10:10:10 Climate Change Event at the Harpur Suite Today

I was at the Harpur Suite earlier to open the Council's 10:10:10 climate change event which took place today. 10:10:10 is a 'global day of doing' this Sunday and is being supported by the 10:10 initiative, to which the Council signed up and committed itself to cutting its carbon emissions by 10% by April 2011. The event saw teams from the Council and a range of other bodies offering support and advice around actions people can take this Sunday and also in their day-to-day lives to help protect the environment, while also cutting their own energy bills.

The other organisations present included Bedford College, Zero Carbon Castle, the Energy Saving Trust and many more. Bedford College were displaying a remarkable 'solar oven' which was made by students, while volunteers from Zero Carbon Castle were asking people to register their interest in a community car club. ZCC have pursued some really good, genuine community projects, and I wish them luck with the car club. As for the Council, in addition to a huge range of action to cut our carbon and save taxpayers money, from stopping the use of bottled water for meetings to investing in a pioneering hydropower scheme, we continue to support community groups through the climate change fund. I'm looking forward to seeing the solar panels on Pavenham Village Hall's changing rooms, which were part-funded by over £8,000 from the fund, once they've been installed.

BBC 3 Counties radio were present, and I was quizzed about the actions I'm taking personally on the global day of doing on Sunday. As I told listeners to Ronnie Barbour's show, I'll be cycling to all of my engagements, including over at the Forest Centre in Marston Moretaine. So here's hoping for some good weather!