Braintree District Council is asking residents and businesses to give their views and to prioritise actions to help the council tackle climate change with the help of the community across the district
The council has been working with a group represented by councillors, businesses, residents and community organisations across the district. The Climate Change Working Group’s research has led to the creation of the draft strategy which looks to make council activities, as far as practical, carbon neutral by 2030. This ambition was extended to support the district as a whole to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and to support communities so they can adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The draft strategy is now out to public engagement, and residents and businesses have the chance to share their priorities on a range of different initiatives, which aim to tackle Climate Change in the areas of: resources, energy conservation, planning and development, transport, council assets and operations, natural environment and adapting to climate change.
Councillor Wendy Schmitt, Cabinet Member for Environment and Place at Braintree District Council, said: “Climate change is perhaps the greatest threat we face and it is not something we can ignore. We have looked at what we can do to become more carbon neutral and we’ve also looked at how the community as a whole can help, with each and everyone one of us playing our part to tackle climate change.
I want everyone to get involved in our climate change engagement: tell us your priorities and let us know if our draft climate change strategy mirrors the things you care about.
Your opinion counts. Climate change is not something we can deal with alone but as a community we can make real lasting change.”
The feedback will help shape the final version of the strategy and future annual action plans.
The final Climate Change Strategy will be presented to Council later in the year.
Residents can now give their views and priorities as part of the engagement activity (from 10 May 2021) via www.braintree.gov.uk/climatechange or by using the council’s social media channels.
A draft cycling strategy is also now out to public engagement. Braintree District Council is working with local partners to identify how cycling infrastructure can be improved in the district to make active travel a realistic alternative for more people. The council’s ultimate goal is for district wide connectivity for safer and greener travel which feeds into the draft Climate Change Strategy. To have your say: www.braintree.gov.uk/cyclingstrategy
Paper copies of both feedback forms are available on request by calling the council’s Customer Service Centre on 01376 552525.