Meeting Title: ACE Monmouth Open Meeting
Meeting date and time: 24th July 2024, 7.30pm
Venue Details: Zoom
Present: Vivien Mitchell, Charles Emes, Chris Seabury, Sarah Read, Katherine Pitts-Tucker
Apologies: Jem Jenkins-Jones, Nichola James, Clare Catto, Cherry Taylor, Simon Cook, Anthea Dewhurst.
Agenda and Notes
1. Welcome and apologies for absence
2. Brain Storming of New Projects
This month the meeting was devoted to a brain-storming session to look at new projects and initiatives that ACE can take forward in the next 12 months.
3. ENVIRONMENT
Air quality monitoring – Haberdashers School are reviewing a number of sustainability projects that the school children could take on. One project could measure air quality. Expertise could be provided by Transition Monmouth and Make Monmouth on building AQM’s from kits as they already have a pilot one recording air quality in Drybridge Street.
Anti-idling campaign – there is an existing banner at Over Monnow School asking parents to switch off their cars when idle. The banner was designed by one of the school children. Could ACE replicate this at other schools in Monmouth and give out leaflets designed by the children?
Water quality monitoring of rivers – there are over 70 monitoring stations on rivers in Monmouthshire organised by Friends of the Lower Wye and other organisations.
Eco-friendly household products – some of the products we use in our homes (detergents, bleach, pet flea treatments, car shampoos) are damaging the environment by getting into rivers. ACE could consider employing an expert to help in marketing information to residents.
4. ENERGY
Energy saving in schools and home – Charles can provide advice on energy saving
5. TRANSPORT
EV Car Share Scheme – there is an existing scheme for community car sharing of EVs see https://chargeplacewales.org/. It allows forward-thinking drivers to have access to vehicles when needed, providing an opportunity to drive a private car without the responsibility and financial burden of owning one. There is a £3 a month membership fee to join. Booking a car costs £3.00 per hour with a cap of £42 per day (24 hours), and a fixed booking fee of £2.50. Car charging is managed independently by members and this is not included in the price. You need at least 15 people interested in your area.
Action: Charles to email ACE membrship and direct them to the website and join if interested. Organise a presentation by the local co-ordinator in October if there is enough interest.
E-Bike Borrowing – MCC and Sustrans have launched an E-Bike borrowing project in Abergavenny https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/news/2024/may/e-move-e-bike-borrowing-project-comes-to-abergavenny/. Could the same project be launched in Monmouth?
Action: ACE needs a volunteer to investigate further.
6. WASTE
Wye Weight in Monnow Street actively helps to reduce single use plastic and waste by customers bringing their own containers. In many cases the products are cheaper than in a supermarket. Square Farm are also a great local supplier of produce.
Action: ACE could promote Wye Weight through a marketing campaign.
7. OVER ARCHING
Wales Climate Week is 11 – 15 November 2024 – a 5 day virtual conference on the impact of climate change in our communities, on nature, agriculture, food security, business, transport, buildings and more. https://www.climateweek.gov.wales/EN/pages
Action – Charles to email ACE members and encourage participation.
Climate Fresk – Sarah, Chloe Constable and Nichola James have all received training in giving Climate Fresks. These are workshops to get people to think about the cause and effects of climate change and then come up with actions they can implement in their home, school, place of work or community.
Action: Sarah has offered to provide a Climate Fresk to ACE members and it would be beneficial to have that during Wales Climate Week as a Fringe event.
ACE Youth Group – activities organised by and aimed at young people.
Action: ACE needs a volunteer to help start his up!
8. AOB
No other business was discussed
9. Date of next meeting
Wednesday September 18th 7:30pm at Bridges (room to be confirmed).
Opportunities for Action:
Doing small things together makes a big difference. This is your chance to take action on the climate and nature emergencies!
If you have an idea how ACE can get the local community engaged in actions that will help reduce climate change, please email info@acemonmouth.org