Extract from an email from Cllr Hodgson 17th Aug 2020

Both Devon County Council and South Hams District Council are actively developing Climate & Biodiversity Emergency Action Plans, both are also developing their Post-COVID-19 Recovery Plans.  There is clear overlap in both these plans, in particular around working with the new behaviour changes such as reduced travelling, but also at recognising and valuing the new resilience that is emerging in the general public and in particular local communities.  People and organisations that have long petitioned governments and local authorities to develop policies and practices that will support and lead us to a sustainable future can now find a much more open door and some leadership evolving through dedicated and well-informed local authority officers who are producing the kind of draft action plans, many of us would only have dreamed about just six months ago.

I urge all of our local residents to get informed and respond to the opportunities for public views and consultations to these draft plans and proposals as they evolve.  You can sign up via these links for the regular updates and newsletters coming out of both DCC: https://www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk  and SHDC: https://www.climatechange.southhams.gov.uk/climate-emergency

Last November, Totnes Town Council hosted a week of sessions and workshops to bring together individuals and groups from around the town and adjacent parishes to develop themes and actions for a Community Climate and Ecological Action Plan.  The document with outcomes are at the link (and a copy is attached to this email): https://jacqihodgson.org/totnesclimateecologicalemergencyactionplan/    The next steps will be to combine this work with the outcomes of other local action planning days and reveal priorities and pathways of linked actions that can take us individually and collectively towards a resilient, safe and happy future for everyone.

See you later,

Best regards,

Jacqi

Cllr Jacqi Hodgson

Devon County Councillor for Totnes & District

South Hams District Councillor for Dartington & Staverton

Totnes Town Councillor – town Mayor