Environment and Sustainability Policy

Environment and Sustainability Policy

Approved by Full Council on March 2025
Revision date
1

Environment and Sustainability

Whicham Parish Council Environmental Policy Statement

Whicham Parish Council recognises and supports the urgent need to tackle the issues
surrounding global warming and its impact on climate change. Within its limited resources
the Council will do what it can to work with and for its local community to assist in the aim
of ensuring the long-term sustainability of our environment.

Back in 2008 the Climate Change Act established a legally binding target to reduce the UK’s
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% in 2050 from 1990 levels. Over the past few years
the effect of these emissions on our climate has become widely recognised as a very urgent
problem and tackling it has moved higher up the agenda. It is recognised that national and
international governments and agencies have the most important role to play but there is
still much that local authorities can do in helping communities engage with the
environmental and climate change agenda through grassroots initiatives and sharing
information and advice.

WPC are committed to working with local partnerships are will continue to engage fully with
Cumberland Council on local climate issues as well as wider work on achieving nett zero
carbon. As part of this bigger network and as a parish council WPC can make a difference
locally.

Our Suppliers and Contractors

Who we work with and how is important primarily because the works commissioned by
WPC are often focused on environmental improvements for our community and those
who visit us. WPC will:

• Screen all of our potential suppliers and contractors for their commitment to
  sustainable working practices and supply chains.
• Ensure that when goods and services are procured, we do so in a way that reflects
  our commitment to environmental sustainability

Trees & Habitats

WPC manages a number of areas of land within the parish boundary and many of these
are heavily wooded or contain trees and hedges which provide important habitats for
many wildlife species. WPC will

• Observe best practice in managing the parish’s woodland and natural assets
• Replace trees which have to be felled with new native species saplings wherever
  possible
• Carry out maintenance at appropriate times of the year in line with guidance on bird
  and wildlife habitats

Approved by Full Council on March 2025
Revision date
2

Energy

WPC has a very limited involvement in facilities requiring power but we do work closely
with partners like the village halls at Silecroft and Kirksanton, which are so important to
community activity. Other things like local speed notices also require power. WPC will:

• Support our partners in achieving the best possible outcomes for their efforts
  towards reducing carbon footprints.

Planning & Built Environment

Development can have both positive and negative impacts the local environment both in
terms of how our environment looks and how we live in it. Unlike towns, rural
communities are often impacted by the requirement to balance things like creating more
diverse economies and the impact this can have on traffic and to some degree the visual
amenity of the area.

WPC will:

• Support planning applications that use or introduce renewable energy technologies
  where appropriate
• Support planning applications for developments or changes of use which help
  diversify the local economy where appropriate
• Object to planning applications that result in the loss of tree cover or natural
  habitats without offering sensible alternatives or mitigation.

Information/Local Action

There is much that can still be done by local communities to reduce the carbon footprint
in the local area and WPC envisages its role as a hub for information and activity for
interested parties. WPC will:

• Host information on our website giving links to relevant information sources by
  external bodies and partners
• Form and support a community led subcommittee to look at activities and initiatives
  that reduce the local carbon footprint.

Future Actions

Possible future actions could include:

• Information sessions for local residents on how to improve their carbon footprint at home
  and in travelling
• Survey PC land and develop a 5 year plan to improve woodland management biodiversity
  and ecology

Approved by Full Council on March 2025
Revision date
3