About Us

The origins of Cookpole Energy Action lie in the open meeting held at the Walpole pavilion to discuss climate change. We had an excellent visiting speaker – John Taylor, Community Advisor for Suffolk Climate Change Partnership – who talked about the many things that individuals and communities can do to reduce their energy consumption, energy costs and ‘carbon footprint’. It was recognised that many people have already done things – such as improving their house insulation, changing to low energy light bulbs, installing biofuel boilers and so on.

But it was also clear that many people who wanted to reduce their energy consumption felt they faced barriers and problems in actually achieving that. And some people also felt that we could and should be able to do more. A few of us felt willing and able to get together to think about what more we could do in Cookley and Walpole. So, on 21st July 2009 five of us met again and Cookpole Energy Action was started.

I consciously use the phrase ‘was started’, rather than ‘was born’ or ‘was formed’ because we were all very clear that we wanted the focus to be on the action rather than on the group – hence the title we agreed on. We also felt it was helpful to have the word ‘action’ in the title to remind us of the underlying aims, especially at times when we might feel bogged down in bureaucracy. And nobody should be under any illusions – if we want to obtain grants to help us achieve whatever we decide to do, there will be bureaucracy involved. What we thought was important is to try and minimise it, and to keep the goals firmly in view.

The point of this article is to let everybody in Cookley and Walpole know that this initiative is starting and to invite people to join in. This doesn’t have to mean coming to regular meetings (although we could do with more than five!). It could be that you have relevant knowledge, skills or experience which you would be willing to share with others. Or you might just have a bit of time spare to put into a good cause. Do let us know, so we can build up a picture of the resources we already have within our community.

Clearly, we are right at the beginning of Cookpole Energy Action, and nothing has been ruled in or out, in terms of projects or activities we might take on. But one idea we wanted to explore further is the possibility of generating electricity for Cookley and Walpole by wind and/or solar power. John Taylor has agreed to come back and join us for a more in depth discussion of the feasibility of this particular way forward. We do not yet have a date, but if this is something you would like to find out more about or be involved in, then do let us know and we will give you the meeting date when it’s agreed.

We will try to keep you up to date with what Cookpole Energy Action is doing by putting a brief article in each edition of Cookpole News. If you want to know more, do please feel free to contact any one of us. At the moment we are: Tracey Collett, Paul Grimwood. Zoe Mair (secretary), Mike Porter and Simon Weeks (chairman).

Simon Weeks
For Cookpole Energy Action
Tel. 01986 784348
Email: Simonweeks@oakcottage.org.uk