Winchester Action on Climate Change

On 2 March WinACC completed its second training programme for Low Carbon Champions. In all, 18 people completed the course, two of whom had also undertaken the first WinACC Low Carbon Champions training course last September.  A total of 35 people have now undertaken Low Carbon Champions training with WinACC.  The WinACC Training Group is meeting on 8 April to discuss how best to further develop WinACC's training programme and how to develop a mutually supportive network of Low Carbon Champions.   In order to meet its overriding objective of achieving a one-third reduction in the carbon footprint of Winchester district by 2015, WinACC needs an expanding team of Low Carbon Champions.

The WinACC online discussion forum has a range of cutting edge news, ideas and thoughts. Join the discussion to find out more and point others to news, tips and other resources you’ve found helpful. 

Bishop’s Waltham Parish Council is leading the way for other Parish Councils in the local area by publishing its carbon footprint on the WinACC website.  Among the measures they hope to undertake over the coming year to reduce their carbon footprint include improving insulation in Council buildings and car-sharing.  View Bishop’s Waltham Parish Council carbon footprint. 
 

The Winchester Sustainable Schools and College Forum met with Sustrans and representatives from the Hampshire County Council school travel plan team on 9th March to discuss improving routes to schools for walking and cycling. Opportunities for funding to improve or install cycle routes and to increase access to cycle proficiency training were explored as well as ways to work collaboratively on improving the main corridors used by pupils when travelling to school through Winchester.

On 27 February 2009, the Board of the Winchester District Strategic Partnership (WDSP) approved the Climate Change Framework prepared by the Board’s High Quality Environment Group.  The Board agreed that it was important to achieve wide ownership of the targets, ‘priority areas for action’, and other proposals in the Framework.   The Action Plan to achieve the agreed WDSP target of a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2012 is now being drawn up.  Comments should be sent to Robert Hutchison, WinACC’s Chairman, drd.hutchison@btinternet.com who chairs the WDSP High Quality Environment Group.

On 2 March, WinACC’s membership reached 100 strong.   That’s 100 organisations, households and individuals that have calculated and pledged to reduce their carbon footprints.   WinACC’s membership includes a number of well-known local figures such as Mark Oaten MP, and Simon Eden, Chief Executive of the City Council.  Although 96 of our 100 members are individuals or households, 4 organisations have signed up to become WinACC members including Denplan, one of the Winchester District’s largest employers.   WinACC is now actively recruiting more organisational members, as well as households and individuals.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Partnership has a travel carbon calculator.  Simply enter miles travelled using any transport mode to calculate the carbon emitted on a single or return journey.   This tool is especially useful for businesses, as transport is very often one of the most significant contributors to carbon impacts and one of the most difficult to track. View the travel calculator resource.  

More than 250 people turned out to Colden Common Greening Campaign's “Love Your Environment Day” held at the local school on Saturday 14th February. The teamwork between the campaign and the school was outstanding.  The school itself demonstrated what they had implemented and learned about reducing their carbon footprint during their recent ECO Week. Footage of the ECO Week was also shown in the school’s IT room.

Thirty-one people who attended the WinACC Open Meeting on 7 February completed a questionnaire designed to feed into discussion about how WinACC Open Meetings might be made even more productive and enjoyable.  Most of the feedback was very positive with many commenting on the excellence of James Martin-Jones' facilitation.   A number of useful comments were made about how the bi-monthly Open Meetings might be improved; and these ideas will be discussed by WinACC's Communications Group.  A summary of the feedback received is available below and further feedback is welcome.

More than 50 people braved the snow last Thursday 5 February to attend Greening Fulflood's inaugural public meeting held at Western School in Fulflood.  A small group was appointed to take forward plans for a launch and ten achievable challenges from turning off electrical appliances on standby to topping up roof insulation were agreed.  Once the campaign is launched, pledge cards will be delivered to every Fulflood household and residents will be asked to commit themselves to at least five of the ten challenges. If you live in Fulflood and would like to get involved, please contact contact Giles Gooding, gilesgooding_at_yahoo.co.uk.