Cheltenham Connect backs 1010 campaign
As Gloucestershire pledges to cut its carbon emissions by 10 per cent, one Cheltenham organisation is helping residents, businesses, schools and churches to move forward into a greener future.
Cheltenham Connect, an organisation representing areas in the south of the town, including Leckhampton and The Park, has launched its own version of the 10:10 campaign, throwing its weight behind the Echo’s own drive.
-
Cheltenham Connect launch their campaign at Naunton Park Junior School
Wendy Ellyatt, founder of the community organisation, said it was hoping the initiative would start with them and spread out across Cheltenham Connect’s membership base.
She said: “We’ve got our Go Green group already, which is dedicated to green issues.
“We decided that 10:10 was a really good starting point, so that’s why we decided to sign up. We’ve already got all of the churches and schools in our area to pledge their support.
“Now, the schools will talk to pupils and parents, the churches will speak to their congregations, and hopefully it will spread out from there.
“It’s the perfect way to launch our low-carbon agenda.”
One of the schools to have joined the campaign through Cheltenham Connect is Naunton Park Junior School.
Headteacher Richard Humphrey has only been in his job since the beginning of term, but already he has promised to back the campaign.
He said: “I suppose reducing emissions and cutting our carbon footprint is an important issue we’ve all got a responsibility for.
“It’s our job to make sure our children grow up understanding this responsibility and are educated to know what to do when they grow up.
“Supporting and getting involved in the 10:10 project is a practical and real way to make sure our pupils get that education about being more environmentally friendly in the future.”
Mr Humphrey said although the school had no fixed plans in place to put in new carbon-saving initiatives, they would be doing everything in their power to cut their CO2 levels.
He said: “We’ve already got healthy school status, and we do all the recycling and things with the children, so I think we’re already well on our way.”
Meanwhile Cheltenham Borough Council has rubber-stamped its commitment to the 10:10 campaign.
The authority’s cabinet passed a motion for the council to sign up this week.
The council says the campaign will form part of a wider programme of work it is supporting.
Initiatives to cut the council’s carbon footprint will include the refurbishment of the crematorium with new, efficient equipment.
It will also reorganise its recycling of waste – saving 2,400 miles a month from its fleet – and monitor energy use in its buildings.
Projects under way include more energy- efficient lighting at Grosvenor Terrace car park and the Smarter Travel Plan, promoting sustainable travel within the council.
Gill Morris, partnerships officer, said: “We already set ambitions and targets to achieve on reducing carbon emissions. The 10:10 campaign is a means of cementing that commitment and demonstrating it.”
Councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainability, said: “I would encourage everyone to sign up to do their bit.”
8 Comments
by Chris, Gloucester
Monday, January 25 2010, 11:39PM
“anonGreenie, Cheltenham,
I made the first comment in which I said energy efficiency is a very good idea if only for economic reasons.
I'm a "man made global warming agnostic" myself, I simply don't know.
But I definately agree with you about the finite nature and future high cost of fossil fuel.”
by anonGreenie, Cheltenham
Monday, January 25 2010, 1:09PM
“I'm both amused and disappointed by the "I don't believe to Man made Global Warming, so I'll waste energy" attitude.
Personally, I do accept the MMGW assertion by scientists simply because of the basic mathematics , scientific laws and my experiences of complex (and often near chaotic) engineering systems. However, even if I didn't accept any of these, the 1010 aims will still be worthwhile due to UK energy security, the expected rise in energy costs and the issues of peak oil production (between 2015 and 2025 - depending on who you talk to).
These latter issues, which are based on raw economics mathematics are often ignored because of the emotive and often irrational arguments between AGW believers and deniers.
I may be wrong about GW. However I think it's highly unlikely. But, I'm definately not wrong about the other issues.”
by John Stevens, Cheltenham
Saturday, January 23 2010, 9:03PM
“Sam of Cheltenham,
You miss the point, If CBC were really interested in saving the planet, they would not make such silly bye laws, and allow clothes lines.
Which would you prefer saving the planet or, the snobbery of CBC.
Its alright paying lip service, Its carrying it out and helping others too, was the point I was TRYING to make, not putting silly obstacles in the way of people.”
by SAm, Cheltenham
Saturday, January 23 2010, 1:32PM
“*John Stevens* - I have a clothes line but I haven't been able to use over the last few weeks because of the weather, but I don't turn to the tumble dryer though - what's wrong with a clothes horse? That's what I use for the bigger stuff and the smaller stuff goes on to one of those multi-peg hangers.
There are other options - I've only used the tumble dryer once in the last 6 months.
And yes, you may know about re-using, recycling etc, but there are an awful lot of younger people who have grown up in the throw-away world and they do need re-educating to think more carefully about the end-to-end use of the products they fill their houses with.”
by Pedantic Time waster, in a English Churchyard, possibly Stoke Poges
Friday, January 22 2010, 7:23PM
“How about making the Echo online only? Surely that will help reduce emissions and carbon footprints, and also lessen the need for paper?”
by John Stevens, Cheltenham
Friday, January 22 2010, 5:20PM
“I have always saved scrap metal including aluminium and copper. I had cavity wall insulation and loft insulation installed some twenty odd years ago, also last year when my boiler gave up working I had an A rated boiler installed.
I still recycle cardboard, glass, and metals, but not because I want to save the planet but because I hate to waste things when they can be used again.
When I was a child my mother would use the pockets of my jeans as a patch for the worn out knees and backside. I would go down to Woolworths for some stick on soles for my worn out shoes, my farther had a shoe anvil and used tacks to nail on the heel and soles.
Old wool and rags would be taken to Burks scrap merchants in exchange for money and we would use coke from the gas works after the gas had been taken out of the coal.
Thats how many familys had to live after the war.
I have had enough of yuppies telling me I should save the planet, when a large part of my life I had to do it out of necessity and as now become a habit, so if I let my hair down and go to Florida now the goods times have come, near to the end of my life span, then don't try and make me feel guilty, I've done my bit long befor you young "lets go green yuppies" were born, I wonder what your next fad will be.”
by John Stevens, Cheltenham
Friday, January 22 2010, 4:45PM
“I see Cheltenham Borough Council have signed up to 10:10.
Is this the same council that will not allow my daughter to have a cloths line on her estate, so having to use an expensive drier.
The council don't want government ministers to see washing on the line while visiting GCHQ.”
by Chris, Gloucester
Friday, January 22 2010, 4:12PM
“"Support is growing for the Gloucestershire 10:10 campaign"?
Have you read some of the comments lefts at your various topic listings?
I'd say the county has a high proportion of global warming "sceptics", "deniers" or whatever you want to call them.
Personally I'm all for energy efficiency but more related to the cost than any "carbon footprint".
Also the reality of man made Co2 emissions being the cause global warming is not widely accepted by the public.
But of course it may well be true, I don't know because all the evidence I read is so mixed.
However If we want the public at large to get onboard with doing something about global warming (because it might be true) don't go on about "carbon footprints" start talking more about "massive savings in energy bills".
That will create much more support.”