All Gloucestershire councils unite for collective action to deliver Net Zero Transport

The agreement was signed by Gloucestershire County Council, along with all the district councils in the region including Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucester City Council, Stroud District Council, and Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Transport accounts for 34% of CO2 emissions in Gloucestershire, with cars being responsible for 58% of transport-related emissions. To meet the region's 2030 goal of 80% emissions reduction, the project will aim to shorten car trips by 7.5%, reduce overall trips by 7.5%, increase ride-sharing to 2.5%, boost active travel by 300%, raise public transport use by 100%, and increase the number of electric vehicles on the road.

It represents a significant milestone in regional collaboration on critical Net Zero projects. The joint statement recognises councils' commitment to tackling the climate emergency and outlines plans for sustainable transport and land use, including:

• Prioritising the integration of new housing developments alongside high-frequency and high-quality public, active travel options and service centres that enable a high level of self-containment.         
• Aligning Local Plans and Local Transport Plans with the ambitions of the county's transport decarbonisation plan.
• Supporting local efforts to create sustainable neighbourhoods within ~20 minutes walking distance of local service centres and building in active travel and public transport availability to make these more attractive travel options.
• Encouraging people to reduce the need for, or shorten, some journeys, to shift to active travel and public transport modes and to improve the sustainability of those journeys that still require the use of private vehicles.

The project was developed with UK100's Local Power in Action programme, with the collaboration of district councils and the leadership of Gloucestershire County Council.

Gloucestershire County Council is committed to being a leader in sustainable transport and aspires to work with its partner councils to reduce transport emissions in the region in line with its ambition to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2030.

Christopher Hammond, Membership & Insights Director of UK100, the UK's only network of ambitious local authorities committed to Net Zero and Clean Air, praised the project, saying, "This is a shining example of Local Government’s leadership in the fight against climate change. By aligning transport strategies with local development plans, the region will be able to provide sustainable homes and decarbonise the journeys across the county. This united effort in Gloucestershire to reduce emissions and improve air quality is exactly what we need to see more of in order to make real progress towards a sustainable future. It won’t be easy to realise their ambition, but it is a testament to the power of local action and the positive impact it can have on our communities and the environment."

Councillor Tim Gwilliam, Leader of Forest of Dean District Council added, "As the leader of Forest of Dean District Council, I am proud to be a part of this important initiative to reduce transport emissions and achieve Net Zero goals. 

“Our district is home to some of the most beautiful landscape in the country, and we are committed to preserving it for future generations by promoting sustainable travel and land use. We look forward to working with our partners to encourage active travel options and reduce the need for travel in our district." 

As set out in a statement of shared intent, the councils, together with communities and businesses, will now work to establish land use patterns that support short journeys and sustainable transport options that feed into the wider public/active transport network. They will also aim to prevent social isolation, and prioritise new development in areas of existing or future high accessibility to local services.

Gloucestershire County Council wants to hear from its residents, businesses, and community groups, to understand what they think are the best methods for reducing transport emissions and tackling the climate emergency. 

For more information and details on how to have your say, visit: https://haveyoursaygloucestershire.uk.engagementhq.com/journey-to-net-zero.

A public survey will run from Friday, 13 January until Tuesday, 28 February.