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Press Release
Published on 17 April 2024
Archived on 17 May 2024
On Monday 15 April, Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet endorsed the declaration of an ecological emergency, as proposed by the Notice of Motion by Councillor Passingham and seconded by Councillor Ostrander at the Council meeting last December.
The Motion stated that:
We are facing a biodiversity crisis. We advocate action at both the national and local levels to preserve and enhance biodiversity. We also recognise the importance of a healthy and biodiverse environment that ensures our future prosperity and the wellbeing of all who live and work in the District.
We request that the Council lobby the government to meet its own international commitments on biodiversity, but we want to do our bit locally as well!
We call for an increase in areas considered rich in habitats by initiating the development of council policy and practices on biodiversity and ensuring sustainable and significant biodiversity gain from new developments and call for new biodiversity sites to be included as part of the next local plan.
We therefore pledge to provide leadership and to work with all organisational departments, partners and our communities to reverse the decline in biodiversity and deliver measurable biodiversity net gain within this district.
We ask Council to develop local measures to prevent the loss of and to enhance biodiversity.
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Proposal |
Action |
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Develop the work of the Development Requirements Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Part N in the Core strategy Review by incorporating features to support wildlife in new-builds e.g. swift bricks, green roofs etc
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Being addressed through the SWLP |
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To ensure that the provisions of the Environment Act 2021 for Biodiversity Net Gain are fully implemented in all developments in the District and that Biodiversity Net Gain is maximised in all developments that SDC has a financial interest in |
Being addressed through the implementation of BNG |
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Make the Council estate more hospitable to a wide range of plants and animals, including on our parks and open spaces by: a) using peat-free compost or soil in all landscaping and horticulture b) setting out options for reducing the amount of Glyphosate and other toxic chemicals that is used by SDC and its contractors, including at least one option to completely eliminate their use c) mowing all green spaces less for the benefit of wildlife d) increasing tree cover on all council owned and managed land e) achieving Green Flag status for Council-owned parks f) employing a planning ecologist to scrutinise planning reports for biodiversity net gain g) ensuring 30% of Council owned greenspace is supporting nature by 2030 h) the creation of a new 'wildbelt' designation to enable the District to strategically plan for nature's recovery spatially in the same way it does for development.
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(a-c) Being addressed through the new grounds maintenance contract with Continental Landscapes Ltd
(d) Being addressed through the Service Level Agreement for provision of tree-related services with WCC (g) Further clarity sought and initiative to be explored by Officers within Environmental and Neighbourhood Services |
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Ensure the delivery of biodiversity enhancements through our future planning policy and development control functions by ensuring that the new South Warwickshire Local Plan will enable the development of a mandatory biodiversity net gain policy for the district, ensuring that this is a core principle for all future development.
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Being addressed through the SWLP |
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Designate more Local Green Spaces in the new South Warwickshire Local Plan to meet the desire for communities to be able to access nature rich areas for health and well-being
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Being addressed through the SWLP |
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To work with the Environment Agency, Severn Trent and other relevant bodies to improve the biodiversity of areas supported by the natural water systems in the District including the development of natural flood management and drought resistant water courses and bodies of water.
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To be addressed through the SWLP |
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Work with Town & Parish Councils, landowners and other partners to: a) reinvigorate wildlife corridors; b) protect existing nature rich habitats including veteran trees and hedges; and c) restore soil health by reducing the use of fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.
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To be explored by Officers within Environmental and Neighbourhood Services |
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Work with Warwickshire County Council and other partners to develop a Nature Recovery Plan for Stratford District to complement the new Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Warwickshire being developed by Warwickshire County Council.
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Being addressed through the SWL |
Councillor George Cowcher, Development Portfolio said: "Cabinet's decision shows that we recognise the global ecological emergency and the local impacts it has and acknowledges that the climate and ecological emergencies are intertwined, and we must act now to fight both these crises.
"During our first term in office, we have already taken steps to improve biodiversity, including adding in the 'No Mow May' initiative in our new Grounds Maintenance contract, the designation of the Stratford-upon-Avon Local Nature Reserve and the Free Trees for Farmers scheme, and this declaration will enable us to build on these to improve local action to support nature.
"I look forward to working with local partners as we develop our approach to achieving this."
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House, Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX
Tel: 01789 267575
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