ENVIRONMENTALLY-conscious residents have set up a group that aims to make Rose Hill and Iffley greener.

The Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon group will campaign for solar panels on public buildings in the area including the proposed new community centre and are hoping to set up a car club, where drivers share a car instead of using their own.

Members are also hoping to launch a collection of old electrical items for recycling in August, which will happen once a month.

Eleanor Watts, chairman of the group, said the threat of climate change and global warming prompted the launch of the group.

The Rose Hill 60-year-old said: “Our children and grandchildren will live in a terrible world if we don’t face up to the fact that the weather is changing and we don’t make a difference to our lives.

“A group of us felt we needed to do something in our area by concentrating on small projects like the new Rose Hill Community Centre and bringing it to the forefront that we need to change our lifestyle.

“As a group we felt we needed to start where we are.”

They are in the process of setting up a car club, which could include a bay at the Co-operative store in Rose Hill.

Ms Watts said: “There is evidence to show that when people are members of a car club, they use their cars less.

“What most people need a car for is their weekly shop.

“They could walk to the Co-op then use the car to take all their shopping home.

“I am interested in getting rid of my car and the expense that goes with it.”

She added: “I think anything that reduces car use must be good. We need to use cars less and we need to burn less fossil fuels.”

There are 17 car clubs already in the city.

Catherine Gibb, a retired nurse from Rose Hill and member of the new group, said: “It is very noticeable that there are more cars in Courtland Road and in Oxford. “So why are we not car sharing more? “The opportunity of the new community centre is a big thing for Rose Hill. To have solar panels on it would be a great opportunity.”

The electrical collection will take place on the first Saturday of every month from August.

Items must be portable and dropped off at Church House in The Oval by 1pm on the day of collection.

The next meeting is on Wednesday, July 24 at 7.30pm at 1 Hunsdon Road, Rose Hill.

For more information contact Eleanor Watts on watts.eleanor@yahoo.co.uk or 01865 453354.