Aim 2: Living Sustainably

How did we do?

(The table above is based on direction of travel data that is available). 

What the performance data means.

• We are getting better at planning to adapt to climate change since last year.

• Residual waste per household has decreased from 565kg last year to 553kg this year.

• The number of affordable homes provided has increased from 481 last year to 627 this year.

• The percentage of income based benefit recipients in low energy efficiency homes has decreased from 17.7% last year to 13% this year.

• Despite the economic downturn access to services and facilities by public transport, walking and cycling has remained the same as last year.

• Local bus passenger journeys originating in the authority area has increased from 8,779,051 last year to 9,111,085 this year.

What were the key achievements in 2009/10?

• Somerset County Council is taking the lead in working jointly and sharing climate change information and best practice with partners.

• To improve access to services a new slinky bus has been provided in the Mendip area in 2009.  It provides door to door service for journeys in the Mendip area. It is used by Senior Citizens, those with disabilities and people living in rural locations with no access to local bus routes or without their own car.
• 2010 saw the culmination of a four year project supporting schools to develop travel plans. 86% of all schools in Somerset (94% of LEA schools) now have a travel plan.  Over the four years, the percentage of children drive to school alone by car has fallen from 29.2% to 25.3% - equivalent to an extra 2,600 children travelling to school by walking, cycling or public transport.
• Important steps have been taken to clarify and firm up the requirements placed on developers to ensure new developments are conducive to walking, cycling and using public transport.  2009/10 has seen the introduction of a bespoke online monitoring tool (www.iontravel.co.uk), which can be used by both SCC and developers to monitor the effectiveness of a travel plan and the traffic generated by a new site.  This allows SCC to monitor emerging travel patterns, enforce planning conditions where necessary and suggest improvements to make the ongoing development of the site more suitable for sustainable travel.
• SCC has been running a campaign to promote cycling, in conjunction with NHS Somerset.  The campaign has included adult and family cycle training, cycling advice and support and two online Cycle Challenges - aimed at encouraging people to switch some journeys from car to bicycle, 103 adults have received cycle training, making them safer and more confident on the roads and able to access a wider range of services by bicycle.  Feedback from the course has been very positive, with 89% of participants rating the training as "excellent".
• The programme to manage waste continues to perform well.  The roll out of cardboard and plastic bottle kerbside recycling throughout Sedgmoor and Taunton Deane combined with Waste Minimisation Strategy initiatives means that the Somerset Waste Partnership is confident it will achieve its ambitious targets.
• On 5th June 2009, to mark World Environment Day the SSP launched a Sustainable Communities Competition.  Parish Councils were invited to submit proposals, on behalf of their local communities, for a Sustainable Development Project which could offer long term savings in the amount of energy used by the community and a reduction in CO2 emissions.  Five entries were received and on 23rd October 2009 a Panel of Judges met to decide the winner.  The winning entry was 'Tatworth Growing Together - Preparing for a life without oil'.  Further information about the project is available on their website - www.tatworthgrowingtogether.org.uk

Case Study:

'Waste and Recycling in Somerset'