Climate Emergency

A special oak tree has been planted at The Countess of Chester Country Park as part of The Mersey Forest's Oaks at 80 project, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The Oaks at 80 project aims to honour the service men, women and civilians who played their part in defending our country and way of life during the war.

Taking place throughout 2025, 80 years since the end of the Second World War, the project encourages communities across the region to plant oak trees, creating a lasting commemoration that will benefit the environment for generations to come.

Oak trees, symbolise strength, resilience, and longevity, and have traditionally marked 80-year milestones, making them a fitting tribute to the sacrifices made during this period.

The oak tree at The Countess of Chester Country Park, was planted near to the Fallen for the Fallen Bench, a carved bench set within the country park which is at the end of a three-kilometre trail commemorating the soldiers who lived in the area and lost their lives during the First World War. The tree was kindly donated and planted by the Life for a Life Memorial Forest charity, which has a site within the park.

The Friends of the Countess of Chester Country Park, who organised the event, welcomed representatives from Life for a Life Memorial Forest, The Mersey Forest, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), The Land Trust, SSAFA, RECORD, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, the NHS, local councillors, the Swettenham Foundation and members of the 22 Multi-role Medical Regiment based at the nearby Dale Barracks and the local community for the planting on Friday, 24 January 2025.


Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said: “Planting an oak tree in this popular park in Chester will serve as a fitting reminder of those who gave their lives for our freedom during the Second World War. We’d like to thank Lieutenant Colonel John Greener from the 22 Multi-role Medical Regiment and the Friends of The Countess of Chester Park group for setting up the event and helping us to plant the tree. We can’t wait to see more added to communities across the area over the course of the year.”

Andy Scargill, the Chair of the Friends group said that, “Attending the launch of Oaks at 80 at Calderstones Park in November last year inspired us to want to plant an Oak in our own park and siting it near to the Fallen for the Fallen memorial bench seemed an obvious choice of location. We would like to especially thank Life for a Life Memorial Forest for, not only donating a tree, but also planting it for us.”

Lieutenant Colonel John Greener from the 22 Multi-Role Medical Regiment, said: “It was an enormous honour being invited to plant the commemorative oak tree and unveil the plaque for the Oaks at 80 project. 22 Multi-Role Medical Regiment’s antecedent units were heavily involved throughout the war; in the Middle East; Italy; and North West Europe. Being able to participate in events like this, continues to deepen our ties with the local community and we’re grateful to be invited to take part.”

Individuals, schools, and community groups in Cheshire and Merseyside are invited to participate in the Oaks at 80 project by planting oaks in their own communities. They can do so by growing oaks from seed or by getting in touch with The Mersey Forest to source a tree on their behalf. Email: mail@merseyforest.org.uk for more information.

To learn more about the Oaks at 80 project, please visit The Mersey Forest website.

There are just a few weeks left for residents and businesses to have their say on the borough's draft Climate Emergency Response Plan for 2025-2030. The consultation, which began at the end of November will close at midnight on Wednesday, 12 February, 2025.

This crucial plan will guide the borough's efforts to achieve net zero by 2045 and outlines key actions for the Council, partners, and communities across six key themes: Business and Industry, Transport, Housing, Energy, Land Use and Adaptation, and Waste and the Circular Economy.

The draft plan builds upon previous engagement with communities to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the borough as it strives for a greener, healthier, and more resilient future. It follows the Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in 2019 and represents the second such plan for the area.

Councillor Louise Gittins is urging residents to participate: “This is your chance to have your say on the proposed plan and help us reach our climate goals over the next five years. The draft plan includes clear actions that we can all work on together to help us reach net zero and create a sustainable borough with greener communities. You can have your say on one or two topics that are important to you in the plan or provide feedback on all of it.”

Residents, businesses, and partners are encouraged to complete the consultation online via the Council’s engagement platform, Participate Now: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climateplanconsultation. The consultation includes a series of questions on different elements of the Climate Plan.

Paper copies of the consultation are also available upon request by emailing climatechange@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

The consultation closes at midnight on Wednesday, 12 February 2025.

The Mersey Forest is inviting everyone to have their say on its new long-term strategy, More With Trees, which sets out an ambitious vision to transform Cheshire and Merseyside by increasing tree cover, improving woodlands and encouraging people to enjoy and get involved in nature based programmes, activities and projects. The consultation is live until 2 March 2025.

The plan is a multi-generational endeavour towards a long-term ambition of 30% tree cover, with the aim to reach 15% by 2050.

Through this consultation, people in the region are encouraged to share views by completing a short survey, adding locations to an interactive map to highlight areas for tree planting, or attending a drop-in session. Feedback gathered will play a key role in finalising the plan, which will guide the work of The Mersey Forest team and its partners for decades to come.

Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said: “We’re excited to launch this consultation and hear from local communities, landowners, businesses and environmental and community groups about how we can work together to create a greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient future for Cheshire and Merseyside. This plan is not just about planting trees, it’s about enriching lives, supporting nature, and helping the area to adapt to our changing climate. Your input will be crucial in shaping the future of our woodlands and green spaces to benefit our communities for years to come.”

The More With Trees plan is driven by three fundamental goals - enriching the lives of local people, helping nature to flourish, and strengthening the region’s resilience to climate change. The benefits of trees and woodlands in relation to these are undeniable.

Community planting event

For people, trees improve mental, physical, and social wellbeing. Access to nature has been shown to reduce stress, trees improve air quality, and green spaces are places for physical activity and community engagement. Trees and woods can also support livelihoods, from agricultural benefits like improving soil quality, to providing timber for local industries, and enhancing our working environments.

Natural Health Service Mindfulness session at Frodsham

For nature, trees, woods and hedges provide habitat, food, and connectivity for species. New woodlands can incorporate a mix of habitats into their design and improved management of existing woods allows species to thrive.

For climate, trees and woods sequester and store carbon, and they have a vital role to play in managing the impacts of an already changing climate, reducing flooding, and helping to cool urban areas during heatwaves.

The More With Trees plan consultation is your chance to help shape the future of trees and woodlands in Cheshire and Merseyside. Your feedback will play a vital role in creating a greener, healthier, and more sustainable region for all.

• Consultation period: Until Sunday, 2 March 2025
• Take part: Complete the survey at: http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/our-plan
• Interactive map: Add locations where you would like to see more trees, via our Tree Atlas http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/tree-atlas/
• Face-to-face sessions: Dates and locations to be announced on the website
• Printed plans and surveys: Available upon request: mail@merseyforest.org.uk or call: 0300 123 8 123 and ask for a copy.

Cheshire has been selected by the government as a “key growth region” for clean energy which will unlock green skills training and boost a collective ambition for it to be the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK.

Workers will be supported with government-backed training programmes so they can benefit from thousands of new job opportunities in the clean energy sector, as part of the government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission.

Cheshire West and Chester will receive £1m in the first round of funding after it was confirmed on Wednesday it was one of four regions selected by the government to launch the scheme. This will include an Energy Skills Passport portal - a tool which will enable workers to easily identify which qualifications, such as technical and safety standards, are needed for specific roles - to help workers in the oil and gas industry transition into the renewable energy sector in the region.

The government confirmed west Cheshire had been chosen as one of the UK’s “key growth regions for clean energy, with flourishing offshore wind, nuclear, and solar industries”.

Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (formerly Cheshire and Warrington LEP) is going to be delivering the pilot locally, working with a partnership including North West Net Zero Hub, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Net Zero North West.

Funding could go towards new training centres, courses or career advisers - supporting local people into opportunities in industries such as welding, electrical engineering, and construction.

Today regional leaders hailed the investment as an important step towards a collective bid by all three of Cheshire’s local authorities for the region to be the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK.

The announcement comes amid a North West Net Zero Industrial Cluster plan, which centres around a £30bn pipeline of clean energy projects to unlock investment and remove over 40 million tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere every year, as well as creating and safeguarding thousands of jobs.

Cllr Louise Gittins

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington sub regional Leaders Board and Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “We are thrilled that Cheshire West and Chester has been selected as a target area for the Regional Skills Pilot.

“This initiative, as part of the Clean Power Action Plan, will play a crucial role in transitioning our workforce from carbon-intensive industries to clean energy sectors. As one of the centres of the net zero re-industrialisation of the North, we are committed to encouraging green economic growth and the benefits that will bring to our area.”

Cllr Gittins added: “By addressing skill gaps and challenges through targeted interventions, we are not only supporting our residents to upskill, and our local economy to fill crucial skill requirements, but also contributing to the UK’s broader goal of achieving clean power by 2030. We look forward to working closely with the department and the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to ensure the success of this pilot.”

Employers will also get a handbook which highlights where businesses can access support to grow and upskill their workforce. This will include, for example, sector-based work academy programmes which help jobseekers into the sector, ensuring they have the necessary skills to deliver clean power by 2030.

Funding could go towards new training centres, courses or career advisers - supporting local people into opportunities in industries such as welding, electrical engineering, and construction.

Announcing the scheme, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “We are working with communities, businesses, and trade unions to train workers here in Britain, so we can seize the opportunities that clean power brings.”

As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how our daily habits can make a difference not only for the planet but also for our health and wallets. Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan highlights the need for collective and individual efforts to cut carbon emissions, protect the environment, and create a sustainable future for the borough.

The Climate Emergency can feel like a big task for us to tackle individually but by focusing on small, achievable and regular habits we can play our part to benefit both the environment and our own lives.

Sustainable living can help improve your health and boost savings

Sustainable living often feels like a grand goal, but it’s also deeply personal. By making greener choices, we not only reduce our carbon footprint but can also improve our physical and mental well-being, often while saving money. Here are some ideas on how to do this.

• Active transport: Walking or cycling short journeys instead of driving cuts emissions, improves your health, and saves on fuel costs.
• Energy efficiency: Reducing energy use at home lowers carbon emissions and helps to cut energy bills.
• Food choices: Introducing more plant-based food to your diet and reducing food waste saves money, supports a healthier diet, and can help reduce the methane emissions linked to livestock and landfill waste.

All of these goals will help with the borough's target to become carbon-neutral by 2045, providing us with greener communities and more sustainable area to live.

Tips for Creating Sustainable Eco-Habits

• Start small but stay consistent
  Habits don’t change overnight. Begin with one or two manageable goals—like cutting out single-use plastics or opting for meat-free meals twice a week. Small actions, when repeated regularly, create lasting change.
  
  
• Go green with transport
  Try walking, cycling or wheeling for short journeys. If you are going further afield try car sharing, or using buses and trains. You’ll reduce emissions, save on petrol, and stay active. If you are heading to Chester during January the Park and Ride service is offering free tickets to all passengers. Find out more on the Council’s website.
  
  
• Reduce energy use at home
  Simple energy-saving habits, such as turning off lights when leaving a room, unplugging electronics, and washing clothes at lower temperatures, can lead to significant savings. Consider switching to renewable energy providers or investing in home improvements like insulation or smart thermostats. Details of energy savings grants that are currently available are listed on the Council's home energy for residents webpage.
  
  
• Rethink your waste
  Recycling is essential, but reducing and reusing are even better. Repair rather than replace, buy second-hand, and compost food waste to reduce the amount of waste that is going to landfill. The Council's website has information about what you are able to recycle in your bins at home and what can go to your local waste and recycling centre. Some of the borough’s waste and recycling centres also have reuse shops where you can buy second hand items, such as small electrical items and some furniture.
  
  
• Eat sustainably
  Support local farmers’ markets, businesses and community initiatives that reduce food miles and provide fresh, seasonal produce. Cutting back on processed foods and adding more plant-based meals to your diet not only helps the planet but also lowers your risk of chronic diseases. Visit the Veganuary website for some recipe ideas.
  
  
• Leave space for nature in your garden
  Whatever the size or shape of your garden you can make small changes to make it a home to wildlife and encourage nature to thrive. You could boost biodiversity by scattering some native seeds to make a wildflower meadow, try growing your own food, consider adding a micro pond or plant more flowering plants to support pollinators. It's also really important to ensure that any adaptations you make to your garden allow for water to permeate through the ground to help avoid flooding. For tips on gardening for nature visit WWFs website or view a webinar that Cheshire Wildlife Trust hosted about climate proofing your garden.

• Get involved locally
  Our Climate Emergency Response Plan highlights the importance of community collaboration. Join local green groups, participate in tree planting/habitat creation, or volunteer for clean-up events to connect with others in your community and amplify your impact. Visit the Climate Emergency Inspire Hub for details of local community groups.

The ripple effect of your choices

When you adopt sustainable habits, the benefits ripple outward. Your actions inspire others—friends, family, and neighbours—to follow suit. Together, small changes create a culture of sustainability that supports the borough's climate goals.

By incorporating some of these habits into your everyday life, you’ll enjoy a healthier lifestyle, financial savings, and help to create greener communities. The Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan and Climate Emergency Hub offers guidance, tips and resources to help you on your journey to make west Cheshire carbon neutral by 2045.

This engagement has now closed. Thank you to everyone who took part.

All feedback is being analysed and findings from the engagement will be shared on this page and with stakeholders to help further inform any decision in due course.

What this engagement is about

The Council would like to hear views on a proposal to create a community woodland and wildlife area on an open area of amenity grassland, adjacent to Shelley Road, Milton Road and Donne Place, in Blacon, Chester.

Shelley Road Amenity Space, Blacon

The amenity grassland adjacent to Shelley Road, in Blacon, is an open space of 1.8 hectares, with wildflower areas and semi mature Hornbeam and Field Maple trees planted along the edge of the site. The sloping nature of the site and lack of facilities restricts use of the space as a sports field. Please see an ariel view below, with a red marker on the Shelley Road Amenity Space.

Site Location: Shelley Road, Blacon, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH1 5TY
Grid Reference: SJ 388 686 WhatThreeWords App Location: soup.mostly.passes

Proposal for a Community Woodland and Nature Area, at Shelley Road Amenity Space

As part of Cheshire West and Chester Council's Tree Strategy, improving people's access to trees (tree equity), the amount of carbon trees store (carbon sequestration) and helping nature recover in our area (nature recovery), the Council would like to create a community woodland and nature area at the Shelley Road Amenity Space, in Blacon.

The Council would like the community to be part of the creation of the space and would involve residents and local groups and organisations in helping to plant trees. The community woodland is proposed to be named the Queen Elizabeth II Community Woodland, as a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II.

The site would remain an open public space for recreation, with the addition of an urban woodland and wildlife area, with specimen trees and with wide grassed footpaths incorporated , to suit the surrounding countryside and wider landscape. Please see the proposed plan for the amenity space below.

View the detailed map for the proposed community woodland at Shelley Road, Blacon.

Trees planted would be predominantly native species, with light foliage and colour in specific seasons, and the existing wildflower area would be incorporated into the design. The design compliments an established line of trees and hedgerow on nearby private land.

The planting would consist of two sizes of trees: young trees at a height of around 60-90cm that would be protected for two to three years in tree shelters (see photograph below) and larger trees two to three meters in height, that would be used as specific landscape trees. At 15 years all trees would be at roughly the same height (10-12m).

Funding for the project would be supplied from The Mersey Forest, the area's Community Forest who are working alongside communities and partners to create woodlands and help people explore nature on their doorstep across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Example of a newly planted woodland with tree shelters used to protect the young trees

How to share your views

This engagement has now closed. Thank you to everyone who took part.

All feedback is being analysed and findings from the engagement will be shared on this page and with stakeholders to help further inform any decision in due course.

How your feedback will be used

Once the community engagement closes, the Council will consider the feedback received to help inform a decision on the proposal.

A summary of the engagement findings will be published on the engagement page of the Council’s website alongside feedback on the decision taken and the next steps.

Lots of us will be making plans to enjoy the Christmas break with friends and family this year, enjoying food and drink together and sharing presents. Many of us try to be sustainable throughout the year but the festive season can be more challenging.


We’ve put together some tips to help you have a more sustainable Christmas.

Reduce Food Waste

• Plan your meals: Make a list of what you need and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys at the supermarket.
  
  
• Use leftovers: Get creative with your leftovers. Turn leftover turkey into sandwiches or pies and use leftover vegetables in soups or stews. Visit http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for inspiration.
  
  
• Compost food waste: Remember to recycle all your Christmas food waste, including turkey carcasses in your brown bin.

Recycle responsibly

• Get recycling: You can recycle lots of different items in your recycling bins at home or take excess waste along to one of the borough’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). Details about schedule changes to our bin collection service over Christmas and the New Year period, along with HWRC opening times, can be found on our website. If you live outside of the area visit your local Council’s website for details.
  
  
• Bins too full? Excess recycling that doesn’t fit in your bin can be put securely next to your bin/box to be collected on the same day as your bin collection.
  
  
• Christmas trees: Real Christmas trees can be taken to a number of sites across the borough to be recycled or to any Household Waste Recycling Centre. Further details about all these locations can be found on our website. There are also a number of charity collections in the area.

Consider your travel options

• Park & Ride: If you’re heading to Chester this season, consider taking the Park & Ride. Up to five people traveling together can get a ticket for just £5 and there are late night services up to Christmas. In January you can travel for free on the service. Find out more on our website.
  
  
• Jingle into January on the Park & Ride: The Council is offering free travel on the city’s Park & Ride service throughout January 2025, thanks to funding from the Department of Transport under its Bus Service Improvement Plan grant. The offer applies to single day tickets purchased on bus from any one of the operational sites at Boughton Heath, Upton or Wrexham Road.
  
  
• Get around for £2: Bus services in the borough have the £2 fare cap running until the 31 December 2024. From the 1 January 2025 there will be a new £3 fare cap introduced, in many cases the fares are less than £3 but the fare cap prevents you paying more than £3 for a single journey on buses in the borough. Read more about the fare cap on the Government’s website. For public transport options in the borough visit our website.
  
  
• Walk, wheel or cycle: If possible, consider walking, wheeling or cycling if you are making short trips this Christmas.
  
  
• Consider car sharing: If you do need to drive, consider car sharing with friends or family.
  
  

Switch your gift giving

• Make your gifts meaningful: Ask recipients what they’d really value, or consider purchasing experiences instead.
  
  
• Support local independent businesses: Shopping at local businesses helps to reduce your carbon footprint and supports your community.
  
  
• Buy handmade or second-hand gifts: Consider giving handmade or second-hand gifts this Christmas. This is a great way to reduce waste and support local artisans. Sites such as Olio or Vinted are great places to check for second hand or home made goods.

Be energy efficient

• Keep pan lids on: When cooking, keep pan lids on to reduce cooking time and save energy.
  
  
• Turn off lights and electronics: Turn off lights and electronics when you're not using them, including Christmas lights.
  
  
• Adjust the temperature: If you are able to, and don’t have a health condition, try lowering the thermostat a few degrees to help save energy and lower your bills. You could also reduce the temperature of those rooms you aren’t using even more. Read are article on the Energy for Everyone site for more energy saving tips for the home

Choose eco-friendly decorations and wrapping

• Re-use or repurpose decorations: Decorations can last for years or if you’re after something new for your home take a look at local Facebook groups or sites such as Olio to see if anyone is giving something away.
  
  
• Take inspiration from nature: Consider using pine cones or cuttings of evergreen plants and trees to decorate your home.
• Wrap gifts sustainably: Use reusable wrapping paper or brown paper and decorate with natural materials like pine cones and berries.

If you have any tips of your own about having a more sustainable Christmas you can add them to the ‘your story’ section of the Climate Emergency Inspire hub.

The Council is currently developing a new Climate Emergency Response Plan for the borough for 2025 – 2030. You can review the actions we’ve proposed to help us become a carbon neutral borough by 2045 and have your say by completing our consultation before 12 February 2025. Visit the consultation webpage for more information.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking people in the borough to share their views on the actions the Council has set out to tackle the Climate Emergency.

A draft of the Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan for 2025 – 2030 has been prepared following an initial co-production exercise earlier this year. During the co-production period the Council worked with communities to understand the opportunities and challenges the borough faces as it works towards a greener, healthier and more resilient future.

This is the second Climate Emergency Response Plan prepared for the borough following a Climate Emergency declaration in 2019. The plan will be used as a guide to support the west Cheshire to achieve its target to reach net zero by 2045.

Starting today, 4 December 2024, a consultation on the draft plan is available for local residents, businesses and partners to complete.

The draft plan sets out priorities for the borough and key actions the Council, partners and communities can take under six key theme areas:

• Business and industry
• Transport
• Housing
• Energy
• Land use and adaptation
• Waste and the circular economy

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The draft Climate Emergency plan has some clear actions that both the Council and our communities and partners can work on together to help us become a carbon neutral borough and to become a more sustainable borough.

“Industries, business and communities across the borough are already making an impact on reducing carbon emissions, with the latest available data from The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, showing that we’re the fastest decarbonising area in the UK.

“This is your chance to have your say on the proposed plan to help us reach our climate goals over the next five years.”

The consultation is available to complete via the Council’s online engagement platform, Participate Now, and involves a series of questions on different elements of the Climate Plan. Visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climateconsultation

There will be a number of in person drop-in sessions taking place in libraries across the borough over the coming weeks, where residents can speak to the Council’s Climate Change team to share their views. Drop-in sessions will take place between 3pm - 6.30pm at each location.

• Thursday, 5 December Northwich Library at Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse, London Road, Northwich, CW9 8AB
• Thursday, 12 December at Winsford Library, High Street, Winsford, CW7 2AS
• Thursday, 12 December at Ellesmere Port Library, Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BG
• Tuesday, 17 December at Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
• Thursday, 19 December at Malpas Library, Bishop Heber High School, Malpas, SY14 8JD

People can also request a paper copy of the consultation by emailing: climatechange@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

The consultation will run from 4 December 2024 – 12 February 2025.

In early 2024, a joint pilot project between the Council’s Total Environment and Climate Change teams was started to see if the Council's newly planted woodlands could be used for beekeeping. The project aimed to learn whether small scale honey production could provide a small income for woodland owners and help to boost pollinator numbers were wild bee populations were low. The project will also help improve the establishment of wildflower meadows in our new woodlands by increasing pollination and, as a result, creation of seeds to improve wildflower density. It is hoped that our wildflower areas will become more resilient as a result of these improvements.

There are lots of benefits of beekeeping to our biodiversity, especially on urban fringes, on the outskirts of our towns and city.

• Increased natural beauty – Flower pollination results in vibrant-coloured flowers, which have a positive impact on peoples’ mood and mental health.
• Habitat and biodiversity – Pollination helps maintain variety in ecosystems and habitats, supports food webs, and enhances the diversity of the living world.
• Carbon sequestration – Healthy plants are able to absorb carbon dioxide, improving the quality of air in the atmosphere.

Our wild bee population, alongside other insect populations, are in significant decline and there is ongoing research on competition by honey bees for available foraging. For this reason, careful consideration was given to site location and the amount of hives placed in each area. With three new woodland sites to utilise, two were allocated for beekeeping and one kept as a control, to use as a baseline to compare against the other sites.

Our master volunteer beekeeper, Peter Phillipart, has sensors and cameras on his hives. These produce extensive data on bee movement and periods of activity, the hive condition, and helps monitor population pressures on our wild pollinators.

It’s fantastic to see early successes on this project, which has potential to not only support biodiversity but also research a potential new agroforestry business for landowners across the borough.

A huge debt of gratitude to the work of local beekeepers in helping this project become a reality. Equally it highlights the close partnership between the Council’s Total Environment and Climate Change Teams, and how together we can deliver enhancement and benefits to west Cheshire’s natural capital, which will help improve the sustainability of our communities.

Find out more about the borough’s response to the Climate and Nature Crisis by reading our Climate Emergency Response Plan - https://www.westcheshireclimateplan.co.uk/

Cheshire West and Chester Council are supporting local businesses to move towards Net Zero.

The Council are allocating £70,000 of its UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) to support Groundwork, an environmental charity, to work with local employers to develop low carbon action plans as part of its Low Carbon Capacity Building Programme.

The Council is aware that many local employers are keen to understand how they can become energy efficient, produce less waste and increase productivity. The assumption is that employers know what is needed and are able to source solutions, including training, but this is not always the case.

This programme enables employers to be proactive, developing their own capacity to carry out low carbon audits across their organisation, or on behalf of a group of organisations, producing an action plan and a focus which would enable them to reduce carbon emissions in the future.

The Council are also aware that many public sector procurement opportunities are now asking for applicants to demonstrate what they have done to date to become net zero, therefore this project could also lead to employers bidding and winning new work, increasing their longer-term financial viability.

In the past employers have relied on accessing external support to develop their plans, this project would enable them to take ownership of this important agenda and upskill their own staff capacity to deliver.

This project supports the “Greener Communities” theme of the Council’s Borough Plan and the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

The Low Carbon Capacity Building Programme will support 30 businesses in developing and implementing effective net zero strategies. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the business drivers and benefits linked to Net Zero, and will be equipped to measure, prioritise, budget, and report on their carbon emissions. Companies will as part of the support develop their own low carbon action plans which will help them communicate their net zero ambitions.

Details about the sessions and support can be found here/first cohort of learners:

• 12-13 November 2024 - HQ, Chester
• 19-20 November 2024 - Meridian House, Winsford

More details of the event can be found here: https://racetozero.org.uk/pathways-to-net-zero/

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation said:

“Cheshire West and Chester Council are pleased to be able to support Groundwork with this project to provide advice and guidance to employers looking to adapt and adopt their working practices to become more energy efficient.

“It is really encouraging to see so many of our local businesses, from a variety of sectors, embracing net zero. Businesses are keen to develop their own skills, company plans and strategies. Initiatives like this will help Cheshire West become a more environmentally sustainable place to work.”

Greville Kelly, Director of Business Sustainability at Groundwork said:

"We are excited to be working with so many local companies to help businesses put practical actions in place around net-zero. There are a host of benefits for companies implementing low carbon plans including cost savings from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, an enhanced corporate image to secure more business, reduced business risks and stronger employee retention related to the wish of many employees who are keen to work for companies with a positive plan of action about the environment and sustainability.”

For more information on the project, please see:
https://racetozero.org.uk/pathways-to-net-zero/

More information on UKSPF is available on the Council website:
People and Skills | Cheshire West and Chester Council