Cheshire East Council chiefs have approved “one of the most ambitious” plans in the country centred on making Cheshire East carbon neutral by 2025, writes Aran Dhillon.
The authority’s cabinet approved an environment strategy to respond to the ‘global threat’ posed by climate change at its virtual meeting yesterday (May 5).
It also backed a carbon action plan setting out how the council aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
Council Leader Cllr Sam Corcoran said: “The goal of Cheshire East Council being carbon neutral by 2025 is one of the most ambitious in the country.
“But, in my view, that will be the easy part – it is the part that is under our control.
“The more difficult part, set out in this plan, is to encourage businesses, residents and organisations in Cheshire East to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption and promoting healthy lifestyles.”
Other key aims of the environmental vision include reducing waste, improving air quality and ensuring new developments are sustainable.
Cllr Nick Mannion, portfolio holder for environment and regeneration, described the action plan as a ‘path-finding’ document.
He said: “We need to make sure we plant the right trees and the right hedges in the right places and, indeed, that is one of the challenges we have got.”
Cllr Mannion also confirmed he was happy to deliver updates as progress is made.
Conservative group leader Cllr Janet Clowes, ward member for Wybunbury, welcomed some of the key proposals put forward.
But she called for “robust targets” to be built into the strategy as the document is “too important” to miss things out.
She added: “I welcome the ideas in terms of green investment opportunities for additional offsetting but, again, it is use of land, assets of Cheshire East, that we may want to actually consider using for other things as well.
“It must be done with those very clear objectives and time frames in mind but I am sure, from what Cllr Mannion has said, we will be able to review those on a regular basis going forward.”
Efforts to achieve carbon neutrality include cutting carbon from council vehicles through the use of ‘ultra-low’ carbon vehicles where possible, along with continuing to seek opportunities to develop sustainable energy production across the borough.
Time to get going on that Sustainable Energy Production on the River Weaver in Nantwich, the Nantwich Hydro Mill. When are you going to approve it Cheshire East?