Community enterprise unveils green vision for town's future

Cobbydale Regeneration was born after an enthusiastic public meeting backed calls for a new body to protect local businesses, green the local economy and find ways of bringing new investment into the town.

Drawing on the local name for the town, Cobbydale hopes to regenerate Silsden through finding ways to support local businesses, growing food in the area, tackling derelict property and setting up community owned renewable energy.

More than 20 people attended a recent meeting at Silsden Town Hall and unanimously gave their support, seeking to become members and buy shares in the new venture. Six people also offered their time to become directors of the new company.

The acting chairman of Cobbydale Regeneration, Jonathan Crewdson, said: "I really wanted to do something for the area since moving in because Silsden does have a fair number of independent shops and small businesses, but they had slowly been disappearing even before the recession kicked in. We have had quite a few businesses that have closed over the past few years."

Mr Crewdson, who has lived in Silsden for around three years, has previously helped to set up social enterprises in Leeds.

He said: "First and foremost we are a community enterprise. We are involved in trying to reverse what we see as the slow decline in the town.

"Our aims are to help local businesses to survive and to thrive. One thing we are very concerned about is encouraging people to shop locally and to support local traders."

The organisation is also pressing ahead with trying to set up community owned renewable energy in Silsden which could be in the form of a hydro scheme in a local river or solar power.

It is drawing for inspiration on Yorkshire's first community-funded hydro-electric generating plant in Settle in North Yorkshire

The original idea for a hydro in Settle came from Water Power Enterprises, a social enterprise based in Grassington. Cobbydale Regeneration is applying for funding to pay for a feasibility study to see if a similar operation could be set up using one of the rivers in the Silsden area.

While moves towards renewable energy could take several years, the organisation is also focusing on projects which can be set up in the short-term including the possibility of a "buy local" campaign to support local businesses.

Mr Crewdson said: "We are looking at the idea of a loyalty card where people would collect points or get some sort of discount."

The group is also looking to back calls for more public allotments and encourage local food production and hopes to look at ways of putting derelict land or empty buildings to better use.

The organisation has been set up as a co-operative society, allowing people to buy shares and become a member.

Mr Crewdson added: "We hope to be able to pay some sort of return to people but it will not be huge amounts and the priority will be the regeneration of the town.

"Our long term vision is to realise the potential of Silsden. We do not want to be people who just come in and do something to the area – we want to work with others already in the area – there is a lot of talent. And we particularly want to look at the future in terms of green energy and renewable energy."

The next meeting of Cobbydale Regeneration will take place on Wednesday April 28, from 7pm until 9pm, in the function room of the Punch Bowl Inn, Silsden.