Climate Emergency

The Council is committed to making changes across all our services to play our part to tackle the Climate Emergency and it is one of the Council’s seven key priorities, as set out in our Stronger Futures plan.

The objectives that underpin this priority include:

• Reducing the carbon footprint of the Council

• Support the decarbonisation of energy, industry and business

• Improve sustainable transport and infrastructure

• Enable low carbon buildings, homes and development

• Enhancing green spaces

• Reduce waste and increase recycling

As an organisation we have a target to be carbon neutral by 2030 and are leading by example to help the borough to be carbon neutral by 2045.

Below are some examples of the work we’ve done so far to help achieve this

Cheshire West and Chester Council has launched a new round of a solar panel and battery storage scheme to help homeowners explore how they could generate and store their own renewable electricity, reduce reliance on grid electricity, and take greater control of their household energy use.

Delivered in partnership with Switch Together, the scheme uses a group-buying approach that has already supported thousands of households across the UK to access competitively priced renewable energy installations from trusted, vetted installers.

With many households continuing to feel the impact of rising living costs, the initiative offers residents a practical way to explore whether generating their own electricity could help lessen the impact of future energy price fluctuations, whilst making their homes more sustainable.

The launch comes as energy efficiency and home improvement decisions are increasingly being made during late summer and early autumn, when homeowners begin planning ahead for the year to come and considering upgrades that can improve comfort, reduce bills, and increase property value over time.

Typical home solar systems can generate a significant proportion of a household’s daytime electricity use, while battery storage allows excess energy generated during daylight hours to be stored and used later in the day, helping to improve self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on the grid.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:

“Due to the rising cost of energy over the last few years more residents are interested in taking more control over their energy use and making their homes more efficient. This scheme gives people a straightforward way to explore whether solar panels and battery storage could work for their home, with trusted installers and no obligation to proceed.

“During last year’s scheme, which was known as Solar Together, 193 homeowners received a quote, with 121 households proceeding to have a solar PV or battery storage system installed.”

Following registration, residents will receive information about the scheme and guidance on next steps. There is no obligation to proceed, and homeowners can choose whether to accept any offer they receive.

While solar and battery systems are a home investment and will not be suitable for every household, the scheme is designed to help residents understand the costs, benefits and potential advantages in a clear and accessible way.

The initiative is part of Cheshire West and Chester Council’s wider commitment to supporting residents to improve home energy efficiency, create healthier and more sustainable homes and reduce carbon emissions across the borough.

Residents can register free of charge at switchtogether.co.uk/solar-panels until 25 September 2026.

Cheshire West Crowd has local community projects live and fundraising — and there is a special call for ideas that help tackle climate change.

Launched by Cheshire West and Chester Council in March, this is the seventh funding round since 2021. Over that time, 207 community projects have successfully raised more than £3 million, backed by over 11,000 supporters across the borough.

Delivered in partnership with Spacehive, Cheshire West Crowd puts communities in the driving seat — helping local people turn great ideas into reality and making our borough more vibrant, resilient and connected.

Climate Change Emergency Fund – £71,921 available

The Climate Change Emergency Fund is open, with individual project pledges likely to be between £5,000 and £10,000. The fund provides capital investment for initiatives that deliver measurable carbon savings and help address the climate emergency.

By working with communities and businesses, the fund supports projects that reduce our carbon footprint and protect the borough for future generations. This is a chance to create lasting positive change — more active travel, warmer homes, cleaner air or smarter use of resources.

Priority areas

Funding is available for projects focused on:

• Energy
• Transport
• Housing
• Land use
• Waste and recycling
  
  

Example project ideas include:

• Renewable energy projects
• Energy efficiency improvements
• Heat pump installations
• Zero or low‑carbon transport initiatives
• Waste reduction schemes

• Natural capital and environmental projects

Free expert support available

Project creators applying for Climate Change funding are encouraged to access free professional advice before submitting their idea onto the Cheshire West Crowd platform.

If you’ve got an idea you’d like to explore, email: climatechange3@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk to start the conversation today. The Council’s Climate Change Team can offer expert guidance, help refine your proposal, and signpost you to additional funding opportunities.

An online workshop will be held on 10 September at 12 noon, providing an opportunity for potential project creators to find out more about Cheshire West Crowd and hear how previous projects have benefited from the initiative.

To register for the workshop, visit: Cheshire West and Chester - Project Creator Workshop Tickets, Thursday 10 September • 12 PM - 1 PM GMT+1 | Eventbrite

Video case study of Upton by Chester Scout

1^st Upton by Chester scout group have benefited from having solar panels fitted on their community building thanks to funding through Cheshire West Crowd, the Council’s crowd funding platform.

The solar PV system is helping the group make savings that they can then invest in equipment and opportunities for the scouts. Their members are also using the data from the to learn more about environmental issues and sustainable solutions.

Families across Cheshire West and Chester can look forward to more affordable adventures this summer, with free bus travel for children throughout August helping families explore more of the borough for less.

As part of the Government's Summer Bus Fare Offer, under the Great British Summer Savings initiative, all children aged 5 to 15 can travel for free on participating local bus services from 1 to 31 August 2026. There’s no need to register and no cost to families – simply hop on board and enjoy unlimited journeys throughout the month.

The Council’s itravel routes, which provide on-demand transport to rural communities, will be included in the scheme. In addition, Cheshire West and Chester Council is funding free travel for eligible children on its Park & Ride services through Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding, giving families even more opportunities to travel affordably.

Whether it's a day out in Chester city centre, a trip to a local park, a visit to family and friends, or exploring one of the borough’s many attractions, the offer makes it easier than ever to leave the car at home and enjoy summer by bus.

The initiative not only helps families save money during the school holidays but also encourages more sustainable travel, helping to reduce congestion and support greener journeys across the borough.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said:

"We’re delighted to be supporting this fantastic offer, which will help families make the most of the summer holidays without worrying about travel costs.

"By extending free travel to eligible children on our Park & Ride services as well as itravel, we’re opening up even more opportunities for families to enjoy days out, visit local attractions and discover everything Cheshire West and Chester has to offer.

"Whether you're heading into Chester, exploring our towns and villages, or simply spending time with family and friends, we encourage everyone to take advantage of this great offer and enjoy travelling by bus this August."

The Government has committed more than £100 million nationally to deliver the Summer Bus Fare Offer, helping families across the country enjoy lower travel costs during the school holidays.

Passengers are encouraged to check with their local bus operator for service information and participating routes before travelling.

1^st Upton by Chester scout group have benefited from having solar panels fitted on their community building thanks to funding through Cheshire West Crowd, the Council’s crowd funding platform.

The solar PV system is helping the group make savings that they can then invest in equipment and opportunities for the scouts. Their members are also using the data from the to learn more about environmental issues and sustainable solutions.

The latest round of Cheshire West Crowd has recently been extended, with funding still available to support community projects across the borough.

Run by the Council in partnership with Spacehive, Cheshire West Crowd helps community-led projects turn great ideas into reality, making neighbourhoods across the borough more vibrant, resilient and connected.

To date, the Council's average pledge to successful projects has covered around 50 per cent of a project's funding target, typically between £5,000 and £10,000.

Since Cheshire West Crowd launched in 2021, 218 community-led projects have successfully raised £3.3 million+, with support from more than 12,000 backers.

An online workshop will be held on 10 September at 12 noon, providing an opportunity for potential project creators to find out more about Cheshire West Crowd and hear how previous projects have benefited from the initiative.

To register for the workshop, visit: Cheshire West and Chester Project Creator Workshop

Projects seeking support from the Climate Change Emergency Fund are encouraged to contact the Council's Climate Change Emergency team at climatechange3@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk. The team can discuss potential projects and help applicants strengthen their proposals before applying for funding. Previous projects supported through the fund have included the installation of solar panels, LED lighting and insulation measures.

The deadline for projects to be verified by Spacehive and go live on Cheshire West Crowd, including applications for Council funding, is Wednesday 21 October 2026.

Funding panels will take place in w/c 16 November 2026.

A new county-wide awards programme has been launched to celebrate the people, projects and organisations helping nature thrive across Cheshire and Warrington.

The inaugural Wilder Cheshire Awards, organised by the Cheshire & Warrington Local Nature Partnership, will recognise the individuals, schools, businesses, farmers and community groups making a positive difference for nature and inspiring others to take action.

Nature recovery is happening in every corner of Cheshire and Warrington. From school children building bug hotels and farmers restoring habitats, to businesses investing in biodiversity and volunteers transforming community green spaces, thousands of people are already playing their part in creating a Wilder Cheshire.

Following the launch of Cheshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy in 2025, the awards have been created to recognise the people and organisations turning the strategy's ambitions into action. Open to projects of all sizes, the awards celebrate everything from restoring habitats and protecting wildlife to adapting local urban environments to a changing climate and helping people to connect more with nature.

Entries are now open to individuals, schools, businesses, charities, community groups, landowners, farmers and organisations from across Cheshire and Warrington.

The ten award categories are:

• Young Wildlife Champion

• Wilder School

• Community Action for Nature

• Food, Farming & Resilience

• Landscape Stewardship

• Business for Nature

• Delivering More Places for Nature

• Species Recovery

• Connecting People with Nature

• Outstanding Contribution to Nature

Importantly, the Local Nature Partnership is keen to stress that entrants do not need to be delivering large-scale projects to be recognised. Judges will be looking for impact, innovation and commitment rather than the size or budget of a project.

Annette McDonald, Co-Chair of the Cheshire & Warrington Local Nature Partnership, said: "Nature recovery is happening in every corner of Cheshire and Warrington, often quietly and without recognition. These awards are about celebrating the incredible people, organisations and communities who are making a genuine difference and inspiring others to take action. We know there are thousands of fantastic stories out there and we can't wait to hear them."

Entries close on 13 September 2026, with winners announced at a celebration event later this autumn.

Individuals and organisations can enter themselves or nominate someone else whose work deserves recognition.

To enter or nominate, visit www.wildercheshireawards.co.uk

Volunteers play a vital role in helping to create thriving, greener communities across west Cheshire.

Earlier this month, during Volunteers Week, a team from Lloyds Bank joined the Council's Health Ranger at Wervin Woods to learn some new skills and carry out essential maintenance tasks on the site.

Watch the video below to find out what they got involved with and opportunities for getting involved with volunteering.

Thank you to all the team who got stuck in on the day and played their part in helping to boost biodiversity on this site.

Volunteering is a great way to:

• learn new skills
• improve your wellbeing
• build new social connections
• explore new career pathways

There are lots of amazing organisations across the borough who are actively looking for people to volunteer with them. Take a look at Cheshire West Voluntary Action's website to explore a wide range of local opportunities

https://volunteernowcwva.com/index-classic

The Northgate Arena in Chester received a multi-million pound refurbishment recently and reopened to the public in May 2026.

The much-loved leisure centre has been transformed into a modern, inclusive and accessible space for all the community to enjoy. As part of its major upgrade there have been lots of energy saving measures included, helping to future proof the leisure centre and make it more sustainable.

Some of the measures include:

• Reducing the depth of the deep end of the pool to reduce the amount of water that needs to be heated.
• Installing a new pool cover on the training pool.
• Additional solar photovoltaic panels added to the roof of the centre. These will generate an additional 113,255 kilowatts an hour – that’s the equivalent of powering 31 3 bed semi detached homes over a year.
• Low energy LED lighting has been used throughout - using 90% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb.
• The majority of the windows have been replaced with more efficient glazing.
• Improvements have been made to the heating, cooling and ventilation system helping the centre to move away from relying on fossil fuels.
  
  

The below video sets out some of the changes that you might not spot when you go around the centre but are essential to help it run efficiently for years to come.

Watch the video on the Council's Youtube site.

Helsby Library is taking another step towards a more sustainable future with the launch of a new Green Hub, delivered in partnership with Eco Communities, a not for profit organisation.

Building on the success of recent eco initiatives, the Green Hub introduces a practical “Refill, Reuse & Repair” scheme designed to make environmentally friendly living simple, affordable and accessible for local residents.

At the heart of the initiative is the idea that small changes can make a big difference. Residents can order eco-friendly household refill products online and collect them at the library, including laundry and cleaning supplies. By reusing their existing containers and refilling them on their next visit, customers can help reduce reliance on single-use plastics.

Helsby Library is proud to be the first indoor location for Eco Communities to offer a dedicated collection and refill point for household products. The scheme, initially as a six month trial, is expected to significantly cut the number of single-use plastic bottles used each year, delivering a tangible environmental benefit for the local area.

The Green Hub also highlights the value of community action. By working together, residents are taking positive, practical steps to reduce waste, protect the environment and support a greener future for Helsby.

By bringing refills and environmentally friendly options together in one convenient location, the hub makes it easier than ever for residents to discover and adopt more sustainable choices in their everyday lives.

For more information about the Green Hub and to access the refill shop, visit: Green Hub Refill Shop

For more information on Helsby Library see the Council’s website.