Hosted a Climate Business Breakfast in November 2019 for 120 local businesses
A budget of £1m was granted starting in April 2021 to be spent over years
Secured external government grant funding of £1.7m in 2021. £1,268,000 for energy efficiency grants for low-income households and £517,124 to deliver a novel Market Town Clean Air Initiative in Saffron Walden
Internal funding - the Zero Carbon Communities Grant Fund of £300K (£150k for 2023 & £150k for 2024), was launched last year with the aim of supporting community groups in Uttlesford to take action on Carbon Emission Reduction, Biodiversity Restoration and Enhancement & Community Engagement in Climate Change
Published documents
We have published a number of important documents including:
The environmental services team at Uttlesford District Council has moved to a new depot in Little Canfield, with more environmentally-friendly features. These include:
charging points installed
vehicle recycling water wash facility
bird and bat boxes installed
trees planted on site
PV panels installed on the new vehicle workshop
recycling bins in office
Green energy
The council switched to a green energy tariff and can claim 100% reduction (i.e. zero carbon dioxide) from electricity and in the case of biogas, 72% reduction in CO2 emissions.
We now have:
5 Solar panels on refuse vehicles
2 electric vans
external low energy lighting
bike racks installed
Clean Air Day June 2022
Uttlesford District Council's Environmental Health team were pleased to work in partnership with Saffron Walden Town Council on a pop-up information stall in the market.
The event was part of Clean Air Day 2022, the UK's largest air pollution awareness campaign. As well as the information stall, 'No idling' signs have been posted at key hot-spots to encourage motorists to switch off their engines when queuing at traffic lights.
Clean Air Day resources have also been shared with schools across the district including those in Great Dunmow, Thaxted Primary School, St Mary's Primary School in Stansted and Elsenham Primary School.
Since 2020 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) testing tubes have been installed outside 5 schools in the district.
Consultations
We ran 2 map-based consultations.
Biodiversity mapping - we asked you to add your ideas on how we can improve biodiversity in Uttlesford. We wanted you to tell us about the existing and potential habitats in your neighbourhood. Share your local knowledge to help us build a Nature Recovery Network plan for the district.
November 2022 Cllr Pepper, Portfolio holder for Environment and Green Issues and Equalities, took part in a local documentary that discussed the climate emergency with local people. It extensively reviewed measures that the local community can consider to help save the planet and their surrounding environment.
