Community energy group’s advice café comes to Berryfield’s new Village Hall

ENERGY advice sessions will be coming to Berryfield Village Hall in Melksham on the 21st March and Melksham Library on Friday 31st March.

They are being run by one of Wiltshire’s largest not-for-profit solar energy enterprises, Wiltshire Wild-life Community Energy (WWCE) Ltd and follows an overwhelmingly positive response to similar events in held at the end of last year.

Developed by WWCE’s carbon reduction champion Jessica Thimbleby, the ‘Keeping Warm This Winter’ community engagement project is designed to deliver targeted advice to people who may be struggling with fuel costs. The first tranche of pop-up sessions took place in November and December last year, helping over 150 local residents better understand how they can reduce their energy bills.

The latest events have been organised in conjunction with Melksham Without Parish Council and a host of experts from the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s Futureproof scheme, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), and Selwood Housing.

During the drop-in session attendees will have the chance to benefit from advice about improving the energy efficiency of their homes – particularly in relation to mobile park homes, what to do in a power cut, and how to sign-up to SSEN’s Priority Service Register. Customers of Selwood Homes will also be able to seek support from the company’s income and neighbourhoods’ team, as well as hearing from property surveyors about how to tackle damp and mould.

Jessica said, “Our first series of pop-ups was so well received by residents in Melksham – even attracting the attention of Michelle Donelan MP – that we’ve decided to bring them back this March. From midday until 3.30pm on the 21st March people can come along to Berryfield’s new sustainable village hall and access advice from a range of experts, which we hope will help them improve energy efficiency at home and reduce their bills in the long term.

“And then again with an energy cafe at Melksham Library on Friday 31st March from 9.30am to 1pm.”

Chair of WWCE Julian Barlow, said, “With energy prices still incredibly high and further rises expected in April there’s never been greater call for groups like ours to share their expertise, which is why we’re pleased to be working with Melksham Without Parish Council to support local people with this vital service. Delivering tangible community benefits has always been at the heart of everything we do, and this initiative is an extension of that commitment.”

Berryfield Village Hall is at: Telford Drive, off Semington Road, SN12 6GF and the library is in the campus in the Market Place.