Despite what l and everyone else who walks beside the London Road traffic witnesses, our air IS getting cleaner.
Apparently, carbon emissions per person in Bath & North East Somerset have halved over the last 20 years and continue to reduce steadily, according to a new climate and nature emergency report.
The Annual Climate and Nature Progress Report will be presented to Cabinet on Thursday, 13 November. It sets out work underway and planned to tackle both climate and nature emergencies.
The council is leading the way nationally with work including:
- Electrifying the waste fleet
- Managing more of the council estate for nature, including Charlcombe Meadows and Purlewent Village Green
- Making it easier for people to walk, wheel and use public transport to reduce transport emissions
- Supporting the owners of listed buildings in Bath to save energy by retrofitting through our Green Heritage Homes project
- Securing funding with partners led by the Forest of Avon for the first new national forest in 30 years.
Emissions from the council’s own buildings and estate have almost halved over just the last nine years. This has included new solar panels at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre. There are also plans to upgrade Carrswood Adult Day Centre and the Civic Centre in Keynsham with solar and/or heat pumps, which will reduce carbon emissions and building running costs.
The revised Local Plan will be informed by a new Greener Places Plan, also being considered by Cabinet on 13 November. This will play a key role in ensuring Bath and North East Somerset has a more sustainable, nature-rich and climate resilient future. It includes ambitious targets for green spaces, including tree cover.
Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, said: “We are a leading council for our work to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies – this is one of our core priorities and influences every decision that we take. Our commitment remains as strong as ever, and there is a huge amount of positive action and so much to celebrate in this report.
“Working in partnership is critical and I want to thank the wide range of organisations, groups and individuals who have contributed to the progress that we are making towards a low carbon, nature positive and climate resilient district.”
Work with local communities highlighted in the report includes the ‘Live on Water’ exhibition as part of the Bath River Line project; workshops for students at Somerdale School on river biodiversity, natural flood management and water quality; continued work with 33 Neighbourhood Nature Areas; new volunteering opportunities through the Landscape City Project; plans for a new eco-hub at Entry Hill Golf Course, and working with the Friends of Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve to improve the 6.5-hectare site for people and wildlife.
The report will be presented to Cabinet on Thursday, 13 November. The documents can be viewed on the council website, and the Cabinet meeting can be viewed live online from the same web page or later on the council YouTube channel. If approved, the report will be presented to Council on 20 November.
The Climate Action Scorecard ranked Bath and North East Somerset as 17th out of all single-tier councils, and 4th behind Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow outside of London boroughs.
I find it hard to see how the council are endeavouring to improve access to public transport, for those of us no longer able to walk far, or cycle. I have often arrived at the no 6/7 bus stop to go from Larkhall Square into town, to find the bus has been cancelled on a Friday around 9.15am , forcing me to try to keep an appointment by rushing unsteadily to the London Rd for a no 3 or 13 bus.
The air is probably getting cleaner because of the increase in EV and hybrid cars – period. Nothing to do with council policies.
Another topic: what are the road works next to the old Avon Street Coach Park for? We’re not getting a new coach park with toilets are we?
Is it possible it has been displaced somewhere else?