Group set up for climate strategy

An action group is to be set up in South Lincolnshire as part of a new Climate Change Strategy for the area.

The South and East Lincolnshire Local Partnership of which South Holland District is a part, has officially signed off what it calls a Strategic Action Plan.

It includes the setting up of a South and East Lincolnshire Climate Action Network with local businesses and organisations involved.

“It’s about not just driving climate emissions,” Sarah Baker the partnership’s climate change and environment officer said. “There’s also opportunities it presents in the region to support a more sustainable future in general for our community.”

She said the response to a public consultation was “good” though Coun Roger Gambba-Jones expressed concern only 14 responses were received from South Holland.

He said of the strategy: “The government drive is to currently push us out of the use of HGVs to support our local industry which we know is absolutely vital to what we do in South Holland and is the lifeblood of our local industry.

“We need to give a bit of a pushback and say, we hear that message, but what’s the alternative please.

“What are you going to do to support them and our local population to help them get around to help them find alternate ways to operate our local economy.

“We hear those messages, we understand and support them, but where’s the reality in all of that?”

He also said he’d experienced frustrations when previously having conversations with district council departments about lessening their carbon footprint.

Mrs Baker responded: “It has to be seen we’re doing something locally rather than relaying the messages.

“This document was the next step for Boston and East Lindsey but it was too good an opportunity to miss bringing South Holland in at this stage.

“There’s perhaps a bit of catch up to do to get South Holland up to the same stage but I think it’s absolutely achievable.”