The grant, awarded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change under its Low Carbon Communities Challenge project, will be used to install a sustainable combined heat and power biodiesel boiler to supply heat and electricity to Ashton Hayes Primary School and feed the surplus into the community microgrid. The grant also covers the installation of photovoltaics on the roof of the primary school and a ground heat store to accumulate excess heat for use in the winter. Wind power generation is not being funded by the DECC grant. The project is due for completion in this financial year.

We'd just like to say a big thanks to the team of second year students from the University of Chester who are nearing completion of the 2010 survey. This is the last survey we will carry out for 3 years and they have already obtained data from around a third of the houses. Thanks to all the residents who have helped us with our annual surveys since 2006. We must be one of the most studied communities in the UK! The team also carried out extensive land use and biodiversity surveys that will be invaluable for future research.

To see a bigger image of the team, please click on the photo. From left to right: Laura McAfee, Matthew Fox, Clare Davey, Abi Hall, Joshua Lepper, Mary Robinson, Jon Brain, Laura Jones.

"Nøtterøy enters into a collaboration with the village of Ashton Hayes on combating climate change. The aim is to exchange ideas and experiences on how to combat climate change through grass roots involvement. The agreement to collaboate implies no economic obligations for either party"

Thanks to everyone in Nøtterøy from everyone in Ashton Hayes!

See the formal letter from Nøtterøy Council here.

The grant money, awarded through the Government’s Low Carbon Community Challenge, will be spent on a range of green measures which will cut carbon, save money on energy bills, and could even see some communities make cash from generating their own energy – thanks to the Government’s new clean energy scheme.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock said:

“The huge enthusiasm for the Low Carbon Communities Challenge demonstrates that local people are passionate about building a low carbon future in the UK. Today’s winners will act as a test bed for green action, and show us all what a greener future looks like.

We hope you like the changes we are making. Please bear with us over the next few weeks as new suppliers are established and final display fittings are delivered.

Please come and visit your new store next week and tell us what you think! We are grateful for any suggestions you may have, or requests for items you think we should keep as this is your Community shop and its success is dependant on its use by Community members.

Remember - unless we use it we will loose it!

Lisa Allman
On Behalf of the Community Shop Steering Committee