Cllr Rose Moore: New Year's Message

Our New Year Message was delivered online by Cllr Rose Moore, Chelmsford City Council’s Cabinet Member for a Safer and Greener Chelmsford.

She explained that her portfolio included oversight of the public places and spaces in Chelmsford, encompassing such things as green spaces, rubbish collection and the street environment. The Council aims to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2030. It is currently reviewing the Local Plan with its regulations on what developers should do. The emphasis is on low carbon developments “making places future-proof”. She drew our attention to the website loveyourchelmsford.co.uk.

In July 2019 the Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency. Among other things, it will be introducing Recycling Hubs and preparing new guidance on solar farms, requiring any new solar farms to produce a net biodiversity gain. The Council aims to extend the tree canopy to cover 20% of the city’s area, up from 16% in 2019. By the end of this planting season an extra 48,000 trees will have been planted. The Council’s Allotment Strategy will see space made for beehives.

Reacting to the Climate and Ecological Emergency is not a matter for the Council alone. Cllr Moore pointed out that we can all make a difference. We are all connected with each other and with the planet. Our current western lifestyle is unsustainable and we all need to “tread gently”.

She urged us all to perform “Acts of Restorative Kindness to the Earth” (‘ARKs’), such as observing “No Mow May”. The website wearetheark.org gives further guidance.