ALTON Town Council has pledged “to lead by example” in the race to address climate change.

Supported by Energy Alton and ACAN (Alton Climate Action and Network) the council has drawn up a three year (2020/23) Climate Change Strategy Action Plan designed to focus on “reducing its own carbon footprint” while “adopting policies and strategies to reduce consumption of resources and minimise the impact on the environment”.

It will also seek to “promote opportunities for residents, schools and businesses to become involved with initiatives which will have a positive impact on changing consumption habits in our community both now and in the future, and which engender a strong sense of pride”.

It will “seek to influence decision makers in the adoption and promotion of policies to provide sustainable alternatives to traditional construction, infrastructure and transport models”.

It will “promote the principles of responsible tourism in Alton as a ‘Destination Town’ for walking and cycling, minimising negative environmental impacts of tourism and making positive contributions to the conservation of our landscape”.

And it will seek to “promote schemes to reduce energy consumption and emissions from existing homes and businesses in the town by promoting energy efficiency measures, renewable energy sources and behaviour change”.

The council has already undertaken a green audit of its estate and asset and drawn up a list of actions designed to reduce its carbon footprint toward the carbon neutral target by 2020.

Actions, and costings, include looking at the installation of solar lighting where appropriate and reducing temperatures in public buildings, and exploring renewable energy sources.

There is a longer term aim to consider a community energy scheme and to install additional tree planting and hedgerows on public open spaces.

An audit of council owned buildings has identified locations for electric vehicle charging sockets at Anstey Park, Jubilee Fields, the Public Gardens and Market Square. And there are plans to create a more vibrant High Street and help create a sustainability hub.