THERE is a “real appetite for something to be done”, say organisers of a meeting to discuss climate change.
Harriet Sams, of Cotherstone, organised the meeting at Curlews Bookshop, in Barnard Castle. She said she was overwhelmed by the number of residents who turned out to discuss what can be done.
Ms Sams, who studied green economics at university, said: “It was such an amazing meeting. People just kept coming in and it was great. There is a definite appetite for something to be done. It is the beginning of something very good.”
She added the bookshop was packed by the time all attendees arrived. She said she was disappointed that there were no representatives from the town council, despite invites being sent.
She said: “There were about 40 people and a representative from Teesdale Action Partnership (TAP).”
The “star” of the evening, Ms Sams added, was Sally Shenton, a business woman from Penrith with more than 30 years’ experience in climate change policy.
Ms Shenton agreed to attend the meeting after successfully helping her own community in Penrith make effective changes.
She outlined how residents of the Cumbrian town have created an “umbrella group” allowing them to work on different projects with the same goal.
Ms Sams said: “She gave realyl helpful, practical advice on how to set up a community society and the legalities of how to do that. What Penrith has done is create an umbrella group which allows individuals to work together. She had so many ideas we can utilise including an allotment sharing scheme and recycling weekends.”
She added: “A lot of people came forward with support and suggestions during the evening and there was an overriding feeling of relief from people that we are trying to do something together to tackle the climate change emergency.”
Another meeting will be held on Friday, September 6. The meeting will start at 6pm, but the venue has yet to be confirmed.
Ms Sams said: “We agreed to have some time to research everything and look at how best to go forward and I’ll be contacting all those who made it to the first meeting to see if then intend attending. If they are they we will probably have to look at a larger venue as it was quite a squeeze.
“If we can’t get the town council to put this on the agenda then there is something we as a community can do. We can’t just ignore this any more and that was the feeling that came over at the meeting.”
