A MAJOR document which sets out a 20 year vision to make Evesham a greener and more sustainable town has been revealed.
The ambitious blueprint, called ‘An Intelligently Green Framework for Evesham,’ forms part of the Town Plan and will be used by council chiefs to guide their decision making in a bid to create more sustainable developments and to reduce Evesham’s carbon footprint.
Six key areas are set out in the document, including energy, transport, housing and construction, the local economy, food and waste.
Among the proposals is a bid to exploit the potential for local energy generation and encouraging the use of more renewable energy sources.
The document also proposes new bridges over the River Avon to get more residents cycling and walking, reducing the town’s speed limit to 20mph and improving public transport to reduce the number of people using cars.
The framework also provides guidance for planning chiefs and housing developers to make sure new homes in the town meet the highest environmental standards, as well as returning to existing houses to fit renewable energy sources and better insulation.
The key architects behind the green vision hope in 20 years time the goals they have set out will ensure Evesham becomes less carbon energy dependent, reduces its emissions and protects its green space.
A key milestone in implementing the document was reached earlier this month when councillors on Evesham Town Council voted unanimously in favour of adopting the framework to help shape their future decision-making.
The next stage will be to get Wychavon District Council to use the document to update their own green plan.
It’s also hoped Worcestershire County Council will adopt the framework as a Local Information Source when developing policies which affect Evesham.
Robin Walker, from Transition Evesham Vale, the group which developed the framework, said: “This framework responds to the need for Evesham, along with the rest of the world, to shift toward a greener future. It provides a framework to influence and guide decision making in the future.”
Visit www.transitioneveshamvale.org.uk to read the document in full.
