A message from Cllr Peter Schwier | Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader / Climate Csar

Walking should be the natural, everyday choice, whether for shorter trips or as part of longer journeys according to the Essex Walking Strategy published today (correct date here).

Short car trips are on the increase resulting in poorer air quality, more congestion, and a more sedentary population. County residents might assume that driving is always the most convenient choice, but studies have shown, it often isn’t.

The aim of the Essex County Council Walking Strategy is to reverse this trend and make us think about our trip and whether we really need to drive.

In addition, the strategy raises awareness of the many benefits of walking as well as spotlighting opportunities for ECC to encourage and facilitate more journeys on foot.

Full details of the Walking Strategy can be found here: https://www.essexhighways.org/safer-greener-healthier-walking

Cllr Sue Lissimore, Essex County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Sustainable Travel, said: “Walking is the easiest type of travel and yet many of us don’t walk enough. It is so natural that we often don’t even consider it a form of transport. However, in our busy lives, we may have undervalued the most fundamental way of getting around.

“Leisure walking is a great way to start, then taking it further to walk to local shops. Once this has been achieved you can then think about every short journey, asking yourself: ‘Can I now walk it?’

“Our Walking Strategy is a plan to get more of us walking on our network of footways and paths in our rural areas, towns, cities and neighbourhoods and is a key component of our safer, greener, healthier campaign to encourage Essex residents to travel sustainably. Not only does this improve the environment but it helps us achieve our strategic priority to improve the health of people in Essex.”

The Strategy follows the recent publication of an active travel survey in which almost three quarters (74%) of respondents supported prioritising and increasing space for walking across the county with 31% stating that they would like to walk more for leisure now that Covid restrictions have been lifted.

The Walking Strategy sets out objectives and priorities to 2025 in order to provide a policy framework that will promote more walking and better walking networks. These include:

  • Increasing walking for everyday trips – with the aim for 400 walking trips (for travel) per person per year by 2025 where the average trip is approximately 1km or 10 minutes duration.
  • Improving road safety for pedestrians – so that pedestrian needs are prioritised in all infrastructure projects.
  • Enabling physical activity and walking for health – with the aim that residents achieve two 10-minute sessions of physical activity per day via active travel.
  • Enabling more walking to schools – by encouraging more walking to schools through behaviour change programmes.
  • Promoting walking for leisure – by encouraging social walks in greenspace to link individuals and reduce isolation.

To accompany the launch of the Essex Walking Strategy, a new walking video has been launched and can be viewed here: https://www.essexhighways.org/safer-greener-healthier-walking

 

Cllr Peter Schwier | Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader / Climate Csar

Hedingham Division, Essex County Council

Renewal, Equality and Ambition

A message from Cllr Peter Schwier | Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader / Climate Csar

Essex Explorer magazine brings together all the latest news and community initiatives being carried out by the Culture, Heritage and Green Spaces team within the Environmental and Climate Action directorate. The articles celebrate our county, our diverse communities, and landscapes, community projects and events and the abundance of unique flora, fauna and wildlife we have throughout Essex. The Autumn edition has all the usual content and high production values, with an emphasis on keeping active with special walking and Find Your Active features.

 

The printed version of Essex Explorer is free and will be available from w/c 11 October in 30 of the largest libraries throughout the county as well as supermarkets, such as Tesco’s, Asda and Sainsbury’s, and the Culture, Heritage and Green Spaces sites including the Essex Country Parks as well as County Hall reception.

 

The digital edition can be downloaded using this link:  https://issuu.com/exploreessex/docs/3158-ee_magazine_autumn-fa-300dpi-digital

 

 

Cllr Peter Schwier | Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader / Climate Csar

Hedingham Division, Essex County Council

Renewal, Equality and Ambition

Footpath Repairs

With the assistance of our County Councillor, Peter Schwier and our District Councillor George Courtauld, we are pleased to confirm that repairs to the crumbling footpath/pavement running beside the Church are now due to be carried out in late October 2021.

Verge Cutting

Following the recent rain and surge in the growth of verges the parish council has liaised with Braintree District Council on how to tackle the safety element on the roads. The parish council has been informed that the natural growth is to promote nature in the area, however, this is not intended to be at the detriment to safety.
 
If there is a specific area that is a blind bend or junction, where the length of the verge is causing a potential safety issue, please either inform pebmarshparishclerk@gmail.com and indicate the exact location using a map or detailed description; or alternatively please contact Braintree District Council directly to highlight the hazard and request the verge is trimmed:
 
Customer Services
 
Address: Causeway House,
Bocking End,
Braintree,
Essex,
CM7 9HB
Telephone: 01376 552525
Email: csc@braintree.gov.uk

Parish Council Update

Following clarification from Braintree District Council regarding a potential Parish Council meeting at the village hall to discuss a recent planning application, it is with regret that due to the current restrictions the meeting is not able to take place.
The Parish Council will comment with an objection to planning application 21/00998/OUT as agreed at the full council meeting on Wednesday 5th May 2021.

Essex homeowners offered £10,000 to go green and save on bills

Essex homeowners offered £10,000 to go green and save on bills

Funding is available for energy efficiency improvements to help make your home more cosy this winter.

Making your home more energy efficient will help save you money on future energy bills.

Are you a homeowner with a combined household income below £30,000 and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F, or G?

If you answered yes to the above, you could be eligible for free local authority funding of up to £10,000 to install energy efficiency measures in your home.

Our trusted partner, Aran Insulation, will assess your eligibility, carry out a survey on your home and complete the installation.

This funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis and all work must be completed by 30 June 2021.

Check your eligibility and apply today or call Aran Insulation on 0800 587 7795 or  01284 812 520 to avoid missing out.