What can councils do to create a sustainable environment? That was the subject of a recent meeting organised by the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC).
Participants at the meeting included Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for the Environment and himself a parish councillor, who welcomed participants and introduced the presenters.
The 1st presentation, by Ian Boyd of Arc Consulting, was on the implications of the Island’s designation as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Explaining that the aim is to promote and sustain both biological and cultural diversity.
The 2nd presentation was by Rob Sauven, a local consultant in renewable energy who is taking a key role in helping to drive forward the IW Council’s new Climate Change and Environment Strategy. Introducing the Strategy, known as Mission Zero, he explained the practical actions being taken to promote and implement it.
This was followed by a presentation by Vince Wedlock-Ward, a Wroxall parish councillor and director of a community interest company (CIC) called Future Isle of Wight, which helps people access funding to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, who explained how his company is about to launch an ECO4 funded scheme, which will help thousands of Island homes reduce their energy bills from August this year. ‘In this way,’ he said, ‘we can reduce carbon emissions and take people out of fuel poverty at the same time.’
The final presentation was by Ventnor Town Councillors, Julie Hutchison and Steve Cooper. They described how Ventnor Town Council has established an Environment and Sustainability Forum, which meets monthly to consider ways in which the Council can promote environmental sustainability. They encouraged other councils to take similar action.
The subsequent discussion focused on the need to increase awareness among all sectors of the Island’s population and the role of local councils in so doing. ‘This is of fundamental importance, not only to us but more importantly to future generations of Islanders,’ said IWALC Chair, Diana Conyers. ‘We will be encouraging all our members to put this on the agenda of their next meeting.’
In conclusion, Rob Sauven urged participants to envisage what a carbon-free world would look like. ‘Imagine what a wonderful place it would be!’ he said.
What utter rubbish, these virtue signallers bleat about “sustainability” whilst totally insane and unsustainable house building destroys the countryside, caused in part by unsustainable importation of “diversity”.
You hit the nail squarely on the head there.
No diversity arrival has yet come with a piece of land nor a home to go on it.
Hence we have to build on more of our limited fields to house those who chose to come here to better their lot in life yet at the expense of all of ours
Whilst the island has compared to mainland few such in comparison, many people come here to escape towns they no longer feel at home in this adding to the islands ruination
“What can councils do to create a sustainable environment? “
Simple. Stop building on green fields. We will need them for food.
Refurbish empty buildings, especially shops for residential.
If not economical to refurbish then knock down and build flats and houses on the space.
Newport High Street has large empty shops which could provide space for residential.
Poundstretcher, Brighthouse, Carphone, etc….
its easy. just stop building homes on green field sites. In fact cut back on all building until we have got the infrastructure right on the island. Its an issue being ignored. Holiday homes ,second homes, that just encourages invasive species.
The best thing that these organisations could do is stand down and make themselves redundant, They all take a slice of the ever decreasing pie, they are staffed by well meaning but generally inept people who imagine because three people elected them they know better than others, one authority for the island, one decision making process.
Rob Sauven urged participants to envisage what a carbon-free world would look like. ‘Imagine what a wonderful place it would be!’ he said.
..
Rob couldn’t be more wrong if he tried…
Carbon is the second most abundant element in your body. And your primary energy source comes from breaking carbon bonds.
without carbon your body wouldn’t be able to extract energy from compounds like glucose. For that matter, glucose wouldn’t exist anymore. It would become water. Carbon is the backbone of your DNA’s structure. Without it, your DNA would fall apart and wouldn’t be able to tell your cells how to grow and function.
I wonder what the Shalfleet Parish Council Chairman has to say about inappropriate house building in the West Wight? I guess not a lot unless it’s about the bogus benefits from his own housing development.
WHAT CAN LOCAL PARISH, TOWN AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS DO TO HELP CREATE A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT?
Probably nothing.