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

May is National Walking Month - the perfect time to celebrate the simple yet powerful act of walking and wheeling. With benefits for your health, the planet, and your wallet, walking and wheeling more can help you and your community.

Living Streets, the charity that organises the annual event, is asking people to #Try20 and walk for 20 minutes every day during the month.

Visit their website for their 20 tips to introduce 20 minutes of walking and wheeling into your day.

Introducing this daily habit can provide lots of benefits.

Improve your health and wellbeing

Walking or wheeling is one of the easiest ways to improve physical and mental wellbeing. Just 20 minutes of walking a day can help reduce the risk of heart disease, improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen muscles, and boost mental clarity. Unlike intensive workouts, walking or wheeling is gentle on joints and accessible to all fitness levels. Being out in the fresh air and closer to nature also help lower stress and enhance mood—making every step a stride toward better wellbeing.

Cut your carbon footprint

Transport is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, with car use significantly increasing pollution. By swapping short car journeys for walking, individuals can actively reduce their environmental impact. Walking short journeys instead of driving helps to cut emissions and decreases air pollution, leading to cleaner, healthier communities. Choosing to walk or wheel more, whether to work, the shops, or social events, is one way we can all play our part to help west Cheshire become a net zero borough by 2045.

Save money while you walk

Not only does walking or wheeling require zero fuel, but it also reduces transportation costs—whether on petrol, parking, or public transport fares. Regularly walking or wheeling instead of using motorised transport saves money on expenses while reducing wear on vehicles.

National Walk to School Week – 19 – 23 May

National Walk to School Week takes place within National Walking Month. One of the most impactful ways to reduce congestion and pollution while supporting children’s health is walking to and from school. Traffic can increase in our communities during school drop-off and pick-up times, increasing air pollution and safety risks. Encouraging walking or wheeling helps with the following benefits.

• Improve health and wellbeing: Walking daily helps children stay active, promoting stronger bones, muscles, and mental wellbeing.
• Reduce congestion outside schools: Fewer cars mean safer routes for children and cleaner air in school neighbourhoods.
• Enhance independence and social skills: Walking allows children to explore their surroundings and engage with friends.
• Create greener, healthier communities: Less traffic and pollution make school environments more pleasant for students and residents.

Parents can encourage walking by arranging walking groups, setting safe routes, and making walking a fun and rewarding habit. Schools can support initiatives by providing incentives for pupils who regularly walk, making the journey to school an exciting and social event.

There are lots of resources on the Living Streets website for both schools and families.

Let’s Walk - pedestrian training

The Council’s Road Safety Team run a child pedestrian training programme for local schools called Let’s Walk, which aims to prepare children to become safer, independent pedestrians by teaching them essential road crossing skills at the roadside.

Children in year 3 and 4 can take part in the programme which consists of a theory classroom session with the activity books provided, followed by two one-hour practical roadside training sessions per small group of children (ten or less). This is led by volunteer instructors from school or local PCSOs who will be fully trained and supported by the Road Safety team.

All children will also receive an activity book filled with fun things to complete, that cover the eight Steps of Crossing the Road, Walking Straight Across the Road, Safer Crossing Places, Crossing in Difficult Places, Busy and Quiet Roads, Stopping Distances, Planning Safer Routes, and Finding a Safer Place to Play.

The aim of the course is to encourage children and parents to walk safely to school and therefore reduce traffic and congestion at the school gate.

If your school is interested in getting involved, please email: roadsafety@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for further information.

The zoo - an international conservation charity - has been awarded £4,073,372 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its Networks for Nature initiative, an ambitious project to restore wildlife habitats across the region.

The funds will be used to create or restore 20 ponds, nearly 3,000 metres of hedgerow and more than 100 hectares of habitat. The grant will also be used to engage 4,500 students in year-long school projects to improve school grounds for wildlife and people, and train 90 young people through an environmental leadership course.

Made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the money will help the zoo to fund 14 new jobs, work closely with 18 community groups to improve their outdoor spaces for natural heritage, and continue to support a network of trained ‘Wildlife Champions’.

The project is being led by the conservation-focussed zoo, in partnership with a host of other organisations including Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, the Canal and River Trust, Sustrans and The Land Trust.

Hannah Brooks, Senior Community Participation & Engagement Manager at Chester Zoo, said The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant was a massive boost for the project.

She said: “As a charity we’re so grateful that this funding has come through. This is an exciting moment for the project. There has been a lot of work behind-the-scenes to bring people together and find out what these community groups need to take action to improve spaces for wildlife and people.

“Now, we will be able to support people to make real change across a vast landscape. This could really transform things for the environment in Cheshire and for the people who live here.

“Individual action can be difficult, but collectively we can inspire each other and provide a network that will keep having impact long into the future.”

The ultimate aim of the project is to create a thriving landscape for people and wildlife. This involves creating community nature spaces, reviving wetland areas to support amphibian and bird species, and improving existing nature parks.

Helen Featherstone, Director of England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We’re delighted to support Chester Zoo’s Networks to Nature project thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. The project has already made significant progress towards creating a thriving, wildlife-rich landscape that will not only aid nature recovery but also reap many benefits for people across Cheshire.

“It is vital that we value, rebuild and protect our natural heritage so it is sustained for the future, and we are excited to see the zoo and its communities taking forward this shared ambition in new and innovative ways.”

Since the foundations of the project were put in place, the zoo has championed green initiatives in schools, held networking events for local community groups, trained ‘Wildlife Champions’ in practical skills, and coordinated work to establish wellbeing walking routes within the improved area.

To do this, organisers have been linking up community groups across the region and delivering conservation workshops. The National Lottery Heritage Fund windfall will help this work go further.

Farhan Patel from Stamford Street Allotment Society in Ellesmere Port has attended many of the sessions.

He said: “Through working with the network, I have discovered methods for creating a haven for nature, promoting biodiversity, and encouraging habitats for hedgehogs and other animals that feed on slugs - eliminating the need for chemical pest control, which can have harmful effects on wildlife.

“Recently, we have decided to convert some of our well-maintained lawns into wildflower meadows to attract and support pollinators. As a committee, we understand that a commitment to nature is not static but an ongoing process of adaptation and growth. We are excited to attend more sessions and continue learning how to encourage wildlife to thrive in Ellesmere Port.”

The project has also benefitted from funding from the Westminster Foundation, Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust, Marjory Boddy Charitable Trust and Sykes Cottages.

However, with the full budget for this ambitious plan at more than £5 million, the not-for-profit zoo is seeking more support. Find out more at www.chesterzoo.org/conservation-science-education/global-conservation-programmes/conservation-campaigns/networks-for-nature.

To get involved, contact ukwildlife@chesterzoo.org

A bus passenger survey in England has shown an increase in satisfaction across Cheshire West and Chester.

On Monday 24 March, the second Enhanced Partnership Annual General Meeting took place, inviting local bus operators, the Department for Transport and stakeholders to discuss issues and opportunities relevant to the bus network.

An interim update on bus journey satisfaction was shared, highlighting that passengers in Cheshire West and Chester have said they are more satisfied with their journeys since last year.

Commissioned in January 2023, the Your Bus Journey passenger satisfaction survey from Transport Focus is one of the largest undertaken, including 39 local transport authority areas in England (outside of London), speaking to 41,000 passengers about their overall satisfaction with their journey. The final results have now been released by Transport Focus and confirm improvements have been made.

The borough’s final results are consistently above the national average (across participating Local Transport Authorities).

Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, and Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “This is excellent news, as we continue to implement our Bus Service Improvement Plan. These results show that positive changes have been made.”

In 2024, overall bus journey satisfaction (% of fairly and very satisfied responses) across Cheshire West and Chester has risen to 87%, from 81% in 2023. This figure is 3% away from the Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan target of 90% by 2026/27.

The target of 90% would capitalise on the borough’s higher than average performance, and take it to amongst the highest recorded levels of performance in the country according to Transport Focus’ most recent Your Bus Journey survey.

Cllr Gittins added: “Increasing further towards a 92% target in 2029/30 would recapture some of the higher levels of performance recorded prior to the pandemic and represent a return to previous high levels of quality and service.”

Bus journey satisfaction can be further broken down into satisfaction metrics. In 2024, satisfaction with the bus stop where passengers caught the bus was 83%, compared to 80% in 2023.

The length of time waiting for the bus 79%, compared to 69% in 2023. Punctuality of bus at the stop 82%, compared to 72% in 2023.

Bus driver 91%, compared to 88% in 2023 and the length of time the journey on bus took 86%, compared to 84% in 2023.

Overall value for money for bus journeys across the borough in 2024 was 77%, compared to 73% in 2023.

Matt Davies, Managing Director, Stagecoach MCSL commented: “Stagecoach works with the Council as part of the Enhanced Partnership and we are delighted that our customer satisfaction score has improved along with the overall score for the Cheshire West area. These improvements demonstrate a real commitment from all involved to make bus travel a more enjoyable experience for the people of the area.”

A spokesperson for Arriva said: "Arriva is delighted with the results of the Your Bus Journey survey for Cheshire West & Chester. These findings highlight the success of the Enhanced Partnership, which has brought together operators and the local authority to improve bus services across the region.

"We are particularly pleased to see improvements in punctuality—an area we have been committed to enhancing.

"With further service improvements set to roll out later this year, we remain dedicated to delivering a reliable, efficient and customer-focused bus network for our passengers."

For more information please visit:

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/public-transport/bus-service-improvement-plan-for-cheshire-west-and-chester

The North West is building the workforce of the future, ensuring workers and businesses are equipped to support the clean energy transition, and associated opportunities in industry and advanced manufacturing.

To support this, Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (ECW) and Cheshire West and Chester Council have appointed a specialist team to develop a North West Skills Mapping Plan, ensuring that training and skills development match the demands of these growing industries.

With major energy and industrial projects already underway in the area, this initiative will provide clear pathways into high-quality, future-proof jobs, reinforcing the North West’s position as the UK’s leading region for industrial transformation.

The project, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Office for Clean Energy Jobs, will identify workforce and skills needs in support of the clean energy transition, align training with employer demand, and support businesses in accessing the talent they need to remain competitive.

Specialist consultancy Opergy has been appointed to lead the Skills Mapping Plan, while Cogent Skills will conduct a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) with a sample of local Energy Intensive businesses to ensure training and skills provision directly address industry requirements.

Preparing for the Jobs of the Future

The announcement comes during National Careers Week, a moment when organisations across the UK are focusing on building career pathways for the next generation.

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

"This initiative is about securing long-term career opportunities for people across the North West. By investing in skills and workforce planning, we are helping local people access well-paid, sustainable jobs in industries that will define our economy for decades to come."

Philip Cox, Chief Executive of Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, said:

"The North West is home to some of the UK’s most significant industrial and energy investments, creating thousands of new, highly skilled jobs. The challenge now is ensuring that we have the right workforce to meet this demand. This Skills Mapping Plan will provide the intelligence and strategic direction to connect people with the jobs of the future and keep our region at the forefront of industrial transformation."

The North West at the Heart of Industrial Transformation

The North West is leading the UK’s shift towards new energy and industrial technologies, with major projects driving growth and investment:

⚡️ HyNet North West – A flagship project for hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilisation. HyNet will supply low-carbon hydrogen to the UK’s largest manufacturing and chemical production hub, spanning Cheshire and Warrington, North Wales, Liverpool City Region, Manchester, and Lancashire.

🏭 EET Fuels and EET Hydrogen – Located in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire West and Chester, EET is developing one of the world’s first large-scale, low-carbon hydrogen production hubs. With a goal to reach 4,000 MW by 2030, EET’s HPP1 and HPP2 at Stanlow Terminals Refinery are integral to the UK Government’s hydrogen strategy.

🔋 INEOS Inovyn Hydrogen Storage – Transforming the Keuper Gas Storage Project (KGSP) in Northwich, Cheshire, from natural gas storage to 1,300 GWh of underground hydrogen storage, reinforcing the region’s role in hydrogen infrastructure.

🔥 Encirc Hydrogen-Powered Glass Manufacturing – Encirc plans to use low carbon Hydrogen and renewable electricity to power its furnaces from 2030. This will help to debarbonise the two billion bottles it produces at its Cheshire plant each year.

Encirc factory in Cheshire

Industry and Workforce Alignment for Long-Term Growth

The North West Industrial Cluster, backed by Net Zero North West (NZNW), is delivering £30 billion in near-term investable projects, safeguarding and creating 34,500 jobs, and cutting 17 million tonnes of CO₂ from industry.

Jane Gaston, CEO of Net Zero North West, commented:

"The North West is leading the UK’s industrial transformation, and a skilled workforce is essential to delivering this vision. With £30 billion of investable projects, we are not only protecting existing jobs but creating thousands of new ones in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and clean energy. This Skills Mapping Plan will ensure that workers and businesses have the right support to seize these opportunities."

Delivering Workforce Insights and Training Solutions

Opergy, specialists in workforce intelligence and industrial transformation, will lead the Skills Mapping Plan, ensuring that regional workforce trends, industry demand, and future skills needs are fully understood.

Johnathan Reynolds, Managing Director of Opergy, said:

"As industries across the North West evolve, so too must our workforce. This project will provide a clear roadmap for skills development, ensuring that businesses can access the talent they need and people can transition into high-quality jobs in industrial and energy sectors."

Cogent Skills will deliver the Training Needs Analysis, engaging directly with employers to identify workforce challenges, skills gaps, and training priorities.

Justine Fosh, CEO of Cogent Skills, added:

"This project will ensure that skills training is aligned with employer needs, helping to future-proof jobs and industries across the North West. By working with businesses, training providers, and policymakers, we can build a resilient, high-skilled workforce for the future."

The North West Skills Mapping Plan will involve detailed workforce analysis, employer engagement, and data-driven recommendations, with findings expected to be published by mid-2025.

National Careers Week takes place between 3 – 8 March 2025 and provides an opportunity to explore the growing career paths within the green sector. With a national commitment by the Government to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the demand for skilled professionals in sustainable industries is rapidly increasing. In west Cheshire, local initiatives and educational organisations are at the forefront of this green revolution, offering a range of opportunities for those eager to get involved in this exciting sector and play their part to help the area achieve its net zero goals and support the reindustrialisation of the North.

Playing your part to help deliver the borough’s Climate Emergency Response Plan

In 2019, Cheshire West and Chester Council unanimously declared a climate emergency and worked with a range of partners, climate experts, community groups and businesses to understand the challenges and opportunities this could bring to the area. The Climate Emergency Response Plan for the borough outlines a comprehensive strategy to become a net-zero borough by 2045. This ambitious plan emphasises the necessity for a local workforce skilled in green technologies and sustainable practices.

ORIGIN, located in the Ellesmere Port area of the borough, is one of the most important industrial and employment clusters in the UK, supporting 1,300 businesses and creating employment for 24,100 people. ORIGIN is at the forefront of advanced plans to respond to the Climate Emergency through several transformational projects with many job opportunities for local people. of nearly £500 million building a new production plant in Ellesmere Port.

More details about the plan can be found on our website: www.westcheshireclimateplan.co.uk/

Regional Skills Pilot in Cheshire West and Chester

In January 2025, Cheshire West and Chester has been selected as one of four regions to launch the Government's Regional Skills Pilot. This initiative aims to support workers transitioning from carbon-intensive industries to the growing clean energy sector. The pilot includes the development of an Energy Skills Passport portal, enabling workers to identify necessary qualifications for specific roles, thereby facilitating a smoother transition into renewable energy careers. Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington is delivering the pilot project locally, working in partnership with the North West Net Zero Hub, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Net Zero North West.

Find out more information about the project

Educational pathways in green industries

Several local organisations offer a range of courses designed to provide students with the skills required in the green sector.

Cheshire College – South & West: At the Ellesmere Port campus, the college has invested £680,000 in an on-site sustainable house. This facility provides students with hands-on experience in sustainable construction and renewable energy technologies, addressing the skills gap in eco-friendly building practices.
Watch a video about the on-site sustainable home and the training offered there.

Reaseheath College: Known for its land-based courses, Reaseheath offers programs in Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental Conservation, and Horticulture, among others. These courses blend theoretical knowledge with practical application, preparing students for careers in a range of areas including, environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management.

TTE Technical Training Group: Specialising in technical training, TTE provides industry-focused programmes and apprenticeships in engineering and manufacturing. Their courses are tailored to meet the evolving demands of the green sector, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for roles in sustainable industries.

The University of Chester: Many of the courses on offer at our local university include a focus on sustainability. Students and staff at the university have been involved in industrial decarbonisation research (Chester Business School), conservation of endangered species (School of Natural Sciences), and advanced and sustainable engineering covering renewable energy (School of Computer and Engineering Sciences).

Read about the University's recent research day which focused on sustainability.

Career opportunities with HyNet

HyNet North West is a pioneering project aimed at transforming the region's energy landscape by producing, transporting, and storing low-carbon hydrogen, as well as capturing carbon dioxide emissions. By 2035, HyNet is projected to generate around 75,000 jobs across the UK, spanning construction, engineering, project management, and more. This provides a great opportunity for local people to be part of a world-leading project using cutting-edge technology to combat climate change

Keep up-to-date with job opportunities at Hynet.

Embracing a green career

As industries are adapting their businesses to meet evolving environmental and social standards, professionals with expertise in sustainability are increasingly in demand. This is an exciting time to get involved in these sustainable and green roles. By doing so you could play your part in helping the borough to reach its net zero goal.

Share your story into a green career

If you are involved in an organisation that offers training, apprenticeships or roles in the sustainable or green sector and would like to share any success stories, you can add your story to the ‘your story’ section of the Climate Emergency Inspire Hub.

Other resources

WWF - Sustainable Futures: A free careers programme for secondary schools and colleges

National Careers Service - Explore Green Careers

STEM Learning - Green Careers

Cheshire West and Chester Council is promoting Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean campaign and the Your Streets team has organised litter picking events across the borough.

The Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean 2025 will take place from 21 March to 6 April, and you can pledge to pick up a bag of litter – or more – right now.

Members of the Council's Your Streets Team

Community litter pick events will be held in the following locations between 12 noon and 2pm. Everyone is welcome and equipment will be provided:

• Tuesday, 25 March - Sycamore Park, Lache
• Thursday, 27 March - Festival Park, Ellesmere Port
• Friday 28 March – Brook Street Car Park, Neston
• Tuesday, 1 April - Winsford Marina Car Park
• Thursday, 3rd April - Castle Park Car Park, Frodsham

The Council’s Your Streets team also has a toolkit available for individuals and groups of up to 30 volunteers to arrange clean-up events in their own communities.

The toolkit, which is available throughout the year not just during the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, includes litter-picking grabbers, bags and full instructions for the collection of filled bags.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Pride, Councillor Stuart Bingham said: “It’s wonderful that so many groups and individuals have already organised litter-picking events and clean-ups in their communities to join this campaign.

“I’m pleased we are able to promote the use of the toolkit through our Your Streets initiative to help individuals and groups make a difference in their area. I’m looking forward to hearing about the results achieved across the borough at our community events.

“Litter-picking is a simple activity that can really make a huge difference where you live. Our teams work hard every day and are doing all they can to keep the borough clean and looking beautiful, but we really value the contribution of volunteers during the Great British Spring Clean as well as through the rest of the year. Thank you to everyone who plays their part across the borough. We can all be #LitterHeroes!”

You can pledge your support for the Keep Britain Tidy campaign on their website.

If you would like to tell us about a litter pick in your local community or speak to our team to see how they can support, please email: YourStreets@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Keep Britain Tidy’s website states that litter-picking is a simple action that anyone can do to make an immediate and visible difference to the environment where we live, work and play. In fact 97% of people surveyed after 2024's campaign agreed they felt they had made a difference to their local area, and 86% said they felt part of a national movement that is taking action to tackle litter.

Last year, an army of amazing #LitterHeroes pledged to pick more than 425,000 bags of litter!

ENDS

Full link to pledge site:

https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean

Link to Your Streets information:

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/your-streets/campaigns-and-news/love-your-streets-campaign.aspx

World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on 2 February and provides an opportunity to highlight the crucial importance of these unique ecosystems. Wetlands encompass a diverse range of environments from marshes and swamps to bogs and meres and mosses. They are vitally important to communities around the world and provide a wealth of benefits to both people and the planet.

Why wetlands matter

• Biodiversity hotspots: Wetlands are incredibly rich in biodiversity, supporting a vast array of plant and animal life. They serve as vital habitats for numerous species, many of which are endangered.
• Water purification: Wetlands act as natural filters, purifying water by removing pollutants and improving water quality.
• Flood control: Wetlands play a crucial role in mitigating floods by absorbing excess water and reducing the impact of extreme weather events.
• Climate change mitigation: Wetlands are significant carbon sinks, absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to combat climate change.
• Food security: For many communities around the world wetlands provide essential resources for food production, including fish, shellfish, and rice.
• Recreation and tourism: They also offer opportunities for recreation and tourism, such as birdwatching, fishing, and kayaking, contributing to local economies.

Local action

The Council works with landowners across west Cheshire as the habitat delivery body for Natural England's great crested newt strategic licensing scheme, known as District Level Licensing (DLL).

Under DLL, developers pay a conservation payment, which is then used to create or restore new ponds in strategic areas within the borough. The ponds are secured, monitored, and managed for 25 years – all funded by the developers.

Since the scheme started in 2018, the Council has created over 170 ponds, including 15 in the last year. The Council’s Total Environment Team continue to monitor these, ensuring they remain healthy and thriving habitats.

Increasing the number of functional ponds within the borough helps to provide a more coherent ‘steppingstone’ mosaic of wetland habitat. The aim of the scheme is to improve great crested newt population numbers to prevent further decline. The ponds are also of benefit to a whole host of local wildlife and can help with flood management.

Cheshire and Warrington’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy has a goal to address the crises we face in the natural world, with an aim of the partnership to create a more resilient natural environment for the benefit of wildlife and people by maintaining, conserving, restoring and reconnecting wildlife-rich space. This includes wetlands in the area and you can read more about some of the projects taking place locally including at Delamere’s meres and mosses and plans for the Chester Wetland project. Read more on the Cheshire Local Nature Partnership website: Nature Based Solutions - Cheshire Local Nature Partnership

Supporting World Wetlands Day

• Learn more: Increase your knowledge about wetlands and their importance.
• Visit a wetland: Explore local wetlands, such as the RSPB Burton Mere Wetland to see some fantastic wildlife on your doorstep.
• Create a mini wetland in your garden: Even small actions can make a difference. Introducing a pond to your garden, however small, can create a valuable habitat for wildlife. You can find helpful tips and guidance on creating a pond in your garden on the Wildlife Trust’s website.