wildflowers

Results of Parish Council Environmental Project Questionnaire

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Thank you to everyone who filled out St Bees Parish Council’s questionnaire earlier this year, which looked at possible environmental projects in the parish. The results below were published in the September edition of St Bees News.

“There were 92 responses to the questionnaire and the main results were:

The top five responses to a list of possible projects and facilities to be developed were: 1 Bus route  2 Local produce events  3 Repair café  4 Community renewable energy scheme  5 Public electric vehicle charging points

When asked to prioritise the listed projects and facilities, the top 5 responses were: 1 Bus route  2 Public electric vehicle charging points  3 Community renewable energy scheme  4 Repair café  5 Local produce events

Other suggestions for possible projects included those related to public transport and active travel; roads and traffic; waste, recycling and litter; land use and planning.

Responses also provided further support for existing projects: the proposed off-road cycle track from St Bees to Mirehouse, tree planting and wildflower planting.

Residents who completed the questionnaire were generally supportive of the Parish Council taking action to address climate change: 58% felt it was very important to address climate change locally and for the Parish Council to take action and a further 20% felt it important to do so. Just 4% felt it was not important at all.

Cost, uncertainty about what actions to take and that other options are unavailable were the top three barriers given by residents for not making further changes to address climate change.

There was also significant interest to find out more about energy saving at home, wildlife friendly gardening, and reducing food waste and composting.

Sixteen people expressed interest in being contacted to help with future projects related to climate change and nature recovery.

While the Parish Council may not be able to take all the suggestions forward, our Climate Change Working Group will use the results of the questionnaire to guide the projects that they now explore.

Background to the project

Both the National Association of Local Councils and Cumbria Association of Local Councils encourage parish and town councils to take local action to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity. St Bees Parish Council formed a Climate Change Working Group in 2023. The Parish Council Climate Change Toolkit provides ideas for projects, but encourages parish councils to involve their residents in choosing projects for consideration.”

Welcome to Sustainable St Bees!

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Find out about the steps our community is already taking towards a more sustainable future and be inspired to get involved.

St Bees Green Future, St Bees Parish Council, Adams Recreation Ground, the Community Garden, Eco Church and the schools are already taking action to protect the environment and reduce our carbon footprint.

Reduce reuse recycle

While we have recycling collection points in St Bees for various items of waste, recycling is always a last resort. So, for items still with lots of life left in them, we reuse what we can. We have Facebook groups for the parish to buy and sell or share, swap and give away items. St Bees Green Future organise swap events and preloved sales, and there is also a Little Free Library in St Bees. These opportunities allow us to pass on and use preloved goods. And by doing so, we reduce our reliance on new items.

Food growing

St Bees Parish Council provide allotments for residents. The Community Garden (next to St Bees Priory) produces fruit and vegetables, with produce available to residents and visitors. St Bees Village Primary School is also developing a vegetable plot and orchard, which the children and their families will benefit from.

Transport

St Bees Parish Council proposed a near-level traffic-free cycle track along the valley between St Bees and Mirehouse, which is now part of the Whitehaven Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. Commuters, leisure cyclists and walkers alike would benefit from this route.

St Bees Parish Council has also proposed a Travel Hub at St Bees Train Station. The extension of the station car park would help encourage rail travel by commuters. The plan also includes charging points for electric vehicles and e-bikes, as well as improved cycle parking.

Energy

Community energy includes collective action to install renewable energy systems for the benefit of the community, as well as tackling fuel poverty and reducing energy use. Community energy is one of the topics that St Bees Parish Council’s Climate Change Working Group will explore.

Rewilding

As well as Priory Paddock, a wildflower and conservation site, rewilding projects are also underway along the verge on Beach Road, at Adams Recreation Ground, in the Community Garden and in the grounds of St Bees Village Primary School.

Tree planting

St Bees Parish Council plants trees in the parish. The schools and Adams Recreation Ground also undertake tree planting in their grounds.

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