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Phone: (01297) 445175
Email: enquiries@lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk

Cemetery

Our environmental aims

Lyme Regis Town Council declared a climate and environmental emergency in July 2019. The declaration acknowledged the urgency of the situation and recognised the need to apply pressure on the Government and its agencies to put resources in place to help reduce carbon emissions.

Our declaration showed the council’s commitment to take action on areas under its direct control, to act independently and with other organisations to influence and raise awareness, and to fulfil its regulatory responsibilities.

The council also has an Environment Policy, which sets out our responsibilities and aims and our approach to issues such as pollution, paper and office supplies, energy and water, transport, cleaning, maintenance and waste, gardening, the natural and built environment, and culture.

View the council’s Environment Policy.

Becoming carbon neutral

The declaration included a pledge to make Lyme Regis Town Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions. In August 2020, the council agreed to draw up and launch a net zero plan to achieve this target and to undertake an environmental aspect assessment to inform this work.

In December 2020, the council carried out an environmental impact assessment and put together a strategic plan for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. An aspect assessment is an environmental management tool that brainstorms and lists activities (aspects) undertaken by an organisation which have an environmental impact. The strategic plan shows how this council can tackle its major environmental impacts over the coming years.

Good progress is being made on achieving the aims within our strategic plan. Our achievements include:

  • Reducing paper use by introducing member IT so we no longer print council agendas and by introducing virtual parking permits
  • Reducing water consumption by installing water meters at the chalets in the Monmouth Beach area to quickly track where water leaks occur and installing Refill stations around the town
  • Cutting down on vehicle emissions by replacing several of our diesel vehicles with electric versions
  • Avoiding bonfires by purchasing a broad feed chipper
  • Cutting down on battery use by using rechargeable batteries where possible

We continue to work on our net zero goal and plan to replace all our fossil fuel vehicles and equipment with green alternatives over the next few years. We also plan to change the streetlights in the seafront gardens and lighting on buildings to LED and are investigating solar panels on our buildings.

You can find out more about the science and/or politics of climate change from the Met Office, the Climate Change Committee, the Government’s independent advisor on climate change, and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

As part of the declaration, the council also pledged to meet the aims of the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a blueprint for achieving a happier and healthier world by 2030. The 17 SDGs are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.

On a local level, the council has committed to delivering selected SDGs by working with partner organisations already working towards sustainability and environmental and climate action, such as Turn Lyme Green and Lyme Regis Development Trust.