Carbon reduction projects benefit from share of Climate Emergency Fund

A total of 11 community and public sector projects dedicated to reducing carbon emissions have been successful in securing funding via the Climate Emergency Fund, which was launched by Cheshire West and Chester Council in August 2020.

The new fund, which will support low carbon projects and programmes, has been set up as part of the Council’s work on tackling the Climate Emergency.  Both local organisations and Council services delivering projects that meet the criteria were able to bid for funding.  Two types of funding were available, capital funding for fully developed projects, and feasibility funding for projects which require further development. 

The successful applicants include:

Community-led bids.

• Guilden Sutton Green Space Group (capital allocation)

• Passion for Learning (capital allocation)

• Chester Sustainability Centre (feasibility study)

• Chapter Mental Health (feasibility study)

• Farndon Parish Council (feasibility study)

Council and Council company bids.

• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Regulatory Services – electric vehicle charging points (capital allocation)

• Cheshire West and Chester Council: One Public Estate Ellesmere Port (capital allocation)

• Cheshire West and Chester Council: Action Transport Theatre Whitby Hall Project (capital allocation)

• Qwest Services: Review of corporate site energy efficiency (feasibility study)

• Qwest Services: Review of renewable energy generation on landfill sites (feasibility study)

• Qwest Services: Review of school energy efficiency and renewable energy generation (feasibility study).

This is the first round of the Climate Emergency Fund, with successful applicants benefitting from a share of the £300,000 funding for this financial year (2020-21). A further £7 million of Climate Emergency funding is planned for 2021 - 2024.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, said: “We had a diverse mix of Council services and community organisations bidding for this first round of funding. It was great to see the range of bids submitted and I’m really looking forward to seeing the difference that these projects can make to the challenge of tackling climate change in the borough.”

Councillor Carol Gahan, Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance, said: “One of the strategic priorities for the Council, as set out in the Council’s four-year plan, is to tackle the Climate Emergency. The Climate Emergency Fund will support local projects that are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in our borough, benefitting not only our residents but the rest of the UK too.”

Dr Niall Macfadyen, lead applicant for the Chester Sustainability Centre, said: “This is a great opportunity to work in partnership with the Council and other funders to bring a neglected historic Chester building into use for the benefit of the public.”

The launch of the second round of funding from the Climate Emergency Fund is due to be announced in early 2021. Details will be published on: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climateemergency

Pictured - Cllr Carol Gahan