In February, Stratford-on-Avon District Council approved the new Climate and Nature Recovery Strategy, which provides an overview of what the District Council's priorities are when tackling climate and ecological issues, focusing on those areas which we can influence directly.
The strategy is supported by an annual delivery plan. This sets out the specific actions the Council will take over the next year to ensure we remain on track to achieve our sustainability ambitions.
Cllr Susan Juned, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "We need to do more to protect our wildlife and address the climate crisis. Addressing the two together ensures that we can minimise the risks for the future. We must leave the district in a better state for our children and grandchildren by doing all that we can, whilst we can. We will work with our partners, stakeholders and communities to deliver the changes needed".
Some of the highlights of progress which has been achieved so far include:
- 2019: We declared a climate emergency.
- July 2020: We adopted our Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (Part V) Development Requirements Supplementary Planning Document.
- 2021: We installed 26 EV charge points in our car parks.
- April 2022: We launched our E-Cargo bike and trike scheme. This saw our E-Cargo fleet being made available for free hire to local businesses.
- August 2022: We introduced our new 123+ waste collection service, enabling food waste collected in the District to be used to generate low carbon heat.
- August 2022: We introduced two electric pavement sweepers into our Street Scene vehicle fleet.
- January 2023: We commenced the delivery of energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating over the years 2023 - 2025 through phase two of Central Government's Home Upgrade Grant funding scheme.
- September 2023: We designated an area of land owned jointly by ourselves and the Town Trust as a Nature Reserve. This area of land will be managed for nature in perpetuity.
- October 2023: The Sherborne Recycling Centre opened in Coventry. This is a state-of-the-art waste disposal facility which uses AI technology to increase the volumes of waste which are sent for recycling. We were one of eight local authorities who invested in this project.
- December 2023: We adopted the joint South Warwickshire Economic Strategy which includes an ambition to decarbonise the South Warwickshire economy.
- January 2024: We funded the planting of over 7,000 trees through the first round of the Free Trees for Farmers scheme.
- January 2024: Completed delivery of energy efficiency upgrades to 30 properties via the Central Government's Local Authority Delivery and Home Upgrade Grant funding schemes.
- February 2024: We were successful in securing £283,000 from Sport England's Swimming Pool Support Fund to install solar panels on Stratford-Upon-Avon Leisure Centre.
- April 2024: We appointed a new Grounds Maintenance contractor who use peat free compost, biofuel in equipment and mowers, and limit the use of herbicides to spot treatment of invasive weeds and wildflowers on hard surfaces only. This approach is in line with best practice guidance issued by the Wildlife Trusts.
- April 2024: We allocated over £44,000 in grant funding to support community based green initiatives across the District, with a further £56,000 remaining in reserves to support similar initiatives in the future.
- June 2024: We committed £35,000 to support the second round of the Free Trees for Farmers scheme.
- March 2025: We have completed the second round of the Community Climate and Nature Fund, and 13 projects were successful. £56,000 was distributed in total.
