A NEW Scottish study is aiming to understand the everyday energy challenges facing one of the country’s most disadvantaged areas.
The Stirling University project will engage communities in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, on the challenges of fuel poverty and its impact on household decision-making, health, energy behaviours, mobility and access to local services. It will support planning around energy provision and provide an evidence base to inform future activity associated with the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.
READ MORE: COP26 in 'chaos and confusion' as conference is launched
Dr Jennifer Dickie, lecturer in environmental geography at Stirling, is leading the project. She said: “The overarching aim of this project is to understand the everyday energy challenges facing disadvantaged communities and explore pathways towards a healthier, wealthier and greener future for local people.”
The study will focus on southern and eastern Alloa and will engage with local community members from a range of third sector organisations, mainly through the Hawkhill Community Association – a key partner in the project.
The team will lead interactive activities – co-designed with The Innovation School from the Glasgow School of Art and project partners Clackmannanshire Council; Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface; the City Region Deal Programme Office; and the British Geological Survey – to explore how energy should be used, generated and shared in Clackmannanshire. An exhibition will travel around a number of locations, including the Stirling University and local community centres in May to share the findings of the project.
The project is funded by the UK Research and Innovation Citizen Science Exploration Grants and Enhancing Place-Based Partnerships awards.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here