Town Council appoints Climate Coordinator
Friday, 19 November 2021
Hebden Royd Town Council has appointed a Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Coordinator as a major step in its ongoing commitment to tackle environmental issues.
Cllr Nikki Harvey and Jon Kedwards
Jon Kedwards joins the council with two decades of experience working with environmental organisations and will help to drive the Climate Emergency Action Plan in a way that fully benefits the environment and Hebden Royd residents.
Jon said, "I'm really pleased to begin this important role helping support Hebden Royd to respond to the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. While the world's eyes have been on Cop 26, many of the changes we need to make to slash carbon emissions and support nature recovery will happen right in our neighbourhoods.
"Hebden Royd is well known for its community action on green issues - my role is to help to encourage much more of that to enable our neighbourhoods to respond more effectively and ambitiously to the challenges ahead."
Hebden Royd Town Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, recognising the need for real and immediate change to reduce carbon emissions and increase biodiversity. Work has begun collaborating with Calderdale Council to increase cycle parking in Hebden Royd, hosting the recent Pumpkin Festival with a Climate Emergency theme which achieved national press coverage, and the creation of the High Hirst Woodmeadow Project.
Cllr Nikki Harvey, Chair of the Climate Emergency Committee said, "We have listened to residents, including the inspirational young Climate Strikers, who care deeply about Climate Emergency issues. In response, we have created this role so that we can be as ambitious as possible as a Town Council and drive real and effective environmental change in Hebden Royd.
"We are very excited to be able to work with Jon, who will work with residents, businesses, farmers and other groups to make the Town Council's climate ambitions a reality."
For further information on the Climate Emergency Action Plan please email the Town Council