Fred Page I am a community minded Guisborough resident who has been an advocate for climate awareness for a long time.
Before the group I recognised that Guisborough needed cleaner streets, and I took photos to prove it
I’m pleased to say they made the right impression and the town was given the conscientious lady who now keeps our town looking good.
Concerned that many people find it difficult to understand recycling I wrote an amusing novel called Recycle Angel. In it the protagonists, Granddad and Freddy, learn about recycling from the kitchen to the Recycling Plant then start their own recycling business.
The GUISBOROUGH ECO GROUP, recently renamed GUISBOROUGH and District ECO GROUP, mission statement is:
To bring residents, businesses and organisations together to make Guisborough and the surrounding area a sustainable place to live, work and grow.
The aim is simple, the execution more difficult, so let’s start with something achievable. Most things have been tried and tested by others, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel, we just have to give it a push. Often, the group is a conduit between organisations and individuals.
ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE PROUD OF OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS
Maintained a Facebook and website presence and monthly meetings at 4pm in Guisborough Library on the first or second Monday of the month, often with speakers.
Lets people know what the group has done, is doing, or plans to do
Created a Repair Cafe to give residents a free repair service
Customers save money and reduce their carbon footprint
Calculated financial and energy savings and persuaded Businesses to change to LED lighting
Businesses that have changed to LED have reduced their energy consumption, saved money and reduced their carbon footprint
Provided information and advised about composting at home instead of using the Council Green Waste collection service
Customers who opt out of the Council service will save £40 service charge and may gain free compost. The Council will also win. Collecting and carrying less green waste it will save handling time and energy, disposal fees, fuel costs and carbon emissions. Overall ‘going green’ is a win win situation
Provided the Council with information, a ‘green’ incentive, to transport green waste to a composting facility nearer home
If the Council takes it up it will save fuel costs and carbon emissions
Provide advice on Climate Responsible Actions to dispose of waste or unwanted items
Advertised treating waste responsibly eg reusing books, shoes, egg cartons, jars, bottles, repairing and reusing bikes and clothing. Advertised WEE Banks and the Council process for reusing donated electrical items.
Provided an impetus for the Council to save unwanted bikes from being scrapped
This project is ongoing
Instigated a Bike Bus which will be in operation in June 2024
It will provide pleasure for school children and, as the number of children being driven to school will be reduced parents/carers fuel consumption will be reduced. They will save money and reduce their carbon footprint
Supported the group, Kids Against Weed Killer, in its campaign to ban the Council using Glyphosphate weed killer
The proposal is expected to be passed before the end of the year
Found placements for volunteer sixth form students. One was taken up by an Environmental Science student
Studying the environment, and environmental problems the student will have lots to do
Organised visits to the local Recycling (MRF) Plant and a personal visit to Alllerton Waste Recovery Park
Visiting the Recycling Plant showed what the Recycling Plant can and can’t do. Also the manager provided useful advice. The report on my visit to Allerton in North Yorkshire shows it is more efficient than the local Plant. Also it separates food and organic waste from general waste so food does not have to be collected separately. That saves the council money and carbon emissions.
Involved in discussions with Sustrans resulting in the successful Sustrans Good Cycle Scheme and indoor cycle parks in Redcar. Also introduced Sustrans Redcar to the Guisborough Levelling-up Team to discuss the proposed Guisborough to Nunthorpe Cycleway.
The Sustrans Good Cycle Scheme has resulted in numerous Redcar businesses displaying the logo and along with the Redcar Leisure Centre one other has provided internal space for bikes.
The Sustrans team rode the proposed cycleway and gave their advice to the Levelling-up Team.
In March 2023, for all the right reasons, the group discussed a campaign for a 20MPH speed limit in town and more recently, in discussions with the Levelling-up Team safe bike parking in town. Along with Sustrans the group would like more people to use their bikes in Guisborough.
The group can’t take credit for any changes the Levelling-up Team have made but, along with many other ‘modernising’ changes, it has included 20MPH in the high street and a safe bike parking cage on the corner of Chaloner Street and Fountain Street. It is possible that the reduced speed limit and safer parking will encourage more cycling in town.
We like to keep you up to date. If you find this interesting please follow the group and email me to join the mailing list. If you are on the list and for any reason would prefer to leave it please let me know.
Jemma Joy describes herself as a middle-aged mum, worker, local busybody and concerned innocent bystander to world events. Politically active for the last few years she has a particular interest in ethical shopping, encouraging climate solutions such as renewable energy and looking at encouraging change in polluting industries such as food and clothing where consumer behaviour can be modified to mitigate climate harm such as reducing meat intake, recycling, repairing and recycling clothing and ensuring everyone plays their part in advocating for green issues at the heart of every policy decision. Involved with several activist groups looking at immigration as a wider issue, she is aware that when climate change disaster starts to drive huge migration, governments will need collaborative policies to welcome displaced people. She also sits on the Green Committee for the UK affiliate of a large global pharmaceutical company as a part of her job in pharmaceutical sales, a drop in a tiny ocean but advocacy is the start of action.
Keen on yoga, meditation, if you see her sitting still in the forest, she’s probably meditating.
The group aims to link up with local organisations.
The Group aim is to build a ‘voice’ for the community. We are interested in global warming, climate change and anything that will improve the area.The group is a place to share ideas and special interests. Some of the things we have discussed so far include share schemes, personal carbon audits, bikes, buildings, cars, flora and fauna, recycling, repair cafe, garden compost and solar panels. If you have ideas and are interested in developing projects to get things done you are welcome.
We welcome guest speakers
On our facebook page we have talked about the things listed above. A project to reduce the frequency council staff need to empty waste bins is posted. It shows Sunderland Council’s interest in saving council workers’ time and effort but also reducing climate change activities. Fred sees this could be an opportunity to use the freed up time for training and working in green jobs that will reduce climate change.
Join the Group be part of the Guisborough Eco Group voice.
