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THE GREENEST CITY IN
BRITAIN
Manchester’s Labour Council has worked hard over the last 10
years to create neighbourhoods of choice which are “Cleaner,
Greener and Safer”. In our successful and attractive city,
residents are choosing to put down roots, and the population is
growing as increasing numbers of people come here to work or
study. Manchester’s Labour Council is committed to undoing
the historical legacy of “environmental exclusion” in which people
living in the most deprived neighbourhoods have also experienced
the poorest environmental quality.
Manchester Labour has now embarked on an ambitious project which
over time, we believe, will result in Manchester being able to
justify the title ‘Britain’s Greenest City’. The Council,
working with Manchester’s residents, businesses, schools and
colleges, trade unions, environmental campaigners and the media,
has set out its vision of “The Greenest City” using the following
indicators:
• Energy use and CO2 emissions
• Air quality
• Waste – reused, recycled, reclaimed
• Sustainable development
• Water quality
• Biodiversity
• Contaminated land
Manchester’s Labour Council will lead by example. It is
currently working to integrate Green City objectives, targets and
indicators into all Council activities and procurement.
Manchester’s Building Schools for the Future programme will create
sustainable schools to provide a practical example for our
children.
During 2008 we will see the construction of an iconic 120m. wind
turbine at Sportcity. Builders and developers are now required to
meet the most demanding sustainability requirements if they want to
build in Manchester and a huge construction programme of the most
environmentally-advanced waste facilities, compared with anywhere
in the world, is due to start this year.
Manchester’s Labour Council has recently approved its Principles
for Tackling Climate Change in Manchester and in 2008, Manchester’s
Labour Council and its partners will further develop a Climate
Change Strategy for the city which will meet the targets in the
Government’s Climate Change Billas we have agreed by joining the
Low Carbon Cities Programme. The strategy will include a local
Action Plan to reduce Manchester’s greenhouse gas emissions and to
adapt the city for the effects of unavoidable climate change over
the next century. Manchester Labour believes that the development
of a low carbon economy and a strong Environmental Technologies and
Services sector, will future-proof Manchester’s growth and ensure
our future competitive advantage in world markets.
Manchester Labour is committed to an energy strategy that is
both environmentally sustainable and fuel efficient. Fuel
poverty is addressed by the Labour Council’s Affordable Warmth
Strategy and is being developed through its Healthy Safe & Warm
Homes Strategy. The Eco-house in Miles Platting demonstrates
how an ordinary terraced house can be made energy
efficient.
Manchester’s Energy Strategy identified improving energy
efficiency as being the most cost-effective method of reducing
energy consumption and the encouragement of localised or
“de-centralised” renewable energy generation as a priority.
Manchester’s Labour Council responded to the recent Government
consultations that it does not support the development of a new
generation of nuclear power stations.
Environmental teams remove dumped rubbish very quickly and we
also ensure that abandoned and untaxed cars are removed from our
streets within 24 hours.
We will improve the quality of open space to standards
determined in consultation with communities. Cemeteries &
crematoria have been reviewed to give improved service and open
green spaces. Manchester’s Labour Council will use its legal powers
to the full to tackle “envirocrimes” such as flytipping, litter and
dog fouling, and will continue to work with the police to seize
illegal cars and motorbikes.
Improving Manchester’s visual environment, including its street
scene, is an important priority. Several years ago the
Council introduced area-based Street Environment Managers and Clean
Teams. Over the next two years their work will be reinforced
by further investment in the street scene and public realm to
improve cleansing efficiencies, by the use of new technology,
testing different ways of working, enhanced street washing, local
centre cleaning staff, public information systems on cleaning
schedules and increased sustainable enforcement.
Manchester’s Labour Council will continue to invest in
reconstructing and resurfacing pavements as we continue our success
of recent years in further reducing the number and cost of accident
trip claims.
An additional programme of road resurfacing and footpath works will
also be carried out as part of the Local Transport Plan
As part of Manchester’s 25 year street lighting improvement
initiative, we are entering the final phase of the replacement of
our 40,000 street lighting columns. Better lighting and
quicker maintenance response will contribute to Manchester Labour’s
commitment to reduce crime and accidents.
Reducing and recycling waste is vital if we are to achieve tough
new Government targets to divert waste from landfill and
consequently reduce the emission of methane, a powerful greenhouse
gas. The Labour Council will continue to extend kerbside
recycling services and is currently undertaking a citywide
consultation asking residents and businesses how the City Council
can help them reduce, reuse and recycle. Manchester Labour is
committed to providing the recycling and composting services
necessary to reach the local targets of 33% by 2010 and at least
50% by 2020.
A Green City needs good transport and safer roads. The
Labour Council will continue to promote Safer Routes to Schools and
to implement 20 mph zones around all schools. The significant
reduction in killed and seriously injured on our roads and child
and pedestrian casualties shows that our traffic management
measures are having a positive effect. Manchester Labour will
ensure that the Labour Council extends the programme of Green
Travel Plans for schools, businesses and Council employees and
continues to fund measures to encourage walking and cycling
including the expansion of the cycle lane network.
Greater Manchester councils are bidding into the Government’s
Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) for £3 billion investment in
transport infrastructure to support an integrated transport
strategy for the City and the conurbation, with Metrolink Big Bang
at the heart of the strategy.
As part of this “Transport Revolution for Greater Manchester”,
Manchester Labour is continuing to press Government for more
control over the bus services so that we can improve services and
we expect the forthcoming Local Transport Bill to make this
ambition possible. In order to control congestion in the future and
to avoid gridlock as more jobs come to the city, as well as
reducing carbon emissions, part of the TIF bid includes congestion
charging proposals, but these would only be implemented when
alternative high quality pubic transport is in place.
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THE GREENEST CITY IN BRITAIN
