Alyson Barnes

Rossendale council leader

COUNCILLORS last week approved a new strategy and action plan that will help the council to focus on climate change.

The strategy looks at how we reduce our carbon use as an organisation but also how we can influence businesses, other local organisations and residents to do so too.

In a place like Rossendale we see the problems created by a changing climate all the time - increased rainfall leading to flooding, traffic congestion creating poor air quality to name but two. It is only by prioritising this work that we can change things.

Our plans are wide ranging and will include - reducing the council’s overall carbon based energy consumption by 50 per-cent by 2030, in the longer term moving all council vehicles away from carbon based diesel/ petrol power, increasing the proportion of local people who are walking or cycling to work and increasing the proportion of domestic waste which is recycled.

I was once told that as many as 40 per cent of car journeys in Rossendale are a mile or less.

All of this will be challenging but important if we are going to maintain the best aspects of Rossendale life.

There have been lots of mixed messages regarding what is and isn’t allowed as the lockdown is eased.

The council has been urging residents to support local businesses as they try to get up and running again.

This will help support our local economy and help people to protect their livelihoods.

Last weekend was a big weekend for many in the hospitality sector locally.

Rossendale was very busy with many pubs and bars going to significant lengths to ensure that their staff and customers were as safe as possible, sadly this was not the case everywhere.

Clearly being out and about following weeks of lockdown needs to be managed carefully.

Only you will know what is right for you and your family in terms of the risks you and your loved ones feel able to take.

The pandemic is not over and from what we are told a second wave of the virus is possibly around the corner.

The NHS locally are already looking at how they manage a further outbreak, which could come during the winter months when they are under greatest pressure.

The East Lancashire health services (CCG) has been successful in its bid for the ‘Mental Health Support Teams in Schools’ trailblazer project.

The bid is for two mental health support teams to cover secondary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and colleges across Hyndburn, Ribblesdale and Rossendale.

This is incredibly welcome news. Our high schools are outstanding, they do all they can to support our young people but they have been under massive pressure in recent years.

I know school staff will welcome this additional support.

As ever, if you want to raise an issue with me, please get in touch by phone on 217819/ 07817414248 or email me at alysonbarnes@ rossendalebc.gov.uk