Green light at the District Council

Councillors and Staff at Stratford-on-Avon District Council have been doing their bit this week to take practical action in helping to save-guard the environment.  

Members of the Council's Environmental Sustainability Panel have joined with MPs in undertaking the '25/5' challenge.  This means that they are committing themselves to reduce their own carbon 'footprint' by 25% over five years.   

Cllr Tony Dixon, who chairs the Environmental Sustainability Panel, says, "We have been keen for sometime to back up our words with actions.  We are taking a number of steps as a Council to support the battle to combat climate change - and all the members of the panel are keen to put this into practice in their own lives."   

"It will be a real challenge to reduce our individual impact on the environment - but it is essential that we all do so".  

Staff have been given information as to what steps they can take too.  Cards have been distributed to give staff the chance to sign up to the Energy Saving Trusts 'Commit to save your 20%', along with tips about energy saving in the home.   

"We are aware of our responsibility to the environment, and recognise that if we all play our part, then the battle to address climate change is one that we can win.  We are particularly aware going in the winter months, that it is easy to be extravagant in the way that we use energy, " says Cllr Simon Jackson Portfolio holder for the Environment.  

"We would urge that everyone will join with Members and Staff in not only being careful about the energy we use - but seek to reduce the impact they have on the environment."  

1.    The Council's Environmental Sustainability Panel met for the first time in June 2006, and has drawn up a work programme to help the District Council address climate change issues.  

2.         The District Council is supporting the Warwickshire County Council's 'Switch it Off' campaign.  See www.warwickshire.gov.uk/switchitoff  

3.         The District Council is also hosting the South Warwickshire Climate Action Group on Tuesday 31 October -which is looking at the issue of renewable energy.  

4.         The District Council is part of the Warwickshire Climate Change Partnership - and signed up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change in July.