KCC sets 2030 target to reach net-zero carbon emissions

Kent County Council has set a 2030 target to reach net-zero carbon emissions for its own services and estate.

The government declared a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but KCC plans to accelerate its own action to reach that target 20 years earlier (2030).

KCC Cabinet Member for Environment Susan Carey said: “I am confident we can reach this accelerated target. We’ve used an innovative scenario model from Laser Energy to find the best combination of measures we need to take and our approach to Net Zero is evidence-based, data driven and adaptable.

“Our work on biodiversity, natural solutions, adaptation to climate change, to increase active travel, reduce fuel poverty and generally make Kent a better place to live are all in addition to this specific goal of reaching net-zero for KCC’s services and buildings.

“I don’t underestimate the effort we will need to make to reach this target, but the measures we want to take bring multiple benefits and I believe we’d want to do them whatever target had been set.

“There will be opportunities along the way that may allow us to make faster progress and we need to remain flexible enough to adapt our plans to take advantage of funding, partnerships, technology and innovation.”

KCC has already successfully reduced carbon emissions by 50% between 2010 and 2020.

Laser Energy, part of Commercial Services Kent, a company owned by Kent County Council, has developed a tool to assess various actions and forecast their impact to achieve Net Zero.

This includes investing in renewable energy, shifting to electric vehicles and smarter working practices.

Practically, this will mean fewer miles travelled for business, greater use of electric vehicles, improving the energy efficiency of the buildings KCC owns, creating a district heat network in Maidstone, and greater investment in solar panels.


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Council call for sites to be considered for future local plan

Lewes District Council is asking landowners to come forward if they have sites that could form part of a new local plan. The new Lewes Local Plan, which is commencing preparation, will set the framework for future planning decisions in the District up to 2040.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Emily O’Brien, said: “The government is instructing us to build far more residential units than we have ever done in the past and this is part of this ‘call for sites’.  But this isn’t only about housing, it’s about how we plan the best future for our District that we can.”

The Land Availability Assessment being carried out by the council is part of the preparation of the local plan and will include information about sites that could potentially be used to support future development.

Development could include housing or commercial uses, and the Council would particularly like to hear about sites that would be suitable for renewable energy including solar and wind farms and green infrastructure.

Cllr O’Brien added: “By submitting a site to be considered, this doesn’t decide whether it should be allocated for development in the next Local Plan or mean that it would be granted planning permission, but it does give us vital knowledge of sites that could be considered for development in the future.”

Sites can be submitted online from now until December 18 on the council’s website at www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/planning-policy/strategic-housing-and-economic-land-availability-assessment

The area does not include the part of the district that lies within the South Downs National Park.


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Libraries Week and More – Medway Libraries

Libraries Week, 5-10 October

#LibrariesWeek is an annual celebration showcasing the nation’s much-loved libraries and their vital role in the UK’s book culture.

This year, Medway is celebrating with a social media #Readathon featuring author favourites including Peter James, Milly Johnson, John Lewis-Stempel, Matt Haig, Victoria Hislop, Ben Aaronovitch and Heather Morris. And for our younger readers, we’re being joined by Abi Elphinstone, Serena Patel and Laura Ellen Anderson (as well as Matt Haig of course).

Local Medway authors: Tim Parsons, Netsai Thurmer, Peter Cook, Julia Bettelheim, Mbeke Waseme and Irina Fridman are also supporting our celebration of reading.

Visit Medway Libraries Facebook page every day next week to hear how reading has inspired our bestselling favourites and locally grown talents to put pen to paper. They’ll also be sharing a little about their latest titles…

We’d love to hear about your favourite reads. So, get busy and add your comments to the #MedwayReadathon posts using the hashtag #LibrariesWeek and remember to head to Medway.spydus.co.uk to reserve titles and add book reviews to our library catalogue. To download titles, visit Medway.overdrive.com and medway.rbdigitalglobal.com

Make #LibrariesWeek the week you discover a new favourite read.


Free webinar

libraries

Wondering about the connection between Julius Caesar and Strood? Looking for your great-great aunt’s address? Or trying to find our who lived in your property in 1911?

Join our new series of free webinars on local and family history.

Our first webinar, How to use Dictionary of National Biography for your research, takes place on Tuesday, 20 October at 3pm. Please email us at [email protected] to book your place.

Registration closing date is Monday, 5 October.


Kids ebooks

Now the children are back to school, why not continue to stretch their imaginations – we have a great range of children’s books available at our libraries and online.

Need more support? Find out the 10 top tips for parents to support children to read.

 

 


Banned books

Some books we now stock in libraries were once banned, why not read one from our collections?

To download a title, using your library card and PIN, visit our website.

To reserve titles, visit: medway.spydus.co.uk

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read, launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookshops and libraries.

This year Banned Books Week is from 27 September to 3 October, with the theme of this year’s event: “Censorship is a dead end. Find your freedom to read!”


National Poetry Day

Join the celebration of #NationalPoetryDay on 1 October with the launch of the #Medway575 #Haiflu with Medway Libraries.

This collaborative poem was written by people across Medway, sharing their vision under lockdown. Watch it here.

 


Online Lego Club

Have you taken part in our online LEGO® Club yet?

If you like building brick creations, no matter how old you are, you can join in.

LEGO® club online challenges take place every Tuesday at 4pm on our Medway Libraries Facebook page. Find out more.


 

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Community effort brings raft of beach initiatives

A host of new initiatives aimed at improving Seaford beach for residents and visitors to enjoy has been underway – thanks to the hard work of a community partnership.

Lewes District Council has worked in close partnership with a number of groups during the last year to bring about beach improvements including repair work to Splash Point that is now open after being shut off to the public since February following storm damage.

As well as the district council, the Seaford Beach Partnership has included Seaford Town Council, The Environment Agency, Seaford Lifeguards, Newhaven Port and Properties, Neal Richardson, of Splash Point Music Ltd and swimmer who is part of Impact Seaford and Steve Tapp, a local anger, co-founder of LISA (Local Independent Sea Anglers) and the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme.

Left to right, Neal Richardson, a local entrepreneur, Councillor Matthew Bird, Lead Cabinet Member for Sustainability, LDC, Councillor Morag Everden, Seaford Town Council, Dave Collins, Harbour Master

In addition to the works at Splash Point that were jointly funded by the district council, town council and the Environment Agency, the collaboration of the partnership has resulted in new dedicated recycling bins for used fishing lines, new beach safety signs along the entire bay and a beach user guide which includes Covid-19 safety guidance.

Councillor Matthew Bird, Cabinet Member for Sustainability, said: “We would like to thank all of the partners involved in these projects, which have been brilliant examples of multiple agencies working together with the community to increase resilience to climate change and a greater shared understanding of the priority issues we face.”

Leader of Lewes District Council Councillor James MacCleary said: “This is a great package of improvements to Seaford Bay which I really welcome. Over the summer, we’ve seen a lot more people visiting Seaford and we are keen to respond to that challenge positively The District Council will continue to work with partners to make improvements to the seafront and find other ways to support the largest town in our district.”


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Medway: Abide by new COVID rules to protect community

That’s the message from Medway Council Leader Cllr Alan Jarrett, who had this to say in an open letter to residents:

Dear residents,

Last week the Prime Minister announced to the country the news that with COVID-19 infection rates on the rise, restrictions had to be tightened again. For all of us, this was a sobering message that no doubt brought with it feelings of frustration, disappointment and anxiety. Like you, I am wondering when this will come to an end, but the message for me is clear. We are all in this together, and together we must work to slow the spread of the infection and protect our loved ones, our livelihoods and protect the whole of Medway.

Fortunately Medway has been in a much better place than many other towns and cities throughout the UK with lower incidence rates. Much of this is due to the compliance and thoughtful and considerate way everyone behaved during and since lock down. It is also down to the magnificent job done by our many public sector colleagues – from the NHS and health services, the police, ambulance service, and schools, as well as care providers, retail operators, the voluntary sector and many others who have done an extraordinary job over the past six months to keep Medway safe and running smoothly. For our part, the council is committed to work tirelessly to protect Medway and keep all our essential services running for you. The way this deadly virus behaves does mean things can quickly change and we need to be prepared for this.

Any death from COVID-19 is one death too many and there are local families who are mourning lost loved ones from this terrible pandemic. We must do all we can to prevent any more deaths in Medway and every single one of us has a responsibility to do all we can to stop the spread.

Frustrating as these additional restrictions might seem, they are now the law and must be obeyed. I need not remind you that the consequences of not abiding by them could be the tragic loss of a partner, mother, father, grandparent, child or anyone else that you love. It could also be your neighbour, colleague or other member of the Medway community.

No one is exempt from spreading coronavirus. Many of you are doing your bit by wearing face coverings, washing your hands regularly and observing social distancing. But there is a small minority of people out there who are still not observing the rules and they are putting you and our community at risk. The council will not hesitate, working with the police, to take necessary action against any business or individual which by act or omission put the lives of others at risk.

Your response to the first wave of COVID-19 was magnificent. We came together as a community to support each other. Now it is time to do so again and show that Medway spirit to beat this pandemic together. We cannot be complacent – too many lives are at risk. I am again urging everyone to stick to the new rules. Abide by the rule of six, work from home if you can, remember that pubs and restaurants close at 10pm and please go straight home from there. If you have not done so please download the NHS COVID-19 app to your mobile phone. It will help keep you safe and assist the NHS to track and contain the spread of the virus. Please remember the simple rules of Hands, Face and Space at all times. Stay safe, protect those you love and protect Medway.

Cllr Alan Jarrett
Leader of Medway Council


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Eastbourne’s Whole Estate Plan endorsed by SDNPA

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has given a ringing endorsement to Eastbourne Borough Council’s Whole Estate Plan.

The 25-year environmental management plan focuses on the conservation of the downland and ensuring it has a sustainable future, including supporting the council’s tenant farmers.

The plan has taken two years to complete and is the result of a very close working relationship with the SDNPA and consultation with numerous stakeholders, including downland interest groups and local residents.

Councillor Jonathan Dow, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “I would like to congratulate and thank our officers for their expertise and great diligence in completing this incredibly important piece of work. It is an enormous achievement and worth nothing that we are the first local authority to receive the endorsement.

“Let’s be perfectly clear, our downland is the beating heart of Eastbourne and so our role as custodians of it brings great responsibility. I am also now certain that within the rich history and tapestry of the downland, the passage of this plan will be judged most favourably.”

Headline projects within the plan include enhancing the part played by the Beachy Head Countryside Centre in signposting activities, promoting the downland and supporting education and volunteering activities.

Alongside this, subject to a future business case, the currently redundant buildings on Black Robin Farm will become a place for people to learn about and engage with the Eastbourne Downland through workshops and courses. Existing cottages on site will be brought back into use as holiday accommodation, hopefully in time for Christmas.

Andrew Lee, Countryside and Policy Manager for the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “We were delighted to endorse this Whole Estate Plan. The Eastbourne Downland forms the gateway into the National Park from its eastern end and is a hugely important place for nature and for people.

“It is great to see such a clear and positive vision for its future and we look forward to working with the council on improving its habitats, access and facilities as part of the Heritage Coast.”

The council’s downland sits within the South Downs National Park and consists of 3,000 acres of farmed land as well as 1,000 acres of open access downland. The downland in Eastbourne welcomes over one million annual visitors.

The Whole Estate Plan can be viewed on Eastbourne Borough Council’s website www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/downlandwep


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