ACTIONS FOR RENEWAL

Hereford Green Network Groups:

  • Work together to create a consistent message to local and national government. 

  • Work with Herefordshire Council, voluntary sector groups, businesses, households, schools and colleges, and public bodies in addressing climate change issues; across the county and with other county councils and groups.

  • Support Herefordshire CPRE implement the two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which have been proposed for West Herefordshire.

  • Form Exchange and Repair Hubs where people bring tools, equipment, household furniture and many other domestic items, for repair, exchange, and sale.

 Herefordshire Council: 

  • Form a special cross party committee to research, plan and activate Climate Emergency measures in Herefordshire as agreed by the Council on March 8, 2019 .

  • Support a coalition for interested parties to investigate the long term transport trends and needs for Herefordshire. 

  • A complete transport plan for the county to be prepared before deciding on the proposed western bypass and southern link road: put on hold until the plan is decided upon.

  • Use its planning authority to impose conditions on developers and builders, in the construction of new buildings and the renovation of existing buildings.  

  • Use the tripartite financial, social, and environmental indicators when planning and appraising all new development. 

  • Renewable energy installation, high standard insulation, water catchment systems, and tree planting as part of landscaping to be an integral aspect of planning conditions enforced by Hereford Council. 

  • County roads and town streets should be cleaned of litter and proper waste collection and sorting bins installed for the public and visitors. 

  • Invest in recycling services and aim to recycle or re-use 100% of industrial, office and household waste in the county.

  • Focus support for industry in key areas such as light engineering, cyber security, food processing, and hi-tech start-ups. 

  • Upgrade and build new flood barriers and where possible divert flood waters into catchment areas for use in agriculture and industry.

  • Stop the sale of public assets, such as libraries, farms, schools, housing, office buildings, and land, and maintain them as common facilities and assets.

  • Provide facilities for youth, older people and those suffering from mental depression.

  • Revalue the procurement needs for Herefordshire and buy local whenever and wherever possible. 

  • Apply social and environmental criteria in all public procurement contracts as part of the bidding and signing process.

New Model in Technology and Engineering University (NMiTE)

NMiTE develops an environmental department, a Centre of Excellence, dedicated to research and learning in eco-engineering focusing on agroecology farming practices and eco-construction techniques.  NMiTE creates an outreach facility to engage with the agriculture and construction sectors to jointly develop environmental good practice standards. 

Parish Councils:

Incorporate the Herefordshire Climate Manifesto and integrate appropriate issues for their location and built environment into their Neighbourhood Plan by 2021. 

Individual Households:

Incentivise to change to LED lights, insulate buildings, stop using plastic water bottles and change to filtered water, reduce plastics, invest in waste management systems, water catchment tanks, install solar panels and charging points, and walk or cycle to work/shops/school/town. 

Businesses:

Change to LED lights, stop using plastic containers and install water faucets, invest in waste management, insulation, and solar panels, install electric charging points, support staff to walk or cycle to work.  Have a presumption to plant trees, and use, as part of planning and auditing, the triple bottom line of financial, social and environmental performance.

Hereford Times:

Allocate space every week to Herefordshire’s ‘Climate Emergency’ work and invite commentators and readers to write their thoughts, information, and examples from other places. 

Local events and venues: 

Work with the Hay Festival, the Courtyard, How the Light Gets In, faith groups, schools, sports facilities, etc., and every place where people come together, to engage with supporting the understanding of climate change and the eco actions that we can do: individually; as a family; in a workplace; and when out in the country or walking down the streets in towns and villages. 

Herefordshire Climate Manifesto Website 2020:

Create a dedicated social media platform to provide a forum for people in Herefordshire to come together, around the issues of climate change, to reflect, learn and share in the active renewal and long term survival of the county.