Timsbury Parish Council in January 2020 decided on a Climate Emergency Resolution, recognising the science of a climate emergency and resolved to take action with others to reduce its causes.
Parish Council welcomes and supports the B&NES Council Climate Emergency Declaration passed by all parties in 2019 and we welcome B&NES in providing some coordination on relevant issues.
The Parish Council will work with residents, local and wider groups, schools, businesses, B&NES council and other parish councils to establish and facilitate initiatives that will contribute to significantly reducing carbon and other greenhouse gases where possible.
There are a number of groups doing environmental activities in the village.
We recognise that action on other environmental concerns, such as biodiversity, pollution and resource-use are equally as important, though may or may not be related to the climate. Also, we note that there are social implications related to action on the climate which must be taken into account to ensure participation.
We have established a Green Action Working Group which advises and reports to this Parish Council to provide leadership by:
- Carrying out promotional activities and events to raise awareness and encourage participation through personal choices and organised action;
- Seeking to understand our local impact, whether from transport, built and natural environment, energy usage etc.;
- Ensuring the Parish Council’s activities and procurement minimises the carbon footprint of the PC and the community;
We will provide resources where appropriate to enable this process to happen.
Current Action by the Parish Council
- Campaign to ensure bus services through the village and local area.
- Object to and support the Parish Council Airport Association in campaigning against expansion of Bristol Airport.
- Considering converting its 15 streetlights to lower energy LED lamps.
Other Ideas for Action from Green Action Working Group
- Community tree planting scheme to lock up carbon, encourage biodiversity and grow food.
- Make comments where appropriate in larger planning applications requesting greener action such as installation of renewable energy supply and electric car charging facilities.
- Encourage car sharing schemes.
- Promotional activities for greener shopping and action at home.
- Encourage the setting up of a Share & Repair Café scheme.
- Raise awareness about greener gardening.
- Promote climate-friendly food such as local & seasonal.
- Promoting less single use plastics, for example through re-fills.
B&NES Council Action
They set up a new B&NES Climate Emergency, Environment and Place Partnership to develop an action plan for the three priorities, in addition to many other actions:
Energy efficiency improvement of existing building stock on a large scale and zero carbon for new build. This would mean, for example, that the majority of existing homes need to be retrofitted with a range of measures by 2030, such as around 14,700 need solid wall insulation; around 33,000 need triple-glazing, 43,000 need loft insulation and 66,500 need draught-proofing.
Transport emissions reduction requiring a major shift to mass transport, walking and cycling. This would mean, for example, reducing car and van mileage by 25% by 2030 and ensuring the remaining mileage is 76% electric, 14% petrol hybrid EV, leaving only 10% petrol/diesel by 2030.
Local renewable energy generation to be developed rapidly and at scale. This means, for example, an increase from 3.1% of homes having a solar roof to 50% of homes having a solar roof by 2030. It would also mean, for example, 28 large 2.5MW wind turbines would need to be installed across the area, as well as a range of other renewable energy technologies.