Share your views on how the Whitby Hydrogen Village Poll should be run
Government confirms that Whitby will no longer be considered for the Hydrogen Village trial The Government has officially confirmed that Whitby, Ellesmere Port will no longer be considered as the location for the hydrogen village trial. Due to this update the poll about the hydrogen village trial will no longer be run by the Council this summer as planned. The Council would like to thank all residents and local members for their involvement and input with the engagement exercise about the poll. The engagement feedback helped develop the Council's proposed approach to the poll. The engagement findings and feedback on the key messages are available here. The proposed approach to the poll was formally presented to Cabinet on 11 July 2023. |
What this engagement is about
The Government wants to trial the use of hydrogen, instead of natural gas, for heating and cooking. Two areas have been shortlisted for the trial, Whitby in Ellesmere Port and Redcar in North Yorkshire. If taken forward in Whitby, people will be asked to ‘opt-in’ or ‘opt-out’ of the trial and will be offered a choice between natural gas or hydrogen. Please see 'useful links' for more information.
Residents have asked the Council to run a local poll, to understand if those in the trial area agree or disagree with the proposals. Whitby residents have also asked to have a say in how that poll is carried out and what question (or questions) are included. The poll will measure 'public support' for the trial, one of the five tests that the Council is asking the gas distribution network (Cadent) and the Government to meet.
We will share the results of the poll with you and Government. The Government, not the Council, will decide if the Hydrogen Village trial goes ahead. They have stated that they will only progress with the trial if there is local support. However, the poll is non-binding, and it is up to the Government to decide.
| This engagement exercise is your opportunity to say how you think the local poll should be run. We are particularly interested to hear from people affected by the proposed Whitby Hydrogen Village trial. |
There are lots of choices about how the poll could be carried out, and this is your chance to shape how it is run. For further information, please view the engagement document here. This information is also available in web accessible format here and easy read format here.
How to share your views
- Complete a feedback form here
- Complete an easy read feedback form here
- Attend the drop in session on 23 May 2023, where you can come and talk to the Council’s Research Team about how the poll could be run. Further details below.
You can also share your views via email, letter or over the phone. The engagement document and feedback form are also available in hardcopy and alternative formats. Please see the ‘other ways to share your views’ for more information.
This engagement exercises closes at 10am on Monday 5 June 2023.
Once the deadline has passed, we will collate and analyse all the views received. Based on your feedback, we will develop our approach to the poll. We will share a summary of the feedback alongside plans for how the poll will be carried out. We expect to run the poll in July 2023.
Easy read document and feedback form
You can also send us your feedback through an easy read form that uses simpler words and pictures.
- You can complete this form on a computer and then email it to: WhitbyPoll@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- You can print this form out to complete and then post it to: Whitby Poll, Insight and Intelligence, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA
- If you would like a paper copy of this form sending to you, please phone: 0300 123 8123