Skip navigation

Gloucestershire Business News

More than fifty partners for Cheltenham net zero pledge

More than fifty businesses, community groups and other organisations have joined forces with the aim of making Cheltenham 'net carbon zero' by 2030.

Cheltenham Borough Council has a £50,000 Community Climate Fund aimed at encouraging community groups to take steps towards becoming net carbon zero.

The Council and Vision 21 have now launched a website to promote the CheltenhamZero initiative which can be found at cheltenhamzero.org.

Among grants handed out so far are £5,000 for Leckhampton Rovers Football Club for the installation of an air source heat pump at the Burrows Playing Fields and £1,650 for Christ Church, Cheltenham, for the installation of a bank of cycle racks to encourage more people to use their bikes.

Trinity Church got £5,000 for the church roof, while Oakwood School, Cheltenham Borough Homes and Oakwood Area Residents received £5,000 for a scheme to use planters to minimise traffic use and protect grass verges.

'Net zero' means making all feasible carbon reductions then balancing off the rest with carbon removal through things like tree planting and carbon capture.

It's estimated that Cheltenham's 'carbon footprint' is the same as the Central American country of Belize.

The aim over the next eight years is to reduce, in preference to off-setting, an estimated 459,451 tonnes of emissions of carbon.

Members of the partnership are entitled to have their profile entered on the website alongside any examples of carbon cutting technologies they are manufacturing or examples of good practice they want to showcase.

Councillor Max Wilkinson, cabinet member for climate emergency, said: "Cheltenham is an innovative and creative place and the amount of local enthusiasm for dealing with the climate crisis gives us hope.

"Now, we can build on that enthusiasm by giving people a chance to work together as part of the Cheltenham Zero Partnership. This will bring together businesses, public sector organisations and communities to share knowledge, build consensus and increase support for local work to fight climate change."

The CheltenhamZero Partnership is open to any legitimate organisation or group based within the Cheltenham Borough Council boundary.

Dave Entwistle, CEO of Vision 21, said: "Another step on our journey has been completed thanks to the help of two CheltenhamZero partners - Leckhampton Parish Council who have researched and contributed to the creation of the website and the University of Gloucestershire whose students have designed the logo and marketing package."

Potential partners sign the CheltenhamZero Agreement and sign up to the website.

The CheltenhamZero pledge calls on partners to 'recognise the Climate Emergency and acknowledge the unacceptable risks it poses globally and also locally to the future of our environment, our livelihoods, our homes and our town'.

They also pledge they are 'committed to tackling the climate emergency and reducing their impact on the climate by doing their part within the partnership and to working collaboratively to support the shift to net zero emissions as a town by the year 2030'.

Since the partnerships' conference earlier in the year, two members of staff have been taken on at Cheltenham Borough Council and one at Vision 21.

Related Articles

Versarien's revenues halve and losses rise Image

Versarien's revenues halve and losses rise

Forest of Dean-based advanced engineering group Versarien saw its revenues halve last year.

Gloucestershire company launches same-day service Image

Gloucestershire company launches same-day service

Gloucester-based Freemans Event Partners has launched a brand-new around-the-clock foodservice logistics offer.

Gloucester business expands at Elmbridge Court Image

Gloucester business expands at Elmbridge Court

Just three offices are now available for rent at Elmbridge Court, following the latest letting.

Cirencester town centre to deliver improved parking Image

Cirencester town centre to deliver improved parking

Better parking and traffic control improvements for Cirencester residents and businesses.

Copyright 2024 Moose Partnership Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission.