Greener Wyre Forest - Tackling climate change
News release issued:
More than 20, 000 trees have been planted on Wyre Forest District Council land across the district in the past two years.
The figure is from a report being discussed at the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny meeting on Thursday 1 September. Members of the committee are receiving an update on the actions the council has been taking to directly reduce its impact on climate change through its “Top Ten” actions. The committee will also be debating the council’s Climate Change Action Plan for 2022/23.
Tree planting was one of the actions identified by the council’s Green Advisory Panel. The Panel was set up to provide advice on the actions the council can take to reduce its own carbon emissions. The Panel has also been working on providing more electric vehicle charging points.
The council is putting approximately 30 electric vehicle charging points across six council owned car parks. Some of the units will be able to charge two cars at the same time. Funding for the project has been secured and the council is procuring a contractor to install the units.
During this financial year, the council also plans to buy its first electric vehicle. There are plans to replace three more small vans in the next financial year. This is part of its aim to reduce emission from its vehicle fleet and equipment. The move to hybrid working and online meetings has reduced emissions from business travel, and it is looking to introduce a ‘cycle to work’ scheme. The Panel is also working with other councils on how they may adopt a common approach to changing licensing policy for taxis and private hire vehicles. This is to help reduce dependence on new vehicles which use fossil fuel.
The council has switched to renewable energy tariffs for electricity and gas supplies in all its buildings. It is also carrying out a feasibility study for generating renewable energy on council land.
The work of the Green Advisory Panel is part of a wider Wyre Forest Climate Change Action Plan, which the council has been working with partners to deliver. Over the past 12 months this has included advising and supporting residents with domestic energy use. The council works with Act On Energy to provide free and impartial advice and information on fuel bills and energy efficiency. The council is also part of the Wyre Forest Green Alliance which brings together local organisations to help individuals and communities to learn more about environmental issues and how to respond to them. The Alliance organised webinars on topics like renewable heating and electric vehicles, an art exhibition to raise awareness of environmental issues and SusFest, a sustainable festival, which was held in spring. Wyre Forest District Council also hosted a bootcamp for businesses to help them develop low carbon technologies and solutions. The authority won funding from the government’s community Renewal Fund for the scheme.
Councillor Graham Ballinger, Wyre Forest District Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Community Safety said:
“Climate change is one of the defining global challenges of our generation. There is an urgent need for us all to come together to limit global temperature rises and build a sustainable world for future generations.
“We take our role in tackling climate change seriously, and this report shows the steps we have been making and what we’ve got planned.
We want residents to understand what we are doing to tackle climate change on a local level, to give them ideas for steps they can take in their own home or business, and to inspire them to join the collective effort to improve our environment.”
Find out more about how the council is working to tackle climate change on our greener Wyre Forest page