From failures on “Net Zero Exeter 2030” goal to issues on traffic
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The Exeter Observer is an excellent example of investigative journalism – and as such asks very awkward questions of the local powers that be.
There have been a series of pieces on their website looking at traffic issues in and around Exeter – and they don’t make for very pretty reading.
With a few excerpts and further links from the most recent:
Alphington “enhancements” will not mitigate traffic impact from massive South West Exeter extension
County council manipulates public consultation and allocates just 1% of £55 million grant to pedestrian scheme while spending 75% on new roads and increased road capacity for 3,500 new cars expected on greenfield housing estate.
£900,000 to keep Magdalen Road one-way system despite decisive public support for low traffic street
County council misrepresented and omitted key public consultation findings in report and did not publish results until after decision taken in favour of option with only 18% public support. Exeter Observer snapshot survey finds 90%+ motor vehicles passing shops are through traffic.
Exeter City Council abandons city 2030 decarbonisation “ambition”
Unannounced decision to exclude scope 3 emissions constituting around 43% of Exeter’s carbon footprint from “net zero” plans effectively ensures city will not meet its decarbonisation goals.
Exeter City Council has excluded scope 3 carbon emissions from a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory it commissioned to plan Exeter decarbonisation, effectively ensuring that the city will not meet its “Net Zero Exeter 2030” goal. Scope 3 includes indirect carbon emissions which are imported through the consumption of goods and services from elsewhere, largely including transport, shipping and aviation, procurement and supply chains, waste management and commercial activity. The most widely-used international emissions accounting tool, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol is a corporate reporting approach which includes fifteen scope 3 emissions categories. A Greenhouse Gas Protocol for Cities builds on this tool to provide a basis for community-scale carbon emission measurement.
Exeter City Council abandons city 2030 decarbonisation “ambition” – Exeter Observer
However, let’s finish with some fabulous photos:
Kidical Mass Exeter: “The best day ever”
300 people took part in the first Kidical Mass Exeter family bike ride on Sunday 15 May as part of a global campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.
Photos by Bryn Truscott & Martin Redfern
