Trail-blazing Pembrokeshire Eco Centre commemorated in blue plaque unveiling
The work and commitment of the West Wales Eco Centre, which blazed a trail in the field of fuel poverty, sustainable energy advice and environmental education, is to be lauded by a commemorative blue plaque which will be officially unveiled at a civic ceremony next month.
The plaque, which will be situated on The Old School, Lower St Mary's Street, will mark the site of the UK's first and smallest commercial solar PV installation, which began feeding electricity into the grid on October 11, 1996. Its unveiling will take place 28 years later, almost to the day, on October 5 at 2.30pm.
The building housed the pioneering charity - The West Wales Eco Centre - which led forward-thinking schemes which are now considered mainstream, such as insulation schemes, energy advice, energy shows, recycling schemes, school projects, and training days. Its aim was to spread the word and promote innovative solutions towards combating the climate crisis
Founded in 1980, the West Wales Eco Centre delivered a number of other pioneering projects such as the UK's first bulk purchase insulation scheme and West Wales' first bottle bank. It also trained and employed many local people, and engaged with them in understanding the Earth's environmental challenges
Sadly the centre was forced to close in March 2013, as a result of a loss of essential funding.
"Newport, and indeed Pembrokeshire, has every reason to be proud of what The West Wales Eco Centre stood for and for what it achieved," commented Sandra Bayes, who is a committed supporter of the Eco Centre's work.
"This gathering will give the opportunity to meet and thank some of the people who were involved. And there'll be tea and cake provided for everyone in the Golden Lion afterwards."
Trail-blazing Pembrokeshire Eco Centre commemorated in blue plaque unveiling
The work and commitment of the West Wales Eco Centre, which blazed a trail in the field of fuel poverty, sustainable energy advice and environmental education, is to be lauded by a commemorative blue plaque which will be officially unveiled at a civic ceremony next month.
The plaque, which will be situated on The Old School, Lower St Mary's Street, will mark the site of the UK's first and smallest commercial solar PV installation, which began feeding electricity into the grid on October 11, 1996. Its unveiling will take place 28 years later, almost to the day, on October 5 at 2.30pm.
The building housed the pioneering charity - The West Wales Eco Centre - which led forward-thinking schemes which are now considered mainstream, such as insulation schemes, energy advice, energy shows, recycling schemes, school projects, and training days. Its aim was to spread the word and promote innovative solutions towards combating the climate crisis
Founded in 1980, the West Wales Eco Centre delivered a number of other pioneering projects such as the UK's first bulk purchase insulation scheme and West Wales' first bottle bank. It also trained and employed many local people, and engaged with them in understanding the Earth's environmental challenges
Sadly the centre was forced to close in March 2013, as a result of a loss of essential funding.
"Newport, and indeed Pembrokeshire, has every reason to be proud of what The West Wales Eco Centre stood for and for what it achieved," commented Sandra Bayes, who is a committed supporter of the Eco Centre's work.
"This gathering will give the opportunity to meet and thank some of the people who were involved. And there'll be tea and cake provided for everyone in the Golden Lion afterwards."