Share your views on the borough’s plan to tackle the Climate Emergency

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking people in the borough to share their views on the actions the Council has set out to tackle the Climate Emergency.

A draft of the Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan for 2025 – 2030 has been prepared following an initial co-production exercise earlier this year. During the co-production period the Council worked with communities to understand the opportunities and challenges the borough faces as it works towards a greener, healthier and more resilient future.

This is the second Climate Emergency Response Plan prepared for the borough following a Climate Emergency declaration in 2019. The plan will be used as a guide to support the west Cheshire to achieve its target to reach net zero by 2045.

Starting today, 4th December 2024, a consultation on the draft plan is available for local residents, businesses and partners to complete.

The draft plan sets out priorities for the borough and key actions the Council, partners and communities can take under six key theme areas:

• Business and industry
• Transport
• Housing
• Energy
• Land use and adaptation
• Waste and the circular economy

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:

“The draft Climate Emergency plan has some clear actions that both the Council and our communities and partners can work on together to help us become a carbon neutral borough and to become a more sustainable borough.

“Industries, business and communities across the borough are already making an impact on reducing carbon emissions, with the latest available data from The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, showing that we’re the fastest decarbonising area in the UK.

“This is your chance to have your say on the proposed plan to help us reach our climate goals over the next five years.”

The consultation is available to complete via the Council’s online engagement platform, Participate Now, and involves a series of questions on different elements of the Climate Plan. Visit: 

http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climateconsultation

There will be a number of in person drop-in sessions taking place in libraries across the borough over the coming weeks, where residents can speak to the Council’s Climate Change team to share their views.

Drop-in sessions will take place between 3pm - 6.30pm at each location.

• Thursday, 5 December Northwich Library at Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse, London Road, Northwich, CW9 8AB
• Thursday, 12 December at Winsford Library, High Street, Winsford, CW7 2AS
• Thursday, 12 December at Ellesmere Port Library, Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BG
• Tuesday, 17 December at Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
• Thursday, 19 December at Malpas Library, Bishop Heber High School, Malpas, SY14 8JD

People can also request a paper copy of the consultation by emailing: 

climatechange@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

The consultation will run from 4 December 2024 – 12 February 2025.

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and developed a Climate Emergency Response Plan for the borough, which was launched in 2021.

The current plan can be viewed at: 

www.westcheshireclimateplan.co.uk

The latest available data from The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), published in June 2024, shows a significant drop in carbon emissions in west Cheshire in 2022. DESNZ monitors emissions down to a local authority level each year, with a two-year time lag – meaning this 2022 data is the most up-to-date figure available.

Greenhouse gas emissions in the borough stood at 4.021 million tons in 2021. These reduced to 3.201 million tons in 2022. This represents a 20.4% year-on-year drop in carbon emissions.