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Essex County Council is consulting on its draft Essex Cycling Strategy. The draft strategy sets out the council’s vision – to see more people, of all abilities, ages and background, cycling in Essex more safely and more frequently.It also outlines six key cycling outcomes the Council wants to achieve and the actions it has planned to help achieve them. The Council now wants to hear the views of Essex residents on the draft strategy before a final version is agreed and published.

Find out more about the strategy and have your say by Sunday 7 July 2024 https://letstalkessexsustainabletravel.co.uk/essex-cycling-strategy

The brilliant Eco Club at De Vere Primary School in Castle Hedingham is helping families to cut down on plastic waste with a monthly refill station.

Now when parents and carers collect their kids, they can also pick up a range of household products like fabric conditioner, hand soap and washing up liquid from the de VeRefill Station.

Run by the keen green pupils, the shop has already proved a hit and sold almost £170 worth of products since its launch in February. Together with the other schools across Essex taking part, the refill stations have saved a total of 1000 singe use plastic bottles from being bought!

As well as helping the school community to cut down on single use plastics, the project is a Pupils Profit Initiative, helping with arithmetic and business skills.

The refill station will be selling at de Vere’s Summer Fayre on Friday 21 June, giving anyone who hasn’t already checked it out the ideal opportunity to fill up! 

£7.9 million programme offers free courses to help residents improve their number skills.

Educational programme Multiply is helping change lives in Essex by offering free courses to help residents improve their number skills.

The programme aims to empower residents aged 19 and over by helping them build new life skills, improving their personal and professional lives.

Free Multiply courses can help people advance their career, manage their money, help their child with homework or just feel more confident working with numbers.

Since the programme launched in January 2023, more than 5,000 Essex residents have benefitted from a course through Multiply.

Courses can help residents build a better future by giving them the skills needed embrace new opportunities.

To learn more about Multiply and find a course, visit: https://www.essexopportunities.co.uk/multiply

Read more about how Multiply is benefitting residents in Essex.

Free climate action packs have been created by Essex County Council to help residents and businesses become more sustainable.

The five Climate Action Advice Packs offer cost-effective and achievable solutions tailored for four different groups. These are:

• Residents
• Schools
• Businesses
• Early years and childcare settings

The packs, originally launched in 2022, have been updated with new information as well as a fresh look and feel.

This includes funding and volunteering opportunities. The residents pack has also been produced in an accessible easy-read version.

Climate Action Advice Packs are part of the council’s Everyone’s Essex commitment to work closely with communities and businesses over climate action.

This involves providing advice and support to empower local action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience. 

The advice packs are just one of the projects being delivered under the council’s ambitious Climate Action Plan.

Sam Kennedy, Director for Environment & Climate Action at Essex County Council, said: "These climate advice packs are fantastic resources for everyone in Essex who wants to become more sustainable.

“Each pack signposts to links and opportunities specific for each group so we can all do our part in working towards net-zero by 2050.

“I am also delighted to see the launch of an easy-read version of our resident pack which will help make climate action accessible to more people across our county.”  

The Climate Action Advice Packs can be downloaded for free at www.essexclimate.org.uk/what-can-i-do

National Grid is consulting on installing hundreds of pylons through Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Residents and businesses across Essex are being urged to share their views on the widespread impact expected from proposals to install pylons, cabling and substations throughout the county.

National Grid is currently consulting on its plans to install pylons between existing substations in Norwich and Tilbury, Essex, to connect the region with new energy generated offshore, as well as reinforcing existing infrastructure.

Essex County Council, alongside Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, remains opposed to National Grid's plans.

It argues the current proposals are not robust and National Grid has not fully considered alternative options.

The total length of the line would be 183 kilometres and consist of around 158 kilometres of new overhead line.

It would be supported by 520 pylons, expected to be 50 metres high, and a large substation on the Tendring Peninsula approximately 20 hectares in size. This is in addition to four sections of underground cabling.

A significant impact on the highways network throughout Essex is expected if the project is agreed as developers use the county’s roads and public rights of way to access key sites. 

The consultation deadline has been extended due to the general election and now closes on Friday 26 July. Residents and businesses can take part via the National Grid website.