Litton Cheney Parish Council

Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan

CONTEXT

Dorset Council has joined with other regional and local councils to declare a climate and ecological emergency. Litton Cheney Parish Council has voted to support this as far as possible, albeit its small size will limit the scope of the changes that can be achieved.

There are two aspects to our approach to the problems that the country and the wider planet faces:-

1. Mitigate the worst effects of the emergency, by reducing our impact on the environment and the climate, either at an individual level or as a council

2. Build a resilient community to face future problems.

 

What Dorset Council can do

Dorset Council is currently in the process of drafting their Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan, incorporating ideas put forward by the community and detailed Here. The Council is starting to change its practices to reduce the impact on the environment. There is some useful information on their website with suggestions for more sustainable living:-

https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/countryside-coast-parks/countryside-management/green-dorset/what-you-can-do-to-help-the-environment.aspx

https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/emergencies-severe-weather/climate-emergency/how-you-can-help-fight-climate-change-right-now.aspx

 


 

What the parish council can do

As a parish council we can influence behaviour locally and regionally, and lobby central government through our MP.

As a member of BLAP, the Parish Council can work to bring about change at Dorset Council in their policy and practices on public transport, energy efficiency, pollution, verge management and use of chemical pesticides etc.

The decision at Heathrow which found that the application for a third runway had not taken sufficient account of the climate commitments proves that climate issues can legitimately be part of the planning decision process.

The Parish Council will support appropriate local planning applications that satisfy the current planning restraints which minimise carbon emissions and other impacts and ensure that new applications are carbon neutral.

The Parish Council will also support applications for new renewable energy schemes, provided that they are suitable for our sensitive and special landscape in Dorset.

The Parish Council can provide a lead for the local community by signposting initiatives to encourage residents to reduce their impact on climate and the environment.

Examples of helpful websites are:-

Sustainable Dorset

52 Climate Actions

Additional ways to recycle your waste

How to make an ecobrick

How to tackle the Ecological Emergency

The Parish Council will look at possibilities for:-

Provision of an electric car charging point

Using the churchyard/village hall area to encourage wildlife by the use of planting and improving the habitat for wildlife.

Encouraging parents at the school to reduce journeys by car where possible

 

WHAT VILLAGE RESIDENTS CAN DO

Any future initiatives will need to take into account the changed world that we now inhabit. Car sharing schemes are not an option at present and recycling projects have inherent risks attached. The table above shows the most effective ways to reduce our carbon footprint. More locally it is estimated that the biggest contributors to household carbon emissions are food, housing and transport. Taking each of these in turn, below are suggestions for actions that individual households can take to make a difference:-

Food

Eat more locally grown food and try growing our own

Reduce the food you throw away and only buy what you need.

Avoid palm oil in processed food

Eat less meat

 

 

Housing

The government has just announced a Green Homes Grant to reduce the carbon emissions from heating and lighting our homes. The grant will pay 2/3rds of the cost up to #5000 for the following:-

Loft insulation, Wall insulation, Underfloor insulation, Double and triple glazing, Eco-friendly boilers, heat pumps, low-energy lighting and energy-efficient doors

Install solar panels  if there is sufficient demand the Parish Council can coordinate a multi-property installation scheme such as that set up by Frome Town Council in their Solar Streets project.

Switch to renewable energy - https://bigcleanswitch.org/ gives a list of suppliers and how green they really are.

Use renewable light bulbs

If you have just moved home, have a look at the EPC for suggestions on what is most effective for your house.

Transport

If possible switch to an electric car

Walk or cycle where possible

Avoid unnecessary journeys  we have all become used to going out less, so why not continue?

 

And generally - Reduce waste, reuse, recycle, repair, repurpose.

We are a small village but we can all make a difference by using resources as efficiently as possible.