Lincolnshire’s  Environment Strategy and its Transport Strategy are inextricably linked. For a greener, cleaner environment we need changes in Transport policy

Environment Strategy

We know that responsible residents want to live in and be part of a County that takes robust action to tackle the local and global threat of climate change, already seriously felt in Lincolnshire in major flood incidents in the last 10 years.

Our Strategy will deliver carbon reduction with initiatives like solar canopies for car parks to produce electricity and an energy efficiency programme at maintained schools. Some of the generated power will supply carriageway electric vehicle charging points.

We will upgrade all street lighting and enable restoration of well-lit and safe streets to reassure residents including those who have to start and finish work in darkness. It is unacceptable that residents and particularly women cannot walk our streets in safety and without fear.

Labour Councillors will take climate change seriously and our road map of reductions in all sectors will be reviewed/updated every 2 years. The quickest most cost effective way to reduce carbon footprint is by on-shore wind development. By the time these quick fix short term innovations are time expired, newer technologies will plug the gap.

Local Waste Environment

We will review the dry recyclables waste system and consider wider rollout in collection systems. For our part our Household Waste Recycling Centres will be more user friendly – not requiring 2 trips because of “rules” – like they were previously.  We will start the recycling of scarce electric components.

Greener Transport

Public Transport will be “clean and green” and non-polluting and we will encourage the use of sustainable means of travel – walking, cycling and travelling by bus.  More cycle lanes, connected cycle schemes and pedestrian walkways will be introduced over time.  We view  Environmental policy not as a bolt-on extra, it is an essential responsibility and is our life blood.

Our Highway network will be categorised so that heavy freight vehicles use the main strategic routes and will not be allowed into residential streets except for deliveries. Park and Ride hubs will feed into our centres and will include all forms of transport, prioritising sustainable ones.

Our Transport Connects Organisation will extend the Dial A Ride public service to include more communities and more services.

We will maintain all sustainable routes by using new innovative repair systems. Car sharing through Shared Car Ownership schemes will be promoted. We will also encourage relocation of local business to sites coterminous with strategic routes as part of future Planning policies.

We want to take people with us as we seek to improve and we will therefore consult wisely and widely before introducing such schemes.

Vote Labour on May 6th for a greener and better connected Lincolnshire

Robin Renshaw

Labour Group Spokesperson on Highways and Waste