< Back SSCA's Objection to the North West Relief Road Design Amendments Jane Cullen 10 Mar 2023 Our response to Shropshire Council's NWRR consultation On behalf of South Shropshire Climate Action we are registering our objection to the North West Relief Road, in all its iterations. The planning application will clearly lead to irreversible loss of highly valuable greenfield sites and habitats at a time when nature and many different species are already severely challenged. The NWRR creates further massive issues including the risks to Shrewsbury's water supply, the likelihood of overspend and the resulting financial impact on the whole of the county which will suffer further cuts to other budgets (a county already undergoing £50 million cuts), and the negation of local democracy for example in the overriding of Town Council objections including Shrewsbury Town Council itself. Planning Application 21/00924/EIA embodies a profound contradiction of all current climate mitigation, the contradiction of Shropshire Council's recently announced support for the Climate and Ecology Bill as well as all the work that is going on in the county to educate and help communities face the climate emergency. We also note that the application is presented without scientific analysis of the carbon impact of the lifetime of the road and so appears to be a 'vanity project' running counter to the interests of Shrewsbury and the whole county of Shropshire. Planning Application 21/00924/EIA should be rejected on multiple counts, many not even touched on in this brief objection such as health, public transport and air pollution. Submitted on behalf of South Shropshire Climate Action. Previous Next

< Back Mossy.Life - Shropshire’s online local green guide Caroline Talbot 1 Mar 2024 For all Shropshire's green events, groups, activities and more This beautiful county not only provides magical green rolling countryside, but is the home of a whole array of green-minded individuals, companies, organisations and groups, all trying to gain traction in working towards a net zero way of living. From start-up zero waste shops and community litter picking initiatives, to energy saving workshops and organic farms, Shropshire has so many green heroes working towards a more sustainable future. Although it is true that every little really does help, it is also true that by connecting like-minded people and working together, we can help amplify the effect. In 2019, Caroline Talbot, a Shropshire born environmental educator, wanted to make a difference, so started to build an online free to use directory whilst on maternity leave. The website Mossy.Life has gone from strength to strength and now lists over 630 organisations and groups, and between 50-500 environmental events in the online calendar at any given time. How you can use : Mossy.Life provides a green directory that can be searched by location, category or name, as well as a searchable events calendar . Both offer completely free listings to encourage even the smallest of groups to get involved. It includes a calendar of national and international campaigns , local green news and a range of eco living articles . The website can also be explored by area, showcasing Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin on individual pages to help connect individuals with everything local to them. You can also embed the Mossy.Life Directory into your own group’s website as South Shropshire Climate Action and Zero Carbon Shropshire have done to help publicize all the activities taking place locally to help address the Nature and climate crisis. If you know of an individual, organization, group, product or event that isn’t yet listed, please get in touch to help spread the word by sending an email to Caroline at hello@mossy.life Local Climate Groups Local Climate Groups Local Climate Groups Previous Next

< Back SSCA's first Swap event at the Next Generation Fair, Craven Arms Fiona Morgan 20 May 2023 Reusing and sharing reduces carbon emissions, saves waste and helps us to help each other On Saturday 20th May we attended the Next Generation Fair at the Community Centre in Craven Arms . Along with having information on our stand about SSCA and other organisations in our network we held our first Swap event to encourage people to reuse children’s toys, books and clothes. We had lots of satisfied customers and will be taking the remaining stock to Ludlow Green Festival on Sunday 9th July for our next Swap event. So if you have any items for all ages (adults and children) to donate or swap including toys, games, books, DVD’s CD’s, household items, clothes etc please bring them along. By reusing and sharing we can help each other through the cost of living crisis and help the planet by reducing carbon emissions and waste. We look forward to seeing you there. Previous Next

< Back Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s visit to Bishop’s Castle’s wind turbine public meeting in April Mike Watkins 1 Apr 2023 Lightfoot (members of SSCA 's network) show their support for the development of the Bishop's Castle Heat Network At a public meeting in Bishop’s Castle this month, called to report on the progress of the projected Wind-Turbine-powered Bishop’s Castle’s Community Heat & Wind Network , over 70 people responded to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s request for a show of hands to vote on the authenticity of the climate crisis, the use of on-shore Wind-Turbines as one means of countering it and, specifically, on whether a Wind Turbine should be used for BC’s Community Heat & Wind Network . There was an overwhelmingly positive response to all his questions, with only a few dissenting or undecided. Hugh proffered an opportunity to those unconvinced or unsure to join his team to visit and learn from other renewable energy projects that will be covered as part of the Channel 4 documentary, which is to be screened in the autumn. The Heat and Wind network, designed by Sharenergy and Carbon Alternatives with funding from Shropshire & Telford Community Energy , would supply heat from an air-source heat pump powered by a Wind Turbine, which could be pumped to at least 100 houses in the Town as well as the Community College, the SpArC Leisure Centre and Enterprise House. The Heat Network would not be financially viable without the Wind Turbine. The scheme would result in a massive reduction in carbon emissions for the Town – which has an above average carbon footprint, dependent, as it is, on oil and LPG heating - and enable people to get rid of their boilers and oil tanks. A response is awaited from Shropshire Council to a pre-planning application for the Wind Turbine. A FAQs document about the scheme can be accessed via this link . To find out more about the project please e-mail: climateaction@lightfootenterprises.org Previous Next

< Back SSCA met with Philip Dunne (MP for the Ludlow Constituency) Nick Read 11 Apr 2023 SSCA discussed our first 6 months and next steps On Tuesday 11th April Jane Cullen (SSCA Chair), Fiona Morgan and Nick Read (SSCA Project Co-ordinators) met local MP Philip Dunne. Although Philip had met both Jane and Nick previously this was an opportunity to introduce Fiona and to highlight the progress that had been made since the appointment of the two Project Coordinators in June. He was impressed with the level of activity within his constituency, the degree of coordination and collaboration that was being achieved, but also recognised the need to significantly increase climate-related actions. A sense of urgency had been engendered by a recent visit of the Environmental Audit Committee (which Philip chairs) to the UK Arctic Research Station, whose scientists warn that global warming is proceeding faster in arctic regions than had been predicted. Philip also indicated that the Climate and Ecology Bill (currently going through the House of Lords) was unlikely to have enough parliamentary time to succeed in the House of Commons. On a more positive note he wanted to use his influence to enable clusters of farmers to work together on landscape scale interventions. Previous Next

< Back Big Green Week (7-15th June) comes to Shropshire David Matthews 7 Jun 2025 Local library plays host to diverse range of climate activities Stretton Climate Care supported Church Stretton Library during “Big Green Week” (7-15th June). The library hosted our information stall for the week and our Thursday-morning energy advice drop-in centre, while promoting our monthly repair cafe on 15th June. The library also hosted a well-attended Climate Fresk Session organised through the Marches Energy Agency. Community groups and organisations can arrange Climate Fresk sessions at no cost at the moment, with support from the Marches Energy Agency (see poster below and contact: office@mea.org.uk for details). None of this would have been possible without the enthusiastic leadership and support of librarians Daniel and Gail, pictured with our stall. Previous Next

< Back South Shropshire Climate Action mentioned in Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons Fiona Morgan 17 Jan 2023 Following on from our meeting with our Philip Dunne (MP) on the 6th January, Philip Dunne raised a question at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on the 17th January where the work of South Shropshire Climate Action was mentioned. The video can be watched via this link . "Does my Right Hon. Friend the Prime Minister join me in welcoming many of its [the Independent Review of Net Zero] recommendations, particularly to provide clarity and continuity to all those working to decarbonise our economy, especially those supporting the South Shropshire Climate Action group in my constituency?" Previous Next

< Back Clean air for Shropshire Sascha Robinson 1 Jul 2025 Tips on how you can help improve air quality including how to tackle engine idling Last month was Clean Air Week. We live in a predominantly rural county and might consider that air pollution is not a local problem, but is this really the case? Air pollution is a hidden environmental and health challenge. The most common and hazardous pollutants from road transport are: Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gas that comes from combustion processes powering petrol and diesel vehicles. Particulate matter (PM), small airborne particles released from tyres and brakes. Air pollution contributes to 43,000 premature deaths each year in the UK.  In 2019, the European Heart Journal reported that toxic air is killing more people than tobacco smoking. As for Shropshire, there are several poor air ‘hotspots’ in the county: with Shrewsbury (Castle Hill area) and Bridgnorth (Pound St area) both having Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) due to having exceeded 40ug/m3 of NO2. The M54, A5, A41 and A49 are also major traffic routes through the county. Recent works near the station in Shrewsbury are part of the council’s strategy to reduce NO2 in the area. There are also industrial and industrialised agricultural sites across the county. What can we do to improve air quality? Avoid driving into towns, especially at peak times. Use the park and ride for Shrewsbury and local bus and trains where you can, walk or cycle as an alternative. Walk or cycle for shorter routes if you can. Do not sit in your car and have the engine running (idling). Not only is this illegal (Highway Code rule 123) but it reduces the vehicle’s fuel economy, costs money, and creates pollution. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more emissions than stopping and restarting the engine does. Health risks from this air pollution, worsening conditions such as asthma, lung disease, and heart attacks. Air pollution is particularly harmful to children and the elderly. Use this form and email proforma to report engine idling to Shropshire Council Report Engine Idling-step-by-step.docx .pdf Download PDF • 84KB Engine Idling Email Template.docx .pdf Download PDF • 63KB You can find more information on engine idling. (data from Living Streets and Shropshire Council ) Previous Next

< Back The story of how Bishop’s Castle’s Climate Action Plan has been achieved Mike Watkins 7 May 2024 Working together as a Town Council and community group The Bishop’s Castle Climate Action Group [CAG] had been developing a ‘Sustainability Plan’, drawn-up out of the community’s responses to the 2016 Town Plan survey. Then, in 2019, the group convinced Bishop’s Castle's Town Council to declare a Climate & Nature Emergency, and in return agreed to help produce a Climate Action Plan for the town. The Climate Action Plan was adopted by the Town Council in early 2020, serving as a template for an active partnership approach, containing actions for the Town Council and for the CAG, with some of the former’s actions – where the Town Council’s resources and knowledge were lacking - being undertaken for them by the CAG. For example, the town’s carbon footprint measurement. A Town Councillor has been allocated the Environment portfolio, and works closely with the CAG, including attending its monthly meetings. The group encourages the Town Council to have an environment item on its agenda quarterly, in line with the quarterly Climate Action Plan audit reports which the CAG submits. An important lesson learned by our small group, was to avoid including too much detail in the CAP, instead having a focussed and manageable Action Plan section. We have put our more detailed ideas in a separate Part 2 document which will be updated in slower time. A copy of the Bishop's Castle Climate and Nature Action Plan [Part 1] can be read on Light Foot’s website and we welcome other groups downloading and adapting it for their own areas as required. We are happy to help with any questions other groups may have on this subject. Please get in touch by e-mailing climateaction@lightfootenterprises.org Previous Next

< Back Watch Channel 4’s “The Great Climate Fight” documentary Mike Watkins 21 Nov 2023 Featuring Bishop's Castle Heat and Wind Project Channel 4’s two-part documentary “The Great Climate Fight” with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Mary Portas and Kevin McCloud argues that Net Zero can be achieved, the only thing preventing this is the government. The programme demonstrates that going green is now cheaper, studies how other countries are doing it, and puts it all to UK Government ministers. You can watch Bishop's Castle Heat and Wind Project feature in Episode 1 at 14 minutes and 20 seconds . Bishop’s Castle’s Climate and Environment group, Lightfoot, have described how “Keo Films spent many days with us, earlier this year, documenting the progress and obstacles we face in getting this wind-powered heat network through the early stage of the planning process, especially as the wind turbine planned to provide most of the power for the Energy Centre (to be near the college and SpArC) is proposed to be just inside the AONB, at the Conery. Full planning application is still a year away but we have been through a lot of hurdles via pre-planning and fund-raising. A 6-month long ecology study of the wind turbine site is currently underway, together with further grant applications and a planned, full Feasibility Study.” Previous Next

< Back Joint meeting of South Shropshire Climate Action and Stretton Climate Care with Philip Dunne MP Mike Bourke 6 Jan 2023 Voicing concerns about climate action in the UK to our MP The meeting was attended by Philip Dunne (MP), Jane Cullen and Simon Ross represented South Shropshire Climate Action, Jon Cooke and Mike Bourke represented Stretton Climate Care. Each section of this report begins with the questions/comments we sent to PD in advance, followed (in bold) by a summary of his responses and our discussion. 1. We would like to thank you for your interest and support for our work, and for all that you do with the Environmental Audit Committee to hold the Government to account. We are especially grateful for the question you put to our new Prime Minister following COP 27, which prompted his pledge to the Net Zero Carbon targets, and also for the opposition which the EAC expressed to the proposed expansion of coal mining in Cumbria and Wales. Because of his responsibilities as Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), PD does not comment on topics which are being dealt with by the Committee and which will be the subject of an official Report. This is why he has not previously shared with us his personal views on oil and gas licences in the North Sea, or on land-based wind generation. These have now been dealt with in the Report “Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies” , which has just been published: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/33366/documents/180604/default/ These Reports have to be replied to by the relevant Government Department(s) within a limited time frame. 2. We are, as you know, very unhappy about the go-ahead given for this new coal extraction and also about the licenses for new oil and gas projects in UK waters. We understand the energy security issues created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and also the argument about jobs. But our concerns are twofold: · First, they send mixed messages to our own people and to other countries about the wholeheartedness of our commitment to Net Zero Carbon. We face an uphill struggle of public education, and people say, “If the Government isn’t consistent and serious about phasing out fossil fuels, why should we be?” · Secondly, the time scale involved risks derailing our progress. Dominic Carver’s paper in the House of Commons Library states that the achievement of NZC by 2050 requires a 78% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035. But these new fossil fuel extraction projects cannot be just short-term responses to the present situation. To be viable they must operate profitably well beyond 2035. Can you tell us, please, what you and the EAC see as the implications for the timetable, and the relationship between the present energy security emergency and the longer-term (and greater) climate emergency? The Oil and Gas Authority (which issues the licences) has now been renamed “The North Sea Transition Authority”, to send a clear message about the intention to phase out fossil fuels in due course. The EAC welcomes this and proposes that now is the time for the transition to begin. However, there is currently a backlog of about 200 oil and gas licenses to be allocated for the period since 2020. Many of these are for the “infilling” of small areas within existing large extraction zones. These licenses should enable extraction to come on stream within 3 years, with a period of 10-20 years before the source is exhausted. Licenses for extraction from new zones may take up to 10 years to come on stream, which means some extraction going on beyond 2050. The official definition of Net Zero Carbon accepts that some fossil fuel burning will continue beyond 2050, but this will have to be offset. Whether companies will take up these new licenses and invest depends on a combination of price and taxes. Hitherto British taxes on gas and oil extraction have been lower than the international average, but have now been increased to one of the highest, at 75% (Norway has the highest at 78%). The allowances for development and decommissioning which were previously available only for fossil fuels have now been extended to renewables, to create a level playing field. We expressed our disappointment that these new licences were being considered at all. PD replied that the Ukraine War had created new uncertainties about energy security, and the electorate would not forgive a government which let the lights go out. 3. We welcome the support expressed by leading Conservatives, in the context of the energy security problem, for relaxing the present restrictions on land-based wind turbines which are, as you know, the cheapest and most effective form of renewable electricity generation. We would like to know your own view on this, please. PD is now clear that a greater use of land-based wind generation is desirable, dependent on public support. One issue is the fear expressed to him by some constituents about the effect of wind turbines on the value of their houses. PD now wants the EAC to work on national guidelines for obtaining public support, including schemes which offer customers reductions in electricity prices. He agreed with us that it would be good to encourage special discounts or benefits for households in fuel poverty. In particular we would like to ask you if there is anything specific you can do to support the Net Zero project in Bishops Castle which includes a wind turbine, and for which there is strong local support despite the planning difficulties and the omission of the project from the Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan? PD will contact Mike Watkins and Dave Green again to discuss support for the Bishops Castle project. 4. The ambition of SSCA is to achieve Net Zero Carbon in South Shropshire by 2030. We recognise the heroic nature of this aspiration, but the urgency is, in any case, the same if we are to meet the Government’s own interim targets. In co-operation with Zero Carbon Shropshire we are building a coalition of committed volunteers and organisations around the themes of Land and Biodiversity, Transport, Energy and Buildings and Communications and Education, and our two half-time project leaders Nick Read and Fiona Morgan are co-ordinating our work into an effective strategy. We would welcome your leadership and public support in making this Constituency a role model for other rural areas. In particular we have come to appreciate the enormous challenge of retrofitting the many thousands of homes in the Constituency for Net Zero Carbon. Promising developments include: · the Future Ready Homes project funded by the Energy Redress Fund and managed by MEA, · the work of Lightfoot Enterprises, · the policies of Connexus in the social housing sector, · and the exploration by Sustainable Bridgnorth and Shropshire Council of a heat network scheme involving PV and land-based wind generation in co-operation with local industry. In short, there is a wealth of initiatives and goodwill. But we find ourselves facing some considerable hurdles, and would welcome your advice and encouragement. i) A serious retrofit programme will require the upskilling of builders and contractors, and there are few retrofit specialists among our architects and surveyors. Net Zero Carbon are talking with the Colleges and industry bodies, but progress is limited by the lack of a sense of urgency. Simon Ross shared MEA’s experience of Housing Associations having to employ large national companies of varying quality in their retrofit schemes, and PD agreed with us about the urgency of training local retrofit specialists and upskilling contractors. He is interested in finding out about the work of N-MITE in Hereford in this area, and will explore the idea of convening a Construction Summit with Adrian Cooper and representatives of training institutions like Vicky Ayton at Shrewsbury College. ii) NZC will require a significant upgrade in the capacity of the Grid. Do you know what local impact this will have on the timetable for domestic retrofit, electric vehicles and the expansion of renewable generation? A recent meeting with the National Grid (which now owns Western Power) has made PD aware of the substantial increase in electricity consumption which the transition to NZC will involve. This will require the upgrading of the grid at a much higher rate than that allowed under the present investment rules, in order to create the capacity for new solar and wind generation farms to be connected as well as to supply more power to businesses and homes. PD is exploring the possibility of an EAC inquiry into this issue. iii) Those promoting the Bishops Castle and Bridgnorth schemes find that the planning system does not give the necessary priority to the achievement of Net Zero Carbon. iv) PD was not aware of the latest position on the Bridgnorth scheme, and will contact Simon Vickers. The planning issues are included in the recent EAC Report. v) Both householders and businesses find long-term planning and investment frustrated by ever changing Government policies, grants and incentive schemes. We sympathize with the difficulties faced by the Government, but how do we create some stability and a long-term, cross-party approach which will enable us all to move forward with confidence? PD and the EAC are very aware of the importance of a stable planning and incentive environment for investment decisions by households and businesses and also for the upskilling of contractors and the training of the future workforce. He accepts that recent performance in these areas has been discouraging. Previous Next

< Back Teach the Future campaign Rosa Strange 2 Sept 2024 Making our schools more sustainable The RAAC scandal that broke a year ago affected hundreds of schools across the UK, damaging the education of thousands of children and young people. For many, the scandal served to highlight the extent to which school buildings are unsustainable, as well as unsafe and falling apart. Teach the Future is a student-led campaign to urgently improve education on the climate crisis in the UK. Fund the Future is our newest campaign, calling for the UK government to significantly increase funding for the retrofitting and rebuilding of school buildings, to help them become more environmentally sustainable. As well as helping the country to reach net-zero targets, eco-friendly retrofitting is vital for ensuring that students have a safe learning environment, while helping schools cut high energy costs, and allowing young people to see and learn about sustainable architecture first-hand. Our report , released in September 2023, estimates that it will cost £16.3bn to retrofit all UK schools to net-zero emissions . We are calling on the government to step up and deliver the funding we need to save education. But we can’t do it alone. We need UK school staff and pupils to send in photos of crumbling and inefficient school buildings, to show the government the effects of underfunding. To be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Book Token, send us pictures of the unsafe and damaged areas of your school by emailing hello@teachthefuture.uk or completing our anonymous form . Previous Next