Report shows BANES Council emissions dropping as radical plans considered to change transport network
According to the report the council's carbon emissions have dropped by two thirds since 2009
Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Council's actions to tackle the climate emergency are reducing carbon emissions.
That's according to a draft report from the council, which shows emissions from council buildings and operations have dropped by two thirds (66 per cent) compared to 2009.
The council says that has been achieved through several measures, including better street lighting, greater efficiency and technology upgrades.
The draft report, to go before the council’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Corporate Policy and Development Scrutiny Panel on Monday 24 January for review before being presented to full council in March, outlines the progress made on delivering the council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan and its priorities for the coming year.
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel said: “When we declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, we committed to provide leadership to enable Bath and North East Somerset to achieve net zero by 2030.
"As part of that commitment, we agreed to provide regular progress reports to the council.
"An immense amount of work has been carried out over the past two years and we are having an impact, we must continue to work at pace with our communities, partners, local, regional and national government to deliver our climate priorities if the area is to reach the target of net zero 2030 .”
The report highlights key actions taken by the council over the past year including:
- Changing planning policy to require developers to build to higher levels of energy efficiency
- Introducing the first charging Clean Air Zone outside London
- Developing a new Transport Strategy ‘Journey to Zero’ setting out the changes needed to the way people move around to reduce transport emissions
- Planting more trees
It comes as radical plans are being considered by the council, to change the way traffic can flow through Bath.
Under the plans central Bath would be divided into four “cells”, with only one or two access points on each of the outer boundaries.
Cars would then be banned from passing from one quadrant to another, although movement for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport would be unrestricted.
The council has drawn inspiration for the idea from Ghent, a largely flat World Heritage City in Belgium that in 2017 stopped traffic from crossing its centre.
The long-term idea is mooted in the council’s “journey to net zero” consultation as one of the final steps in transforming Bath’s city centre.
It says combined with the ring of steel, a movement study for the “top of town” – covering Grand Parade and High Street, Dorchester Street, James Street West, Green Park Road – and a masterplan for the Milsom Quarter, road space will be reallocated to deliver “significant improvements to active travel, public transport facilities and the public realm”.
Transport currently accounts for 29 per cent of emissions and deputy council leader Sarah Warren said a “fundamental rethink” is needed for how people move around Bath to reach carbon neutrality.
The consultation closes on February 7.
You can give your opinion here.