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Welcome to our April newsletter, containing all the latest news and updates from across West Sussex.
 The county council is proposing to install dozens of new electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints, and has launched a consultation to gather the views of residents who live nearby.
More than 35 new sites across the county could benefit from new dual-socket chargepoints, which allow two vehicles to charge at the same time.
The proposals also include installing additional underground wiring, which will allow further chargepoints to be added in the future when demand increases as more residents switch to electric vehicles.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows EV sales have surged 43.2% in March, with over 69,000 new electric vehicles hitting UK roads, highlighting the need to expand charging facilities.
The West Sussex Chargepoint Network has already introduced 872 sockets at 150 different locations including council-owned carparks and on-street sites.
Across the county, the network has delivered nearly 1,500 MWh of energy, powering an impressive 6 million zero-emission miles. This achievement has helped prevent 1,350 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, thanks to over 8,000 EV drivers who have made nearly 65,000 charging sessions.
The current parking arrangements at all the proposed sites will remain unchanged, with residents being encouraged to be considerate towards EV drivers needing to charge. Any future possible adjustments to parking regulations will be subject to further consultation.
This is part of Our Council Plan priority to support a sustainable and prosperous economy, underpinned by our commitment to protecting the environment by providing sustainable transport options and making the benefits of electric vehicles accessible to all.
The consultation survey results will be published on the same consultation website page at a later date.
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 We've nearly finished upgrading our traffic signals, and it's already preventing over 23 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere every year.
We're replacing old halogen lights with LED technology. This cuts our carbon emissions and means we don't need to change bulbs as often - saving 993 bulbs every year. Over the lifespan of an average LED, that's almost 10,000 fewer bulb changes, which means less waste and fewer disruptions.
The final phase will focus on Chichester, with upgrades also planned for Bognor Regis, Felpham, Littlehampton, Lancing and Worthing.
This project helps us meet our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, a key part of Our Council Plan and aligns with the buildings and energy pathway in our Climate Action and Adaption Plan.
People in Worthing can enjoy walking and cycling easily from the train station to the town centre and seafront thanks to investment by the county council and Active Travel England.
We've worked hard to make these improvements environmentally friendly. Here's what we've done:
- Planted new trees and rain gardens: These flower beds soak up rainwater, stopping roads and pavements from flooding. The plants, like Sea Thrift, also provide homes for birds, butterflies, bees, and other insects.
- Reused and recycled materials: We renovated the Yorkstone paving slabs outside the station. We also reused 49% of the old red brick paving and recycled the rest. Tactile paving lifted from the station was then reused in a Bognor Regis project.
- Recycled asphalt: We recycled about 80% of the old asphalt we removed.
- Warm, not hot asphalt: This method reduced carbon emissions by 2.55 tonnes.
- The county council will continue funding Community Food Hubs across the county for a third year. The popular scheme has prevented over 94 tonnes of food from going to waste since April 2023. Run in partnership with Sussex-based food rescue charity UKHarvest, the hubs redistribute surplus food from suppliers while educating residents on food waste prevention.
- Our popular scheme which allows residents to install high quality solar PV and battery storage at a competitive rate is set to return later this year. We’re currently looking for a new partner to run a group purchasing programme on behalf of all local councils across Sussex.
- Find out more about our Climate Action and Adaption Plan, the council’s roadmap for achieving the goals set out in our Climate Change Strategy, and the six pathways for action.
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The Rampion Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund run by the Sussex Community Foundation, aims to help charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations operating within the specific fund benefit area to manage projects which benefit local communities and support the environment. Applications close on 3 May.
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The High Weald AONB Management Plan 2024-2029 has been adopted by all 15 fifteen local authorities in the area. The plan sets out how this special landscape can be cared for over the next five years.
- The South Downs National Park recently celebrated its 15th birthday and is sharing 15 biodiversity success stories.
- Arun & Chichester Citizens Advice is hosting an online Net Zero Conference on 29 April (10am to 1pm) for those who want to give energy advice related to climate change. Book your place.
- Horsham District Council has secured funding for its Community Climate Fund for another three years. Local community groups can apply for up to £5,000 to help tackle climate change.
If you have any questions or want to share local climate action stories, email us at climatechange@westsussex.gov.uk.
Join our community of climate champions, can you add a new map pin to our Community Climate Action Map.
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