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Welcome to our February newsletter, containing all the latest news and updates from across West Sussex.
We're significantly expanding our schools solar power programme in West Sussex by installing solar panels and battery storage at 60 more locations across the county, including schools, libraries and fire stations.
This builds on the success of our existing solar schemes - which already provide clean energy to 74 schools and nine council buildings - and our two solar farms at Tangmere and Westhampnett. Right now, we generate around 17,000 Megawatt-hours of electricity each year, which is enough to power approximately 6,300 homes.
The expansion will not only significantly reduce carbon emissions from our public buildings but will also lower energy costs for these buildings by providing cheaper and cleaner electricity that's less vulnerable to volatile, fluctuating energy prices. Excess energy will be stored in batteries for later use or exported to the national grid depending on the set up and needs of each site.
Importantly, the schools and pupils in them will also gain valuable educational opportunities, allowing students to learn about and experience renewable energy and environmental sustainability first-hand.
This programme falls under the buildings and energy pathway in our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, helping us reach our goal of becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030, a key commitment in Our Council Plan.
If you have a child in a West Sussex school, why not ask if their school is taking part?
 We are installing hundreds more electric vehicle chargepoints across the county to provide charging facilities for residents without access to off-street parking, and enable more people to easily switch to electric vehicles in the future.
We recently asked you where you would like to see more chargepoints, and we received around 1,500 requests.
We are making good progress in installing the new chargepoints, with over 200 already in place on-street and in council car parks across West Sussex and a further 300 due to be installed by May 2025. You can find out more about the locations of the planned new chargepoints by viewing the feedback from our recent consultations on our ‘Your Voice’ engagement hub. Please do share these findings with your friends and neighbours.
The West Sussex Chargepoint Network compliments the transport pathway in our Climate Action and Adaption Plan and Our Council Plan priority of building a sustainable and prosperous economy.
And don’t forget you can still suggest a new chargepoint location via the Connected Kerb website.
 In an episode about local alternatives to throwing away old stuff, the Worthing Podcast paid a visit to our new Reuse shop at the Worthing Recycling Centre and met with our head of waste services, Gareth Rollings. You can find it on all the main podcast apps, or listen directly on the Worthing Podcast website via the link below.
Do you struggle to get your kids to eat their greens? Want to cut down on food waste and save money? Veg Power's award-winning Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign is here to help!
This campaign makes eating veg fun, inspiring kids to try new things. Last year, nearly 50 West Sussex schools joined in, reaching over 13,000 pupils! Ask your child's school if they're taking part this year.
If they are, you'll get a reward chart to keep the veggie-loving going at home. Keep an eye out for stickers too – they mean your child's tried a new veggie at school!
If your child’s school isn’t taking part you can download your own reward chart from the Eat Them to Defeat Them website.
Getting children to eat more veg isn't just healthy, it helps cut carbon emissions and your costs.
In West Sussex food waste makes up to 40% of the average household’s general waste bin! But the Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign works with 74% of schools reporting kids are more likely to finish their veg and waste less food.
 Last week was National Apprenticeship Week and we reminded local businesses about funding available to train their staff and new learners.
Jess Meagher undertook a Level 4 apprenticeship in corporate responsibility and sustainability at the county council within the highways, transport and planning team as a Climate Change Officer and hasn't looked back!
Jess recently said: "I would recommend an apprenticeship to others. Whether it’s an opportunity to kickstart your career in an entry level role or develop skills and knowledge in a more senior position, it’s a brilliant opportunity to continue learning beyond school or university."
Any business based in West Sussex can apply for the funding to help upskill their current workforce or bring in an apprentice and applications can be submitted at any time of the year. Funding has been agreed for 478 apprenticeships in West Sussex to help build a sustainable and prosperous economy across the county, one of our priorities in Our Council Plan.
If you are interested or know a business who might benefit from this scheme, please let them know and share this eNewsletter with them.
Read more about our successful apprenticeships at the county council.
 We're seeking your views in a public survey about our draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. Last September, we surveyed residents in West Sussex to ask about their experiences of flooding to better understand how the risks can be managed. All the comments and suggestions on flood risk management were used to develop our strategy. Now we're asking residents for their views on the draft before it goes to the next stage.
The county council will continue to lead and support the development of the strategy under our nature environment pathway in our Climate Action and Adaption Plan. As the lead local flood authority for West Sussex, we're responsible for developing, maintaining, applying, and monitoring a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. It will guide how we work with water companies, district and borough councils, residents, landowners and the Environment Agency to improve local flood risk management in the county, with specific actions for the next five years.
Flooding can have a devastating impact on our communities, businesses, infrastructure, and environment. The rapid pace of climate change means that the likelihood and severity of flooding is increasing. West Sussex is affected by multiple sources of flood risk, from rivers, watercourses and the sea, to surface and groundwater.
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The Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund is open until 2 March 2025 for applications from community-based projects in West Sussex that encourage people to repair and reuse items they no longer want or use.
- Construction of the Upper Shoreham Active Travel Scheme to improve cycling and pedestrian options in Shoreham-by-Sea begins in March.
- The improvement is designed to reduce passenger journey times and enhance bus reliability, making it more attractive for people to journey by bus instead.
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The Carbon Literacy Project is offering access to fully funded training for a limited number of small and medium sized businesses operating in the food sector. The training will help businesses to set and achieve sustainability goals, comply with regulations, enhance their environmental reputation and better understand how to align with the procurement policies of their customers.
- Chichester District Council is asking for local views on the aims and actions proposed for its new Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy. It includes aims ensuring new build homes contribute to carbon reduction, encouraging investment in energy efficiency, and support schemes for the provision of warm and energy efficient homes.
- South Downs National Park Trust has a number of grants available to communities and organisations to get involved in projects that will help deliver the South Downs National Park Partnership Management Plan. Celebrate 75 years of National Parks with a grant of up to £1,000 to ReNature your school grounds. The latest round of funding for Pounds for Ponds has also opened to applications from parish councils, charities, and community and voluntary groups.
- Greenwood Plants Ltd, near Arundel regularly donate plants to local charities, schools, village gardens and other community organisations, to help with their gardening projects, in order to create green community spaces with enhanced biodiversity. Get in touch with Greenwood Plants if you have a community project that would benefit from a donation.
- Internationally important species and vital habitats that help in the fight against climate change, could be lost from the Solent within the next 100 to 200 years. Take part in the Solent Seascape Project survey to help shape a recovery plan and help ensure nature is not lost forever.
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.
If you know someone else who will be interested in reading this newsletter, please forward it so they can sign up using the link below.
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