Local Agenda 21
Bury Metro Council was one of the first local authorities to produce a Local Agenda 21 Strategy in 1998. Since then there have been significant changes in sustainable development policy at the international, national and regional level.
The Council have now produced a progress report on the actions set out in the original LA 21 document. In terms of progress over a 5 year period a report shows that of 182 actions covering; Air Quality, the Built Environment, Climate Change, Economy and Work, Energy, Environmental Education, Land Use, the National Environment/Diversity, Noise, Public Health, Purchasing, Transport, Waste and Water. 78% of these actions have been achieved and 6% are still in progress. The Pogress report has been approved by the Council's Executive and full council. Arrangements will be made for the progress report on LA 21 to added to this web site.
All in all we could say that Bury has been extremely successful in completing what it set out to do. We have made significant progress locally in reducing waste and emissions, managing and minimising environmental impact, reclaiming and recylcing land for beneficial uses, and protecting our historical and natural heritage. These efforts have certainly had a positive effect on the image and perception of Bury as a place to live, work, visit and invest in, as demonstrated by a particulalry buyant property and development market. Whilst that may be true, there is still a long way to go if we are to continue to play our part in combating the very real threat to our environment. Climate change is now a modern reality and there is little doubt that globally we are facing a mounting loss of biodiversity that threatens to rival the great mass extinctions that have occurred over the 4.5 billion year history of our planet. So where do we go from here?
The proposal is that there needs to be a more joined up approach and more awareness of the impact each and every one of us can make in addressing the problem. We are suggesting in the progress report that the aims and objectives of Local Agenda 21 be integrated with the Community Strategy which is currently under review; this will ensure that our environmental aims are considered alongside other important economic and social objectives for the Borough and that all agencies within the Borough are part of the process.
For further information on this suject please contact Alan Darnell, Principal Policy Officer, Assitant Chief Executive's Division on 0161 253 6020 or David Hodcroft, Planning Officer Environment and Development Services on 0161 253 5284.
