|
A few months ago we wrote about the upcoming installation of 19 electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints across West Berkshire as part of our Environment Strategy. We are delighted that we have been able to set up the majority of them earlier than planned. More information will be available soon detailing how and when drivers will be able to start using them.
Once they are all in place you can find these new EV chargepoints at:
- Hungerford Station Road Car Park
- Lambourn High Street Car Park
- Newbury Central (KFC) Car Park
- Newbury Library Car Park
- Newbury Northcroft Leisure Centre Car Park
- Pangbourne Station Road Car Park
- Thatcham Gilbert Court (East) Car Park
We are hoping to deliver more chargepoints across the district in a phased approach taking on board the lessons learnt from this pilot phase.
If you have any queries, you can email us at: EV@westberks.gov.uk
|
Over the past year people have relied on places close to home, such as the local park or woodlands, as somewhere to escape to, exercise and play. So join us and show some love for those special places that helped us through lockdown as part of the Great British Spring Clean launched by Keep Britain Tidy.
The campaign, which runs from 28 May to 13 June 2021, calls on the public to pledge to clean-up and help the charity achieve a million miles of litter-picking.
If you are organising a clean-up, we'd love to see your efforts! Make sure you tag us in your photos or videos on social media and use the following hashtags: #GBSpringClean #MillionMileMission #WestBerkshire
We can loan litter-picking equipment to help you carry out your event, but please give us as much notice as possible and check availability before advertising your event.
Our West Berkshire School winners for our anti-idling air quality competition!
West Berkshire Council, as part of The Public Protection Partnership (PPP), will benefit from a grant awarded by the Defra Air Quality grant programme. This fund is to support our anti-idling campaign near schools to help reduce air pollution and encourage behaviour change.
By turning off your vehicle engine when stationary you improve air quality, reduce fuel costs and comply with the law. Reducing air pollutants can help cut heart disease, lower the risk of lung cancer and prevent asthma attacks. Pollution affects everyone and children are the closest to exhaust fumes.
You can help by following these simple steps:
- Don’t use the car unless you have to. It is healthier to cycle or walk, plus you'll save money.
- Switch off your engine if you are stationary for more than 10 seconds. It uses less fuel than leaving the engine running.
- Don’t let your engine idle while waiting – whether it's outside a school, in a car park, at the shop or anywhere else!
- Turn your engine off while sitting in your car waiting for someone. Most people switch their engines off when waiting to pick up passengers. This is smart because it saves money on fuel and helps stop air (and noise) pollution building up.
Over the past year we have seen reductions in air pollution levels as people have travelled less. We hope as things begin to go back to normal that we can keep these levels low.
Led by Global Action Plan, Clean Air Day aims to bring together communities to:
- Improve understanding of air pollution
- Build awareness of how air pollution affects our health
- Explain the easy actions we can all do to tackle air pollution, helping to protect the environment and our health
See what you can do to take part! There is help available for individuals, schools, businesses and communities on their website here. You can also find out more information about air pollution at the Clean Air Hub.
Work is underway for our wildflower project aiming to enhance roundabouts and verges at three West Berkshire locations. Wildflower turf has already been laid in East Ilsley. The ‘Tesco’ roundabout on the A339 Sandleford Link and the roundabout on the junction of the A4/B4000 Stockcross Road are also being completed this week.
We have appointed experts Wildflower Turf Ltd to create the eye-catching wildflower displays, whose eco-friendly projects include supplying the London 2012 Olympics, The Hive at Kew Gardens and thousands of other small and large projects around the UK.
The turf is ready planted as a roll containing immature wildflower plants and a healthy root network, to create an almost instant meadow. This will produce flowering plants from late spring to mid-autumn, creating a strong visual impact as well as helping to feed and shelter bees, butterflies, and all manner of other wildlife, with only limited maintenance throughout the year.
|
New legislation regarding the sale of wood sold as a domestic fuel came into effect on 1 May 2021. It is based around the moisture content of wood for domestic use in England.
This is because the moisture in wet wood creates smoke and harmful particulates, such as PM2.5, when burnt. Overall it is estimated that 34% of PM2.5 in the UK is emitted by domestic wood burning.
|
