Environment Eco

October 14th, 2021

GREATER BRIGHTON CITY REGION CAN LEAD THE UK FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Greater Brighton (which includes Worthing) can be a flagship city region leading the fight against climate change but needs more government support to unlock powers to take action.

That was the message from Greater Brighton’s spokesman on the environment as he closed a special conference on transitioning to a net zero carbon economy which attracted speakers from around the world.

Cllr Phelim MacCafferty, who is also Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, told the conference, ‘I really hope that the PM and the UK governments accelerate the pace and scale of change that is so urgently needed.

‘We need political leaders working together at national and international levels to give our planet and our ecosystem a fighting chance.’

He added that time was not on the side for the battle nor were resources plentiful.

‘Hence, we need to pool our capacity as a region, put our political differences to one aside and pull together to solve this climate crisis for the benefit of all our communities now and for future generations,’ he said.

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October 6th, 2021

HEAT FROM UNDER OUR FEET COULD SEE WORTHING LEAD WAY ON PIONEERING ENERGY NETWORK

Investigations in the sewers below Worthing have discovered enough heat to power a pioneering new energy network, a report says.

The discovery is the latest stage of ambitious plans by Worthing Borough Council to link public sector buildings in the borough to an environmentally-friendly heat source thus replacing gas boilers and reducing carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent.

The Council has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030 and gas consumed in its buildings makes up one third of emissions.

Called the Worthing Heat Network (WHN) the scheme will link up 27 buildings including the Town Hall, library, hospital, leisure centres, law courts, police building and possibly even schools.

In an update on WHN, a report to the Council’s Joint Strategic Committee (JSC) says investigation of the sewers under the town has revealed that they contain more than enough heat to replace gas boilers in public buildings. A centralised heat pump will be used to turn heat from the wastewater in the sewer into usable heat for buildings..

The report says the Council has been successful in obtaining more than £5m from the government’s Heat Networks Investment Programme (HNIP) for preparatory work, initial construction and to secure a partner to part-finance, design, build, own and operate the entire network. Later stages could see the network extended to more premises across the borough.

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has identified the Worthing project as a pathfinder which could be used by local authorities across the country, working with partners, to remove the reliance of buildings on gas heating and thus help slash carbon emissions which are the main cause of global warming.

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September 22nd, 2021

New Worthing Pier exhibition celebrating Sompting Brooks river trail and wildlife opens

A new exhibition was launched on Worthing pier on Sunday 19th September featuring photographs taken by local residents of the recently opened Sompting Brooks river trail and the wildlife it supports.

The exhibition is the culmination of a series of twelve nature and wildlife photography workshops organised as part of the Ouse & Adur River Trust’s ‘Enhancing Places, Inspiring Communities’ (EPIC) project which has realigned and enhanced a rare chalkstream and the surrounding landscape.

The photography workshops for families, teenagers and local residents was led by professional photographer Carl Slezacek, aimed at improving the photography skills of participants using a wide range of devices from smartphones to digital cameras.

Alistair Whitby, Project Officer at the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust said “It was amazing to see everyone learning new skills and getting stuck into all the different photography challenges over the last 2 years. The exhibition is testament to how many talented local photographers of all ages we now have. Their pictures are a wonderful way of documenting the new Sompting Brooks river and its wildlife as the wetland site develops and the habitats mature. Stunning images of damselflies, birds, frogs, insects and wildflowers have all been skillfully captured”

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August 18th, 2021

New mini aquarium is teeming with local marine life

A native marine life aquarium which shows the richness of the waters off the Sussex coast can now be visited inside Worthing Coastal Office.

Rockpool Reef was created by the Councils’ Coastal Wardens - who collected water, sediment and corals for the tank, by hand.

Already, the abundance of marine life which was living inside has shown itself, including cuttlefish fry, shrimp, crab, hermit crab and small mullet fry.

The team is looking forward to documenting the creatures’ growth and telling their stories to anyone who wishes to visit.

Talks will include fascinating facts - like learning the common prawns inside the aquarium are almost invisible when hunkered down in the sand - hiding or awaiting their next meal.

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