Disused plot in Splott to get new lease of life
A SOCIAL enterprise is looking for donations to help build solar-powered toilets.
Green Squirrel is fund-raising for the site at Railway Gardens on Railway Street in Splott.
“We have the most incredible, amazing, supportive community here in Splott and Adamsdown,” said Hannah Garcia, of Green Squirrel, which has already raised £640 towards the project.
Ms Garcia aims to raise £1,000 by Christmas to pay for accessible doors for the toilets.
Donors will receive an eCard designed by local illustrators, Martine Brown and Robin Bonar-Law, or can donate in someone else’s name as a gift.
The toilet block will have three cubicles made from reclaimed and sustainably sourced materials, which will eventually help service a range of businesses and their activities.
The Railway Gardens team conducted a survey into what the community thought should be crowd-funded, and the responses included ‘solar power’ and ‘toilets’ and so the idea of solar-powered toilets was born.
The toilets won’t be totally off-grid to ensure they can still function in gloomy weather but solar will be the main source of power for the lights.
The plans are just one part of a larger community hub project for Splott and Adamsdown residents.
The Railway Gardens site will also have a two-storey community building made from recycled shipping containers, housing eight small business spaces, as well as a mini allotment, beehives and an outdoor event space.
“There’s so much ambition and enthusiasm in this area for starting new projects and creating things that make a difference,” Ms Garcia said of the project.
Building work is set to commence next year and in the meantime, they are seeking funding from The National Lottery People and Places fund.
The project has been ongoing since 2018 when the Council granted use of the derelict site alongside the railway.
Ms Garcia said that Network Rail require £8,000 to bring the community building which will be assembled off-site onto the Railway Street plot. These unexpected challenges along with the restrictions of Covid-19 mean fund-raising has been adapted to be online this year.
Go to www.railwaystreet.co.uk to donate to the cause.
A team of fund-raising volunteers will be assembled in the new year. Get in touch via the website if you are interested.
