Category: Climate Emergency

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Pylons Site Visit in West Bergholt

Say no to pylons and say yes to offshore grid

View of pylons route along Highfield Farm Valley

West Bergholt continues to actively campaign against the National Grid Pylon project as part of the Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk Pylons Group (ESN).  On Tuesday 13th February we were pleased that Cllr Brian Butcher and Parish Clerk Laura Walkingshaw were able to host a site visit from James Ryan, NSIP1 Project Manager, Colchester City Council (CCC) and CCC Cllr Sara Naylor.

Statutory Consultee

As many of you may know, the CCC are the statutory consultee on the Parish Council’s behalf to the Government on this project.  Given that, our working relationship with James and his colleagues are vital to being able to explain the impact that it will have on rural life for us and our neighbouring villages.

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Solar Panels & Batteries

Solar Panels & Battery System for the Orpen Memorial Hall complex

Orpen Hall

Background

The Orpen Memorial Hall was on an electricity tariff that was due to end in September 2022.  The replacement electricity contract would result in a 4-fold increase in the unit cost. Our task was to see how we could reduce the financial impact and improve the sustainability of the Hall.

Proposal

To install a solar panel and battery system paid for by a grant.

The Process

We were aware that our 2-year fixed rate deal would soon be ending. We, therefore, started getting system quotes and looking around for potential grant sources earlier in the year. 

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Climate Emergency Declared

West Bergholt Parish Council declares A CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Climate Emergency Images

On Wednesday 26th January 2022 West Bergholt Parish Council agreed the following motion:

“THAT THIS COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT A CLIMATE EMERGENCY SHOULD BE DECLARED AND THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL TAKE ACTION EITHER THROUGH ITS OWN WORK OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHERS IN THE PARISH TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS, MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND IMPROVE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS ALL IN THE WIDER INTERESTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS”

Climate emergencies are being declared internationally by governments and locally by public organisations. This is to draw attention to the effects of human activity, resulting in an ever-warming planet and its potentially catastrophic effects on natural environments, wildlife and human habitats. These can be manifested by a rise in temperatures, rising sea levels and deteriorating conditions for all life

Around 75% of UK councils have declared a Climate Emergency. Colchester Borough Council voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency back in July 2019. Internationally COP 26 has reaffirmed the need to:

  • keep global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees, and
  • reduce the amount of carbon released into our atmosphere to achieve this.

What does this mean for the residents of West Bergholt?

Environment
  • Are you concerned about the deterioration of our natural environments and diminishing wildlife levels and habitats?
  • Do you want to do more than simply re-cycle your plastic, paper and glass?
  • Do you have ideas about how we could individually or collectively reduce our carbon footprints or improve local wildlife environments?

If so, we are asking for volunteers, across all age groups to join, or maybe lead, a new Working Party forward. They will help produce a strategy and a plan and initiate workshops.

Communicate, generate ideas imagery
  • We need people with communications skills; they will help spread the word by writing articles for the web and other social media.
  • Your organisational skills will ensure we have regular meetings and workshops; also talks from external speakers etc..
  • Your ideas will help to produce a strategy for local action; also a plan for those initiatives we can achieve in our village. Funding for initiatives is available from the Government and ECC and many other organisations to help with green projects.

Email Laura, our Parish Clerk, at [email protected] to join us. Once she has your contact details, she will send you further information on the first meeting.

Please join us to help improve the future; to safeguard as far as is possible an environment that future generations can enjoy.

Some interesting web sites for further information:  

Press contact: Cllr Bob Tyrell, Chairman: Climate Emergency Working Party, West Bergholt Parish Council

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