Kentish Express Ashford & District
Borough is Kent’s greenest in new climate survey
A climate- friendly test has revealed Ashford is performing better than anywhere else in Kent when it comes to its impact on the environment.
Analysis by campaign group Friends of the Earth (FoE) reveals that the district’s performance on climate change equates to a score of 80% - earning it a green stripe.
In a league table it comes 14th out of all the local authorities in the UK.
The score is compiled by looking at how much of the town is covered in trees, the amount of emissions coming from homes and how much waste is produced, plus other factors and then compares it to other local authorities.
Recommendations on how to improve the score are also given.
For example, FoE discovered that 24% of commuter journeys across the district are made by public transport, cycling or walking, but that ‘Ashford should aim for 40% by 2030’.
The online analysis also found that 46% of Ashford homes are currently well insulated, but by the end of the next decade this should include all homes.
Of all household waste, 57% is currently being reused, recycled, or composted in the borough.
But the report states Ashford should aim for ‘70% by 2025 on the path to zero waste’.
As it stands 14% of the borough is covered in woodland, but that the ‘highest proportion in similar areas is 26%’.
Ashford has 39 megawatts of renewable energy available - but if the area matched the best of similar local council areas it would have 161 MW.
The report states: “The Ashford area’s performance on climate change is better than most compared to other local authority areas. All local authorities, even the best performing, need to do much more if climate catastrophe is to be averted. Ashford particularly needs to do much better on increasing renewable energy.”
By comparison, neighbouring Folkestone achieved a climate friendly score of 72%, with its performance described as ‘average’. Dover scored a ‘poor’ 56%.
The best place in the UK is Wiltshire, which scored 92%.
Earlier this year, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) rejected a motion to declare a climate and ecological emergency.
But the authority did set a target of becoming 100% carbon neutral by 2030.
Cllr Liz Wright (Green), said introducing electric-run public transport would help this.
She said: “Ashford has made a good start, but there is so much more to be done. A priority must be much more extensive public transport links using electric vehicles, which would go a long way to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, and benefit everyone.”
Cllr Steve Campkin (Green), added: “We already have the best carbon capture technology possible - trees! Ashford has lots of open spaces where more trees could be planted, and if they were fruit trees this would be perfect.
“We’re currently working to get more community tree planting projects going, which will be good for the environment, community and peoples health.”
Cllr Gerry Clarkson, leader of ABC, said: “We are very pleased that Friends of the Earth ranked us 14th in their table. Although we did not declare a climate emergency, as a council and a borough we are aiming to become 80-100% carbon neutral by 2025 and totally carbon neutral by 2030.
“The council is adopting a holistic approach to addressing the climate crisis so we are assessing our buildings, surveying our trees and looking to work with businesses and our communities. We are also looking into opportunities around renewable energy.”
■ The test can be found at friendsoftheearth.uk