|
Welcome to your monthly Climate Change update.
Northumberland County Council is committed to making our county carbon neutral by 2030 and we need everyone to do their bit to help reduce carbon emissions.
How can you help make a difference? 👇
|
|
| | | |
Tree Warden scheme launched
We have officially launched our Tree Warden scheme in Rothbury by planting 150 new tree saplings including Rowan, Silver Birch, Crab Apple, Hawthorn and Cherry and by unveiling a commemorative plaque.
The Rothbury wardens work under the Rothbury Climate and Nature (CAN) group to raise funds and identify suitable land for local tree planting. Along with pruning, watering, rejuvenating and giving vital aftercare to trees and greenery in their local area, the wardens will be working with schools to educate children about the importance and value that trees have to our environment.
Trees are vital in fighting the effects of climate change as they capture and store carbon from the atmosphere, prevent flooding, reduce pollution and keep soil rich in nutrients. We are planning to have more Tree Wardens across the county.
Interested in becoming a Tree Warden in your local area? 👇 |
| | | | Consultation for Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans
We are seeking views on our plans to enhance the walking and cycling infrastructure in the county and the proposed walking and cycling corridors for our 12 main towns (Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Blyth, Cramlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Morpeth, Ponteland, Prudhoe).
These plans represent the long-term blueprint of the proposed walking and cycling network for each town, which we'll use to target our investment to support a fundamental behaviour change to how we travel. 
The views collected through this consultation will help shape active travel in Northumberland over the next 10 years.
This consultation will run from 7 March 2022 to 15 April 2022.
|
| | | |  |
More electric vehicle charging points
Transport is high on our agenda as part of our Climate Change Action Plan and we aim to have 30% of cars in the county electric by 2030 (about 55,000 vehicles).
As part of this ambition, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points are being installed at First Avenue in Ashington, Main Street in Felton and Parade car park in Berwick and can be accessed by residents who cannot have private chargers installed.
We also have plans in place to install chargers in Alnwick, Haltwhistle, Corbridge and Bellingham as part of a pilot scheme which, if successful, will be rolled out in other areas in the county.
The chargers are being supplied by London-based Connected Kerb and are called ‘fast’ (not ‘rapid’), which means they are most suited to overnight charging for residents, taking between five and seven hours, but they can also be used for visitors to top up where needed.
Electricity from the charging points is 35 pence per kilowatt hour, the same rate as for other Northumberland County Council charge-points.
|
| | | | Warmer Homes: Helping to make energy-saving improvements to your home
As energy prices continue to rise, fuel poverty will affect more of our residents and we are actively working to ease fuel poverty. Our Warmer Homes scheme can help homeowners in Northumberland make energy-saving improvements to their homes whilst improving comfort and affordability.
Through our Warmer Homes scheme, you could receive:- Heating controls to help control the temperature of your home.
- Insulation for walls and lofts to keep the heat in
- Heating measures which use less carbon, such as air source heat pumps.
- Renewable energy generation such as solar panels.
To be eligible you must meet both of the following criteria:
- If your home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G (if your property does not currently have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) an EPC survey can be undertaken as part of the home survey).
- Your household income is less than £30,000 or someone living in your home receives benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support and Disability Allowance or the occupants are assessed as at risk of fuel poverty.
Private landlords can also apply, however the maximum fundable by Warmer Homes for landlord properties is 66%.
|
| | | | Reminder: Climate Change Q&A rescheduled
Due to the recent pre-election restrictions in Northumberland, we have had to reschedule our next Climate Change Q&A to:
Date: Wednesday 27 April 2022
Time: 5pm-7pm.
Online event.
Focussing on our natural environment, this session will look at what the Council are doing to increase tree coverage and biodiversity in our communities, and what you can do from home. We hope to have guest speakers from NCC’s ecology department, Great Northumberland Forest team and from a local community group.
|
| | | | | Coming soon: Community Chest Climate Fund We are pleased to announce that we have established a Community Chest Climate Fund which will support community groups, non-profits, voluntary groups, parish and town councils to take climate action within their own communities. Look out for more details about this in our future newsletters and social media channels soon.
|
| | | This email has been produced by the Northumberland County Council Communications team. |
|
| You can also view this email online here if it doesn't display correctly |
| |
|
