans sustained. Current contact: Diana Harris
Promote sustainable local food producers, outlets and consumption, linking to the Wellness programme and food poverty initiatives. (Much of the relevant information was compiled during 2023 and this links to the Dorset-wide discussion of Sustainable Food Places. Current contact: Karen Wimhurst
Explore alternative local transport solutions to reducing car use such as car club, cycle taxis (eg. tuk tuk), electric shuttle bus, scooters. Current contact: Richard Thomas
Implement a land mapping exercise for Shaftesbury & surrounding area to detail land use, area, ownership and other key information with the potential to identify opportunities and trade-offs for energy, nature, food, connectivity and other uses. Current contact: Beth Lewis
Support the creation of a community interest company (CIC) to produce clean energy with profits used to benefit the community (eg. insulation retrofitting or PV installations). Current contact: Rachel Bodle
Support the council in improved land management and natural area maintenance to ensure that the philosophy that underpins (updated) management plans is embedded in the activities undertaken by staff and contractors. Current contact: Mike Cummings