KIDDERMINSTER council chiefs have drawn up a plan to tackle a climate emergency with ideas including solar and wind power being used on land and buildings they own.
Kidderminster Town Council members have unanimously approved a ‘Climate Emergency Action Plan’ to make the Town Council carbon neutral by 2035.
The town mayor, Coun Doug Hine, said the plans will combat the ‘urgent and significant threat’ posed by Climate Change, while fellow councillors have claimed the plans will save taxpayers money.
Under the action plan, the authority said it would ensure all council policies align with the Climate Emergency commitment.
The authority will also explore solar and wind power generation on council land and buildings, and will encourage people to use public transport and lower-carbon modes of travel more often.
Councillors have also committed to supporting allotments and domestic food production, and encouraging community orchards and tree planting.
And the action plan will see the council work with the Environment Agency and emergency services in emergency planning for extreme weather events.
Following the announcement, residents took to social media worried that their council tax would go ‘through the roof’ to pay for the action plan.
However, Coun Hine hit back at these claims and insisted savings would be made.
Coun Hine added: “The introduction to our plan briefly outlines the urgent and significant threat posed by Climate Change.
“With this plan, we join with over 600 councils across Britain – big and small – covering 96 per cent of the population who are setting ambitious targets and taking meaningful action.”
Coun John Beckingham, Chairman of the Council’s Operational Services Committee, added: “Not only are the measures in our plan beneficial to the planet, but they will save Kidderminster Town
Council and our residents money through energy and waste efficiencies, and contribute to our vision of healthy and happy neighbourhoods.”
The UK Parliament was the first in the world to declare a climate emergency back in 2019.
Over 300 local authorities have declared a climate emergency, and nearly two-thirds of councils in England are aiming to be carbon neutral 20 years before the national target of 2050.
The action plan will shortly be published on the Kidderminster Town Council website.
