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Welcome to our October 2024 newsletter, containing all the latest news and updates from across West Sussex.
 This month we feature two projects connected to sustainable transport.
Transport is one of six pathways in our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, published in August. Through this pathway, we aim to support transportation that minimises environmental impacts and promotes sustainable travel methods. The plan details 20 priority actions which will help transform us into a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient organisation by 2030.
 We’ve just completed over £1million worth of transport improvements outside primary schools, as part of a drive to encourage families to choose ‘active travel’ and leave their cars at home for the school run. A key part of this is the School Streets initiative which aims to reduce traffic and make the space outside the school gates safer, by encouraging walking, wheeling, or cycling as a more desirable option for the journey to school.
A new app is about to launch to help people arrange car-pooling. The West Sussex Carshare scheme is designed to help residents save money on their car travel and reduce their impact on the environment.
The new app will allow you to add your journey, search for other people to share it with, and keep track of your personal financial and carbon savings.
Watch this space for information of how to download the app when it launches.
If you would like to find out more about how you can take steps to travel in a more sustainable way please visit our website for inspiration and ideas.
Did you know if you have a watercourse, ditch, stream, river, or culvert on or next to your property or land you are known as a ‘riparian owner’. This means that you are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of these watercourses to ensure that they are not a flood risk to other people or property.
As well as providing havens for wildlife, watercourses capture excess rainwater when the ground becomes saturated that would otherwise flood footpaths, pavements and roads. A blocked ditch downstream can cause water to back up so that another ditch further upstream overflows to flood the road.
That’s why, with the winter rain coming, it’s important to check if you have a watercourse and that it is clear of any debris.
The Climate Ambassadors scheme mobilises and supports educational settings in England to act on climate change with the help of skilled volunteers. Climate Ambassadors from across the private, public and charity sectors provide settings with free, tailored guidance to progress their Climate Action Plans, wherever they are on their sustainability journey.
The scheme is recruiting volunteers to put their sustainability expertise to work. All volunteers will receive training on Climate Action Plans and advice on applying their knowledge and skills in an education setting.
 The recycling and waste team has released a new series of animated videos as part of their Think Before You Throw campaign.
These short animations address common recycling questions including:
- Why does my recycling need to be loose?
- Why can't I put shredded paper in my recycling bin at home?
- What are additional kerbside collections?
- What should I put in my recycling bin at home?
- What do I do with batteries?
Brush up on your recycling knowledge and watch the first set of new animations over on the WSRecycles YouTube channel and, why not share them with friends and family too?
 The county council has collaborated with Biffa and Community RePaint, for a new initiative aimed at reducing paint waste and redistributing surplus paint to people across the county.
You can now donate unwanted water-based paint or take away up to three tins of paint donated by others at designated Recycling Centres across West Sussex, in a bid to encourage reuse throughout the community.
Recycling Centres participating in the paint reuse programme include:
- Burgess Hill
- Crawley
- Horsham
- Littlehampton
- Shoreham
- Westhampnett
To donate or collect paint, you must book an appointment to visit a Recycling Centre in advance. Don't forget our Recycling Centres have switched to autumn and winter opening hours until Monday 31 March 2025. Book a timed slot online using the Book to Recycle system or by calling 01243 642106.
- Low income households without gas central heating can get funding to help improve their home’s energy efficiency. Register online with the Warmer Homes programme before 31 October or by calling the freephone number: 0800 038 5737.
- The Wild About Dark Skies Festival from Monday 28 October to Sunday 10 November, promises a fortnight of stargazing, workshops, talks, walks and fun family activities.
- Local groups in and around the South Downs National Park are being encouraged to share climate action tips, insight and expertise in a new free community South Downs Climate Action Network.
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£1.7m National Lottery Heritage Funding has been awarded to the South Downs National Park to help them restore and improve a series of wetlands. 'The Downs To The Sea' project will focus around internationally-designated wildlife sites including the RSPB Pulborough Brooks and Pagham Harbour.
If you have any queries, or want to share or celebrate local climate action, please email us at climatechange@westsussex.gov.uk.
You can also add a new map pin to our Community Climate Action Map.
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