News
Struggling Green Homes Grant Scheme Scrapped
Mon, 12 April 2021
Green Homes Grant (GHG), the government voucher scheme to help towards the cost of installing energy efficiency measures, was scrapped last Wednesday (31st March). Initially extended till March 2022, GHG was touted as UK’s answer to ‘build back greener’. But the scheme has struggled from the start with poor installer capacity, slow application processing times, and delayed payments.
The goal of the programme was to reach 600,000 homes. Out of the 123,000 applications received by the end of February, only 28,000 vouchers have been issued and only 5,800 energy efficiency measures had been installed.
The £300m previously allocated for the GHG will now go into a programme administered by local authorities, Local Authority Delivery Scheme, targeted at lower income households.
U-turn on A38 Derby, 100 Sakura cherry trees arrive in Derbyshire, and more...
Mon, 12 April 2021Local News In Brief (April 2021):
- U-turn on A38 Derby Junctions road scheme as Transport Minister Grant Shapps admits that he acted unlawfully when he approved the expansion scheme.
- ‘A prosperous and green Derbyshire’ is one of the key priorities in new Derbyshire County Council Plan, with a pledge to invest £40m to maintain road and pathways and develop sustainable methods of travel.
- 100 Sakura cherry trees arrive in Derbyshire as part of Toyota City Partnership to celebrate Japan’s friendship with the UK.
Chesterfield to be Granted Plastic Free Community Status
Mon, 12 April 2021
Later in April, Chesterfield will be awarded with Plastic Free Community status by Surfers Against Sewage, recognising the huge effort that has been made to reduce the borough's plastic waste. The town will be the second community in Derbyshire to be awarded the status, with Wirksworth declared the first in January 2020.
Since the start of the group, 50 businesses have signed-up as Plastic Free Champions and each removed at least three pieces of single use plastic from their products or operations. Also, 40 community organisations and 10 schools have joined the campaign. In December the group got the support of Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield.
The group will continue to work to reduce single-use plastics and to build back greener.
HVCA Seeks Trustees
Mon, 12 April 2021HVCA Seeks Trustees
Hope Valley Climate Action (HVCA) was formally granted charity status at the end of last year and is now looking for two new Trustees to join the existing team. They are keen to diversify and would welcome interest from younger people and people from the farming community.
More information on the role here.
To express interest, please email jeremywight73@gmail.com
They are also seeking part-time project officers for Travelling Light, a project for the Hope Valley to become a national demonstration area for sustainable travel, and their Renewables Feasibility Study. You can find more information here.
UK Community Renewal Fund
Mon, 12 April 2021Organisations in Derbyshire are being invited to bid for funding from a new national Community Renewal Fund for projects that will get people back into work, boost the local economy, and tackle disadvantage.
Derbyshire Dales and High Peak have been identified by government as 2 of the 100 areas prioritised for access to the fund, although other places can apply.
Bids are welcomed from a range of organisations including local authorities, education institutions, private sector organisations, and registered charities. Acceptable projects include feasibility studies for delivering net-zero/local energy projects, improving green spaces, and preserving important local assets.
The closing date is midnight on 10 May 2021.