Ecology and Conservation - Teesdale District Council.

Ecology and Conservation

Teesdale District Council

The District Council does not promote recycling as such, but does provide bring sites for recyclable materials at various locations. There are currently sites for paper, glass and mixed cans at Barnard Castle, Middleton in Teesdale, Bowes, Butterknowle, Evenwood, Toft Hill, Gainford and Hamsterley. Two further sites are planned at Stainton and Middleton in Teesdale, with a further glass bank in Greta Bridge. An office waste paper collection scheme is also operated within the District Council Offices, together with the Tourist Information Centre, Sports Centre and Enterprise House. Can recycling is also encouraged.

The main problem has been finding suitable sites to locate recycling facilities and the distances involved in transporting recyclable materials which does make it difficult to find a suitable market for these materials.

When requests for the disposal of waste motor oils are received we advise the enquirer to take it to the District Council’s depot at Stainton Grove where it can be safely disposed of together with waste from the Council’s own vehicles.

The District Council has also helped to reduce organic waste through a home composting scheme introduced in 1999 whereby residents could purchase special bins at low cost, with subsidy from the Council and the County Durham Environmental Trust. Through this scheme, around 700 composting bins were sold to Teesdale residents (see attached leaflet).

The whole matter of waste in County Durham, including recycling, is being examined on a County wide basis through a new Sustainable Waste Management Strategy and I enclose a copy of the leaflet which will shortly be delivered to all house holds in the County. I also enclose a guide produced by the Environment Agency which you may find useful.

With regard to pollution, the District Council responds to public complaints, particularly with regard to noise nuisance. As far as pollution of watercourses is concerned the Council liases with Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency. The District Council has also just completed its local air quality strategy which has examined pollution of the atmosphere by sulphur dioxide, lead, benzene, 1.3 butadiene, carbon monoxide, particulates and nitrogen dioxide pollutants. In addition, the council regulates certain prescribed processes which may emit pollutants to the atmosphere and these currently include several quarries and roadstone coating plants.

The District Council has approved an environmental policy, a copy of which is also enclosed. This policy is the first stage in producing a sustainable development strategy in accordance with Local Agenda 21.

The Council has set up an internal “Green Team” to raise awareness of environmental issues among staff and councillors and to encourage “good housekeeping”. As part of this process, the Council carefully monitors its use of energy and recently achieved a 26% financial saving and 6.4% reduction in consumption of electricity. This has been helped by a reduction in the number of light fittings and ...

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The District Council has prepared a strategy under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to promote energy efficiency in the housing stock and also carries out energy efficiency surveys on local authority houses. It is also planning to carry out such surveys of private sector houses, particularly linked to Government grants for energy efficiency improvements. Grants are also given by the District Council for insulation work to houses.

The Teesdale District Local Plan was published in September 1999 and forms part of the Development Plan covering Teesdale. Principles of sustainable development provide the framework for all policies in the Local Plan many of which are concerned with conservation of the environment including natural resources such as landscape, water and wildlife. There are also specific policies on renewable energy, including wind turbines. Following representations on the local plan, proposed changes to these policies have been published by the District Council and will be considered by an Inspector following a Public Inquiry to be held in September. A copy of the policies and proposed changes can be obtained from the Planning Section at the District Council.

Towards a sustainable Development Strategy

Development of a corporate environmental policy for the District Council;
Development of a corporate environmental management system (EMS) to cover all District Council activities and premises
Raising environmental awareness and practical involvement of Managers, other staff and the wider public.

Environmental policy

Teesdale District Council is committed to minimising any adverse environmental impact of its operations and services and to assisting, wherever practicable, improvement of the local, national and global improvement for the benefit of present and future generations.

As an important employer and organisation within Teesdale, the District Council will fulfil its commitment by managing its own activities in the following ways:

Meeting, and where possible exceeding, the requirements of all applicable legislation and regulations and carrying out Council services to the highest possible environmental standards, especially in relation to reuse collection, litter and dog fouling.
Incorporating environmental considerations into all relevant Council policies, decisions and activities.
Continuously monitoring the Council’s use of energy, transport, water and other natural resources with the aim of reducing consumption and minimising impact on the environmental subject to maintenance of relevant quality/service standards.
Introducing measure to make more efficient use of resources which will also generate a payback to allow re-allocation of funds to support other environmental initiatives, enabling financial sustainability.
Encouraging Council staff and members to minimise/share their use of cars in connection with their duties and encourage greater use of public transport, cycling and walking as alternative means of travel, in order to reduce fuel consumption
Minimising the amount of waste produced and promoting better recycling of waste materials from Council activities.
Avoiding purchase of products using excessive packaging and using packets made from recycled materials where possible.
Purchasing goods and materials which can be manufactured, used and disposed of in an environmentally sustainable way, and which are not derived from threatened species of habitats, such as peatland.
Where possible, purchasing goods and services locally in order to minimise the environmental impact of transportation and to support the local economy.
Working with council contractors and suppliers to encourage them to improve their environmental performance.
Avoiding where possible use of harmful materials or substances, such as pesticides or herbicides, other chemicals and products containing CFC’s.
Providing all staff with regular environmental awareness training and any other support to allow them to play an active part in improving the Council’s environmental performance.

As a statutory body, provider of services and an organisation working for, and with, the local community, the District Council will fulfil its commitment by carrying out and supporting the development of the following.

Enforcing regulations and legislation in as effective and fair a way as possible in the interests of the environment and the quality of life for the people in the District
Monitoring the quality of the environment of the District in terms of water noise and air pollution, traffic, health and safety, and cleanliness in order to achieve the highest standards possible.
Continuing the involvement of the District Council as a partner in the County Durham Local Agenda 21 process to both guide and benefit from sustainable development in the County.
Updating and implementing the Teesdale Recycling Plan in order to bring about increased re-cycling and waste minimisation throughout the District and stressing the importance of the four “R”s: reduce, re-use, re-cycle and repair.
Encouraging the community to reduce its consumption of energy, water and other natural resources and to avoid pollution.
Encouraging improved energy efficiency in dwellings to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by updating and implementing the Home Energy Conservation HECA strategy
Supporting the development of renewable sources of energy where compatible with established planning policies.
Recognising the outstanding quality of both the built and “natural” environments in Teesdale and working in partnership to ensure their conservation and to maintain bio-diversity.
Supporting initiatives to promote the use of public transport, and other initiatives to minimise the use of car, including support for walking and cycling, and reduce emissions of lead and nitrogen oxide (Nox).
Taking account of sustainability considerations in dealing with all planning applications for new developments and changes of use, in accordance with the Teesdale District Local Plan.
Supporting the creation of environmentally conscious enterprises to help diversify the local economy and encouraging all businesses to improve their environmental performance as part of sound business practice.
Supporting the retention and improvement of local facilities and services to reduce the need to travel and encouraging higher standards of comfort, amenity access and energy efficiency through the Teesdale Village Halls Consortium.
Encouraging the community to assess carefully the environmental “credentials” of products and services, and to buy locally wherever possible.
Sharing the lessons learned from the District Council’s own environmental management initiatives with the wider community as part of developing best practice and raising public awareness of sustainability and Local Agenda 21.
Encouraging everyone to take a longer term view of their actions to safeguard the interests of future generations, both locally and in the wider world.