Workshop on climate issues

NEWBURY Town Council is to host its third Climate Challenge Workshop on Saturday, April 17.

Members of the public will be able to access the meeting via Zoom from 2.15pm, for a 2.30pm start.

The workshop will feature guest speakers, with topics ranging across the spectrum of local environment and sustainability issues.

Susan Millington and Tony Hammond, who organised the pioneering ‘Lockdown Wood’ scheme, will be speaking of their efforts to memorialise a difficult period in West Berkshire’s history.

Also in attendance will be Terena Plowright, of the Greening Campaign, and Lauretta Wright, from Heat the Home Counties.

Leader of the council Martin Colston (Lib Dem, West Fields) is keen for people to get involved. He said: “In 2019/20 we were delighted to have achieved a 38-per-cent reduction in our carbon footprint.

“We are committed to take action to ensure that the activities of the town council are carbon neutral by 2030 or before.

“Wash Common Scouts and Ladybirds Pre-School have recently received the first-ever climate change grants awarded by Newbury Town Council.”

The chairman of the town council’s Climate Change Working Group, Chris Foster (Lib Dem, Wash Common), said: “At the workshop we will also provide an update on ongoing efforts to further reduce our carbon footprint, including energy efficiency upgrades in the Town Hall and plans to incorporate more ‘indirect’ emissions – such as those produced by contractors – in our carbon footprint assessment.”

The Zoom link can be found at bit.ly/3vX4Y4I