Community Projects

COMMUNITY PROJECTS
We have a number of projects that have been conceived and are being run by local organisations.

The Rathmell Dragon
Constructed entirely from discarded plastic bags the Rathmell Dinosaur is a fearsome beast. Click here if you dare!

Settle Riverside Project
The aims of the project are; to
Improve the riverside area by upgrading and interpreting the existing access routes.
Investigate the opportunities for and design new access routes and landscaping works.
Develop links with the town centre and the town-based workspace development for the creative industries via an arts trail and promote the riverside to visitors.

Settle Town Hall Redevelopment
There is strong public opinion that the Town Hall as the focus for the community should be an exemplar of energy efficiency, use of renewable energy sources and sustainable development principles. It is recognised that the historic nature of the building and its listed building status may provide some limitations as to how far this objective can be achieved. However as there needs to be a complete overhaul/renewal of the heating and electricity wiring the opportunity should be taken to explore green alternatives and the possibility of achieving grant funding for this via e.g. The Low Carbon building programme.

Go Green with a Bus Pass
Over 60? Still driving but wish you didn’t need to? Well there is a simple answer, it will save you stress and strain and more importantly will be a small step toward cutting `Global Warming`, get a Bus Pass from Craven District Council and put the car away or better still as friends of ours did put the car into retirement and travel by bus, it can also be a social event as you meet new faces and catch up with those people you may not have seen for some time or so they tell me.
From April 2008 bus passes go nation wide and though there will be some restrictions in the main travel will be unlimited, the very helpful officer at CDC told me that 13,000 of you will be eligible for a pass and since free passes were introduced the take up has been enormous. In October Central Government will be issuing press releases on nation wide travel and CDC will also play its part by putting all information on its web site, so sit back relax and let the bus take the strain whilst helping to keep us Going Green.

Settle Swimming Pool
Since 1999 the Friends of Settle Swimming Pool have been collecting waste paper and cardboard, which as well as a useful contribution to recycling, raised valuable funds that could be put towards long term developments and improvements at the pool.
In the pool car park the Friends have a number of skips where your contributions will be very welcome, not only in he form of waste paper and card but also contributions by giving some of your time to help. The skips must be packed as fully as possible before the waste paper company will accept them, so it falls to the volunteers to fold, crush and generally pack the material in as tightly as possible.
If you value the benefits that Settle Pool offers to the town and could spare a few hours a week to help preserve it, please contact Harry Foxcroft on 01729 825649

Clapham Bio-diesel Project
The Clapham Community Co-operative operates as a social enterprise and its members will produce bio-diesel by using the trans-esterification process from used vegetable oil. Based at the organic nursery, ‘Growing with Grace’ the members will be able to purchase the bio-diesel for personal and organisational use.
Funding has been provided to purchase the equipment and the initial raw materials required to produce the first batch of bio-diesel. This is a first for the National Park and offers the potential to show other communities what is possible on a small scale.

Women's Institute
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) has long supported and been involved in all matters concerning the environment and over the years have protested loud and long about such things as packaging, food prices paid to local farmers, waste disposal and many other matters.
Settle & Giggleswick WIs both fully support the challenge and encourage their members to think about issues such as:
Buying local produce as far as possible
Using energy saving light bulbs
Running the washing machine at 30 degrees
Keeping an eye on local shops and supermarkets regarding packaging and suppliers
Using public transport.
www.womens-institute.co.uk/carbonchallenge.

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT)
YDMT works to support the environmental, social and economic well-being of this special area.
Who we are
We are an independent organisation a Registered Charity and Company, with a board of 14 trustees drawn from a wide range of interests and areas, united by a commitment to the Dales. More than 30,000 donors around the world now support our work. Not restricted geographically, we find that our work draws us increasingly into the nearby conurbations of West Yorkshire and North Lancashire.
We currently employ 16 staff. Together trustees and staff represent a wide range of knowledge, interests and connections, and all share our primary value “to be passionate about the Dales and to enjoy working for them”.
What we do
Since we began in 1996, conserving the physical heritage features which make up the Dales landscape has been the core of our work. Over the last 10 years we have helped more than 600 individual projects worth £15 million. These have included woodlands, wildlife habitats, barns, walls, village halls, historic buildings and features.
Our role has widened over the years as we have realised how just closely the social, economic and environmental aspects of life in the Dales are interdependent - catalysed by Foot and Mouth. We are now helping with issues as diverse as countryside apprenticeships, supporting local contractors and encouraging sustainable development. Social exclusion, education, and trying to engage communities in nearby conurbations with the Dales have become a real focus, with some inspiring and pioneering work.
We have a good reputation as a ”doing” organisation which gets practical results. This has been achieved with the help of many partners. As statutory funding has become more difficult we rely increasingly on the generosity of our own donors; whether individuals, businesses or Charitable Trusts.
One of the principles behind YDMT was to allow the many people who love the Dales to contribute to the well-being of the area. Through our “Donate to the Dales” appeal, everyone is able to help our work. Visitors can purchase pin-badges and register as donors through 150 sales points in local businesses – sustainable tourism. Larger donors can also contribute directly to individual projects. This appeal was “launched” officially by our Patron HRH The Prince of Wales on March 22nd 2005. We aim to raise at least £1million over three years.
Please do look at our website www.ydmt.org

Langcliffe Quarry Development.
The redundant depot and waste disposal site at Langcliffe quarry is environmentally sensitive. It includes a scheduled ancient monument (probably the best preserved Hoffmann Kiln in England), and some rare species of birds and flowers. It is probably the only substantial site in the National Park capable of development for business use. There have been several proposals in the last twenty years, but none have been implemented. The IRD project conducted investigation into possible uses for this site and recently commissioned Rural Solutions to assess the site and propose specific development proposals.
Rural Solutions’ Stage One briefing paper outlines a proposal for a ‘green tourism’ centre which would include the following:
a traditional building skills centre,
office accommodation,
a rural recycling centre,
tourist ‘eco’ accommodation,
YDNPA office, and
an interpretation centre.
The site benefits from close proximity to the Settle-Carlisle Railway and has existing rights of way crossing it as well as interpretation boards for the industrial heritage of the site.
For more details: 01756 799955
Email info@ruralsolutions.co.uk
www.ruralsolutions.co.uk

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