Dorset Council has sent letters to the government calling for further help in tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergency. Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment and responsible for Dorset's CEE plan, asked for more money and better support from central government in dealing with the emergency, specifically:
Remove hurdles for renewable energy deployment. It’s unnecessarily difficult to set up solar arrays, wind farms, and tidal power generation in terms of bureaucracy, funding, and physical infrastructure.
Increase enforceable standards for building insulation and energy efficiency. We want to see massive investment to bring all existing homes up to the highest possible energy efficient standard by 2030.
Invest more in sustainable public transport infrastructure and active travel, especially in rural areas. We cannot expect people to get out of their cars and onto public and active transport if the service provision just isn’t there.
Support digital infrastructure and flexible working. Enabling employees to work from home during the pandemic has maintained productivity and lowered travel-related emissions.
Cllr Bryan called on the UK Government to demonstrate bold leadership and use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to empower local councils, businesses, and communities to build a better Britain that recognises the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
You can read the full letter here: https://news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/2021/11/05/dorset-council-letter-to-government-help-us-tackle-the-climate-emergency/.
You may wish to write to Cllr Bryan, supporting his stance and asking for Dorset to accelerate their action on the CEE.
