Islington residents of all ages will benefit from concrete measures to cut local CO2 emissions, after Islington Council named the first pilot projects to receive cash from its pioneering Climate Change Fund.
Islington Council set up the Fund -- the first of its kind in London -- to fund capital projects that reduce local CO2 emissions, from biomass boilers to wind-turbines to green transport. Local residents, organisations and council teams can all apply. The council invested £3million cash into the Fund, and more than a thousand local residents have shown their support by opting to donate their council tax direct debit discounts as well.
Last Thursday (5 July 2007), on the recommendation of an independent panel of experts, the council's Executive agreed the Climate Change Fund would pay for pilot green capital projects at Highbury Pool - the borough's most intensively used leisure centre - New Park Day Centre for older people, and Islington Ecology Centre.
Cllr Lucy Watt, Islington Council's Executive Member for Environment, said: "It's great to see the first projects from the Climate Change Fund, not just because I want to see Islington greener, but because we listen to Islington and I know our residents want this too. Grants for community groups and residents will be in the next phase later this year.
"We created the Climate Change Fund on their behalf, so local people can have the active role I know they want to play in reducing local carbon emissions. Since then more than a thousand local people have chosen to donate their council tax direct debit discount to the Climate Change Fund - a fantastic example of the community working together to tackle climate change.
"Just last week Islington sent us a strong message, when residents voted 'yes' in our referendum over whether owners of more polluting cars should pay more for their residents' parking permits. They confirmed that tackling climate change is high up their agenda, and they want to do their bit.
"I know that local people, like me, will be looking forward to seeing more examples of renewable energy, from biomass boilers to solar panels and heat pumps. But this is not the only thing we are doing to tackle climate change - through the Climate Change Partnership we are working with other organisations in Islington to cut local carbon emissions, as well as looking at our own energy use."
Highbury Pool - the borough's most intensively used leisure centre with constant hot water needs - is set to receive funding for hot water solar panels, as is News Park Day Centre for older people, bringing renewable energy benefits to a different group of residents. Meanwhile, Islington's Ecology Centre is set to get funding for a biomass boiler, which will meet its heating needs, replace the conventional boiler, and will mean the centre runs entirely on renewable energy.
Islington Council has appointed an advisory panel of environmental experts to oversee the Climate Change Fund. The advisory panel met Tuesday (3 July) to agree allocations for the fund, eligibiltiy criteria, and three pilot projects. The timeline for the bidding process will shortly be announced on the council website.
The members are:
Andrew Wiseman - environmental lawyer and local resident (Chair)
Christine Kinnear - Energy Savings Trust (business development) and local resident
Justin Bere - architect specialising in sustainable design and local resident
Karl Pittam - Director of Sustrans (transport voluntary organisation on Islington)
Maria Wasley - environmental consultant (RSK Consulting) and local resident
Andrew Wiseman, Chair of Islington's Climate Change Fund Advisory Panel, said: " 'Its great to be involved in an initiaitive where the local community is working together to take action to cut climate change. This is an exciting project and with each project being looked at by an panel of experts residents can be comfortable that their money is being well spent."
ENDS
For more information on this news release please contact Susie Rundle on 020 7527 3376.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008