West Oxfordshire District Council is pushing forward with plans to tackle the climate emergency across the district, helping to reduce its carbon footprint and working with businesses and communities to protect the environment. 
Over the past six months great progress has been made in a number of areas including supporting the roll-out of electric vehicles, work to make homes of the future zero-carbon and protecting local wildlife and its habitats.
Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “Over the past eighteen months we have made really good progress in our efforts to tackle the climate emergency, and especially in the past six months we have made some brilliant progress. However, we know there is still much more to do.
“In the short time since we declared a climate emergency we have invested in a team of specialists to lead the Council's response and we are now working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and plan for a future carbon-neutral West Oxfordshire.
“We have been recognised at a national level for our work to promote net zero carbon homes and I am really proud of what we have delivered so far.”
West Oxfordshire District Council set out ambitious plans in February 2021 to tackle the climate and ecological emergency, prioritising the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems and the sustainability of new homes. 
In response to the plans, the Council has recruited a Biodiversity & Countryside Land Management Officer who is responsible for creating spaces where wildlife can thrive in Council’s parks and open green spaces, and a Sustainable Planning Specialist who will make sure that all new housing developments meet the highest sustainability standards, ensuring these are carbon neutral and reducing impact on the environment. 
The Council’s recently released ‘Net Zero Carbon Toolkit’ provides homeowners and those looking to build new homes with clear guidance on how to make a home carbon neutral. It has received national recognition with other organisations across the country looking to use the toolkit themselves.
In the space of encouraging more sustainable transport, the Council is supporting the introduction of electric vehicles by supporting the county-wide programme to install electric vehicle charging points across West Oxfordshire and running events to promote electric vehicles to those who may be cautious about owning one.
The Council is also working with local communities on their own plans, supporting local town and parish councils to develop their own climate plans. 
Cllr Harvey said; “The response from the community to tackling climate change has been brilliant. 
“In April we supported a virtual meeting of our town and parish councils to see what more can be achieved at a local level. I would encourage everyone to think about what they can do in their local area and to speak to their local council if they have any ideas.
“We also ran a climate art competition earlier in the year which had a great response from local young people who are keen that we continue our effort to protect the environment for their future.”
The Council has also made good progress on making its offices and operations more environmentally friendly. The first electric vehicle was purchased this year to support the waste services and new software has been introduced for waste and recycling collection lorries which is due to reduce the miles travelled by collection vehicles and reduce emissions.
Cllr Harvey said; “As a Council, we have made a big culture change to put the climate emergency at the heart of all our decisions.
“We have work to do to make everything we do as a council carbon-neutral but it is a target we will continue to work towards alongside supporting our communities to do their part in tackling climate change.”

From Monday 23 August anyone aged 16 or 17 can receive a dose of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine at a walk-in clinic in Witney Town Shop, 3 Welch Way, Witney OX28 6JH.
The Pfizer walk-in clinic will be open on the following dates and times:

• Monday 23 August (10am to 7.30pm)
• Tuesday 24 August, Wednesday 25 August and Thursday 26 August (9.30am to 7.30pm).

No appointment is necessary to allow people aged 16 or 17 to have a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.  People may be asked to show proof of age. Parental consent is not required.
The centre is the result of partnership working between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and West Oxfordshire District Council who, last month, set up a similar centre for adults in the same location.
Tehmeena Ajmal, Covid Operations Director, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I would urge young people aged 16 and 17 to attend the walk-in clinic in Witney to keep themselves and their family safe.”
Michele Mead, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council added: “The walk-in clinics have proved very successful in West Oxfordshire and we are pleased to offer Council premises and to work closely with our health colleagues to set these up quickly to react to the needs of our community. Ultimately, attending this walk-in centre will make West Oxfordshire safer for us all.”
People who attend the walk-in clinic for a jab will have their vaccination record updated online. Current JCVI guidelines indicate no second dose for healthy 16 and 17 year olds is required.

Homeowners and developers looking to boost the green credentials of their property can find out everything they need to know at the click of a mouse thanks to the launch of a brand-new online housing toolkit.
Packed full of the latest guidance on how to achieve low-carbon, low-energy homes, the Net Zero Carbon Toolkit is the brainchild of West Oxfordshire District Council, Cotswold District Council and Forest of Dean District Council.
Set out in a practical, easy to follow format, the toolkit is aimed at builders, architects and consultants as well as those looking to self-build.
Councillor David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Climate Change at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We are delighted to be launching this new toolkit today which we have produced in partnership with two other local authorities and leading experts in the field of net-zero homes.  Covering everything from pre-planning, design and construction, even down to the types of products on the market, this is a one-stop guide for anyone looking to build a new property so they can include all the measures needed to make sustainable homes which are fit for the future.”
While following the guidance is not mandatory, the types of measures included in the document signals what the District Council would like to see included in future planning policy to tackle the climate emergency.
The guide also covers where carbon and energy gains can be made through retrofitting a range of measures to existing properties, such as switching to low-carbon heating systems and investing in renewable energy.
Cllr Harvey continued: “The Government has set a target for the UK to reach net zero by 2050 but with 25 million homes being lived in right now, the big challenge is how older properties, which may be prone to cold and poorly insulated, are brought up to standard. A major focus of this document is about how householders can modify their existing homes to help them cut heat loss and how they can invest in renewable energy options to reduce the costs of running their homes and make them more sustainable.
“To help people plan and budget, the toolkit gives a breakdown of the likely costs for each element based on whether the homeowner is looking to undertake a cheaper ‘shallow’ retrofit, which could save around 30% of a home’s carbon emissions, or a ‘deep’ retrofit which could achieve up to a 90% reduction in carbon emissions.
“Minor modifications can start from as little as £20-£50 and while larger projects, such as installing solar panels, will require greater upfront investment householders should see an immediate reduction in energy bills, helping offset the costs. Homeowners can, in some circumstances, even receive income for excess electricity sold back to the grid.
“We have ambitious plans to get West Oxfordshire to net zero as soon as possible and this comprehensive guide is just one way we are driving ahead to achieve this aim.  We want our residents and businesses to take full advantage of what’s contained in the guide, but we will be sharing the good news far and wide so others can make full use of the work which has been put together and start the process of decarbonising their homes.”
The toolkit has been funded by the Local Government Association Housing Advisers Programme, which supports local authorities seeking to innovate to meet the housing needs of their communities.
To encourage everyone to start making the best environmental choices and switch to low-carbon homes, the Net Zero Carbon Toolkit is available to anyone, including commercial organisations.
The document is now available for free download from West Oxfordshire District Council’s website: www.westoxon.gov.uk/netzerocarbontoolkit 

Fire services across Britain could see a technological revolution in the coming years involving the launch into service of fire engines powered by hydrogen thanks to the start of a new research project.
The project will see a hydrogen fuel engineering firm called ULEMCo partner with Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service. Funding for the project has been secured from Innovate UK under the Transition to Zero Emission project.
Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery & Environment, said: "Hydrogen could play an important role in our efforts to decarbonise, especially where battery powered electrification is challenging in heavy duty vehicles like fire engines. I’m delighted that we are partnering with ULEMCo on this innovative feasibility study as an important step in exploring and advancing zero carbon solutions. The county council’s fire & rescue service will provide operational insight while the council’s unique Innovation Hub along with Climate Action team will work with ULEMCo to facilitate the project."
Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is absolutely committed to act towards our net zero target and building on the work we have already done to move part of our fleet away from internal combustion engines. Heavy fire engines pose a particular challenge and we feel that hydrogen powered fuel cells can play a promising role in delivering on the county’s climate action ambitions."
Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, said: "We are excited to be working on this important initiative to plan the future of specialised utility vehicles such as fire tenders", said. "Hydrogen has tremendous potential for enabling zero emission vehicles in the short term."
The eight-month research project will involve creating a detailed model of the hydrogen energy requirement. This will include the energy needed to pump water for a minimum of four hours, as well as the optimal range for such a vehicle. The test process will gather real world data based on the performance of a fuel cell over the course of the project.
ULEMCo will design the hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain for the fire engine, with the goal being a full specification and detailed engineered design for a prototype vehicle. This will enable the next stage of development, which will involve the production of a prototype.
Alongside the study, the county council will develop a plan for the hydrogen refuelling requirements across its fire and rescue service, and wider plans to develop a hydrogen infrastructure across the county.
The project comes as the county council works towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 for its own operational emissions.
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Residents across the county are being asked to help shape a new air quality community website, which will help to raise awareness and understanding of air pollution across Oxfordshire.
In March 2021, Oxford City Council was awarded £162,500 to develop an air quality community website to help raise awareness of air pollution across Oxfordshire.
The website - which is being created in partnership between Oxford City, Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse - aims to integrate all relevant air quality related information from all district councils in Oxfordshire under one single site.
Now, residents across Oxfordshire are encouraged to take part in the consultation and share their views on what information they want to see on the future website.
The consultation hosted on Oxford City Council’s consultation portal aims to identify what information residents across the county want to see on the new website to help them find more about air quality.
The information presented on the website will span a wide range of air quality subjects and will be tailored to and for different age groups and levels of expertise. This consultation aims to identify the key issues and best ways to present this information which can at times be complex.
The consultation is asking residents for their thoughts on how they currently engage with air quality related messages, as well as their views on the website including information such as data on current air pollution levels in their area, specific types of air pollutants, and regular news about air quality projects across the county.
 Oxford has been historically subject to poor air quality. It was declared an air quality management area in September 2010 due to high levels of NO2.
The European Union has set a legal limit for the average limit of toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in towns and cities of 40µg/m3 or below– however, recent studies seem to indicate that there is no safe limit for NO2.
Air pollution contributes to an increased chance of developing lung cancer, increased risk of heart disease and increases in asthma, coughs and bronchitis.
It is thought that air pollution is responsible for 64,000 deaths in Britain each year – just 18% less than the 78,000 deaths annually caused by tobacco (European Heart Journal, March 2019).
A January 2020, a study from Centre for Cities also found out that at least one in 17 deaths in Oxford is related to air pollution. 
Health experts have warned that there is no safe level of air pollution.
Councillor Pete Sudbury, Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, Oxfordshire County Council said: "Tackling air pollution and climate change is a huge priority for Oxfordshire County Council. We are now set to implement a series of bold plans to address these, for example by giving people real choices around walking, cycling or using public transport rather than private cars and accelerating the shift to electric vehicles. We are keen to offer residents an easy-to-use source of information on air pollution in their area. We’d like to hear your views about how you’d like to see the data so please offer your comments in this consultation by 5 September." 
​The consultation is open until midnight on 5 September 2021.