environment | LocalGov

Herefordshire Council uses drone to investigate fly-tipping

17/04/2024

A drone is being used by Herefordshire Council to gather evidence of illegal waste disposal.

Green Liverpool projects win European funding

08/04/2024

Greening projects designed to complement new active travel routes in Liverpool will be funded by a European climate grant worth almost £80,000.

LGA warning over XL Bully dogs ban

19/03/2024

Councils face a double whammy of soaring costs and declining police support as they try to enforce a ban on XL Bully dogs.

City Hall hails ‘dramatic’ air quality improvements

12/03/2024

Air quality in the capital has improved ‘much faster’ than in the rest of the UK because of policies introduced by the London mayor, according to a report.

LTNs popular and effective, leaked report says

11/03/2024

Low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are popular and effective, a leaked report from the Department for Transport (DfT) has found.

Emissions rise at ‘environment capital’ council

07/03/2024

Peterborough City Council's greenhouse gas emissions have risen by half in a year.

Progress stalls on EV charge points

05/03/2024

Many local authorities have fallen significantly behind on their electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure plans, new research has found.

‘Outdated’ pollution warning systems putting swimmers at risk

29/02/2024

Swimmers could be at risk of bathing in sewage due to an ‘outdated’ pollution warning system, researchers at the University of Reading have warned.

UK’s first healthcare air quality alert launched

28/02/2024

Healthcare professionals in London will be notified directly about high pollution episodes, London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced.

Councils near Gatwick raise alarm over runway plan

27/02/2024

Local authorities near Gatwick have raised concerns over the potential increase in noise and air pollution if the airport brings another runway into use.

Coffee pod recycling scheme hits million milestone

27/02/2024

An initiative run by Cherwell District Council has seen more than a million coffee pods – weighing 16.4 tonnes – recycled in eight months.

Councils call for ‘autonomy’ under EPR

26/02/2024

Councils must still have the autonomy to run waste services according to local need under new packaging reforms, the Local Government Association has said.

Coastal councils raise water quality alarm

22/02/2024

Councils in coastal areas have raised the alarm about the impact on health and tourism caused by the continuing deterioration in coastal water quality.

Planning inspectors acted unlawfully over council’s net zero plans

22/02/2024

Planning inspectors were wrong to describe West Oxfordshire District Council’s net zero plans for a garden village as ‘too rigorous’, a High Court judge has ruled.

Lewes becomes first council to support ‘Zane’s Law’

21/02/2024

Lewes District Council has become the first local authority to support a proposed new law that calls for greater protection from contaminated land.

Second council U-turns on pesticide use

01/02/2024

Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to reintroduce chemical weed killer, following Brighton's recent call to recommence pesticide treatment.

Local approach needed to prepare for ‘silent killer’ of heatwaves

31/01/2024

MPs have called for a locally led approach to retrofitting houses to protect the most vulnerable from heat waves.

Newcastle CAZ generates £2.4m

31/01/2024

The Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air Zone (CAZ) brought in more than £2.4m in its first 11 months of operation.

Westminster revamps emissions-based parking charges

30/01/2024

Westminster City Council will revamp its parking schemes so that residents and visitors are charged based on their vehicles’ tailpipe emissions.

Greta Thunberg joins Hampshire airport protest

29/01/2024

Residents, councillors and Extinction Rebellion activists were joined by climate campaigner Greta Thunberg to protest the expansion of a private jet facility at the weekend.

Disposable vapes to be banned

29/01/2024

Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK to protect children’s health, the Government announced today.

Old mines in West of England could be used to heat homes

26/01/2024

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has thrown its weight behind a £1.6m study to investigate the use of heat from flooded mine shafts to heat homes, schools, hospitals and other buildings.

Brighton U-turns on pesticide use

25/01/2024

The use of a controversial pesticide will be reintroduced by Brighton and Hove City Council less than five years after it pledged to become ‘pesticide free’.

Thames Water sewage spills more than quadruple

25/01/2024

The mayor of London has called out the ‘scandalous’ increase in instances of sewage flowing into the capital’s rivers, urging Thames Water to ‘get a grip of the situation’.

Councils must adapt to extreme weather threat

24/01/2024

Cara Jenkinson, Cities Manager, Ashden discusses how local authorities can adapt to the threat of extreme weather.

Half of young vapers never regularly smoked, study finds

24/01/2024

A new study has found that 316,000 young people who use disposable vapes never regularly smoked tobacco, but warns that banning the vape products would risk causing relapse among ex-smokers.

Council chiefs welcome drop in fly-tipping incidents

17/01/2024

Local authorities in England dealt with 1.08 million fly-tipping incidents in 2022/23, a decrease of 1% on the previous year, according to the latest figures.

MPs at odds with public on packaging measures

17/01/2024

Appetite for government intervention to reduce the use of packaging, either through taxes or bans, is lower among MPs than with the public, new research has found.

Report warns of 'lethal' climate change risks

17/01/2024

With London and the UK ‘underprepared’ for extreme weather and an absence of national leadership on climate, regional government must adapt at pace, a new report argues.

Preparing for future floods

16/01/2024

After Storm Henk, APSE principal advisor Rob Bailey sets out some of the steps local authorities should take to improve flood preparedness.

West Midlands pilots £24m energy support scheme

16/01/2024

Small businesses across the West Midlands are being offered support to cut their gas and electricity usage.

Survey reveals support for biodiversity scheme

10/01/2024

Most people in Britain support an upcoming requirement for developers to invest in improving local habitats, a survey has revealed.

Heat pumps plan to be scrapped over costs

02/01/2024

Salford City Council is set to withdraw plans to install air source heat pumps at its town hall due to the cost of the project.

Think-tank calls for ‘sensible adjustments’ to clean air zones

22/12/2023

Schemes to reduce air pollution should be designed to avoid penalising those living in more deprived areas, a think-tank has said.

Rowley rules out pre-election nutrient neutrality law change

21/12/2023

The Government has confirmed it will not be introducing primary legislation on nutrient neutrality in the current Parliament.

How local authorities can inspire sustainable investment

20/12/2023

Helena Rivers, net zero lead at AECOM, argues that while appetite for climate initiatives may vary on within central government, local authorities have the power to act now and drive a meaningful transition.

Mayor Burnham criticises fee-paying clean air zone

14/12/2023

Public investment in buses and taxis will improve air quality in Greater Manchester faster than a fee-paying clean air zone (CAZ), Mayor Andy Burnham says.

Skills shortage ‘putting brakes’ on net zero

12/12/2023

The skills shortage is undermining efforts to reduce carbon emissions and effectively tackle the climate crisis, local authority leaders in London have warned.

Air pollution in most high streets exceeds guidelines, study finds

12/12/2023

Most of Britain’s biggest high streets have air pollution levels above World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, according to a new study.

Councils call for support after ‘stark’ climate change warnings

11/12/2023

Local authority leaders have said they need support to prepare communities for climate change after a stark report described the impacts of changing temperatures on people’s health.

Wales passes workplace recycling law

08/12/2023

New Workplace Recycling Regulations have been passed in Wales, which will require all businesses to separate recyclable materials.

Luton Airport Expansion – how much growth is too much?

06/12/2023

As COP28 continues, Cllr Richard Roberts, Herts County Council, criticises Luton Airport's plans to increase passenger numbers to 32 million a year.

Londoners struggling to take action on climate change

05/12/2023

Londoners motivated to prevent climate change but are struggling to reduce emissions due to cost-of-living crisis, survey reveals as leaders meet for COP28.

Simpler Recycling: The implications for local authorities

04/12/2023

Lee Marshall, Policy and External Affairs Director, CIWM looks at the Government’s recycling reforms and what they mean for local authorities.

Oxfordshire councils install vape recycling bins

04/12/2023

Three local authorities in Oxfordshire have joined forces to install 60 new recycling collection points for vapes across the county.

'Lack of clarity' puts recycling reforms at risk

01/12/2023

A ‘lack of clarity’ around the Government’s recycling reforms is preventing councils from preparing for the upcoming changes, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Portsmouth CAZ ‘not enough’ as legal limits still breached

01/12/2023

A government-mandated clean air zone (CAZ) in Portsmouth is not enough to reduce emissions, with pollution on three sites continuing to breach the legal limit, the city’s council has said.

PM promises to limit council tree felling

29/11/2023

Residents will have to be consulted before local authorities remove trees in their areas, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced.

Edinburgh to spend £55m to make fleet LEZ compliant

28/11/2023

Edinburgh City Council is set to spend £55m replacing obsolete vehicles and ensuring its fleet complies with new environmental rules.

High Court approves M&S judicial review

21/11/2023

The High Court has approved an application for a judicial review from M&S after Michael Gove blocked plans to redevelop the retailers Oxford Street store.

Climate change ‘biggest threat’ to heritage

20/11/2023

The future of the coastline, countryside and historic buildings protected by the National Trust will be threatened by extreme weather without urgent and large-scale action, a report has found.

London council launches green investment scheme

17/11/2023

Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council is inviting residents and businesses to invest in green projects across the borough.

Only 5% of public feels ready for climate change

15/11/2023

Most of the public feels unprepared for the effects of climate change following the extreme heat, flooding and storms of recent years, LGA poll reveals.

New health and social care secretary announced

13/11/2023

Victoria Atkins has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care amid Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle.

Housing minister among casualties of Sunak reshuffle

13/11/2023

The UK will have its 16th housing minister in 12 years after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s sweeping reshuffle affected the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Councillors ‘powerless and penniless’ on clean air

09/11/2023

Elected members do not believe that councils have the powers or budgets to make meaningful change on air quality, research has found.

£20m boost for leisure centres

06/11/2023

The Government has awarded local authorities a share of £20m to help support swimming pools and leisure centres most at risk of closure or significant service reduction.

Glasgow clean air bid gets all clear

31/10/2023

A legal challenge to Glasgow's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) from a local business has failed.

How AI surveys show councils need a new approach on litter

31/10/2023

Gavin Ellis, co-founder and director of Hubbub, discusses how litter survey projects on Glasgow and Cardiff roads suggest that a new approach is needed by local authorities.

Khan hails ULEZ compliance as revenue doubles

31/10/2023

London mayor Sadiq Khan has welcomed new data showing that compliance rates in the new outer London part of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have nearly caught up with those in inner London.

Air quality rules continue to trouble Bath area

27/10/2023

A council that had ‘officially passed a government milestone’ for cleaning up toxic air breached legal limits as traffic returned after the pandemic, according to recent data.

Time for local authorities to ‘right-size’ their offices?

26/10/2023

Mobilityways' local authorities lead Graeme Banister asks: should councils reinvent their town halls, or motivate staff to return and fill up these empty edifices?

Councils ‘held back’ on net zero

24/10/2023

The organisations that represent English councils have collaborated in a call for the Government to change its approach on delivering net zero.

State of rivers ‘hangs in the balance’ amid pollution climbdown

24/10/2023

The Government has reportedly abandoned its plans to scrap nutrient neutrality rules.

Turning pensions into fossil fuel playthings

23/10/2023

Robert Noyes, Platform London, argues that if councils are serious about net zero, then local government pension funds must divest from fossil fuels.

Councils welcome waste reform flexibility but await details on costs

23/10/2023

Councils were relieved not to lose all local discretion in the Government’s waste collection reforms but have said questions remain, including over funding.

Over £12bn of council pensions invested in fossil fuel

23/10/2023

Over £12bn of local government pensions are invested in the fossil fuel industry, environmental campaigners have revealed.

Controversial Oxford LTNs made permanent

19/10/2023

Three low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Oxford are to become permanent, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet decided this week.

Councils underperform in first-of-kind climate study

18/10/2023

Local authorities are not doing enough on net zero, the first study of UK councils’ climate action across all sectors has found.

Government approves plans to increase Luton Airport capacity

17/10/2023

Plans by London Luton Airport (LLA) to increase its passenger cap by one million a year have been approved by the Government.

Local authority pension schemes invest £330m in renewables

13/10/2023

Six local authority pension schemes have agreed a multi-million-pound deal to invest in renewables projects in the southwest.

Beavers reintroduced to west London

12/10/2023

Beavers have been returned to west London for the first time in 400 years, Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced.

15 minute cities 'don't exist'

09/10/2023

Civil servants are battling to explain to ministers that concepts like ’15-minute cities’, said to restrict people’s ability to shop, ‘don’t really exist'.

Seven bins? The future of consistent collections

04/10/2023

Lee Marshall, CIWM, looks at the Government’s claims to be scrapping the much-fabled ‘seven bins’ policy and the future of the consistent collections reform.

Greening Up: why, where and how

03/10/2023

Nicholas Boys Smith, director of Create Streets, sets out how local councils can improve the level of urban greenery and why they should.

New programme to help councils with climate change goals

03/10/2023

A sustainability programme has been launched by the Local Government Association (LGA) to help councils reach carbon reduction targets.

Sunak launches fight for motorists

02/10/2023

The Government has announced plans to discourage English councils from bringing in 20mph and traffic reduction measures.

Country park renamed in honour of late Queen

02/10/2023

A Lincolnshire country park has been renamed The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park as a mark of respect for the late monarch.

Government to restrict use of 20mph speed limits

29/09/2023

Local leaders have responded critically to reports that the Government is set to restrict the ability of councils to impose 20mph speed limits on main roads.

Bradford claims success from watered-down CAZ

29/09/2023

Bradford Council has celebrated questionable success in its struggle to demonstrate compliance with the legal limit for toxic air pollution.

Concern companies not aware of single-use plastics ban

28/09/2023

The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns that businesses may not know about the ban on certain single-use plastic items.

Biodiversity Net Gain laws delayed

28/09/2023

The Government has confirmed it is delaying the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) laws until next year.

County areas behind on EV charging

28/09/2023

The number of publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charge points in England’s county and rural areas lags ‘far behind’ major towns and cities, according to a report.

Newcastle clean air zone brings in £500k

27/09/2023

Newcastle City Council’s clean air zone (CAZ) has brought in over £500,000 in the first six months of its operation, new figures from the council reveal.

Tower Hamlets to remove LTN road closures

21/09/2023

Tower Hamlets has decided to remove its low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) road closures despite the majority of affected residents supporting the measures.

PM delays new petrol and diesel ban to 2035

21/09/2023

PM Rishi Sunak has delayed the Government's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030 to 2035.

Environmental regulations holding back housebuilding

21/09/2023

Laws such as those requiring nutrient neutrality in housing developments have resulted in ‘effective moratoria on housebuilding,’ Lords committee says.

Government fails to block levelling up Bill amendments

19/09/2023

The Government suffered a flurry of last-minute defeats as the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill completed its journey through the House of Lords.

New Lincolnshire nature reserve a ‘landmark moment’

19/09/2023

Lincolnshire’s new national nature reserve is ‘a landmark moment for nature recovery in England’, Natural England has said.

Council net zero efforts at risk, LGIU warns

19/09/2023

Disputes over London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and Low Traffic Networks (LTNs), combined with the cost-of-living crisis, put net zero efforts at risk.

How citizens hold the key to decarbonising Britain

18/09/2023

Jonathan Bradley, head of Business and Practice at Granicus Experience Group (GXG) UK, argues that citizens hold the key to decarbonising Britain.

Government defeated over planning fees

15/09/2023

Councils would be able to vary fees for planning applications under amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

Lords block plans to scrap nutrient neutrality rules

14/09/2023

The Government’s attempt to scrap nutrient neutrality rules has been defeated in the House of Lords.

Planners unprepared for new biodiversity requirements

07/09/2023

Planning authorities are struggling to prepare for the introduction of biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements, says the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Time to fight Government water plans

05/09/2023

Ali Morse, water policy manager for The Wildlife Trusts, makes the case for defending the EU-era nutrient neutrality rules.

Newcastle axes LTN

04/09/2023

A trial low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in Newcastle will not be made permanent, the city council has announced.

Against nutrient neutrality rules

31/08/2023

Neil Jefferson, the managing director of Home Builders Federation, makes the case for scrapping the EU-era nutrient neutrality rules.

Gove to ease nutrient neutrality requirements

29/08/2023

Ministers have announced they will ease divisive development rules on water pollution blamed for low housebuilding rates in rural areas.

Vehicle emission schemes raise £418m

24/08/2023

More than £400m in fees and penalties has been generated from vehicle emission schemes in England, a freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed.

EPR scheme payments may come as late as December 2025

17/08/2023

Councils may not receive their first payments under the new extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme until as late as December 2025, The MJ has learnt.

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