There is huge energy behind tackling climate change and improving our natural environment. Whilst dealing with a global pandemic has been all-consuming over the past six months, it has not changed our commitments and goal to be net-zero by 2050. Right across Government these issues are at the heart of decision making. Including in the Department for Education, where our recent investments in FE colleges and schools will upgrade the energy efficiency and improve the sustainability of buildings.
Locally, determined efforts are ongoing, from next month Chichester District Council will be running on electricity solely procured under contracts from renewable sources. This exciting change is happening more frequently as since 2010 our renewable energy generation has increased five-fold – with 99% of all our solar panels being installed since then and our offshore wind energy output increasing by 500%.
Building on this momentum, we’re holding a second climate change meeting on Friday 4th September with colleagues from both local councils, the Environment Agency, Chichester Harbour Conservancy, and South Downs National Park Authority, all of whom will be answering questions. To join, please email me at [email protected] and we will send you a meeting link in advance. We don’t promise to have all the answers. Rather, this meeting is about bringing our community together to ensure we are heading towards our collective goal of becoming net-zero by 2050, or before, and protecting our beautiful environment.
In other news, Sussex MPs had our regular update with our Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, and our new Chief Constable, Jo Shiner. There have been some really exciting results from the new Rural Crime Taskforce, who have been cracking down on crimes like agricultural theft, sheep worrying, hare coursing, and illegal metal detection - an issue I never knew existed until last week, but I’m pleased to report Sussex Police recently seized 100 old coins that were illegally excavated.
We also got an update on Operation Downsway, which is the Police response to antisocial driving across the SDNP, particularly motorbikes, who have a reputation for dangerous, reckless driving, and causing unnecessary noise. My team and I have been working on this issue with Parish Councils as part of a new cross-governmental taskforce, set up by Fittleworth Councillor, Alan Sutton. I am currently in the process of fixing a date to join Jo, and her team, on patrol to experience the operational work of our police and understand what more we can do to support them with their enforcement action
