Leominster follows Cuba's lead

8:09am Friday 27th June 2008

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LEOMINSTER should look to do things the Cuban way as it prepares for the effects of climate change.

That was the feeling after a successful first meeting of the environment steering group Towards Transition Leominster.

A packed Leominster Community Centre saw a screening of a film showing how Cuba adapted to the sudden loss of Soviet oil supplies last week.

“I think everyone was impressed at how Cuba, with its back to the wall, fought for its survival,” said spokeswoman Ann Ashley.

“It could no longer run many cars or buses so it imported a huge number of bicycles from China and, denied oil for tractors and fertiliser manufacture, it transformed its agriculture on organic lines building up soil fertility with compost and setting up urban food gardens on every available scrap of land.

“Diversity and access to fresh food increased, diets changed and the nation’s health changed for the better.

“The feeling from the meeting was that Britain could learn from the Cuban experience.”

After watching the film, the meeting was told of a proposed bid for major funding to set up an anaerobic digester in Leominster to turn biomass into energy.

For more information on the project contact Ann Ashley on 01885 410473.