People in Wiltshire asked to help shape climate strategy
In person drop in sessions are taking place over the coming months
A consultation has been launched to help Wiltshire Council create their climate strategy.
The local authority are giving residents and businesses the chance to have their say to help to shape the next five years of their fight against climate change.
From today (Wednesday 1st September) until 23:59pm on Sunday 17th October, people can comment on the draft strategy.
The council are looking at seven key themes:
- Transport
- Built environment
- Waste
- Green economy
- Energy generation, storage and distribution
- Natural environment, food and farming
- Carbon neutral council
The council will also be using this as an opportunity to get feedback on their Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy which looks at the future for Wiltshire’s natural environmental assets.
‘Blue infrastructure’ means water courses such as rivers, lakes, canals, ponds and wetlands, while ‘green infrastructure’ covers plant life such as fields, forests, hedgerows and parks.
DROP IN SESSIONS
In order to help people learn more about the climate strategy and what it will do, the council are running a number of drop in sessions across the county.
There are both online and in person opportunities:
• 9th September, 6pm, online launch event with Claire Perry O’Neill
• 15th September, 10.30am to 11.30am, first engagement webinar
• 30th September, 7pm to 8pm, second engagement webinar
• 14th September, 10am to 12 noon, Salisbury Library
• 23rd September, 10am to 12 noon, Devizes Library
• 27th September, 10am to 12 noon, Chippenham Library
• 7th October, 10am to 12 noon, Trowbridge Library
Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said:
“As a rural county, Wiltshire is on the frontline of climate change impacts, and this affects us all. However, we can – and are – doing all we can to fight it, and that’s why we’re bringing forward this Climate Strategy for people to have their say on.
“At the same time, we’re also asking for people’s views on Our Natural Environment Plan, which will help to protect Wiltshire’s valuable biodiversity for years to come. The two strategies are intrinsically linked, which is why we’re asking for views on both at the same time.
“Since Wiltshire Council acknowledged a climate emergency in February 2019 and resolved ways to seek to make the council carbon neutral by 2030, significant strides forward have been made as an authority.
“But we can all do more across Wiltshire to reduce carbon emissions, and this will mean making changes to the way we all live our lives and how our businesses operate.
“When the engagement begins on these two important strategies on 1 September, I’d urge as many people as possible to get involved, attend the events and have their say.”
The survey has now been launched and should take roughly 10 minutes to complete.
It asks respondents to state whether they strongly agree, agree, neither, disagree or strongly disagree to planned objectives like "Achieving high-quality, bus-based, public transport and transport hubs that offer a pleasant and convenient way to get around, and seamless combined journeys" and "Existing energy use within Wiltshire to be reduced to allow for decarbonisation".
You can take part in the survey by going to the Wiltshire Council website.