Concerned about climate change? Want to connect with like-minded individuals in the community to make a difference? Low Carbon West Oxford (LCWO) is a new initiative set up by local residents to help tackle climate change by reducing our individual and community carbon dioxide emissions. So far local groups have been formed to work on renewable energy, traffic, food, waste reduction, and an eco-library. If you have practical ideas to contribute or want to find out what you can do, get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. Email: Sue at lowcarbon@hotmail.co.uk

Different Groups within LCWO

Some of the ideas that are planned, or are already active, include:

• Waste reduction - campaigning to reduce waste generally and increase re-use and recycling; campaigning to reduce the use of plastic bags in local shops; litter picks;  arranging bring and takes
• Transport – promoting car/bicycle shares, traffic calming signs and car free days on Botley Road
• Renewable energy - setting up a micro hydro on Osney weir with electricity sold to the grid and recycled into projects, lobbying local business to use renewable forms of energy.
• Food - promoting the purchase of local and sustainable sources of food eg through information about composting and local vegetable schemes, and setting up a community beehive.
• Sustainable use of energy/resources –  informing local residents about energy-saving devices by lending low energy devices such as solar chargers,  lightbulbs, and energy meters through a local ‘eco-library’ and low energy light-bulb library; Another idea is to facilitate person-to-person loans of low-use equipment via a ‘virtual shed’ on a community web site (eg computers, hedge-trimmer, shredder).Contact lcwo.ecolibrary@gmail.com if you are interested in borrowing any items from the libraries).

Street representatives

We are also asking people to volunteer as street representatives to provide information and support to neighbours to help them reduce their carbon footprint.  Having a representative on every street would help West Oxford to turn energy and vision into tangible results. There’s no need to be an expert - other campaigners can provide you with the necessary information - enthusiasm is all that’s needed.  If you would like to be a street representative contact the low carbon group.

For any other areas of interest or to receive occasional email updates please contact Sue on 01865 426 969 or Email lowcarbon@hotmail.co.uk

History of Low Carbon West Oxford

West Oxford Waste Watchers (WOWW) CAG formed in the spring of 2004 with much interest from local residents.

Some of the priorities that were identified four years ago at the formation of WOWW as one of Oxfordshire’s Community Action Groups.

Plastic and cardboard collections
Lobbying of local shops and supermarkets about the use of plastic bags
swap shops for unwanted goods
additional recycling facilities at Oatlands Park

WOWW has achieved many of the initiatives that it set out 4 years ago.

Sustainable living, climate change, reduction of carbon footprint — these types of concepts are very present in many people’s minds today in a way that they weren’t even four years ago — hence the founding of Low Carbon West Oxford by different people. Those of us who have been active in WOWW have had a firm belief that having two organisations in West Oxford with very similar aims and appealing to the same constituency would be counter-productive and, indeed, a waste. After discussions with Low Carbon West Oxford’s founders and with the support of the Community Action Group project officers, it was agreed that WOWW and LCWO would amalgamate. The new organisation will be called Low Carbon West Oxford, and will still be part of the CAG network, benefiting from the support of the project officers and from grant aid.

The work that WOWW has been carrying out will continue in various working parties under LCWO’s banner (for example Bring & Takes, litter-picks, the Eco gadget library, development of a lightbulb library, meetings with speakers, showing of films) and there will be a renewed focus on the elimination of unnecessary use of plastic bags

email: lowcarbon@hotmail.co.uk

or Frances Buckel, CAG project officer 07903037920 frances.buckel@resourcefutures.co.uk