Climate Emergency

7 December 2020

Active Travel in Chester brings a 300 per cent increase in cycling.

An Active Travel lane into Chester city centre has seen a 300 per cent increase in the number of cyclists using it over the weekend.

Before the trial lanes were introduced at the beginning of October, the A51 Boughton Road, saw 77 cyclists use it over 12 hours on a Saturday.

The latest figures reveal that the same lane has seen 252 riders use it over a comparable 12-hour period. The number of cyclists using the road rather than the footway has also increased during this time.

While the use of public transport has been less than pre-COVID times, and more people have been working from home, both trial active travel lanes are busy bus routes with a high number of services operating to ensure social distancing can be maintained.

There are around 450 buses and coaches travelling along the A51 between 7am and 7pm weekdays and 350 on Saturdays. On the A5116 there are around 240 buses and coaches between 7am and 7pm weekdays and 200 on Saturdays.

The trial Active Travel lanes are in place to help both cyclists and public transport and one bus operator is already noticing the improvements.

Matt Davies, Managing Director, Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire said: “The new trial active travel lanes on the A5116 Liverpool Road through Upton and the A51 from Boughton, have already benefitted bus services through improving punctuality and reliability and reducing journey times.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the impact that poor air quality has on our communities and as we begin to focus our efforts on recovery, we must ensure it is a green one.

“Only by focussing on public transport, cycling and walking will we reduce our dependency on the private car and ease congestion and improve air quality.

“We are confident that the improved journey times and bus reliability delivered by the active travel lanes, together with contactless payments and live bus tracking will encourage much greater use of public transport as our society emerges from the crisis.”

In the first month of the Active Travel lanes, the average two-way weekday flow between 7am and 7pm on the two trial routes was roughly 20,500 vehicles on the A51 and 12,000 vehicles on the A5116.

The average daily flows on Cheshire’s A roads from Saturday, 26 September to Sunday, 25 October were down by approximately 24 per cent when compared to the same dates last year, due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic on travel behaviours.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport said: “The trial measures we have put in place are aimed at making the journey into Chester as easy and environmentally friendly as possible.

“Early results are encouraging and have certainly benefited cyclists. The trial is for six months and if we are successful in encouraging people away from unnecessary use of the private car, particularly for short trips, then we will all benefit from less pollution, help to protect the climate and provide sustainable support to the city’s economy. We continue to listen to residents and businesses during the trial period.”

As well as study the volume and make-up of traffic on the roads, the council is investigating how the changes could make the air cleaner. Air quality monitors are positioned along both Active Travel routes which measure pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulates as well as weather data.

The latest data will be made available to the new Sustainable Transport Taskforce who will meet virtually on Thursday, 10 December 2020 commencing at 5.30pm.

Anyone wishing to attend the Taskforce meeting should request joining instructions before midday on 10 December via transportstrategy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

7 December 2020

The Mersey Forest will be one of 10 Community Forests across England planting more than 500 hectares of trees over the next five months, in a push to help deliver the Government’s tree planting targets.

The new programme - Trees for Climate - will see trees planted in Community Forests that span the country, from Yorkshire to Somerset.
When mature, the trees will eventually store over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of over 45,000 trans-Atlantic flights and contribute to meeting the government’s net zero by 2050 target.

The project will also reduce flood risk, increase sustainable UK grown timber, provide more places for nature and biodiversity to thrive, and increase peoples’ access to and enjoyment of woodland. The funding will also create new jobs and secure existing ones within the forestry and environmental sector, helping to boost local economies as part of a green recovery.

Last year, Cheshire West and Chester Council declared a climate emergency and pledged to support schemes to accelerate tree planting in the area. Trees for Climate will help do just that – and the Council is playing a leading role nationally by acting as the legal accountable body for the whole programme.

In the next five months, The Mersey Forest Partnership is aiming to plant nearly 40 hectares of new woodland – about one and a half times the size of Chester Racecourse – around Merseyside and North Cheshire, within urban parks and green spaces and on farmland. Landowners should contact The Mersey Forest Team if they have land suitable for tree planting.

Forestry Minister, Lord Goldsmith, said: “Through this exciting new programme we will build back greener, as more communities - particularly those in urban environments – will have access to nature, with real benefits for health and wellbeing.

“Trees are the backbone of our urban and rural environments and essential in tackling the climate emergency. This vital programme will plant trees where they are most needed to stem flooding and provide more places for nature to thrive.”

Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said: “The Trees for Climate programme will plant more trees targeted at areas in Cheshire where they can make the greatest difference, in particular to local quality of life and levels of health and wellbeing. We've shown how trees and woodlands boost our local economy, reduce flooding, create new habitats for wildlife and increase community spirit.

“The national network of Community Forests has been working for over 25 years to bring nature closer to people and local communities and is perfectly placed to deliver real change, on the ground.”

Trees for Climate will help deliver against the goals in the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and support Nature Recovery Networks across England. It has been drawn up together with The Community Forest Trust, the national charity for community forestry and is being delivered through Cheshire West and Chester Council, the accountable body for the programme.

As well as funding the tree planting activity itself, the grant will enable each of the Community Forests to manage all aspects of the new woodland creation carefully, including community and landowner engagement. New approaches to woodland creation and long-term management of woodland will also be developed.

Cheshire West and Chester’s Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Cllr Matt Bryan, said: “The Mersey Forest is a homegrown success story which has brought the green agenda right to the forefront in Cheshire and Merseyside. It has inspired many local residents to re-connect with nature and has created green oases within our region for everyone to enjoy.

“Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face at every level, from locally to globally and it’s vital that we all do our part to protect the planet for future generations.

“The Trees for Climate programme is an ideal opportunity for us all to take practical steps to combat climate change and to further enhance our natural landscapes.”

Chair of the Forestry Commission, Sir William Worsley, said: “This exciting new programme will benefit local communities all across England - helping to increase access to nature, creating much needed jobs in the environmental sector and bringing invaluable benefits to people’s health and wellbeing.

“The £12.1 million boost will be a huge help both for getting trees in the ground, but also enabling each of the Community Forests to ensure they are well-managed in the long term, making sure these new woods can thrive to the fullest extent.”

30 November 2020

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking residents to give their views on how it manages wildflower planting, Council-owned parks and open spaces, and outdoor play and youth areas in a consultation launched today.

The Council plans to produce an overarching Environmental Management Strategy, which will include a review of its current Play Strategy, a Wildflower and Grassland Strategy and a Parks and Greenspaces Strategy.

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “The Council has carried out initial engagement with staff, town and parish councils, councillors and other key stakeholders, such as Chester Zoo and Plantlife. The feedback we received has helped to create three draft strategies. I hope as many people as possible will give their views on our plans and ideas so far.

“Parks and green spaces are a vital part of the borough, providing spaces to help improve the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of residents and attracting visitors to the area.”

The consultation also includes an on-line mapping tool where participants can help identify Council-owned and maintained green space/grassed areas where wildflower meadows could be created in the borough.

The Council has declared a Climate Emergency in the Borough and is committed to helping west Cheshire to become carbon neutral by 2045.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency added: “A Wildflower and Grasslands Strategy is needed to help us tackle the climate emergency. This strategy aims to improve the amount of pollinator species and conserve biodiversity in local areas, addressing how we can better manage our existing wildflower verges and including how more people can be encouraged to plant nectar-rich native plants in their own gardens that will provide food for wildlife. It will also identify green corridors in the borough, which will help link our urban and rural green spaces.”

The Council already has an existing Play Strategy, which will be reviewed and updated to reflect the present situation in relation to outdoor play and youth facilities and any gaps that currently exist. The strategy will also include updated legislation and best practice in relation to developing outdoor play and youth areas and also an updated position on improvements at facilities undertaken by partners over the last four years of the current play strategy programme.

The eight-week consultation period starts on 30 November 2020 and closes on 25 January 2021. Residents can give their views by taking part online at: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/environmentstrategies.

Comments can also be sent to the Council by the following methods:

• Email: EnvironmentalStrategy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
• Postal address: Environmental Strategies Consultation, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Clough Road, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 4BD

The questionnaire is also available in accessible formats (easy read, braille) upon request.

18 November 2020

A total of 11 community and public sector projects dedicated to reducing carbon emissions have been successful in securing funding via the Climate Emergency Fund, which was launched by Cheshire West and Chester Council in August 2020.

The new fund, which will support low carbon projects and programmes, has been set up as part of the Council’s work on tackling the Climate Emergency. Both local organisations and Council services delivering projects that meet the criteria were able to bid for funding. Two types of funding were available, capital funding for fully developed projects, and feasibility funding for projects which require further development.

The successful applicants include:

Community-led bids.

• Guilden Sutton Green Space Group (capital allocation)

• Passion for Learning (capital allocation)

• Chester Sustainability Centre (feasibility study)

• Chapter Mental Health (feasibility study)

• Farndon Parish Council (feasibility study)

Council and Council company bids.

• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Regulatory Services – electric vehicle charging points (capital allocation)

• Cheshire West and Chester Council: One Public Estate Ellesmere Port (capital allocation)

• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Action Transport Theatre Whitby Hall Project (capital allocation)

• Qwest Services: Review of corporate site energy efficiency (feasibility study)

• Qwest Services: Review of renewable energy generation on landfill sites (feasibility study)

• Qwest Services: Review of school energy efficiency and renewable energy generation (feasibility study).

This is the first round of the Climate Emergency Fund, with successful applicants benefitting from a share of the £300,000 funding for this financial year (2020-21). A further £7 million of Climate Emergency funding is planned for 2021 - 2024.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, said: “We had a diverse mix of Council services and community organisations bidding for this first round of funding. It was great to see the range of bids submitted and I’m really looking forward to seeing the difference that these projects can make to the challenge of tackling climate change in the borough.”

Councillor Carol Gahan, Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance, said: “One of the strategic priorities for the Council, as set out in the Council’s four-year plan, is to tackle the Climate Emergency. The Climate Emergency Fund will support local projects that are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in our borough, benefitting not only our residents but the rest of the UK too.”

Dr Niall Macfadyen, lead applicant for the Chester Sustainability Centre, said: “This is a great opportunity to work in partnership with the Council and other funders to bring a neglected historic Chester building into use for the benefit of the public.”

The launch of the second round of funding from the Climate Emergency Fund is due to be announced in early 2021. Details will be published on: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climateemergency

30 October 2020

Cheshire West and Chester Council has confirmed membership of a new taskforce, which will seek to identify and make recommendations to the Council on ways to create high quality places and communities that support town centre economies together with general health and wellbeing through the improved delivery of ambitious inclusive walking, cycling, public transport and integrated transport projects across Cheshire West and Chester.

The taskforce will also be asked to consider the first set of data gathered in relation to the A5116 Liverpool Road and A51 Boughton trial active travel lanes.

These schemes form part of the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund initiative, which are being evaluated using dedicated road monitoring, engagement with road users and the new independent taskforce. Bus and cycle lanes are an established part of successful modern cities, and the Council is exploring the role they can play alongside other measures to help protect the environment.

The experimental active travel lanes came into operation on 5 October. The six-month trial is being monitored daily and will have an initial review after the first two months of operation. The lanes are a result of the Government’s ‘Gear Change’ vision, to accelerate active travel. Councils were told to re-allocate road space for significantly increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians, with some corridors for buses and cycles only.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport said: “The Taskforce will be able to review the monitoring and data objectively and ensure that there is independent oversight of the experimental schemes. I look forward to the feedback from the Taskforce which will add to the ongoing engagement with residents, commuters and businesses. I would like to thank all those who have freely given their time and for engaging with the Council in this process.”

A call for evidence will be held in which wider representatives will be invited to submit their evidence to the taskforce for consideration. This shall include community groups and professional bodies that are both for and against the current sustainable transport projects. Minutes from the taskforce meetings will be published to share their findings widely.

Representatives from the following resident groups, business and travel experts have received member invitations to the first meeting of the taskforce on Thursday 12 November 2020:

• Chester University
• Marketing Cheshire
• Sustrans
• Chamber of Commerce
• Chester Residents’ Associations Group
• Huntington Parish Council
• British Cycling
• Sustainability Forum
• Youth Senate
• Cheshire & Warrington LEP
• Active Travel Forum
• NHS Cheshire CCG
• Transport Focus
• Poverty Truth Commission
• Chester BID
• Road Freight Representative
• Sustainable Travel for Tourism
• Upton-by-Chester Parish Council
• Great Boughton Parish Council

The taskforce, monitoring and evaluation activities are in addition to ongoing discussions with other interested groups and individuals. Anyone wishing to comment on the trial active travel lanes can email: transportstrategy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

21 October 2020

Cheshire West and Chester Council is supporting a campaign to stop food waste, which asks people to think about food in a new way.

National charity Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is using the strapline ‘Food Waste: It’s Out Of Date’ and the campaign wants to encourage us to look at food waste from a new perspective, reconnecting people emotionally with food, changing hearts, minds and attitudes.

They want to start a journey to create a nation of UK citizens who highly value food; citizens who love it, appreciate it and care passionately about it.

The vision is a nation where food waste has become socially unacceptable; and has become ‘out of date’.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “We need to change the way we buy food. Change the way we use food. And change the way we feel about wasting food. When we waste food, we’re wasting the resources it takes to produce it and the hours it takes to make it.

“That’s why every day we don’t act, it isn’t just the 20 million slices of bread thrown away. Or the 920,000 bananas left to rot needlessly. It’s so much more, it’s the use of precious resources that go into growing our food including water, the deforestation and the climate change that comes as a result.

“Together we can make things better. Let’s start putting our old ways of thinking behind us and start making a difference today, to make for a better tomorrow.”

Tips and advice to stop food waste can be found at www.outofdate.org.uk and the Council’s social media channels will be supporting the campaign.

The campaign supports the Council’s Climate Emergency agenda and its target to be zero carbon by 2045.

Read the full story here