Staffordshire County Council signs up to be a part of the award-winning Chasewater Green Park Projects

On Monday 18 January, the leader of Staffordshire County Council visited the District Council House, in Lichfield, to sign the Chasewater Green Park Project Memorandum of Understanding with Lichfield District Council.

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding means the county council will work with partners, including Lichfield District Council, to tackle climate change in practical ways.

Councillor Philip Atkins, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said he was delighted to be involved in Chasewater Green Park Projects. Energy efficiency and climate change are key issues for everyone, and it is important that we work together to tackle this global challenge.

Chasewater Green Park Projects includes researching greener ways to energy manage historic buildings, such as Lichfield Cathedral, and looking at ways to create carbon neutral business parks.

By officially signing up to Chasewater Green Park Projects, the county council is showing its commitment to tackling climate change at a local level. I am pleased that this partnership initiative is growing every day, and that together we can work on practical solutions to the problems of energy inefficiency and how to reduce our carbon usage.

Partners involved in Chasewater Green Park Projects also include the University of Birmingham and Advantage West Midlands. A number of private partners including Lichfield Cathedral and Lingfield Developments are also involved and set to come on board

More about Lichfield District Council’s commitment to tackling climate change:

• Lichfield District Council took its first step towards tackling climate change when it signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change in November 2001.
• Later in June 2008 Lichfield District Council signed up to the Staffordshire Declaration on Climate Change.
• The Council’s first practical commitment was demonstrated through two very significant initiatives; the early championing of kerbside recycling, and the sustainable design of the new theatre, the Lichfield Garrick.
• In March 2008 the council also launched the Warmer Homes Greener District initiative which has helped local homeowners to cut their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
• In November 2009 Chasewater Green Park Projects won a Bronze Green Apple Award at the prestigious annual Green Apple Awards. The awards are run by the Green Organisation to celebrate environmental best practice by public and private enterprises.