Climate change panel in Stafford Borough choose co-chairs

Roisin Chambers

A new group set up to tackle climate change and increase green recovery in Stafford Borough has announced the appointment of co-chairs.

Roisin Chambers and Ant Reid were selected for the roles by their fellow members of the thirteen-strong ‘Climate Change and Green Recovery Panel.’

Representatives from across the area came together to form the new panel in collaboration with Stafford Borough Council. Some members are already strong voices on local environmental groups such as ‘There is No Planet B’ and ‘Sustainability Matters.’

Roisin, of ‘The Green Network’ said: “This is a great opportunity to work in partnership with a whole range of hard working and creative people to identify and share some of the fantastic work that is being done by the people of Stafford.

“We all want to make the borough greener, healthier, safer and sustainable. There is so much that different groups do that we should be proud of, from litter picking, tree planting, recycling and repairing; we need to spread the brilliant ideas and enthusiasm across the borough.

“I feel so positive about the potential of the Climate Change Panel to challenge and motivate residents to help each other and the planet.”

Ant, from Eccleshall, said: “As a community we all know we can do more to respond to the Climate Emergency that the Borough Council declared in 2019 - but what?  I hope and aim for the panel to learn more about what everyone across the borough can do right now, and what we need to start doing real soon. We'll talk directly to you in our community and will showcase projects that work and help communities that want to do the right thing here."

The panel is part of the council’s climate change strategy.

Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for the Environment, met the new co-chairs at the planting of a new forest of 600 trees at a local nature reserve in Stafford.

He said: “It was great to meet Roisin and Ant and I am glad that it was the panel who decided who they wanted to lead a group dedicated to tackling one of the biggest issues facing our community and world.

“The one thing all members of this group have in common is they are passionate about the environment and have the energy to drive forward initiatives aimed at tackling climate change as well as promoting green recovery.”

“And working alongside our officers, who also have an enormous passion to take forward our green strategy, I expect this panel to be a creative force for generating great ideas and promoting initiatives that will benefit our community and beyond.”

Last year the council added ‘Climate Change and Green Recovery’ as one of four priorities in its new business plan. The authority has partnered with Keele University, the Centre for Alternative Technology and other Staffordshire councils to look at what is required to achieve the zero carbon targets.

Members of the panel recently teamed up with the council, volunteers and Severn Trent Water to plant the new forest in the local nature reserve (LNR) off the town’s Fairway. The new LNR is the largest the borough council manage and was chosen for the ‘Tiny Forest’ programme where thousands of trees have been planted as part of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham to have a positive impact and lasting legacy for communities.

Councillor Price continued “We are, though, a very tiny cog in a global wheel and locally we need our community, businesses and organisations to do their bit to contribute to this agenda.”

More information can be found from the council’s website.

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