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News from the Geopark

A Greener Way for Our Bay – Have your say

If you live in Torbay we want to hear your views about a new plan to make homes more energy efficient, protect the natural environment, support businesses to become more sustainable, and make sustainable and public transport (like walking, cycling and taking the bus) more accessible and affordable.

The new consultation – ‘A Greener Way For Our Bay’ – aims to engage with local people on the Torbay Climate Partnership’s new plans for reducing the Bay’s emissions and preparing for a changing climate. The Partnership is made up of a wide range of organisations in Torbay from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors.

The survey launches when climate change is high on the global agenda as representatives of member countries around the world convene to attend COP28 from Friday 1 December. COP28 is the latest annual United Nations Conference of the Parties to the Convention on climate change.

The survey is being delivered collectively by members of the Partnership along with Tonic and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, and as well as online and paper surveys there will be a series of engagement activities and events with a range of different groups to find out what people think and help agree Torbay’s priorities. The plan includes a framework which sets the long term direction of travel, targets and ambitions. It is supported by shorter-term actions to help meet the long term plans.

Dennis Flynn, Chair of Torbay Climate Partnership said: “Our new framework and action plan – A Greener Way For Our Bay – has been developed with feedback from local residents and key stakeholders gathered over the past couple of years, including via a series of themed climate stakeholder events, a previous consultation from December 2022 to March 2023, and a survey for local businesses. Thank you to everyone who has already helped us with this. We have listened to people’s hopes and concerns and adapted the plans and we really want to hear your views.”

Councillor Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader of Torbay Council and Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth said: “This is a really important issue that affects all of us so I would strongly encourage everyone in Torbay to get involved with this consultation. Partners are working together to make sure we have an agreed set of priorities so please do take the opportunity to have your say.”

A Greener Way for Our Bay has ten priorities which are:

1. Help more people live and work in homes and buildings that are energy efficient.
2. Make sustainable transport and public transport more accessible and affordable.
3. Ensure that roads and paths are safer and more accessible for cyclists and walkers.
4. Reduce waste and increase recycling.
5. Enjoy and protect our marine and natural environment.
6. Help green our businesses and create new jobs with the environment at their heart.
7. Ensure the community is at the heart of local action.
8. Monitor progress and set up initiatives that celebrate success.
9. Help everyone understand why change is needed and how sustainable choices will make a difference.

10. Work with nature and the local community to prepare for a changing climate.

You can find out more and have your say here: https://greenerway.torbay.gov.uk