Wembury Parish Council Environmental Policy
Wembury Parish Council is situated in the administrative district of South Hams District Council, in the administrative county of Devon County Council. The parish of Wembury lies within numerous environmental protection areas, including South
Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), two Sites of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Voluntary Marine
Conservation Area (VMCA).
Wembury is nationally recognised for its important wildlife and natural heritage,
particularly its marine wildlife and habitats. Over centuries the community of
Wembury has built around these beautiful land and seascapes into what is now a
thriving and idyllic coastal Parish.
It is therefore of upmost importance that Wembury Parish Council, on behalf of the
local community, act as stewards and safeguard this precious natural heritage, in
order that generations to come continue to benefit and feel privileged to live in such
a beautiful, natural place.
Wembury Parish Council acknowledges the potential impact of its operations on the
natural environment and seeks to minimise these impacts wherever possible.
Moreover, WPC also seeks to positively benefit the local natural environment,
through delivering and supporting projects and proposals which aim to do so.
Wembury Parish Council pledges to:
• Reduce our carbon and environmental footprint in all aspects of our
operations where possible, and evolve over time as new
information/technology becomes available (please see separate guide on
sustainable purchasing & procurement)
• Improve our environmental performance by conserving scarce and precious
resources, e.g. energy, water, timber, green/blue space
• Maintain our assets (buildings & other property) to the highest environmental
standards, including energy efficiency, and when there is a new build or other
works planned, WPC will favour the most sustainable construction (see assets
register for further info)
• Encourage contractors & suppliers, acting on our behalf, to take a responsible
attitude towards the environment (see separate guide on sustainable
purchasing & procurement)
• Consider the environmental impact of every planning application and/or
development proposal and favour those with the lowest impact, e.g. wildlife
friendly, carbon neutral/low energy designs
• Encourage local renewable energy schemes which will benefit the community
of Wembury
• Promote and encourage the use of sustainable transport within the parish
(and to those who visit) and support projects which improve such methods,
e.g. bus links, cycle paths & car sharing
• Promote a culture of understanding and participation in environmental issues
through education, information and consultation
• Work closely with the Yealm Climate and Environment Action Alliance (and
other organisations) on larger environmental initiatives, sharing knowledge,
expertise and best practice
• Comply with all relevant environmental legislation and update our policies and
practices in line with any changes in legislation
• Progressively build environmental concerns and sustainability into all our
policies
Review all of our activities, products and services annually to evaluate their
environmental impact
Agreed May 2021 ref 21-58Â
The document can be downloaded on this button.Â