It’s Our World: Holmfirth Transition Town is bringing the community together

A TOWN is coming together to tackle climate change and help the environment.

Holmfirth is one of 170 places in the UK that has signed up to become a Transition Town.

The movement – which encourages communities to take action against issues including climate change and the mass use of oil – was started in Ireland in 2004.

There are now more than 300 towns across the world committed to the project.

Holmfirth signed-up to the initiative last year and held its first meeting in February 2010.

Now plans are under way to help residents in the Holme Valley grow their own food, make their homes more eco-efficient and look at ways of saving fuel.

Janet Williams, chair of Holmfirth Transition Town (HoTT), said: “One of the things we need to think about is how to reduce the amount of petrol, oil and diesel we use.

“We need to find alternatives, hence the development of alternative and renewable energy sources, depending on things that exist naturally like wind, water and sun.

“We also want to work as a community to explore ways of reducing our carbon footprint and living life more sustainably.

“If you get together with others, you can support each other. It is very enabling.

“Some people say you cannot achieve much at a local level to impact on climate change, that it is down to the big businesses and powers.

“But we believe when communities get together they can actually achieve a lot.”

The group – which has around 70 members – has already held an energy advice day to help people in the Holme Valley learn more about cutting costs in their homes and reducing their carbon emissions.

It has also teamed up with other local organisations including Keep Holmfirth Special and the Holme Valley Gardening Network to find ways of working together.

Now plans are also being drawn up to install the first recharge point for electric cars in Kirklees.

Janet added: “One of the big problems is the amount of traffic passing through and the way many people depend on their cars.

“We are planning to hold an event in the Spring to explore the interest in car sharing, cycling or setting up a car club.

“We also want to introduce the first plug-in point for electric cars on Kirklees.”

Meetings for HoTT are held on the first Tuesday of every month and are open to everyone.

Further information about Holmfirth call Janet Williams on 686912 or email janetmikeatpaw@aol.com.