//projects

Here are some of the projects we have underway:

Energy saving and Renewable Energy

•We recently held a workshop, tutored by Kerr McGregor of” McGregor Solar”, to show people how to build their own hot water solar panels. It was very successful and as a result eight residents are now ready to install their own panels, helping to reduce the amount of energy they will need to heat their hot water in future. If you are interested in attending future workshops, please call John on 229429.

•We have just launched a project funded by Scottish Power to help us reduce drafts & insulate our lofts and walls of our homes. Those on benefits will get it FREE, others will pay a fixed cost of £149 for cavity wall insulation £210 for bungalows) & £169 for loft insulation. If you would you like to be included, please call James McKnight 01555 850095?

•We are talking to Renewable Energy advisers from the village of Fintry about the possibility of Biggar owning its own Wind Turbine within one of the various wind parks which are planned on the periphery of Biggar. This project has the potential to earn Biggar between £50,000 & £70,000 per year for the first 11 years, rising to £500,000 per year thereafter, with the funds being directed into energy saving projects for the town. The Energy saving Trust have just approved a grant for us to pay these advisers, so our project can now get underway. (Feb 2008)

•We have recently linked up with Tanya Ewing, owner of the Ewgeco company from Perth, who is the inventor of a fabulous new energy monitoring device, with a view to securing some of these devices for the people of Biggar, before they hit the mass market. See: www.ewgeco.com

Food

Amazingly, what we eat contributes a massive 24% of the UK's carbon footprint. This is because we buy food which has been over processed, over packaged and transported thousands of miles across the world to get to our plate.

• We are making an application to the Community Climate Challenge Fund for money to help us develop a local food network and to develop the producing and purchasing of local food. For more detail, please click HERE.

.   We want to encourage residents to grow their own fruit & vegetables and are presently making enquiries about possible sites for allotments for those who do not have the garden space to do so. If you would like one, or you know someone who might lease us some ground, please get in touch.

•We would like to see you buying local produce from the sources we already have in Biggar and have started to prepare an information sheet for residents, explaining where you can buy it.

• Another proposal is to consider planting fruit trees, so that longer term we will be able to grow fruit for the local community's benefit, without relying on imported fruit. If you know of any potential land for this purpose, please let us know.

Travel

Do you really need to take your car into the town? 40% of our town’s carbon footprint, is due to using the car. Why not walk or cycle instead? Its much healthier. Here are some things we are doing to make it easier:

•We have had discussions with South Lanarkshire Council about providing bicycle racks in several areas of the town centre, so you will be able to lock-up your bike safely. They have agreed and will be putting 9 in place over the coming weeks. Watch out for the Carbon Neutral Biggar signs.

•A Transport survey has been organised with a company called VIPRE. They plan to highlight the main gaps in our transport system and then prepare a travel plan for Biggar, initially working primarily with our Schools and Health Service.

•We could get a lot of cars off the road if we could get a train service nearby, so we are looking into the re-opening of Symington Railway Station which would provide a service to Glasgow. Proposals have been submitted to Transport Scotland for consideration and we would appreciate any help you could give us, to campaign for this.

Waste and Recycling

 At the moment most of the rubbish is sent to landfill, especially from businesses. It is estimated that there are only 9 years of landfill sites left, then what? Waste dumped in landfill gives off methane, which is 20 times stronger than CO2 and just adds to the climate change problem. So this is what you can do?

•Reduce what you buy, repair & re-use things instead of buying new ones, and recycle things you don’t want. Go onto www.freecycle.org to offer unwanted possessions or household items to others in the Peebleshire group. If you would like to help us set up one specifically for Biggar, please contact us.

•Start buying loose food that is not over-packaged.

•Stop using plastic bags and always take your own shopping bag. Look out for the new ones with the Carbon Neutral Biggar logo on them.

•The Council will uplift garden rubbish and household items if you telephone in advance. This service is free of charge and is open to residential use.

•We have recently talked to the Council about improving the recycling service for both homes & businesses and have agreed to make use of a local contractor who has agreed to start a new service to remove organic & food waste from businesses. We now need to encourage as many as possible to support this scheme. Please contact us if you want to be part of it. 01899 229429