Environment
South Oxfordshire Council secures funding to install solar panels at Cornerstone
South Oxfordshire District Council has been successful in its bid for government funding of more than £370k towards the installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps at it’s Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot.
Cherwell District Council’s waste and recycling crews to begin collecting Christmas trees
The trees will be taken to an in-vessel composting site at Ardley, where they’ll be composted at high temperatures before being redistributed to farmers as compost.
Local councils to get climate change scorecards in new survey
The survey was initiated by Climate Emergency UK, a body set up in response to the climate emergency declarations that councils started making at the end of 2018.
Funding is available for community climate projects in the Vale
Local groups can apply for a share of £50,000 from the latest round of the Vale of White Horse District Council’s Climate Action Fund, with up to £5,000 on offer for individual projects.
Council employee leads petition against pension investment in fossil fuel firms
The petition to pull out of pension investments in fossil fuel companies like shell was started by one of the Oxfordshire County Council’s employees and has gathered more than 500 signatures.
National emergency as Met Office issues first-ever red warning for extreme heat
The Met Office has warned of an “exceptional hot spell on Monday and Tuesday”, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has raised its heat health warning to level four, “national emergency”.
UPDATED: Amber warning for extreme heat across Oxfordshire extended to Monday
The amber weather warning issued across a large part of the UK, which comes ahead of further soaring temperatures this week, means there could be widespead impact on people and infrastructure.
Blenheim Palace launch free shuttle service with Oxford Bus Company
It forms part of a major drive by Blenheim Palace to provide sustainable transport solutions as part of its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2027.
Councils to let wildflowers bloom during No Mow May
The two councils already designate wildflower meadows, which they only cut two to three times a year, but this year, they will trial leaving several additional areas of land uncut for No May Mow.
Work on Oxford City Council decarbonisation projects nearing completion
The project to reduce the carbon emissions from public leisure centres, has seen a significant proportion of the heating provided by gas boilers replaced with heat pumps that transfer heat from the air or water.
Planning application submitted for Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme
The Environment Agency has submitted the planning application to build the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. This is a significant step towards reducing flood risk to homes, businesses and transport links in Oxford.
Nature recovery plan proposed for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
A vast new nature recovery plan to protect, improve and expand land for wildlife is being proposed across a huge area between Buckingham, Bicester, Aylesbury and Oxford.