Action Groups Update - June 2025
Transport and Active Travel Action Group
Work on bikes and buses continues. Tim A has been working on establishing an e bike charging point on the Quayside. Judith has been contacted by someone who runs a support group for people with sight-loss to discuss how people with sight-loss have transport and mobility problems and what needs to be done to improve matters.
Tweed Estuary Pollution Action Group
Elaine has contacted Northumbrian Water about meeting with them to discuss their plans to install planted soakaways for surface water in Berwick. They were reluctant to meet at present as their ideas are ‘insufficiently advanced’. Tansy and Nigel have undertaken training by Environment Agency on Nitrate monitoring at Fenham-le-Moor. Tansy said that they would be happy to do the nitrate monitoring there once a month in summer and once every two months in winter to continue the data recording and saving the present monitors from travelling from Darlington. Nitrate monitoring needs to be added to the risk assessment.
Growing Communities Action Group
Authority to install water butts has yet to be obtained from Northumberland County Council. Gardening work on the town beds continues. Growing Community volunteers will be answering questions regarding the bed planting (edible and ornamental) at the Castlegate bed (by war memorial) 11am-12 and the Foul Ford beds 1-2pm as part of Berwick’s Open Gardens event on 15th June.
Zero Waste Hub Action Group
a) Repair Cafe: Tim has done his PAT testing training. One PAT testing machine is with Brian at the Repair Café and one is at the Tool Library. Pepper has visited the Duns Repair Café to exchange ideas. She noted Duns people bringing items to repair sat and watched their repair being done rather going to get a coffee as in Berwick. Pepper has offered support to Horncliffe to set up a Repair Café. Discussion about the monetary donations received at the May Repair Café.
The Salvation Army second-hand items warehouse at the Ramparts have asked for visits from the Berwick repairers – primarily to have items in their own stock repaired.
b) Tool Library: Now has 20 members but has been quiet so far (the East Linton Tool Library was also quiet in its first year.). Limited tools for borrowing may be part of the reason. East Linton, which has been running for 5 years, now has c300 tools, including many electric tools which are popular items, while Berwick has only 30/35 tools so far. We have received two donations of around 15 items in total, many of which are electric items, which Tim is PAT testing. We need funding for more tools, especially electric tools.
Once any donated items are added to the inventory, the 20 members will be surveyed to find out what tools they would be most likely to need. This together with East Linton’s ‘Top 10’ list could form the ‘shopping list’ for the next tranche of tools.
There is potential to further use social media to encourage more people to join. Providing DIY workshops could also encourage more use of the Library.
Martin is happy to continue with the Tool Library for the next two months but then wishes to return to running Warm Homes Action Group. There should be a Zero Waste meeting after the next Repair Café to agree someone to take over the running of the Tool Library.
