South East Essex Friends of the Earth is calling on Southend Borough Council to:
- Commit to carbon emissions cuts in our local area of at least 40 per cent by 2020 — and produce an action plan detail how it’s going to happen.
- Back our campaign for more money and less hassle for councils to do things like improve public transport, insulate more homes and install green energy.
- Support a call for a new duty on councils that fail to act on climate change.
Carnarvon Road protest
A developer is currently interested in replacing the now disused college site adjacent to the Civic Centre with a 15-storey block of flats. Local residents are justifiably concerned by these proposals and have produced a leaflet outlining their objections.Zero Carbon Caravan
Join the Zero Carbon Caravan
Come with us on a journey to save the planet. A Zero Carbon journey to show that we can live differently, travelling from all over the world to arrive in Copenhagen for the UN climate talks in December 2009. You don’t have to come all the way to Copenhagen, just come for a few days if you like.
Aviation
SEEFoE is opposed to expansion of flights at Southend Airport because of the increase in carbon dioxide, toxic emissions, noise and disturbance caused by an increase in night flights.
A new campaign group - SAEN - has been set up to fight the proposed runway extension and raise local awareness about the airport's intentions.
Southend Regeneration Plan
Renaissance Southend, an "Urban Regeneration Company", is currently holding a public consultation on its ominously-titled "Master Plan" for Southend. The company is costing Council Tax payers large sums of money in developing this plan, yet it has no mandate from the people of the town nor, it emerges, the support of many of our Councillors.
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Leigh, Dr Alan Crystall, says: "I am sure that most Southend Councillors are concerned about the proposals of Renaissance Southend. We could do a huge amount in a sustainable way (subsidised bus routes for example) with the money they are costing us."
It is clear from Renaissance Southend's proposals that they have not taken into consideration new Government planning policy to be introduced later this year, which emphasises the need for responsible development that addresses the causes of climate change. Therefore, South East Essex Essex Friends of the Earth has come up with an alternative Regeneration Plan for Southend, which has been sent to all Councillors in the Borough.