Published: Tuesday, 6th February 2024
Residents in Marshland St James are invited to a Norfolk Net Zero Community event at Marshland St James Community Hall on Monday 12 February 2024.
The event, which runs from 10am to 2pm includes representatives from Careline, Community Action Norfolk, Housing Standards with their Beat Your Bills information, Lily, Marshland St James Parish Council and the Wellness on Wheels bus from the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System.
At 10:30am, the Mayor of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Cllr Margaret Wilkinson, along with Cllr Michael de Whalley, Cabinet member for Climate Change and Biodiversity and Cllr Jo Rust, Cabinet member for People and Communities, will present the Norfolk Net Zero Community certificate to representatives from Marshland St James.
Cllr de Whalley said:
“Marshland St James residents and organisations are starting their journey towards becoming a Norfolk Net Zero Community thanks to the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership, which the borough council is part of.
“This project will bring benefits like warmer homes and energy security to the village. This project will explore barriers such as public awareness, technology confidence and how supply chain readiness can be overcome to make a step change in reducing carbon emissions. This will also ultimately help create more green jobs and a shift towards net zero.”
Cllr Rust added:
“This introductory event will bring the community together to see how the borough council and our partners can start the residents and businesses of Marshland St James on the path to net zero.
“We have a small number of teams at the council, in Careline, Lily and Housing Standards, who understand how to support our west Norfolk communities and I’m sure they will play an important role helping residents who live here. I’m also grateful to the support from our partners and businesses who understand the importance of net zero communities.”
The Norfolk Climate Change Partnership (NCCP) is using £300,000 of government funding to support one community in each of the seven Norfolk districts, engaging with householders and local community organisations to explore ways to decarbonise homes and travel to help tackle climate change in a two-year pilot project. Norfolk Net Zero Communities is one of only 21 successful locations across the UK.
The money was awarded to the NCCP following a successful application to the Net Zero Living Fast Followers Programme managed by Innovate UK – the Government’s national innovation agency.
Mike Biddle, executive director, Net Zero, Innovate UK, said:
‘’The winners demonstrate innovative ideas that are designed at grass roots level. Seeing the range of projects is inspiring and, as well as running their individual initiatives, the local authorities will share best practice allowing others to capitalise on proven solutions.’’