Boost for eco-park campaign (From Salisbury Journal)

Boost for eco-park campaign

5:35pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Headlines By Hannah White

THE campaign for an eco park on the old UKLF site in Wilton has been awarded more than £50,000 of funding from the government.

The project is among 155 schemes to win a share of £5.1million funding announced by energy and climate change secretary Edward Davey on Monday.

Wilton Eco Park Development Community Association has been awarded £51,909 from the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF).

Mr Davey said: “The big national challenges of keeping the lights on and emissions down can be tackled in small ways in our homes and local communities. These grants are designed to nurture the ideas and enthusiasm of communities up and down the country who want to cut energy use and emissions and save money.”

Suzanne Butters, Wilton eco park campaign organiser, said the funding will mean the campaign can take a step forward and get more people involved as it plans to put in a bid for the site at the end of February. She said: “We are very excited; it’s a wonderful opportunity to roll out a programme of workshops and visits to sites in the south west.”

The association’s dream is of a landmark development that would attract green tourists.

It has the backing of Salisbury MP John Glen and the town council but Wiltshire councillors have given the Defence Infrastructure Organisation outline permission for 450 homes and a business park on the site.

If the park went ahead it could include eco homes, leisure facilities, orchards, workshops and serviced office space to cut commuting.

The grant also gives the project funding to set up a Community Land Trust.

A public meeting is being held at the Michael Herbert Hall, Wilton on February 18 from 11am to 12.30pm for people to find out more about the project and volunteer to be involved in an environmental audit of the buildings in Wilton and Quidhampton.