£38m to help B&NES reach net-zero goal
The drive to achieve net zero across Bath and North East Somerset has received a big boost with B&NES Council committing to invest tens of millions of pounds in tackling the climate and ecological emergency.
The council has allocated more than £38m over the next five years to projects designed to drive down carbon emissions. This includes new funding of £27.4m agreed at its Budget and Council Tax meeting last month.
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate and sustainable travel, pictured, said: “I am delighted that the council has agreed to this significant investment to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. Despite challenging financial pressures, it is important we do not lose sight of the pressing need to take action to reduce carbon emissions. Time is ticking, we have just eight years to reach our net-zero goal. It’s why this investment now is so crucial.”
The extra £27.4m will provide: An additional £9.2m investment in the new state-of-the-art Keynsham Recycling Hub. The new facility will incorporate a range of sustainability measures including on-site renewable energy generation from a 3,800m2 solar panel array, with a predicted output of 783kwp
£14.2m to modernise waste services to further improve recycling rates
£754k to expand the council’s green vehicle fleet
£2.3m to refurbish the council’s Commercial Estate, addressing the repair backlog and planning energy efficiency
£150k investment in green infrastructure to include the development of a Nature Recovery and Delivery Plan
£800k matching contribution towards City Region Sustainable Transport Infrastructure projects
This comes on top of more than £11m previously allocated in the council’s five-year capital programme to tackle the climate and ecological emergency:
£5.062m for Bath’s Riverline project, developing a 10km walking/ cycling connection between Newbridge and Batheaston/bathampton, improving biodiversity, landscaping and green space £1.5m for vehicle upgrades through the financial assistance scheme as part of the Clean Air Zone
£2.206m for the development and delivery of Liveable Neighbourhoods
£1.736m for renewable energy development £206k for air quality management
£561k for Active Travel schemes to encourage more walking and cycling
Over the coming year the council will continue to work with its communities, partners, local, regional and national government to further cut emissions. Its action plan for 2022/23 includes:
working with Weca and West of England councils on a regional Climate Emergency Action Plan
supporting businesses to decarbonise and transition to a low carbon economy
delivering the first Liveable Neighbourhood schemes
implementing the Journey to Net Zero plan
installing solar panels on council property
helping to accelerate the delivery of renewable energy.
Find out more at https://beta. bathnes.gov.uk/responding-climateemergency-0