Date published: 2025-03-20 | Category: Communities and volunteering, Community Funding, Delivering for local residents, Environment and Clean Air, Tackling the climate and ecological emergency
A footbridge to improve woodland access, a retrofitted community room providing a safe place in a flooding emergency and village hall solar panels are among the improvements that have been realised in communities across Bath and North East Somerset.
The nine projects in B&NES which all have a positive impact on the environment or biodiversity were awarded a total of £260,000 in March 2024 from the West of England Rural Fund, which is funded by the UK government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund.
The completed projects are:
- Radstock Town Council – new wayfinding including fingerposts, information boards and walking maps to connect people with walking and cycling routes and improve biodiversity awareness
- Farmborough Village Sport & Social – installation of an air-to-air source heat pump heating system and hot water system in a refurbished building to reduce energy consumption
- Westfield Parish Council – a new footbridge to enhance and encourage public access to Grove Wood, Haydon Batch and Waterside Valley and enable people to have more nature experiences
- East Harptree, Bishop Sutton and Peasedown St John - new solar panels
- Compton Martin & Peasedown St John – new roof insulation
- Chelwood Parish Council – roof repairs and insulation at the village hall and retrofit of a room by Chew Magna Old School Room Charity to help the community adapt to flooding events by creating a safe facility, including storage of items such as solar charged portable power packs and recycled rubber matting for seating children.
Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “It’s fantastic to see these projects coming to fruition for our communities. This funding is so valuable to local organisations who use the money for important energy reduction measures and to encourage more people to explore nature. These are excellent examples of the real action that can be taken to tackle the climate and nature emergency. Thank you to everyone has worked so hard to make these vital projects a reality.”
Councillor Chris Dando, Mayor of Radstock Town Council, said: “The wayfinding project has enabled us to bring together the issues identified in the Town Centre Regeneration Action Plan and helped us work with the Active Way, local groups and residents to provide beautifully created maps and fingerposts that work with the new branding, provide key infrastructure for the town and help to improve accessibility for everyone. The new signage along with other improvements in the town centre will highlight Radstock’s lovely walks and incredible cycle ways and greenways. The Town Council remains committed to supporting an inclusive and an accessible town and thanks all those that have contributed to the project.”
The trustees of the Old School Room said: The grant from the Rural Fund enabled us to complete a safe Rest Centre, provide a well set up kitchen with ample storage, solar power packs in case of outages, a high-quality medical kit and interlocking flooring for seating children. In addition it has provided a well-used social space for the community. Thanks for your support.”
ENDS