environment

• Council proposes 10-point plan to tackle air pollution

  Oxford City Council has called on the Government to adopt a 10-point plan to tackle high air pollution levels which contribute to 40,000 deaths every year.

  

• Council’s solar farm generates £1.3m in second year

  Forest Heath council’s solar farm has generated more than £1.3m of income, enabling the authority to plough over £370,000 back into council services.

  

• North Londoners urged to ‘wise up to waste’

  The 'Blue Planet' programme has had a massive effect on people's attitudes to plastic waste, new research has found.

  

• Birmingham councillor calls for action on dumped fridges

  A Birmingham councillor has called on the Government to do more to tackle the issue of dumped fridges.

  

• Council use of incinerators ‘doubles’ since 2010

  The amount of waste managed by local authorities and sent to incinerators has doubled in less than a decade, a new report reveals.

  

• Fracking decisions should be made at a local level, MPs warn

  Government plans to move decisions on fracking applications away from local planning authorities would be 'hugely harmful' to local democracy, MPs warn.

  

• Glasgow set for Scotland’s first low emission zone

  Glasgow is set to become the first city in Scotland to reduce air pollution by imposing a low emission zone.

  

• New Tree Champion to ‘drive forward’ planting at local level

  Local authorities are to be required to consult with residents before felling trees in their areas under a new duty, the environment secretary has said.

  

• Councils need guidance to deliver electric vehicle infrastructure

  Electric vehicles have potential, but ensuring the infrastructure is available to support them is critical. Andy King, director of energy at Sweco, explains.

  

• Whitehall launches tool to measure air pollution

  The Government’s public health body has launched a new tool to help councils calculate the potential costs of air pollution.