County leads green alliance

Oct 5 2007 by Peter Leathley, The Journal

A NEW green alliance for County Durham will be launched today.

The County Durham Sustainability and Environment Partnership will be led by Durham County Council and will have a key role to play in shaping policies and initiatives across the county.

The new organisation, which brings together the county’s previous Local Action 21 Partnership and Environment Partnership, will be unveiled at an event at the Rivergreen Centre, Durham, which itself has won a clutch of awards for its sustainable design.

The new partnership will announce a string of initiatives, including a GoWarm project by new North-East organisation Domestic Energy Solutions, which will see thousands of homes across County Durham become warmer, more energy efficient and cheaper to heat.

It will also act as a national pilot for a scheme which will involve the county using its environmental project experiences to help other councils and organisations who may be thinking of tackling similar ventures.

There will be a sustainable communities plan, in which groups will be offered help in starting and running their own projects.

Bob Pendlebury, cabinet member for transport, sustainability and tourism at Durham County Council, said: “We simply cannot ignore the need to work together to tackle climate change, sustainable communities, the environment and sustainability.”