THE environmentalist responsible for setting up the groundbreaking York Environment Centre is now hoping to repeat his success to help the poor of India.

Gordon Campbell-Thomas wants to use St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve in Tang Hall as a model for the creation of an “eco community centre” on 22,000 square foot of land in the village of Rajarampur near Kolkata (Calcutta).

The land was donated to York-based John Lally Foundation India from another charitable organisation based in Kolkata.

This weekend sees Mr Campbell-Thomas back in York for the launch of a fundraising campaign to help find the £180,000 needed to make the India project a reality.

The activist, who divides his time between York and India, said: “This project will benefit both the poor farming people of Rajarampur and the environment.

“If we can do it in York, England, we can do it in India.

“The area has two problems; one is climate change, because if water levels rise then it will be underwater.

“The other is the urban spread which could take away their livelihoods.”

The 59-year-old says the community centre will be a base for garbage collection and recycling, a bio-diesel plant, small-scale organic growing and employment opportunities for people with sight and hearing difficulties through handicraft production.

Family planning advice, first aid and free computer training and English language courses would also be provided.

He said: “At the moment, we have the land and the organisation to own it and we have a No Objection Certificate from the local council to go ahead and start construction.

“The driest part of the Indian year is in May and I’m hoping that then we can start digging out the foundation.

“£180,000 would build us everything and provide salaries and overheads for five years.”

Decisions on how to raise the sum will be made at a meeting at York Environment Centre tomorrow.

Mr Campbell-Thomas said: “The meeting on Sunday is of the John Lally International Foundation and is open to everyone to come along and find out about the work we do.

“There will be videos about our work in India then we will decide on our plans for raising funds in the long-term.

“If we can bring the model to India, then impoverished countries could copy it.”

The event runs from 11am to 2pm at York Environment Centre in Rawdon Avenue. For more details, phone 07833 088 563