Climate and Nature Strategy

This is your opportunity to shape a climate and nature strategy which reflects the priorities in our Council Plan.

In preparing this draft strategy we have learnt from the work of the previous councils and their consultations. We have considered the recommendations of the Copeland Citizen Jury and Youth Summit in prioritising our programmes. Many of the previous actions have become ‘business as usual’ and we will seek to sustain this positive progress through service planning; the goal is sustainability for the long term.

We have also been busy creating the right operating model and delivering programmes and projects that will make a difference.

The Community Panels and their priorities provide an opportunity to link actions to the places that matter most to our communities, their neighbourhoods, villages and towns. So far, the panels have offered over £40,000 in funding to organisations for projects that will make a difference to climate and nature by:

• Improving access and biodiversity
• Providing outdoor learning sessions and community activities
• Providing energy efficiency measures in community buildings and supporting community hubs
• Protecting and conserving red squirrels
• Enabling a future play area and community orchard
• Supporting a safe cycleway and cycle parking
• Providing healthy lunches in warm spots during winter months
• Providing gardening and cooking equipment for community groups

In addition, much work and strong support has been given to the Towns Fund works of Cleator Moor and Millom which have important elements that improve the environment and health of people in the area.

To give an idea of the breadth and variety of activity here are some recent announcements:

• £250,000 of government funding has been secured for public swimming pools in Carlisle, Wigton and Workington.
• Substantial funding boost of £870,588 for Active Travel initiatives.
• In collaboration with the Hadrian’s Wall Trail Partnership, has developed a new ramped access to a popular riverside footpath in Carlisle.
• Advising residents to be careful when driving through Caldbeck as amphibians are currently crossing roads in the area.
• Community planting for pollinators day in Whitehaven
• Successful Completion of Ravenglass Flood Alleviation Project

Our draft strategy will outline our overall approach and programmes of work for 2024-2027.  We look forward to reading all of your responses.