Llangollen Town
Council has led a three-town submission to the Welsh Government for funding to
support a mobile Library of Things.
The idea is for an electric van that would travel between
Llangollen, Mold and Ruthin offering households the chance to borrow rarely
used household and garden equipment, rather than needing to buy it.
The Library of Things would
contain items such as pressure washers, lawnmowers, electric drills, tents, strimmers,
ladders, travel cots, a projector and more.
It is also hoped it could include new technology items that would help promote a circular
economy such as plastic recycling granulators and possibly a 3D printer so
interested residents in the three towns can build expertise using such items.
If the Welsh
Government funding is approved and matched funds are secured, the aim is for the project to help Llangollen households reduce spending on rarely-used items, try equipment
for new hobbies or sports before purchase, and build valuable skills for the 21st century economy.
It also hopes to link with repair cafes operating or being
developed in each town, loaning tools to trainee “fixperts” to help repair and
reuse broken equipment.
The Library of Things
idea was initially raised with the Town Council during the Cittaslow Networking events last
year, attended by over
50 town groups, and is said to have seemed a good fit when the Welsh Government funding was
announced.
Making the library mobile and sharing it across the three
towns is said to reduce overheads such as rent and rates, maximises items available and
hopefully supports a growing network of “fixperts” across the region.
The idea
builds on a similar approach piloted in Devon and represents an opportunity for Llangollen
to show further leadership in the Circular Economy by piloting the idea for
Wales,p according to Councillor Robyn Lovelock, chair of the Cittaslow Committee of the Town Council.
She said: “The
project is clearly in line with our Cittaslow status, which aims for a more
sustainable future, by reducing the need for people to buy items they could
instead borrow, saving money and storage space in their homes – as well as
reducing the environmental impact of making and transporting those items.”
Cllr Lovelock says she will work over the coming months with Llangollen Town Council and local
community groups to submit matched funding applications to ensure the project
can proceed if offered the capital funds by Welsh Government.
Warren Davies, co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth Llangollen, said: “The scheme will overcome
some of the barriers faced by our group when looking to continue our very
popular repair cafe events.
"The localbenefits to sharing and repairing
are significant [with] increased resilience through skill sharing, less reliance
on imported goods and financial savings through not needing to buy new items."
Heulwen
Wright, chair of Friends of Pengwern, said: "The group would be happy to consider
hosting the van at Pengwern Community Centre in the future.
"The idea
could work well alongside our plans for a community workshop at the Pengwern
Centre."
Tara Dumas, waste and recycling officer for Denbighshire County Council, said: “This is exactly the
type of initiative that will help to reduce waste through increasing reuse-the
first two steps in the waste hierarchy.
"It will also support in getting people to
think differently about their consumption and purchasing habits.
"Denbighshire
County Council endorse the application and can confirm it is complementary
with our current waste strategy goals and objectives.”
Llangollen Town Council will
hear in October if it has been successful in its application.
Cllr Lovelock said the cost to the town council hasn’t been decided yet as discussions
are on-going with the county council and other town councils.
In the meantime,
the Cittaslow Committee are asking for ideas of items people would like to see
available for hire and also for people interested in donating items to get in
touch.
