Summer 2020 How to read this plan Thame Town Council and supported by many other individuals and The plan starts with a background community groups listed in the section which explains the context, Acknowledgements. and the main reasons to take action. This plan was formally approved by After this background the Major Thame Town Council on 14th July Themes of the plan are set out 2020 and will be taken forward with to explain the broad approach. This the support of a new community is followed by a schedule of specific organisation, proposed to be called Recommended Actions across Thame Green Living (TGL). five colour-coded focus areas. Finally, there is a brief Actions For the sake of brevity this plan Summary bringing the key does not duplicate the detail of the recommendations together. previous 2018 plan, which set out the basis for the consultation which Who has produced the GLP? informed this 2020 plan. The 2018 The GLP has been developed over plan remains an important reference six years by the RSA Thame Group, and is available at the Thame Green working as honorary consultants to Living Website.
This plan is just the start. Without you IT will remain just A set of ideas, by working together we can make the changes we need. If you like the ideas set out in this plan and WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED then DO get in touch.
Visit the Thame Green Living website www.thamegreenliving.org.uk
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Pop in to the Thame Town Council Information Centre Contents
Section 1: Background Page 4 This brief section sets out the context for the Green Living Plan and the main reasons to take action
Section 2: Major Themes Page 6 This section summarises the major themes, the reasons to act, and the practical choices available A New Environment In 2020 6 High Level Pollution - Our Carbon Footprint 9 What We Can Do 10 Street Level Pollution and Air Quality 11 Thame Town Centre - Travel and Traffic 12 Sustainable Energy 15 Water 15 Green Spaces 16 Towards A Circular Economy 17 Timing and Approach 18
Section 3: Recommended Actions Page 20 This section sets out the actions recommended – or options for action, grouped by the focus areas of the plan Open Space, Green Routes and Biodiversity 22 Water and Flood Protection 35 Clean Air and Pollution 39 Energy, Energy Efficiency and Electric Vehicles 46 Waste Avoidance, Waste Management and Recycling 52
Section 4: Composite Actions Summary Page 56 This single page brings together the key Recommended Actions in a simple summary
Acknowledgements and End Notes Page 58
Further information Notes providing additional detail on specific topics in the GLP will be published from time to time Section 1: BACKGROUND GREEN LIVING PLAN A plan to protect and enhance our quality of life locally in the things that really matter – our air, our water, our overall well-being and the natural world that surrounds us.
Why do we need a Green • Blue for water – our streams of the town’s links with its Living Plan (GLP)? and rivers – and protection surrounding communities and from flooding; countryside. The Green Living Plan (GLP) fills 1 • Grey for our air and gaps that Neighbourhood Plans The GLP and Climate atmosphere – and the effect can’t fully cover. It does this by Emergency concentrating on our broader on air quality and global In 2018 a detailed initial GLP environment and by making warming; (the 2018 Plan) was published connections. These include: • Red for alternative (non- to assist broader consultation fossil fuel) energy, including • Connections between short- and survey, see electric vehicles; term and longer-term effects www.thamegreenliving.org.uk • Linkages between paths, • Orange for waste avoidance, Since then working groups have routes and spaces waste management and recycling. examined many of the issues • Wildlife corridors that our in more detail while increased natural world needs to national and international survive and prosper “The GLP for Thame is recognition of environmental and • Using renewable energy believed to be an climate challenges has now come instead of fossil fuels for to the fore. heating and transport original approach which, These aspects are reflected in • Improving the quality of our we hope, will inspire this new 2020 Plan which is air and helping reduce global other towns and villages intended to sit alongside the warming to act similarly” future editions of the Thame To help focus, the plan has five Neighbourhood Plan, with colour-coded main areas. the GLP recommendations • Green for open spaces, Further, while concentrating incorporated where relevant. biodiversity and walking/ on Thame the plan explicitly cycling routes; recognises the vital importance
Page 4: Background Thame Green Living Plan What are the main How and how soon will the recommendations be acted on? proposals? Three main factors will affect how quickly the recommendations can be implemented: A major shift in our environmental thinking Individual Community actions actions and planning What each of These depend on us can do right groups coming Tackling climate now. Examples together to work change by moving include garden collaboratively on from fossil fuel to planting for projects such as planting trees, biodiversity, changing home creating communal green sustainable green heating arrangements, and spaces or green walls, shared energy using our own cars less or car clubs and community solar sharing them more with others. energy schemes.
Limiting street-level Infrastructure changes pollution that damages Greater structural changes, typically our health involving broader public consultation, local authority support and public funding. For example, anything involving roads Stopping the collapse or car parks will need clear backing from of our natural world the community and our district and county councils. All this from the destruction of will make timescales more open-ended. But we need to start habitats and species the process now. Policy initiatives2 from government and other national bodies already align well with the infrastructure actions proposed in this Green Living Plan. Transforming our
approach to waste, Some things will take time, but we need to get started re-use and recycling now to achieve what is required.
How much do we want The changes we need to make others. People often respond to change? now for our communal longer- to cues from others before they term well-being will involve change their behaviour: our Much depends on how people some tough choices. If we believe actions can therefore shape wider who live or work in Thame react these are the best way forward, opinions, while bringing us local to this plan and their sense of individual and collective action benefits. urgency for change. In response will be required; we can’t expect to growing concerns, many local it all to be done for us. authorities have passed Climate “We believe that the need Emergency resolutions; this plan Even if we can’t change the for a Green Living Plan provides a blueprint of how our politics of other countries – and to act on it – is local community will be able to directly, local personal and respond in a coherent, practical community efforts and success, greater than ever.” way across its key focus areas. well communicated, will inspire
Thame Green Living Plan Background: Page 5 Section 2: MAJOR THEMES Major Themes The major themes of the plan are set out in this section. They explain the broad approach to the Green Living Plan.
“It is clear that we are in a state of climate emergency. We need to transform our whole society over the next couple of decades.
Because the science is very clear. Time is running out.” (Dr Emily Shuckborough3 – Director of Cambridge Zero, University of Cambridge - Autumn 2019)
A new environment in 2020 There is widely accepted evidence Mean Temperatures diagram5. typically an average over a 30-year that human activities are prime Temperature measurements are period. The differences, plotted contributors to the escalating rise compared daily to what is ‘normal’ here, are termed ‘anomalies’. in worldwide temperatures. We for that location and time, see disintegration of ice fields, a steady rise in overall sea levels, and dramatic new weather patterns. Average global sea level changes since the mid-19th century 250 The chart on the right, for example, 4 is data from NASA showing 200 average global sea level changes since the mid-19th century, caused 150 by water from melting ice sheets and glaciers and the expansion of 100 seawater as it warms. 50 Global land and ocean temperature measurements are shown on Sea Level Changes (mm) 0 the Chart on page 7. Trends in temperature changes are complex -50 to measure, but the overall upward 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 movement can be seen in this Year Source: NASA
Page 6: Major Themes Thame Green Living Plan Global land and ocean temperature not only by helping tackle climate 1.5 change locally but by leading the way in inspiring other communities 1.0 too. Role models can be powerful at both town level and among 0.5 individuals.
0.0 The need to act Temperature Anomaly (c) Temperature We need to act, but first need an -0.5 agreed plan to understand why and 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 how, so that we act in a concerted Year Source: NASA way. That will require changes in This GLP is, however, not just Even so, it’s not all bad news. thinking and behaviour. about climate change. It’s also For example, some species are about the quality of life in our making a comeback; green streets, our homes and our energy use is increasing, and Change will not happen communities. As things stand, technology is bringing down the overnight, but if we wait we are not just clogging our upper cost of renewable power sources. for everyone else or until atmosphere with greenhouse Positive initiatives can also be gases but harming ourselves at seen from community groups and we are compelled to change, street level too. government bodies, including it may be too late to save cleaner transport systems and new what we value most. Individually we worry approaches to home heating. about our future, but do we Overall, however, the message is care enough to act? clear; we can’t afford to go on as There is much we can do now and we are. We need to make major much else that will take time. changes – and demonstrate So, this plan takes both a short- Polls suggest that, despite our commitment with practical term and longer-term approach, compelling scientific evidence, actions. combining immediate projects warnings and increasing levels with a ten-year action plan. We There are some things we can of concern, most people remain need to take steps now and also change locally, and others we can’t. uncertain as to what can and should decide between some critical This plan identifies what we can be done. The result is that anxiety options before implementing the do and how we can support one levels increase but behaviours changes that will be required – another to do so and make a real remain largely unchanged. well within that ten-year period. difference. Thame can contribute
Thame Green Living Plan Major Themes: Page 7 Fossil fuels and renewable energy: An introduction Before we can reduce our contributions to greenhouse UK’s electricity production from all low carbon gases that add to climate change, we need to electrical energy sources, including nuclear power, is understand what they are and where they come from. around 54%. There is much still to work for in regard A major cause is use of fossil fuels. to clean energy, but it is great to see that Britain has leading capabilities. (Technical note: There is a The fossil fuels we use most are petroleum products difference between energy and power – explained in (such as oil, petrol and diesel), coal and natural gas. We endnote (8) – which is important for understanding may use these directly, for example as fuel in our cars, these percentages and the issues to be resolved in or indirectly, for example through the use of electricity moving to yet higher contributions of renewables. that’s generated from these sources. These are clean energy sources, but their power BP (British Petroleum) figures for 20186 suggest that output inevitably varies with the conditions of about 85% of global energy used fossil fuels. The mix of sunshine and wind.) global energy sources can be seen in the World Energy Carbon dioxide and black carbon Consumption diagram below.
The CO2 which rises as a greenhouse gas is often When fossil fuels are used they emit carbon dioxide just called ‘carbon.’ But there is also so-called black (CO2). This rises into the upper atmosphere as a carbon, which is different. This refers to fine particles ‘greenhouse gas’ and may remain there for 100 or in the lower atmosphere and at street level known as more years. The consensus scientific view is that particulate matter or PM. PM is formed through the greenhouse gases are major contributors to global incomplete burning of fossil fuels (including oil, diesel warming and climate change. and petrol), biofuel and biomass. We might think Renewable energy (‘renewables’ for short) by contrast of it as tiny fragments of soot; but unlike the great refers to energy derived from natural resources that dark clouds of the past, black carbon today is usually we regard as self-sustaining, such as solar, wind and invisible to the naked eye. hydro power. The term usually refers to energy used Black carbon also adds to the warming of the earth by 7 for electricity production. The graph shows a steady absorbing sunlight and heating the atmosphere. 8 rise in global electricity generation (energy ) over The good news is that it dissipates over weeks; the last 30 years, with an increasing contribution the bad news is that in that period it not only of renewable energy (the green line in this case). adds to global warming but can create air Globally this is now some 25% of electrical energy pollution that is toxic to humans and wildlife. while, encouragingly, in UK9 it is nearer 37%.
Trends in Global Electrical Energy Generation World Energy Consumption 1985 – 2018, as of June 2019 Million Tonnes or equivalent 1993-2018
Coal Nuclear 14000
Renewables Natural gas 13000
Hydro Oil 12000
11000
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 0
Page 8: Major Themes Thame Green Living Plan High level pollution: 10 Our carbon footprint
13 Most CO2 emissions in UK between 6 and 8 tonnes each year . come from our production There will of course be considerable Where does UK carbon and use of energy and from variations in individual levels of come from? our cars, food, household use. For example, the carbon per Subject to local variations, appliances, commercial person from just one long haul estimates for South transport and manufactured return flight to Australia has been Oxfordshire (Oct 2019) were: goods. Agriculture11 is also estimated at about 5.1. tonnes14 a source of emissions. One – close to the average personal of our biggest challenges is carbon consumption for a single therefore to reduce what is person for a whole year! called the carbon footprint in For some, such flights are our communities. considered an essential to visit % What is our carbon footprint? family. In other cases, it may 31 Commercial This is the combined weight of be possible to make choices and and industrial greenhouse gases, primarily (but recognise the real costs incurred by operations unnecessary travel. not exclusively) CO2, released into the upper atmosphere from What is carbon neutrality the carbon-generating activities and when should we aim to of individuals, businesses and achieve it? communities. Various websites enable you to calculate your own Some carbon is released carbon footprint. naturally, so we cannot eliminate all carbon. Many governmental This affects things that are close and local plans therefore now % to our hearts – our food, our seek to commit to achieving homes, our cars and our holidays. 34 carbon neutrality (often known Household If we are to tackle pollution as net zero) by a specified date – heating, lighting, cooking12, effectively, we have to address typically anywhere between 2025 tumble dryers & cleaning all of these to protect something and 2050. products even more precious, our own well-being and that of future It follows that reaching net generations. zero will mean not just emitting less carbon but also capturing How much carbon do we and holding back the carbon % produce? which will inevitably continue 35 This depends on how the figure to be produced. This is carbon Transport is calculated. If the (embodied) capture. We will need to decide planes, ships, carbon from imported goods is as a community when we aspire trains, buses, excluded the UK average carbon to reach carbon neutrality and coaches, lorries, vans, cars emitted per person has been put at exactly how we plan to do so.
Thame Green Living Plan Major Themes: Page 9 What we can do It can be seen that there are A number of online organisations There are also moss or plant- broadly two ways to lessen carbon offer carbon offset services. covered ‘living walls’, highly – reduction or capture. Given effective in limited locations. the urgency we need to pursue Capturing carbon Shrubs can also play a major role, as both, noting that carbon capture We can plant trees, which capture can simple wildflower meadows. at commercial scale is still in its carbon through their leaves. But This links to the issue of infancy. In addition, we can offset there are limitations. maintenance. Nature does need a our carbon emissions, typically by • We cannot plant enough trees helping hand at times, so that tree making a financial contribution to capture all the carbon we support, soil sustenance, pruning for the carbon we emit. These produce 15 and replacement of any lost plants offsets do not directly reduce are essential parts of the overall carbon emissions but can help • We need to plant the right mix. However, while hedges are fund carbon-capture elsewhere, kinds of trees – and look best trimmed before nesting time, such as by intensive tree planting. after them harsh cutting back can destroy • We can’t plant trees valuable wildlife habitats. So, Reducing our carbon everywhere; roots can create cutting back the cutting back can footprint structural problems, leaf give a dual benefit. This plan highlights three big canopies can block light, things we can each do to reduce heavy leaf falls and even tree our carbon footprint falls in high winds create Many people care deeply other hazards about the natural world • We need to avoid over- but may be deterred from intense lining of trees in active involvement by not 1 otherwise open areas creating Change our travel and energy a ‘canyon’, restricting the feeling empowered, not habits to greener options. dispersal of air pollution knowing enough, or not Open spaces and fields around wishing to interfere our town planted as woodland or copses can, however, overcome 2 many of these drawbacks, and There is a social dimension here Change our grants are available for such too. People care deeply about home heating, projects. Some trees are better at the natural world but may be such as by better insulation, lower temperature levels, carbon capture than others, soil deterred from active involvement switching to green electricity conditions vary, and the height of by not feeling empowered, not and/or installing ground or air- trees may also be a factor. So, we knowing enough, or not wishing source heat pumps need to know what’s best to plant to interfere. If we can harness where and when. this potential energy, research Consume more has consistently shown the clear And it’s not just trees. Hedges thoughtfully health and well-being by adapting our can be ideal both for capturing 3 benefits of closer links with consumption and carbon and providing vital wasting less. nature and working together. habitats for insects, birds and small mammals, a dual function.
Page 10: Major Themes Thame Green Living Plan Street level pollution and air quality The importance of clean air Quite apart from the growing many multiples of the carbon health hazard of traffic noise, output of a mid-engine car over Clean air lies at the heart much pollution in our streets the same distance. And 20,000 of a green town – and other and communities is caused by miles a year is obviously likely to benefits of this plan. For vehicle emissions, both from produce close to twice as much example: vehicle exhaust and shards from pollution as 10,000 annual miles. • vibrant green spaces give tyre and brake wear. Whereas us cleaner air plus well- petrol exhausts primarily emit being and better mental CO , which contributes to global 2 This is not to health warming and climate change, demonise cars, but • good walking and diesels produce less CO2 but to understand their cycling routes give us emit nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and opportunities to exercise particulate matter (PM) as black impact and seek their and keep healthy carbon. The particulates in PM more responsible use. themselves come in different • green (alternative) energy sizes; the smallest are especially sources hugely reduce dangerous in terms of their carbon and street-level One approach is to call for air ability to be absorbed by and pollution quality (AQ) monitors. But attack our bodies and even our • buying better, with less there are issues over what they brains, with serious long-term packaging and waste will measure and over what periods. implications. produce less carbon from In any event, there is no safe the air miles in bringing This is not to demonise cars, but level for PM. In the meantime, food to our tables and to understand their impact and medical science has produced goods to our homes seek their more responsible use. ever more reports and analyses And it’s not just the fact that showing just what damage tiny Other forms of pollution we may own a petrol or diesel street level PM particles are doing There are other forms of vehicle, but the capacity of its to so many people. Spending pollution that need to be engine, the way we drive and how considerable time and resource addressed, notably light and much we use it that all need to be measuring only part of the noise pollution. Both are taken into account. A powerful problem could therefore just put factors that can progressively 4 x 4 can, for example, produce off implementing a solution. undermine not just human health but also the health of our natural world. Most of this pollution is unnecessary; it’s another area where we can do much to improve on current norms with little extra effort.
Thame Green Living Plan Major Themes: Page 11 Thame town centre: travel and traffic
An effective Green Living Plan for Thame must address the environment of the town centre. To keep this attractive and vibrant means maintaining a range of shops and attractions that people wish to visit and can access easily. But vibrancy is also affected by the health of the local population
Alongside the growth of the town there has There are other benefits in been a great increase in traffic and parking reducing traffic. It will not only in and around the town centre over recent reduce CO2, NO2 and PM, but also years. Many side streets are now lined with noise, congestion, accidents and parked cars all day, causing increasing much general frustration. Co- aggravation in many areas. At peak periods benefits from a less car-dominated traffic sits bumper to bumper along the High environment also include replacing Street with engines puffing out pollution and commuting time (and cost) by noise. Can we afford to let this continue, let more home or community working, alone get worse? supported by video and meeting hubs in the town with close access to café The more attractive a destination Thame and similar facilities. This indeed may is, the more visitors it will receive. While be the future of town centres as retail visitors are very welcome, more traffic comes under increasing pressure from creates more congestion and more pollution, online shopping. and inevitable further development will only make things worse. A centre choked by People do need to be able to get around, queuing vehicles will become a deterrent to which means a major increase in journeys visitors and will become neither accessible by public transport, cycling and walking. nor healthy. For short distances, such as from Lea Park, walking or cycling (for those able to do so) Electric vehicles (EVs) will help over time. But can even be quicker. It’s estimated that some it’s clear that to close the pollution gap and approach net zero carbon it will be essential to reduce car use substantially. Yet despite this, more traffic creates more car use has been continuing to rise. congestion and more pollution, and Those who need to drive into town (and inevitable further development will ideally only those who need) already have only make things worse access to car parks in or close to the town centre. The future use of the Cattle Market site is uncertain and may be critical here as 30% of private car journeys cover less than regards future town centre traffic flows. five miles. Given the right infrastructure this is an easy distance to walk or cycle for those Even if it may be convenient able to do so. That could take a substantial to do so, there is no need for most people to percentage of the cars off our local roads drive through the town centre. at a stroke.
Page 12: Major Themes Thame Green Living Plan The ‘ring road’ – Maintaining controlled pedestrian crossing (to the good access to, and smoother skateboard park) between the Oxford flow on, the outskirts must Road roundabout and the Phoenix be part of any scheme aimed Trail crossing on the diagonally at discouraging traffic in the opposite side of town. There is no town centre. The ring road safe crossing on the old Crendon has its issues, especially at Road and pedestrians and cyclists peak times; it also operates face a hazardous route to cross to as a huge barrier between Long Crendon or the Miller’s Way Thame and its surroundings, route to Haddenham via Moorend particularly for those on Lane. It is little better by the Rugby foot. Club and the potential health hub site. At present, the town is to some For example, there is extent cut off from the countryside only one traffic light- around it.
The options
There is a compelling need This plan therefore to act, but there are no easy recommends infrastructure answers. To tackle these improvements to issues, we need to: deprioritise motor vehicle use and provide safety • Reduce traffic in town, improvements to walking especially traffic passing and cycle routes. through town • Make that traffic less Other ideas include: polluting. • Car sharing e.g. through private share, car clubs To reduce traffic means and shared workplace providing viable alternatives, lifts; this includes: • Deliveries - improving • Reducing the dominance the efficiency of delivery of the car and collection; • Maximising the use of key • Mobility issues - suitable streets for pedestrians provision for those less and cyclists. able to walk or cycle; We should treat the town • Community transport centre as a leisure and - an electric hopper bus business destination and not a service around the main through-route. But for people pick-up and drop-off to choose to walk or cycle they points in town, especially have to feel safe. If they don’t, valuable for the less they will simply reach for their mobile. car keys.
See next page for Traffic Management and Electric Vehicles >
Thame Green Living Plan Major Themes: Page 13 ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EVS) TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Little pollution Vehicles running on electricity 20 mph limit Many people who responded have no exhaust emissions, so produce no exhaust to GLP consultations requested a lower speed particulates, CO or NO . Many have ‘regenerative’ limit through town and in selected other areas 2 2 engine braking, further reducing dangerous (such as Lea Park). There are others who have particulates by minimising brake wear. But EVs, a contrary view. It is clear, however, that like other vehicles, produce particulates from tyre official opinion has changed, not least because wear and some environmental concerns exist over the chances of being killed by a vehicle are the sourcing and manufacture of batteries and other put at five times greater at 30 mph than at 20 components. mph16. The lower limit is not only far safer, a paramount consideration, but also cleaner. Financial Technology is moving forward rapidly, Many civic authorities, including Transport for with a decreasing cost differential through a London, have therefore introduced mandatory growing second-hand market and increased choice 20 mph restrictions. To do so in Thame would of new models. EVs will need to become generally require Highways Authority and police support, affordable so that price is not a barrier to purchase, but could bring many benefits at limited but government policies, such as salary sacrifice inconvenience to drivers. Twenty is plenty. opportunities for EVs, will help this barrier to entry. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that some Traffic calming measures This is an plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are bought for tax benefits associated point. Road humps in the town and used simply as petrol cars, negating the intended centre, for example, create confusion and, environmental benefits. We need to be responsible. by causing vehicles to brake, mount a hump and then accelerate, add further to pollution Charging facilities EVs need charging facilities including brake and tyre wear. that are convenient for their drivers, with spaces to park and recharge, ideally powered by 100% low Shared or segregated streets One possible carbon electricity. approach to these issues would be to treat our central areas as shared space for all, whether on Other electric transport Local students have foot, on a bike or in a car, with all needing to look suggested a form of electric tuk-tuk or auto-rickshaw out for others and no one method having priority. as a possible low-cost ride option. We can also expect This is a precedent used elsewhere, notably in higher numbers of mobility scooters sharing routes central Oxford. An alternative is to have clearer with a varied range of travel options, such as electric pavements and separate, protected lanes for bikes, scooters and three-wheeled cycles. cycling. The impact of such arrangements on road There will also be some important choices, such as crossings and personal safely would need careful selecting the appropriate type of charging facilities consideration. and the extent to which ‘normal’ car parking Safety Safe places to cross roads are seen as a spaces are allocated to EV charging spots. key feature for encouraging walking and The plan summarises many of the cycling. Feedback indicates that more options available pending further crossings in the right places would research and consultation. make people feel safer out of their cars, an essential prelude to driving less. 20
Page 14: Major Themes Thame Green Living Plan Sustainable energy Nationally, around a third of the energy we use as electricity is now produced through renewables, and individuals can easily switch to suppliers using 100% renewable sources. This will in turn add pressure on companies using fossil fuels to change their supply arrangements.
For many, gas boilers are their main This plan proposes greater adoption of source of space and water heating. But renewable energy and a range of options gas boilers produce major amounts of as to how we might generate our own
CO2. We need to replace these, but of electricity close to home. course few will wish to do so before they It includes recommendations on energy must, and legislation so far has lengthy and EV charging issues, aligned with our adoption periods. Meanwhile there is proposed Energy Strategy wood (a reduced greenhouse gas emitter for Thame17. if the wood is kiln dried), electricity (with a 100% renewable supplier), ground or air-source heat pumps (which can be very effective but can still be expensive to install) and, perhaps in the future, hydrogen.
This last option is still probably many years away from general use, although trials are taking place.
suitable opportunities taken to increase access to them. One example is the need to complete the so- Water called ‘riverside walks’ on the new estates to the south-east of the town, either side of Thame Park The principles and recommendations Road. We also wish to seek opportunities to extend laid out in the 2018 Plan have been given these routes as part of an intermediate route just new emphasis by variable weather and outside the main town periphery. high winter rainfall resulting in renewed Associated with this, this plan supports the extensive flooding along the Thame valley. extension of the Cuttle Brook Local Nature Reserve This 2020 Plan reinforces the need for effective to Moreton. In these plans it will be appropriate to drainage, water and flood management while taking seek to balance the needs of biodiversity a more holistic view of the natural world by including in times of crisis against the objective aquatic and riverside life within green spaces and of more healthy walking and biodiversity. It’s clear that with the River Thame other routes and the utility of Conservation Trust and the Cuttle Brook Conservation the adjoining farmland. Volunteers (CBCV) the town has excellent support for its namesake river and its tributaries.
At the same time, we’d advocate a closer identity between these waterways and the town, with
Thame Green Living Plan Major Themes: Page 15 Green spaces and land use
Biodiversity is not just a ‘nice seriously their responsibilities. residential estates do not join up with to have’ but an essential for But large numbers of dogs do add the main walking routes into town, our life as we know it. Without to pressure on open spaces and or where they do, remain without bees and other pollinators, we especially to delicate habitats, signposts. This leaves residents more will lose our plants and flowers which can be damaged by inclined to drive into town, adding and ultimately the variety chemicals that help keep dogs to congestion and pollution. It is and resilience of our crops. healthy. It is hoped that future urgent that such active travel routes For example, 70% of our fruit, plans and uses will enable the be provided for and completed, vegetables and crops need interests of all parties to be fairly with new connections sought to pollination18. accommodated. encourage walking and cycling rather than car use. Insect, animal and bird life The main roads surrounding the can all be given a helping hand town isolate it both from the by growing and nurturing the right nearby villages, which use the The main roads type of plants, shrubs and trees, town’s services, and also from which will also help capture carbon its countryside setting. It is in surrounding the town and reduce greenhouse gas. the interests of both the town isolate it both from the community and the adjoining Many of us can start at home by nearby villages, which landowners to seek ways in which making our gardens and even our our common interests might use the town’s services, patios more supportive of insect, be pursued. For example, as the and also from its bird and animal life. There are Thame Neighbourhood Plan noted, many ways to do this which this countryside setting the town is desperately short of plan is keen to promote. parks and public open space. We Beyond that, Thame has an have seen a strong desire to create There are many areas where new acknowledged shortage of parks, orchards and plant trees (for all footpaths could be introduced woods and orchards. This both the reasons given in the plan), without detriment to farming restricts residents in the variety and should look at areas outside or other land use, for example of green spaces available, while but close to town where this could by following natural features placing increasing and sometimes occur. such as ditches or streams. unacceptable pressure on the Such an approach, based on Likewise, there is much scope for limited public open space that respect for landowners’ rights, more and better footpaths and does exist. could immeasurably improve cycle routes to help reduce car the environmental amenities One aspect of this pressure can use and increase access to of Thame. It might also help to be seen in the number of dogs in surrounding areas. regenerate a sense of community the town and surrounding areas. It is noticeable that many of that is otherwise harder to sustain These are essential companions to the routes planned and even at the edges of towns under many people, most of whom take constructed through new constant development pressure.
Page 16: Major Themes Thame Green Living Plan Towards a TIMING & circular economy APPROACH The main themes set out in this carbon footprint in 2019 part of the 2020 Plan concentrate was stated to be 44.4 million A community company around the issues of air and tonnes, more than that of To make the choices and take the energy because these are the Denmark as a whole! actions we need will require a broad areas where: and deep community involvement In broader terms, we endorse that bolsters the work of councils a) some of the greatest what is known as the Circular – town, district and county. To changes in thinking have Economy, sometimes just enable this it is planned to develop taken place over recent called Circularity. The a suitable form of community years and UK government says ‘the organisation, provisionally called circular economy (re-use, b) many of the key issues Thame Green Living (TGL), to remanufacture, repair, recycle) involve community and provide active local input into the will see us keeping resources in local authority action. work of Thame Town Council. This use for as long as possible. It will organisation will seek to work with This 2020 Plan does not cover allow us to extract maximum other existing and future Thame issues relating to food and diet, value from them, then recover voluntary organisations, together subjects which also remain major and regenerate products and with Thame businesses, schools and concerns. This is partly because materials at the end of their churches. It will also look to develop these are matters of personal lifespan’. This regenerative good relations with landowners choice, and partly because our approach is in contrast to the and farmers, building on the work group’s limited resources have traditional linear economy, of bodies such as the River Thame been directed elsewhere. There which has a ‘take, make, dispose’ Conservation Trust. is therefre much else that could model of production. Circularity be added to this plan as and certainly raises many questions; Part of our approach is to improve when time and resources are even if these may be beyond the knowledge and awareness of the available to do so. scope of the present Green Living challenges we face, which we propose to tackle through providing There is also the issue of internet Plan, they are not beyond its information and guidance on key shopping and its effect on our future potential. aspects, with discussion groups communities. Buying online has Here again, however, we need and workshops on key green living proved a great benefit to many, take care as cause and effect issues. These will help heighten but in terms of our environment are complex. Recent reports, awareness of the choices we will it comes at a cost. The complexity for example, suggest that, need to make. All this will involve of the ‘last mile’ delivery means after an initial drop following a recognition of the specific needs that far more traffic and thus the Blue Planet series, general of young families, the less mobile, pollution can be generated by plastic use actually increased and those struggling to make ends individual deliveries than by again in 2019. One example is meet. Different people are affected purchases on broader shopping that instead of newly outlawed by different aspects; inevitably some trips. It’s worth small plastic bags, people proposals will be less convenient for noting that Amazon’s buy new supposed ‘bags for some in the short term, but the aim composite life’ (containing much more is to achieve a future that is better plastic) on a regular basis. for all in the long term.
Thame Green Living Plan Major Themes: Page 17 Section 3: THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS RECOMMENDED ACTIONS This section of the Green Living Plan summarises the Recommended Actions, divided by the plan’s colour-coded focus areas.
Introduction to the Recommended Actions This section of the Green Living Plan summarises the Recommended Actions divided by the plan’s colour-coded focus areas and each action is given an icon to show which of group can do that action. See keys below:
GREEN BLUE GREY RED ORANGE Open spaces, Water – our Our air and Alternative (non- Waste avoidance, biodiversity and streams and rivers atmosphere and the fossil fuel) energy waste walking /cycling – and protection effect on air quality including electric management and routes. from flooding. and global warming. vehicles. recycling.
Individual Actions Community Actions Infrastructure Actions
Page 18: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan Our staged approach
Short Individual actions timescale Implement Individual/family scale actions (within 1 and monitor can start straight away year)
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 Understand and assess the Consider and consult on Decide, plan, implement options the options and monitor
Medium Community actions Implement timescale Community actions - local consultations to access and monitor (1-2 years) different views and seek balanced proposals
Longer Infrastructure actions Implement timescale In addition to local consultation, these may require district and monitor (2-5 years) and county approval and public funding
Managing Change In recommending actions, this and fairly evaluated before bigger Understand plan recognises that change comes decisions are taken. The type of Understand the issues, in many forms and has a wide action chosen will in turn impact opportunities and risks, identify range of potential impacts and how much and how quickly change current best practices considerations. can occur. The diagram illustrates these stages and the different types It is not a simple decision or of actions that have been identified. process. Opinion can vary from Accept those who, on the one hand, see To make the choices and take the Accept the need to make changes no need for change, to others who actions needed will require not are keen to develop and implement just a broad plans immediately. The previous and deeper Review sections set out many reasons to community Review the options available for change and their implications change what we currently do. This involvement, Reflect & Feedback section assumes that we will want but also the Learn from the experience to act but that there are options and active support and feedback choices as to how and when we do so of our councils – as individuals and communities. – town, district Prepare Prepare a plan that and county. On the more major issues, is workable The Change Monitor adequate public involvement and Monitor our performance to Process consultation will be essential to check it is fully effective diagram (right) ensure that the views of the broader shows the Commit community are heard. The actions Commit to specific actions ongoing Green and promote the benefits recommended over the following Living Plan pages therefore take a staged Change approach to approach to give the chance for Take practical steps including change. changing our behaviours issues and options to be understood
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 19 1: Open Spaces, GREEN ROUTES AND BIODIVERSITY
Compared with many communities, Thame is areas. Changes could immeasurably improve under-provided with parks and public open space. the environmental amenities of Thame and help There is also much scope for more and better strengthen a sense of community, particularly footpaths and cycle routes. These will encourage where development pressures are apparent. The walking and cycling for better health, reduced panel below identifies key issues, which are taken car use and increased access to surrounding further in the schedules that follow.
Key Issues
Green Spaces & Biodiversity • Inform and involve. Improve information, education and involvement in conservation • Identify new areas for biodiversity. Create more Cycling Walking nature-friendly areas • Encourage and support • Promote walking routes • Improve biodiversity in cycling. Improve options into and through town, existing open spaces. and help for cyclists and as a healthier non-car Encourage wild flora and noncyclists alternative richer fauna • Create safe cycling routes. • Improve walking routes. • Enhance green corridors Especially through Thame By making them safe and and waterways. Let our Town centre pleasant natural world flourish • Engage the Thame Town • Improve footpath • Support agricultural community. Safer and more connections, from key practices. Encourage direct links for cycling residential areas into town greater landowner focus on • Revitalise connections. • Establish more walking biodiversity Improve links with Thame’s routes, and improve access • Check planning policy broader environment and to surrounding countryside and decisions. Scrutinise our neighbours • Support for the less mobile, policy, decisions and with more seating and viable outcomes transport alternatives
Note: It is implicit that what follows should be integrated into an overarching strategy, such as a Thame Travel Plan, to ensure that initiatives work together seamlessly. Timescales are initial suggestions only, subject to further discussion and agreement.
Page 20: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 1: Open Spaces, GREEN 1.1 Green Spaces & Biodiversity | Information & Involvement Improve information and education Increase involvement on the importance of biodiversity and in conservation work ROUTES AND BIODIVERSITY nature conservation OBJECTIVE: Seek more community involvement and volunteers interested OBJECTIVE: Seek greater understanding of our natural world in improving local biodiversity and local biodiversity to our future wellbeing – and the benefits of taking action. Action: Promote existing volunteer opportunities more widely (21CT, CBCV, RTCT, REG) and foster Action: Create more explanatory information panels in partnership working. key sites in town centre and where biodiversity action is taking place. Indicative timescale
Indicative timescale Ongoing
Within 12 / 24 months Action: Seek school and youth involvement with projects. Action: Support the conservation and biodiversity work Indicative timescale of local conservation bodies. Involve heads, PTAs, Indicative timescale governors Within 12 months Action: Examine social engagement and consider Action: Explore funding possibilities with various bodies. innovative ways of developing this.
Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 12/18 months Ongoing
OBJECTIVE: Encourage developers and businesses to take Private gardens more responsibility for the future of the natural world and allotments
Action: Develop an information/ education programme, including success stories, via local conservation OBJECTIVE: Promote more features organisations to help biodiversity in our gardens
Indicative timescale Action: Encourage actions Within 12/18 months such as: • grass cutting – leave grass longer Action: Encourage local companies to engage in • plant more shrubs and trees conservation work, e.g. as part of their corporate social • plant more natural pollinators responsibility policies. • leave room for hedgehogs and Indicative timescale wildlife Indicative timescale Within 12/18 months Immediate and ongoing
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 21 1.1 Green Spaces & Biodiversity | Information & Involvement
Supporting best ecological and environmental practice
OBJECTIVE: Long-term sustainability in conservation and biodiversity improvement work
Action: Seek specialist help in planning green infrastructure improvements in Thame and its environs.
Indicative timescale
Within 6 months
OBJECTIVE: Measuring & monitoring progress
Action: Encourage clear procedures for approving new green infrastructure and commissioning relevant expertise.
Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
Action: Assess the value of existing metrics and how best to use them as a tool.
Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
OBJECTIVE: Closer involvement with local landowners and farmers beyond Thame’s immediate boundaries for mutual benefit
Action: Consider new methodologies as proposed in new Environmental and Agricultural laws.
Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months (for landowners and farmers)
Action: Support further engagement with the farming community and NFU and other landowners in developing and monitoring green infrastructure.
Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months (for landowners and farmers) Photo Credit: Sue Martin Downhill
Page 22: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 1.2 Green Spaces & Biodiversity | Identify New Areas For Biodiversity Enhancement
Create more nature-friendly zones Support local initiatives in built-up areas
OBJECTIVE: Seek community input OBJECTIVE: Contribute enhanced quantity and into new proposals variety of native plant and animal species
Action: Develop community planting Action: Complete the Google Earth survey of schemes. potential biodiversity enhancement areas. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 12 months Within 12 months
Action: Work on enhancement proposals Action: Seek Wild Oxfordshire involvement in with partners (e.g. Residents' Associations a local biodiversity enhancement project. (RAs), District and County Councils, 21C Thame). Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 12 months Within 12 months
Action: Help to identify suitable sites and species to support 21C Thame tree-planting initiative.
Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
Action: Organise public events on biodiversity enhancement in gardens etc. as part of education and awareness raising.
Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
Action: Explore a Mayoral commendation scheme (e.g. letter of thanks plus guidance on further sources of information).
Indicative timescale
Within 12 months with support of the Mayor and TTC.
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 23 1.3 Green Spaces & Biodiversity | Improve Biodiversity In Existing Public Spaces
OBJECTIVE: Implement more sustainable working Improve existing green areas to practices consistent with Thame Town Council’s encourage more beneficial wild Environmental Policy flora and richer fauna
Action: Identify relevant areas and current approach for research and discussion, including more beneficial planting and OBJECTIVE: Encourage biodiversity and greater mowing practices for wildlife and carbon carbon capture capture.
Indicative timescale Action: Promote links with biodiversity experts. Within 6/12 months
Indicative timescale
Within 6/12 months
1.4 Green Spaces & Biodiversity | Green Corridors & Waterways
OBJECTIVE: Enhance the role of the River Thame Consolidate and extend Thame’s and its tributaries as valuable biodiversity reserves, green corridors and waterways recognising in some areas that biodiversity and local nature may need exclusive space
OBJECTIVE: Promote the success of the Cuttle Brook Action: Liaise with relevant parties including Conservation Volunteers (CBCV) neighbours, CBCV and others to develop and implement a landscape, planting and public Action: Continue dialogue to further joint aims footpath plan for Rycote Meadow. of GLP with CBCV and River Thame Conservation Indicative timescale Trust (RTCT) Within 12 months Indicative timescale
Ongoing Action: Seek to maximise the statutory role of Action: Progress Phoenix Trail links with the Local Nature Reserve in local biodiversity Risborough Environment Group and Sustrans. and flood control and harness the committee’s expertise. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Ongoing Ongoing
OBJECTIVE: Extend the Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve
Action: Resist proposed use of former Moorend Action: Liaise with CBCV on a planned extension Lane site for long term waste processing. south towards Moreton. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Depends on future of site and Within 12/24 months OCC waste plans
Page 24: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 1.5 Green Spaces & Biodiversity | 1.6 Green Spaces & Biodiversity Support For Agricultural Practices Ideas for the future Local agricultural practices Establish Ham Wood to Phoenix Trail green corridor
OBJECTIVE: Encourage increased landowner focus on biodiversity and conservation OBJECTIVE: A new biodiversity corridor to link up two measures to improve soil fertility, reduce sides of Thame. pollution and foster wildlife.
Action: Identify areas of interest, expertise and funding and involve Woodlands Trust, Sustrans, CBCV Action: In conjunction with RTCT and as appropriate. Wild Oxfordshire explore potential for Indicative timescale a loose-knit local landowners’ network to work with the community for mutual Within 6/12 months benefit.
Indicative timescale Action: Develop and seek agreement for a composite plan between local conservation bodies and Within 24 months landowners.
Indicative timescale OBJECTIVE: Recognise importance of Within 24 months landscape scale conservation work
Action: Consider a “Nature-loving landowner” scheme as a forum for sharing best practice and celebrating A new ‘Green Halo’ space for thame success in association with appropriate bodies.
Indicative timescale OBJECTIVE: Create a major new ‘Green Halo’ space Within 24 months and corridor off Moorend Lane between Edge Hill/ skateboard park and Ham Wood as a green space/ nature reserve area OBJECTIVE: Maintain momentum, celebrate successes, share best practices and engage the public Action: Explore funding opportunities through TOE (Trust for Oxfordshire Environment) and others.
Action:Identify opportunities under Indicative timescale new legislation. Depends on future of former waste site and OCC plans Indicative timescale
Ongoing
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 25 1.7 Cycling | Awareness & Encouragement
Cycling awareness and encouragement at individual level
OBJECTIVE: Greater OBJECTIVE: Higher standards awareness of the value and and confidence in cycling as a benefits of cycling. safe means of travel.
Action: Encourage Action: Build cycling responsible cycling in and skills by 1:1 or group around the town. Bike-ability training, family events, holiday club, and Indicative timescale maintenance training. Within 6/12 months Indicative timescale
Ongoing Action: Provide information and raise awareness through Action: Help cycling to be printed and online more visible and a regular materials, town signage presence in the town centre. and general promotion. Indicative timescale
Indicative timescale Within 12/24 months Within 12 months Action: Link to advice on cycling equipment and cycle OBJECTIVE: Sustained maintenance (e.g. incl. pop- behavioural change. up maintenance workshops in town centre).
Indicative timescale Action: Discuss the creation of a Bicycle Within 12/24 months Mayor role for the town (https://bycs.org/). OBJECTIVE: New ways Indicative timescale of travelling for the next generation – and others – to Within 12/24 months benefit the wider community
Action: Engage with Action: Promote school businesses to promote travel plans, cycle ‘bike to work’ schemes champions, Bicycle User and promote cycling to Groups (BUGs), including the employees. introduction of ‘bike busses’ to help increase safety of Indicative timescale children until infrastructure Within 12/24 months is improved. Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months
Photo Credit: Amy Shayler (Competition winner)
Page 26: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 1.8 Cycling | Town Centre
Cycling in Thame Town Centre (See also Air Quality section)
OBJECTIVE: Make the town OBJECTIVE: Maintain and OBJECTIVE: Reduction of vehicle centre more pedestrian and improve the safety and air through-traffic in town centre cycle-friendly. quality of the town centre to keep to help towards wider objectives Thame a desirable and vibrant and reduce noise and impact/ place to visit, live and work vibration damage to roads and buildings
Action: Enhance Action: Examine Action: Establish Action: Take steps Action: Consider cycling by options for principle of to discourage and consult on a dedicated or infrastructure ‘prioritising vehicles driving 20mph speed limit segregated cycle changes to the pedestrians over unnecessarily across Thame town routes in key areas High Street to cyclists, over through the centre centre. reduce car use and buses, over private of town. Indicative Indicative through-traffic vehicles’ in the Indicative timescale generally. town. timescale timescale Consultation Consultation Indicative Indicative within 24 months Consultation within 24 months timescale timescale within 24 months Consultation Consultation within 24 months within 24 months
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 27 1.9 Cycling | Broader Thame
Action: Improve cycling Indicative timescale Thame Centre as a hub connections from all Within 12/24 months for the town residential parts of Thame.
Action: Follow up direct cycle Indicative timescale routes from new estates. OBJECTIVE: More short-distance Within 12/24 months travel by cycle rather than by car (for those able to do so), for Action: Improve bike access Indicative timescale example from homes within to and from Moreton. Thame. Within 12/24 months
Action: Undertake a bike rack audit of potential locations to OBJECTIVE: Clearer connections provide more racks and their spread around the town, including and route signage into town near social destinations, such as cafes and the library. centre, with cycle route continuity – without gaps. Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months OBJECTIVE: Good surfaces, without obstructions, with safe Action: Consider provision of Indicative timescale road crossings for all levels of bike tool stations mobility. Within 12/24 months
Action: Develop metrics for Indicative timescale monitoring short journeys. Within 12/24 months
OBJECTIVE: Safe routes to school and other key facilities and destinations
Action: Consider and consult on the following options to create safer and more direct links:
Set up a Create Protect Prioritise Development Assess priority cycle advantages Windmill Road cycling on of the Cattle improvements route through for walkers and Nelson North Street to Market site to to Oxford Road, Thame to link and cyclists Street as key connect with incorporate to replace up between the e.g. priority, cycling routes Lea Park, access and prioritise current road Phoenix Trail shortcuts, & as part of a link to Barley Hill cycle and foot markings and (and points designated between the School and access, both to create safer off it) on one crossings with Phoenix Trail beyond. and through the alternatives side and the clear signage. and the town site. for access to skateboard centre. Lord Williams’s Indicative park/ Tythrop School and Notes Notes Way/ potential timescale recent housing Haddenham May Dependent on 18/24 months developments. Greenway access depend SODC plans to Thame on the on routes other through Elms Park when Indicative developed timescale
Within 2-4 years
Page 28: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan THAME 1.10 Cycling | Local Connections
Connections with Thame Thame
OBJECTIVE: Enhance Thame as a OBJECTIVE: Easier travel OBJECTIVE: Good surfaces, hub for the surrounding towns/ into Thame from nearby without obstructions, with safe villages to reduce reliance on communities by foot or cycle, road crossings for all levels of cars to access Thame. rather than car. mobility.
Action: Develop a walkers/ Action: Continue to press Action: Provide a safe crossing cyclists welcome scheme. for construction of planned of the ring road for the 'old ‘Greenway’ between Haddenham road' route to Long Crendon and Indicative timescale and Thame, (including a safe add cycle route where it meets Within 12/18 months crossing of Tythrop Way.) B4011.
Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Priority but dependent on Oxon/ Within 24 months Bucks County plans
1.11 Cycling | Ideas for the Future
A dedicated cycle Improving the Extensions to the route along the Aylesbury Road Phoenix Trail high street roundabout
OBJECTIVE: An extension of the Phoenix Trail that will connect OBJECTIVE: A viable and safe OBJECTIVE: Improve the with the Oxford cycle route. route to encourage all to cycle roundabout to allow better Other linkages that improve more. vehicle traffic flow and to be cycling options from Thame safe for cyclists (if alternative cycling routes aren’t available) Action: Develop a suitable Action: Promote extension of dedicated and protected cycle the Phoenix Trail to Wheatley and connect to Oxford. route though the town centre Action: Redevelop the A418/ and beyond. Tythrop Way (Travelodge) Indicative timescale roundabout to encourage Indicative timescale Within 2-5 years traffic to use the ring road Link to new Neighbourhood rather than travel through Plan the town centre. Action: Build on the success of the Phoenix trail - Consult with Indicative timescale SUSTRANS. Dependent on Highway Indicative timescale Authority action Within 2-5 years
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 29 1.12 Walking | Individual, Communal And Shorter-Term Actions - Thame Town
OBJECTIVE: Improved non-polluting means of getting around to limit Encouragement high-level and street pollution. for walking OBJECTIVE: Establish a strong walking culture in and around Thame, including children and young people, based on four principles:
1. Viability. Walking 2. Health. Promoting 3. Safety. Making routes giving the most awareness and use of the pedestrians feel safe. direct access to the town health benefits of walking 4. Signage. Showing centre with suitable and fresh air plus access main routes and walking priority for pedestrians. to the countryside. times.
Action: Improve signage for pedestrians through key Action: Estate footpaths - take all reasonably town centre areas, including practicable steps incl. with SODC to:
• Signposts to key town locations a) enforce proper completion and opening of footpaths • Key link routes and the Phoenix Trail through and around the three most recent major • Lea Park and other major housing areas development sites (known as C, D and F) in accordance with terms of their respective planning consents, • Walking times to key destinations b) develop more direct routes into town where possible, Indicative timescale c) have these adequately maintained. In hand with wayfinding project 6-24 months Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months Action: Inner Thame Circuit. A new inner circuit route connecting St Mary’s, Lea Park, the Phoenix Action: Walkers’ group – consider promoting a Trail and the Cuttle Brook area new group of walkers dedicated to walking in and • develop route and directions immediately around Thame to pursue these ideas and • publish details in new town leaflet encourage more, etc.
Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Completed Within 12/24 months
Action: Establish priorities and protocols between Action: Safe routes to school – Seek volunteers to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users on Phoenix Trail promote and organise walking buses and other forms and other key routes. of safe routes to school, including prioritising key routes for children to stay safe. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 12/24 months Within 12/24 months
Action: Lea Park - Identify and prioritise key walking routes into town and elsewhere. Action: Encourage schools and sports clubs to encourage walking as part of an overall exercise and Indicative timescale well-being plan. Completed in conjunction with LPRA Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
Page 30: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 1.13 Walking | Safety And Security – Town Centre And Community – Longer-Term
Action: Consider and consult on the following options: Prioritising the • a policy for ‘prioritising pedestrians over cyclists, over buses, over safety and security vehicles’ in the town centre of pedestrians in the • broader pavements (a green corridor) to and through the town centre town Town Centre and other • suitable road crossings at key points to ensure safe walking areas of Thame corridors • a 20 mph limit through Thame and on selected roads to enhance safety • level pavements/ surfaces to eliminate trip hazards (throughout OBJECTIVE: To encourage those and especially on access walkways through Lea Park) walking in and around town to • Cut back vegetation impinging on paths feel safe and secure in doing so • Survey and establish clear pavement and road markings to indicate see also cycling 1.7 & 1.8 pedestrian priorities • Develop road signage at key junctions warning drivers of the new priorities OBJECTIVE: To have Thame • Consider suitable low level lighting to encourage greater use of town centre seen as a relaxed passageways etc. and healthy environment and • Review and replace as necessary over time pavement furniture a good place in which to spend acting as obstacles to pedestrians or sight lines more quality time. • Where dual use, establish priorities and protocols between pedestrians, cyclists, mobility scooters and other non-vehicle users. • Ensure safe walking routes through redeveloped Cattle Market site Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months. Timescales for implementation will depend on local authority approvals and budgets
Action: Add new or improved footpaths (with suitable habitat protection where applicable) across Rycote Meadow and alongside or close to the proposed Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve extension towards Moreton
Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months
Action: Integrate all these proposals within consultation on a proposed composite Thame Travel and Transport Plan Indicative timescale
Within 12-24 months
Action: Develop links with Estate management companies once they have taken over communal grounds and facilities to encourage best practice and opening up of travel connections
Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 31 1.14 Walking | The Wider Community – Thame’s Environs
OBJECTIVE: Good surfaces and safe road crossings for Thame Town’s connections with all levels of mobility. the surrounding communities
Action: Tythrop Way and Moorend Lane. Re-align footpath adjacent to skateboard park OBJECTIVE: Longer walks available from and around to permit use of traffic lights to access Moorend Thame to encourage more people to extend their Lane and routes beyond range and enjoy the local countryside Indicative timescale
Possible now – do within 6 months Action: Outer Thame Circuit. A new 20-mile outer loop around Thame on existing public footpaths, connecting outlying villages and using Action: Access to Long Crendon. Urgently plan public transport, with 7-9 miles ‘segments’ for new pedestrian crossing/ refuge over A418 connecting into Thame by-pass at route of Old Crendon Road to facilitate safe access to/from Long Crendon • develop route and directions Indicative timescale • publish route and directions as town leaflet and encourage use by all local communities Issue to be taken up with OCC
Indicative timescale
Completed. Publish within 12 months
OBJECTIVE: Thame as a stronger hub with improving Action: Haddenham and Thame ‘Greenway’ – connections to surrounding towns/villages and continue to press for implementation of planned countryside ( see cycling 1.9) route, including access to and through Thame / links to both town centres and H&T train station, to include safe crossing of Tythrop Way.
OBJECTIVE: Encourage those living outside but close Indicative timescale to Thame to walk or cycle, rather than drive, into and out of town – enhancing Thame’s air quality Now under active planning priority but dependent on Oxon/Bucks county plans
1.15 Walking | Ideas for the Future THE Mid-Thame circuit
OBJECTIVE: Develop an aspirational Action: Plan and seek to protect a route: mid-length riverside/ countryside • include within Neighbourhood Plan circuit around Thame’s immediate • seek initial discussions with landowners environs, using new estate riverside • assess and plan potential funding sources walks and natural features of the surrounding open land Indicative timescale
2-5 years
Page 32: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 2: Water and Flood Protection
Water is essential for life and an increasingly in mitigating the worst effects of flooding, both in precious resource. We must learn how to use it built-up areas and in preserving our floodplains as wisely, conserve it and take steps to ensure that essential parts of overall flood management. there are adequate future supplies for all. We also In all this we also want to support our local need water to be clean, which means encouraging a charitable organisations: clean water mind-set to assist long term health. • the River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT) Part of this means doing what we can to • the Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers discourage any kind of water pollution which can (CBCV) have disastrous effects in and around our rivers who are helping to ensure these principles apply and on life itself. to Thame’s greatest natural water assets, The At the same time, and with more extreme weather River Thame, the Cuttle Brook and Kingsey now a regular feature of life, we need to be vigilant Cuttle Brook.
Key Issues
• Water as a resource – an essential but limited resource for all life forms • Clean Water – ensure water in our taps and rivers is clean and safe for consumption • Flooding and Drainage – effective flood management remains vital
Photo Credit: Richard Duckham
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 33 2.1 Water Awareness | Individual Actions
Understanding that domestic water supplies are a precious resource
OBJECTIVE: Better awareness, OBJECTIVE: Minimised risk of water conservation and management of rationing by effective home water domestic water usage. management.
Action: Organise water awareness Action: Share successful methods events in Thame and local schools for reduction of home water usage: • Understanding why we need to • Posts on TGL website conserve water. or Facebook page • Practical demonstrations – seek ‘watersavinghacks’ etc to engage Thames Water (TW). • Reader tips included in TTC • Use TW website tool to calculate newsletter. and manage water consumption. • Setting targets for reduced water use. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 12/24 months Within 6/12 months
2.2 Flood Control And Drainage | Individual Actions Flood Control and Drainage Avoiding water pollution
OBJECTIVE: Wider use of porous surfaces for OBJECTIVE: Increased rainfall storage and run-off driveways, paths and patios in private gardens to capture in domestic gardens. reduce rainwater run-off
Action: Awareness and information to help Action: Awareness and information to help individuals make good choices for patio and individuals make the right choices when making garden water storage. changes to driveways, paths and patios. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 18/24 months Within 18/24 months
Action: Maintain campaigns that ‘only rain goes down the drain’ and promote responsible disposal of harmful products. Indicative timescale
Within 18/24months
Page 34: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 2.3 Water Awareness | Community And Infrastructure Actions
Understanding why clean rivers and streams are an important natural resource
Action: Elevate conservation profiles - of the OBJECTIVE: A heightened awareness by River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT) and individuals and families of the River Thame as Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers (CBCV) a valuable local amenity and general links with biodiversity parties by: • Public Talks and Walks around the River Thame and Cuttle Brook - supported by RTCT OBJECTIVE: An increased awareness of the role and CBCV etc., especially at weekends and of clean water in biodiversity, carbon capture school holidays and quality of life • Encouraging more volunteers to engage with RTCT and CBCV and their work, to build understanding of the link between water as a shared resource for biodiversity and people. Indicative timescale
Within 6/12 months
OBJECTIVE: Helping ensure that Thame OBJECTIVE: Encourage all new developments to continues to have an adequate and sustainable include water saving measures water supply
Action: Neighbourhood Plan to stress Action: Liaise with SODC and others to seek importance of clarity with Thame Water as obligations for new domestic and business to adequacy of water supplies and drainage properties to include water saving measures services before further development is such as water storage tanks, water harvesting, permitted. and grey water use. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 1-2 years Within 2-5 years
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 35 2.4 Flood Control And Drainage | Community And Infrastructure Actions
Clean Water
OBJECTIVE: Public Water OBJECTIVE: Reduced flooding and Fountains to encourage use of run-off pollution refillable bottles.
Action: Encourage support Action: Discuss options with from local landowners in TTC and TW for installation cutting back on agricultural of fountains in the centre of chemicals to reduce polluting Thame, Thame parks and other run-off and improve water public spaces. quality. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 1/2 years Within 1/2 years
Action: Press for scrutiny of OBJECTIVE: Support the work of planning applications and the River Thame Conservation on-site follow up to ensure Trust, RTCT. compliance Indicative timescale
Action: Help increase Within 1/2 years community awareness of the need for effective and ongoing flood management. Action: Support better construction methods to Indicative timescale mitigate risks of run-off Within 1/2 years flooding from driveways, paths, patios etc. Indicative timescale
Within 1/2 years
2.5 Water | Ideas for the Future LINKS TO OUR NATURAL WATER SOURCES
OBJECTIVE:Establish a fuller understanding of Action: Ongoing reminders and awareness. Always water resources in Oxfordshire, the risks of future consider water as an essential resource and seeing drought and the vital nature of available clean our town in the wider national and regional context water to life. Indicative timescale
Ongoing
Page 36: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 3: Clean Air and Pollution
Clean air should be the entitlement of all. We look out to blue skies or grey clouds and think there is clean air between us and them. But that’s rarely the case. Our air is increasingly full of gases and particles that we can’t see or even smell but which can harm us.
In view of the potential impact for making changes that will improve air quality, particular attention is given here to building support across the community, as outlined below. Key Issues Light and noise pollution are associated issues. ‘Light blight’ is increasingly recognised for its • Awareness and understanding – detrimental impact on wildlife and humans, understanding what we have to deal with with environmental and scientific organisations • Individual actions – practical things we continuing to sound warnings about it. Disruption of can do now, which will also encourage sleep is a concern, as is the impact on creatures and others eco-systems. Solutions are readily available. • Community and infrastructure projects – what we need to think about communally and plan ahead for • Developing a widely supported movement for change – with broad appeal
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 37 3.1 Clean Air & Pollution | Initial steps 3.2 Clean Air & Pollution | Individual actions
AWARENESS & UNDERSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS WHICH CAN ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO MAKE CHANGES OBJECTIVE: Improve understanding of the key issues by producing authoritative reference sources, including leaflets and website posts, on key air quality (AQ) issues. CREATING A Healthier Town Centre
OBJECTIVE: Reduce air pollution through Action: Produce leaflets and website information on: better driving
• CO2 impact on global • sources / dispersal warming of pollution Action: Promote the following • medical risks from • practical carbon capture • Drive more smoothly and slowly black carbon • light pollution • Switch to a more efficient model • household pollutants • Turn off engine – don’t idle Indicative timescale • Use car parks away from the High Within 6 months Street • Use ring road, not town centre Indicative timescale
OBJECTIVE: Assess the extent of the problem by Can be done now establishing metrics for tracking the level of pollution in Thame and its potential impact. Cleaner ‘outside’ Air
OBJECTIVE: Create cleaner ‘outside air’ using Action: Undertake the following more carbon capture or offset mechanisms • Selective AQ monitoring • Collect examples of in key areas as available personal experiences at modest cost • Seek medical advice & Action: Promote the following • Traffic surveys at peak support • Plant trees, hedges, shrubs at home times • Build a model of pollution see also Green Spaces focus area levels and times • Buy carbon offsets Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 12 months Can be done now
OBJECTIVE: Create suitable events to encourage people to NOISE POLLUTION learn more and engage with others. OBJECTIVE: Respect others and reduce all unnecessary or untimely noise
Action: One or more Action: Promote awareness suitable public events of light pollution including Action: Take precautions by such as a carbon cutting the CPRE guidance relevant to • not using noisy equipment unless workshop along the lines led planning decisions. https:// necessary in Henley, possibly as part of www.cpre.org.uk/resources/ • not using equipment at antisocial times Green Living Week. light-pollution-as-a-statutory- • shielding noise where possible nuisance-a-how-to-guide/ Indicative timescale • warning neighbours where applicable Indicative timescale Within 12 months Indicative timescale Within 12 months Can be done now
Page 38: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan Transport and Travel LIGHT POLLUTION
OBJECTIVE: Create greater OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE: Acknowledge awareness of and seek reduction More exercise Less use of and mitigate light pollution. of carbon emissions and for better polluting Recognise serious effect on greenhouse gases from holiday health vehicles. human sleep patterns and and business travel health and breeding patterns of insects and mammals.
Action: Promote the following Action: Promote the following • Don’t fly unless you must • Don’t use the car unless Action: Take remedial or take steps to reduce your essential measures flights • Walk/cycle (allow time!) • reduce pollution from • Use Skype, Zoom or video • Use train/ bus (get more done) outside/ security lights conferencing more • Go electric • avoid upwards-facing • Don’t drive if you don’t need • Car share outside lights to – unless there are several • check positioning and Indicative timescale of you control of street lights • Book trains early for better Can be done now • install light timers fares • use less intense and • Adjust your mindset – change warm (not cool) lights your mode of travel and take • use curtains and blinds time to enjoy the journey to shield lights • If you can’t avoid plane or Indicative timescale car, cut back elsewhere and consider paying for carbon Can be done now offsets through one of several providers Indicative timescale
Can be done now
Cleaner Air at Home Action: Promote the following • Reduce open frying of food • Don’t use log fires except OBJECTIVE: Less agricultural • Reduce meat/ dairy with kiln-dried wood carbon consumption • Install better home • Reduce use of tumble dryers etc. insulation OBJECTIVE: Healthier cooking • Cut back harmful sprays • Turn down heating Indicative timescale
OBJECTIVE: Avoiding Can be done now polluting home products
Action: Consider replacing gas-fired or oil-fired boilers, e.g. with OBJECTIVE: Reduce home heat ‘Air Source’ or ‘Ground Source’ Heat Pumps without polluting loss & exhaust gases from boilers exhaust gases Indicative timescale
OBJECTIVE: Update boilers With 2/5 years
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 39 3.3 Clean Air & Pollution | Develop a Movement
Develop A Widely Supported Movement For Change On Air Quality
Action: Progress the following 1 BUILD awareness • Summarise the options available (see below) and their respective benefits/ drawbacks OBJECTIVE: Establish a fuller local • Hold a town hall Clean Air / carbon awareness and understanding of the workshop event with discussion dangers of air pollution and the options • Plan a Thame Green Living Week – say, with available to improve local air quality a different emphasis each day (see below) Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
Schools Action: Progress the following • Approach headteachers and school governors OBJECTIVE: Improved understanding of the for their active involvement issues at teacher and student level • Plan school projects to increase awareness of issues – including school gates pollution OBJECTIVE: Fresh thinking and ideas that • Encourage parents to walk children to school or appeal to a younger group. seek practical solutions • Promote a ‘walking bus’ and similar schemes
OBJECTIVE: Agreement and volunteer Indicative timescale support to effect change. Within 12 months
Action: Identify the main users / owners of petrol Businesses & public transport vehicles and diesel commercial vehicles and consider their likely needs and options. Contact Arriva and other bus/coach and taxi companies OBJECTIVE: Consider the needs of business and commercial vehicle users plus public Indicative timescale transport owners Within 6 months
4 REFINE THE VISION & STRATEGY 5 Consultation on updated thinking
OBJECTIVE: To refine the outline OBJECTIVE: To assess community readiness for vision and draft strategy for Thame change and preference for options available to transport based on findings to date inform new transport strategy for Thame
Action: Progress the following Action: Progress the following • Review all information received • Set up consultation • Summarise responses sessions/ surveys for transport strategy • Consider other responses received to date for views on vision, • Communicate findings • Refine vision in light of findings proposals and options to all Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 24 months Within 24 months
Page 40: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan Action: Progress the following 2 CREATE Vision and outline strategy • Agree parameters for vision • Seek levels of agreement on • Prepare outline ideas and possible actions OBJECTIVE: Put in place a shared options • Engage graphic designers and aspirational vision and • Engage interested parties to assist consultation and framework to build a strategy for consider range of media Thame as a fully clean, green town. Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
Work with stakeholders and partners to test the options
Local authorities 3 Test the options
OBJECTIVE: Seek support (and clarify any limitations) OBJECTIVE: Observe and review the from OCC, SODC and other competent bodies practical impact of the options available.
Action: Progress the following Action: Progress the following • Promote the ‘cleaner, greener Thame’ • A trial no idling day for Thame message and principles with all relevant • A campaign involving volunteers authorities and publicity and volunteers at school gates • Engage at an early stage with SODC/OCC re parking/road/ highway strategies • A trial week for changing the pattern of school runs, including • Identify councillors and others able to help walking buses and less use of cars Indicative timescale • An electric vehicle (EV) open day in the town with test drive Within 12 months opportunities • An EV only day in town centre Indicative timescale
Within 6/12 months
New clean air transport strategy 6 Action: Finalise the green transport strategy in light of all information and responses received OBJECTIVE: Establish new ‘green’ Indicative timescale transport strategy for Thame to cover designated key areas. Within 24 months (by Dec 2022)
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 41 3.4 Clean Air & Pollution | Community and Infrastructure
CONSIDERATION OF COMMUNITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Traffic calming Parking and pollution
OBJECTIVE: Slower and OBJECTIVE: Reduce OBJECTIVE: Create OBJECTIVE: Avoid smoother running traffic to the High Street a new cleaner and growing frustration improve safety, reduce vehicle pollution caused by greener town centre by strengthening pollution and enhance the parking & waiting / without requiring illegal parking amenities of the town centre. manoeuvring to park major structural enforcement. change
Action: Consider the following options: • 20 mph zone in central Action: Investigate the feasibility and support for following options for and other congested areas Lower High Street (by Town Hall): • Remove speed humps in • No queuing permitted for parking spaces High Street • Realign parking (perhaps centrally) to enable fewer movements • Fewer turn-offs and pull- (perhaps in conjunction with a High Street one-way system) outs • Reduce number of parking spaces on the High Street itself • Better parking (see right) • Reduce parking time to 1 hr max to free spaces Indicative timescale • Prohibition on idling for cars, buses and trucks • Limit parking to disabled and electric cars Within 24 months • Consider steps needed to enforce effective control of the chosen options Indicative timescale
Within 2/4 years.
Traffic Zone OPTIONS SHARED STREETS and BROADER PAVEMENT OPTIONS
OBJECTIVE: Restrict the number or OBJECTIVE: Achieve OBJECTIVE: Create safer, healthier and type of vehicles allowed to travel less pollution, more more pleasant conditions for walking/ into or through the town centre, pavement space, cycling/ leisure in and around town while ensuring adequate parking greater safety and centre. close to shops and town centre add to town centre facilities for those who need it. vitality Action: Investigate the feasibility and support for following options • Priority for those on foot or bike Action: Investigate the feasibility and support for following • Segregated cycle lane options (and similar): • Wider pavements • One-way system in all or • Prohibit any vehicles except • More space for meeting and part of Lower High Street electric or mobility vehicles outdoor seating and surrounding roads or disabled badge holders • Access to town centre but from accessing the town Indicative timescale restrict ability to drive centre Within 12 months through the centre Indicative timescale
Within 12/24 months
(Note: this section sets out some of the options that might be considered in developing an Air Quality and Green Transport Plan as referred to in 3.3)
Page 42: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 3.5 Clean Air & Pollution | Ideas for the Future
THE TOWN CENTRE WE WISH WORKING TOWARDS CARBON TO HAVE IN 2030 NEUTRALITY FOR THAME
OBJECTIVE: Start the thinking early so OBJECTIVE: Establish OBJECTIVE: Recognise that developments can take place in a a realistic target date that this will be a timely and coordinated way. for carbon neutrality significant commitment and how this can be which will need careful achieved analysis and planning Action: Review clean air and transport plan ideas with proposals for cleaner, safer walking and cycling, safe mobility scooter and electric vehicle use, more greenery and an Action: Pursue specific Action: Set up open and vibrant town centre area for recommended actions in • a comprehensive carbon a broad range of uses and activities. this plan to contribute to audit or similar exercise decarbonisation Indicative timescale to establish the main To be agreed Indicative timescale local sources of carbon emissions To be agreed • suitable metrics to measure and monitor ongoing levels • practical implementation steps & timelines • suitable links with local authority and government policies and initiatives Indicative timescale
To be agreed
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 43 4: Energy, Energy Efficiency & Electric Vehicles
There is potential for delivering many benefits regarding how we use energy, the types of Key Issues technology and controls that we adopt, the sources of the energy we use, and the extent to which • Energy awareness – Improved we ‘flex’ the timing of our use of energy, local understanding of energy uses generation and, in the future, energy storage. and options • Energy efficiency and The benefits include: sustainability – Exploring and • Smarter use of energy resulting in better value implementing better energy for money choices • Greater take-up of sustainable energy and • Clean transport – Promoting electric vehicles with all their advantages steps to encourage electric vehicle use • Greener transport and home heating to support cleaner air and reduce global warming • Low carbon energy sources – Practical guidance on clean • The opportunity for community investment in energy for homes and businesses local clean energy sources
Photo Credit: Richard Duckham
Note: AN ENERGY STRATEGY is now available on the Thame Green Living web site to ensure a joined-up approach to energy initiatives in Thame.
Page 44: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 4.1 Awareness & Understanding Of The Opportunities
Energy Awareness
OBJECTIVE: Involve more people in using energy OBJECTIVE: Establish easy access to relevant more efficiently information and mechanisms for questions and follow up
Action: Have a presence Action: Provide printed Action: Encourage Action: Organise an at town events such as and online materials discussion and follow-up EV awareness event in the summer carnival and that prompt ideas for via TGL Facebook page Thame and publicise EV the Christmas lights. individual actions. and website. test drive opportunities. (see 4.4.) Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Within 12 months
OBJECTIVE: Establish a green profile for Thame in OBJECTIVE: Publish an Energy Strategy for Thame to energy, for all who live, work or visit here ensure a coherent longer-term approach
Action: Make Thame energy initiatives visible, Action: Publish and circulate the draft energy for example EV chargers signposted and with TTC strategy for information and comment, available on & TGL ‘branding’. TGL website. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 6 months Available on TGL website
and Action: Establish a community energy company Action: Identify sources of expertise possible future energy project partners. for Thame (by linking with established regional models or otherwise). Indicative timescale
Indicative timescale Within 12 months Within 12 months
Action: build on consultation feedback consistent with TTC and GLP strategy and lessons from practical projects. Indicative timescale
Within 6/12 months
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 45 4.2 Individual Actions
Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
OBJECTIVE: Promote personal actions that can OBJECTIVE: Improve the energy efficiency of existing improve energy efficiency homes
Action: Provide pamphlets and website Action: Flag up government grants and information, including FB posts and promotion programmes for individual homes (as part of the at events. government Net Zero programme). Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Ongoing Within 6/12 months
Action: Encourage use of Smart Meters to take Action: Identify Retrofit work programmes advantage of new services and deals. elsewhere that might be suitable for Thame. e.g. Indicative timescale Better Homes Better Health and Cosy Homes. Ongoing Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
Action: Seek a link with Citizens Advice to assist their work in this area. Indicative timescale
Within 6 months
Page 46: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 4.3 Community & Infrastructure Actions
Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
OBJECTIVE: Encourage businesses to improve their OBJECTIVE: Achieve improvements to the energy energy efficiency efficiency of new homes and businesses
Action: Link with TTC Business Forum to raise Action: Encourage developers to build-in PV on awareness of free energy audits and grants for suitable roofs, provide EV charging, and consider making energy improvements. e.g. at a Business solar roofs for walkways and awnings. Breakfast event. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 18 months Within 6 months
Action: Encourage local contractors to support OBJECTIVE: Explore options that will enable TTC a ‘connected homes’ initiative through training to improve the energy efficiency of their estate, and business partnering. vehicles and the town infrastructure Indicative timescale
Within 12/18 months Action: Identify opportunities for free energy surveys and grants available to TTC. e.g. SALIX. Action: Support wider national moves to Indicative timescale improve building standards. Within 3 months Indicative timescale
Within 12/18 months
Action: Look at best practices elsewhere (e.g. LEDs for street lighting, security lighting, and Action: Input to the revised Neighbourhood restricted hours for street lighting). Plan to shape policy positions. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 6 months Within 3 months
4.4 Individual Actions Action: Organise an EV awareness day and test drives for personal transport (e.g. MK’s EV Experience Centre and local EV drivers and car Clean PERSONAL Transport clubs) . Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
OBJECTIVE: Establish greater awareness and uptake of green transport for personal and Action: Track developments in cleaner business use (including electric and hydrogen commercial transport (e.g. Battery and fuelled vehicles) Hydrogen vehicles) and alert local businesses. Indicative timescale
Within 18 months
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 47 4.5 Community & Infrastructure Actions
CLEAN TRANSPORT IN THE COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE: Establish if feasible a local EV car club as part of cleaner air and greener lifestyles
Action: Research EV car Action: Assess local interest in a clubs (incl. Bucks and Oxon Thame EV Car Club. organisations). Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 6 months Within 3 months
OBJECTIVE: Establish if feasible an EV car-pooling/ OBJECTIVE: Encourage business Vehicle Fleet sharing in Thame conversion to EVs
Action: Find out more about EV car-pooling Action: Work through TTC Business Forum to including local examples e.g. Co-wheels in Oxford, present information and impartial advice. Zipcar, Enterprise car club, and Tuo (peer to peer). Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 12 months Within 3 months
OBJECTIVE: Greater provision of business EV charging for their staff and visitors
Action: Work with TTC Business Forum to present Action: Set up a business breakfast meeting to information and impartial advice. introduce key concepts / link with specialists. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 6 months Within 6 months
Page 48: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan OBJECTIVE: Make it easier for Thame’s community organisations to make decisions about installing EV chargers
Action: Provide information on Action: Provide a simple Action: Link interested TGL website and FB. check list of starting points for parties who are willing to share organisations to consider. experience. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 3 months Within 3 months Within 3 months
OBJECTIVE: Press for ‘smart ready’ EV chargers, geared to the local power grid to minimise upgrades, that have simple (contactless) payment .
Action: Consider these Action: Consider adding these Action: Recommend business requirements for TTC-initiated requirements to NP2 policy for conversion to EV Fleets or charging points. car parks, homes and businesses. workplace charging for staff Indicative timescale Indicative timescale and visitors.
Ongoing Within 3 months Indicative timescale Within 3 months
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 49 4.6 Community & Infrastructure Actions
Low Carbon Energy Sources
OBJECTIVE: Establish relationships with local OBJECTIVE: Speed up change to low-carbon fuels for commercial-scale clean energy production in and domestic, business and other buildings around Thame
Action: Track developments and experience in Action: Link up with the owners of the local PV heat pumps and other alternatives as low carbon arrays near Towersey and Ilmer villages. alternatives to gas and oil for heating. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 6 months Ongoing
Action: Explore guided visits and real time Action: Review government grants and information (e.g. with schools and others). installation trials and programmes and whether Indicative timescale Thame might benefit from participating. Within 6 months Indicative timescale
Ongoing
OBJECTIVE: Make it easier for local domestic clean energy production to be installed in and OBJECTIVE: Encourage other property owners to around Thame install clean energy (e.g. schools, offices, and sports and council buildings)
Action: Monitor costs of home solar PV and, when viable, hold a PV awareness event and link Action: Track economics of larger solar PV with providers and installers. installations; where viable, hold a PV awareness event with links to providers and installers. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Ongoing Ongoing
Action: Monitor ‘whole street’ PV discounts (incl. experience elsewhere (e.g. Green Group's Solar Action: Explore opportunities for solar roofs, for Streets). example car parks or shopping walkways. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 12 months Within 12 months
Action: Seek co-operation to produce ‘case Action: Seek Neighbourhood Plan support for studies’ of local domestic installations for siting of new installations – including large practicalities and economics. solar roofs and community funded installations. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 6/12 months To be agreed
Page 50: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 4.7 Ideas for the Future
HIGH STREET POWER SUPPLIES
OBJECTIVE: Seek support for establishing a OBJECTIVE: Reduce the need for noisy and community-funded large-scale energy development polluting diesel generators when a fairground in Thame. is in the High Street
Action: Check options for new commercial Action: Consider if power supplies can be scale renewable energy: generation (solar made available in the High Street, perhaps or wind), energy storage, and ability to offer linked to EV chargers, that could replace flexibility. Include opportunities for new polluting diesel generators at Thame Fairs. building developments that could include large solar roofs, perhaps community funded Indicative timescale installations. Within 24 months Indicative timescale
Within 24 months Action: Consult via TTC with fairground operators as to viability and cost. Indicative timescale Action: Work with an established organisation, To be agreed such as the Low Carbon Hub in Oxford or the Community Energy Society being established in Henley, to gain access to professional expertise (technical, financial, and legal). TRADING LOCAL ENERGY Indicative timescale
Ongoing
OBJECTIVE: Create OBJECTIVE: Make ways of surplus surplus energy energy being traded available to national locally to share energy markets to the benefits of earn a return renewable sources
Action: Look into trading energy locally, both within Thame and with national markets, to provide a financial return. This might include energy from solar panels, or energy in EVs or home batteries. This could form part of a ‘community energy’ initiative, a number of which are under way nationally. Indicative timescale
Dependent on market and technological developments
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 51 5: Waste avoidance, Waste management and Recycling
We live in a consumer society that has increasingly consequence are we in what we eat and through the come to produce more than we collectively need. The air that we breathe. result is that many of us frequently buy more than The huge volume of all waste and packaging we require, leading to an excess that is often thrown currently generated threatens to overwhelm our away. Alongside this are two related factors. One is communal ability to dispose of it effectively and the level of packaging, sometimes multiple layers, safely. How we limit and deal with waste is therefore surrounding much of what we buy. The other is something that affects us all and is also something that we are often induced to buy more than we need each of us can proactively remedy by applying the by promotional offers or sometimes simply being principles of the ‘Circular Economy’. unable to buy smaller quantities. Further, we have moved away from being a ‘repair society’ towards a ‘throw-away society’, with consequent effects.
Apart from the sheer waste, much packaging is plastic, and of the 360 million metric tonnes of plastic produced annually (Statista 2020), it’s estimated that 40% is used once only (‘single-use plastic’). Plastic degrades extremely slowly, if at all, and can cause immense damage to rivers and marine life. Increasingly, and as a direct result, animals are also ingesting tiny particles of plastic and so in
Photo Credit: Stephen Fielding
Key Issues
Reducing Waste Increasing Recycling • Buying less – only • Using less – throw • Awareness – buy what we need, away less, repair individuals and in the quantities we rather than replace businesses need • Minimising waste • Efficiency – easy • Buying better – – encourage the steps to improve minimise carbon ‘circular economy’ what we do costs and reduce • Sustaining Efficiency packaging – challenge ourselves further and build on success
Page 52: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 5.1 Individual Actions 5.2 Community and infrastructure actions Reduce Waste & make informed Reduce waste by repair and better purchasing decisions use of products
OBJECTIVE: Increase awareness of how to OBJECTIVE: Reduce the volume of ‘broken’ items thrown create garden compost from ‘food waste’ away by greater use of repairs
Action: Information campaigns on how Action: Repair or repurpose broken items to re-use unavoidable ‘food waste’ in a • encourage local focus groups to hold Saturday repair beneficial way - information programmes workshops for sewing, gadgets, wooden items etc in the held at schools and public meetings Town Hall. supported by gardening/allotment groups. • encourage the use of online sites to find ways to repair Indicative timescale and reuse items e.g. Pinterest, Buzzfeed YouTube etc by advertising these on TGL FB page, TTC newsletter and on Within 6 months LWS website. • explore the setting up of a ‘Mend Shed’ group in Thame. OBJECTIVE: Increase awareness of the Indicative timescale benefits of better planning to buy only Within 6 months what we need
Action: Encourage campaigns to OBJECTIVE: Encourage local businesses to replace all monitor how much waste we produce single-use plastics with reusable alternatives. and aim to reduce it by:
• buying products with ‘plastic free’ Action: Hold Business Breakfast briefings to share best packaging only. practices for plastic waste reduction in local businesses • weighing the packaging we put in the • develop a questionnaire/help-sheet to share with the bin daily and aiming to reduce by 50%. wider business community for plastic and other waste • aiming to have a ‘plastic free home’ reduction practices. by joining and sharing ideas on • open discussions with local supermarkets on how to Plastic-Free Thame FB and other minimise all product packaging. relevant websites Indicative timescale • using the local market and specialist shops to help buy the right quantities Within 6 months of products and avoiding pre- packaged products. • using local farm shops to obtain fresh OBJECTIVE: Promote waste reduction by implementing the and locally sourced products . principles of the ‘Circular Economy’ into local businesses • cutting back on cooked food waste.
Indicative timescale Action: Launch awareness campaign to all local businesses on how to keep items in a perpetual loop of use and re-use Within 6 months • TTC Business Website to support local businesses with informative briefings and useful links. Action: Only buy what we really need • Local businesses encouraged to share implementation save money by seeing if you have and successes. something else that will do the same job. Indicative timescale
Indicative timescale Within 1/2 years Within 6 months
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 53 5.3 Individual, Community And Infrastructure Actions
RECYCLING AWARENESS
OBJECTIVE: Establish greater individual and OBJECTIVE: Establish a good level of recycling across community awareness of what and how to recycle all local businesses and seek greater involvement of young people.
Action: Work with TTC councillors and the Thame Business Forum and interested parties to Action: Hold public awareness-raising events (e.g. outside major shops at a weekend) to carry out a voluntary audit of local business re- stimulate involvement. cycling practices. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 6 months Within 6/12 months
Action: Develop an easy way to capture Action: Develop a simple questionnaire, based local recycling data, e.g. by a short on-line on the community version, for local businesses, questionnaire via TTC newsletter. including a means of following up. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 6 months Within 6/12 months
Action: Invite local school children to design the Action: Raise awareness of Supply Chain Audits image for the on-line questionnaire. and the specialists who can assist with this. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale
Within 6 months Within 6/12 months
Action: Seek closer involvement of Lord Williams’s School, possibly via a student questionnaire. Indicative timescale
Within 6 months
OBJECTIVE: Research and review country-wide OBJECTIVE: Connect with local groups in recycling approaches Oxfordshire to learn from their experiences
Action: Undertake desktop Action: Connect with national Action: Liaise with 21C Thame research to develop a database of bodies, such as WRAP in and Plastic Free Thame to check best practice country-wide. Banbury, BioRegional and local alignment and offer support to county CAG groups. relevant aspects of their initiatives. Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Indicative timescale Within 12 months Within 12 months Within 12 months
Page 54: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan 5.4 Individual, Community & Infrastructure Actions 5.5 Community & Infrastructure Actions
RECYCLING EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINING RECYCLING EFFICIENCY CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS AND BUILDING ON SUCCESS
OBJECTIVE: Build meaningful recycling involvement across OBJECTIVE: Use evidence from experience the community to develop long term plans
Action: Raise awareness of Recycling as a major public Action: Develop management, opportunity by: consultation, metrics and feedback • Publishing questionnaire • Holding a competition structures to share success stories: results to keep the for ideas and ways to • Use interim progress to set longer- community informed. improve recycling rates. term goals. Indicative timescale • Develop metrics to monitor progress. Within 6/12 months • Form a ‘Recycling for Thame’ team of interested parties in the town, to meet, discuss, disseminate and OBJECTIVE: Encourage commercial recycling, household respond. recycling, and school and community initiatives • Communications through, for example, involvement at Action: Implement greater spread and sharing of community events (a float or stand recycling information by: at the Carnival?), public events – • Devising a Thame Town Council Recycling Award for best leafletting on weekends, music local business practice and community involvement. events etc. • Finding ways of publicly celebrating business benefits to Indicative timescale the community. Within 18/24 months • Promoting home recycling such as food composting and wormeries Indicative timescale
Within 12 months
5.6 Ideas for the Future Action: Track new energy developments, e.g. small-scale local generation from waste, to provide electricity, heat or hydrogen. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES Indicative timescale
FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT Within 24/36 months
Action: Consider eligibility for Thame to be a trial location OBJECTIVE: Keep an eye to the future for new technologies; this may provide openings for funding for emerging technologies that could through government innovation support and public grants. have application in Thame Indicative timescale
Within 24/36 months
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 55 Section 4: THE COMPOSITE ACTIONS SUMMARY SUMMARY This graphic illustrates key examples of recommended actions from the schedules in Section 3. It shows how they align with the five focus areas of the Green Living Plan, bringing out how the actions span the different areas. This “connectivity” is a key feature of the GLP.
SPACES, ROUTES & WATER & FLOOD EMISSIONS & ENERGY & ELECTRIC WASTE & BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION CLEAN AIR VEHICLES RECYCLING
Raise cycling Raise water Raise clean air Raise energy Raise waste awareness awareness awareness awareness awareness
Identify and drive down carbon emission to improve local air quality and reduce global warming
Plant trees and Conserve water Cut down car Switch to green Waste less,
SHORT TERM SHORT hedges use energy recycle more
Be more environmentally aware - walk & cycle more, Try electric Cut out single use public transport vehicles use plastic
Develop a composite action plan for Thame as a healthy and vibrant centre for walking, cycling, shopping, recreation and clean energy. Work together to make a cleaner, greener Thame a reality.
Find more spaces for biodiversity and Cut down on light and noise pollution Reduce packaging planting & carbon miles MEDIUM TERM MEDIUM Safer pathways Extend Cuttle Install EV chargers. Make full use of Explore a circular & crossings Brook Reserve smart meters economy
Establish a Greenway Route between Haddenham Station and Thame to benefit cycling, walking and biodiversity. Ensure connections with cycling and walking routes into and through Thame
Plant trees & Ensure clean Replace gas Boost solar Build a re-use living walls water for all boilers power economy LONGER TERM LONGER
Work towards carbon neutrality for the community of Thame. Develop a 'connected' plan of action and set a date for its achievement.
Page 56: Recommended Actions Thame Green Living Plan This plan is just the start. There is a real need now to have the much broader public engagement that will be necessary to realise many of the objectives of this plan. This affects us all. There is no need to feel powerless as we can, by working together, make the changes we need. We’d urge everyone who feels the same way to get in touch, through the council or via the town information office, the Thame Green Living website or Facebook page, or direct contact. Without you this plan will remain just another set of ideas.
Rather than think of the inconvenience, we should concentrate on the benefits that adopting the recommendations of this plan will give us. We have much to gain by working together – and face an immeasurable loss if we do not.
We sincerely thank all who have worked with us to help produce this plan, which has been undertaken on behalf of Thame Town Council by a group of volunteers, initiated by members of the RSA Thame Group. Many of those involved are mentioned in the Acknowledgements.
Get in touch
Visit the Thame Green Living website Follow /thamegreenliving www.thamegreenliving.org.uk /thamegreenliving
Pop in to the Thame Town Council Information Centre
Thame Green Living Plan Recommended Actions: Page 57 WITH THANKS TO
RSA and RSA Thame Group19 Acknowledgements The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Grateful thanks are due to all who have contributed Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) was founded in to the discussions or research for this plan. Many 1754. It is a registered charity committed to finding of these are named in the 2018 Plan: others include innovative, creative and practical solutions to (with apologies for any omissions)20: today’s social challenges with some 29,000 Fellows • Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers (Mike (members) worldwide (www.thersa.org). Furness and colleagues) RSA Thame Group (also known as Thame Green • EV Carshop Living) was established and is run by locally- • Greening Chinnor (Maureen Dyroff) based RSA Fellows to contribute to local issues of • Haddenham Safe Walking and Cycling Group environment and sustainability, offering support (Cynthia Floud and others) to Thame Town Council in creating and supporting a Green Living Plan for Thame. The recently active • Hazel Boundy (green spaces) members of the RSA Thame Group are: • Lea Park Residents’ Association (with Steve Brandish acting as invaluable link ) • Colin Bloxham* • Len Davidson (walking routes) • Charles Boundy* (Chairman) • Lord Williams’s School • Anne Fisher • Ramblers Association (Tony Clark, Ruth Cornish) • Robert Friel • Risborough Environment Group (Stephen • Wendy Duckham* Jeanes) • Rich Henderson • River Thame Conservation Trust (Nick Marriner) • Lisa Meaney • RSA Head Office (via Claire Doran) • John Scott* • RSPB (Colin Wilkinson, Brian Fisher) • Mark Stockley • South Oxfordshire Sustainability (SOS) - esp. • We are pleased to welcome new members Sue Roberts, Richard Harding, Patrick Fleming Jennifer Jones, Josie Richards and Harriet and Gill Bindoff Woollard. • Thame to Haddenham Commuter Cycling Group • We are also pleased to record the valuable (Stuart Horsman, Oliver Graydon and others) contribution made by former members: Anna • TTC Continuity Committee and GLP Working Comino-James, George Westropp¸ Emma May, Group Phil Evans, and Lin Wylie. • TTC Mayor, Councillors and Officers * RSA Fellows • Twenty-First Century Thame (Sue Martin- Downhill and others) • Wild Oxfordshire (Roselle Chapman) • Sam Osborne for design and illustration work
Page 58: With Thanks To Thame Green Living Plan End Notes
1 Neighbourhood Plans are not a legal 8 Note: Power and Energy are not 12 Also food consumption, e.g. requirement, but something that the same thing. Energy (kWh) is a mushroom production often uses peat communities in England can choose measure of how much fuel is used by with associated carbon emissions. to adopt, subject to strict rules. something over a specific period of Deforestation to produce meat and See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ time. Power (kW) is the rate at which other food products, e.g. palm oil. neighbourhood-planning--2 energy is being used at any moment 13 By contrast the town of Henley (which in time. The electricity system must 2 Examples of relevant government has a population broadly similar to deliver both the kWh we want over a policy initiatives that align with that of Thame) with a last census period of time and meet the rate of Thame’s GLP are: i) the Climate population of around 11,000 people, consumption (kW) at every moment. Change Act 2008 that commits has estimated that its population This is particularly important when UK to Net Zero greenhouse gas generates about 60,000 tonnes of considering the electricity system emissions by 2050, ii) the national carbon (CO2) a year. This averages which has virtually no energy storage Transport Decarbonisation Plan, iii) out at about 5.5 tonnes of carbon per within it, (unlike the gas grid), English Nature’s Species Recovery person. which means that the generation Programme, iv) Government of electrical power must match the 14 From www.calculator. proposals to end the sale of new demand for electrical power at every carbonfootprint.com diesel and petrol cars, including moment in time. Electricity moves hybrid vehicles by the year 2035, 15 Henley for example has calculated from a generator to our appliances v) the government’s Clean Air that it would take half a million trees at the speed of light (the ultimate Strategy, and vi) the influential and to sequester (absorb) only 10% of its just-in-time delivery system!). In overarching work of the Committee estimated carbon output. So, trees are UK, renewables are meeting 37% of on Climate Change, an independent very valuable – but on their own they our energy needs overall, but they non-departmental public body, that will not be enough! can’t be relied on for 37% of our power advises UK and devolved Governments needs at each moment in time (after 16 Transport for London announcement on tackling and preparing for climate all, they will be contributing zero early 2020. change. output at times when it’s dark and 17 This strategy is available on the 3 https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/directory/ there’s no wind). This points to the Thame Green Living website and emily-shuckburgh growing importance of both demand provides further pointers to longer ‘flexibility’ and the creation of more 4 Data source: https://sealevel.nasa. term potential actions. electricity storage by means of home gov/understanding-sea-level/global- 18 ‘Bee Active’ leaflet from Wild batteries, grid-scale batteries, and sea-level/ice-melt Oxfordshire. finding ways to utilise EV batteries. 5 From NASA Goddard Institute: 19 See https://www.thersa.org/about- 9 https://www.carbonbrief.org/ https://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/ us The RSA (Royal Society for the analysis-uk-low-carbon-electricity- graphs_v4/ encouragement of Arts, Manufactures generation-stalls-in-2019 6 From BP: https://www.bp.com/ and Commerce) 10 Unless stated otherwise the figures content/dam/bp/business-sites/ 20 Where individuals are named, we in this plan come from sources that en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy- have accepted their contributions as include the government, scientific economics/statistical-review/bp- personal views. and medical reports, local authorities, stats-review-2019-full-report.pdf Henley Climate Emergency Group, & 7 From Renewable Energy Institute, Friends of the Earth. using BP data: https://www. 11 https://www.forbes.com/sites/ renewable-ei.org/en/statistics/ jeffmcmahon/2019/12/02/5- international/ reasons-agricultures-greenhouse- gas-emissions-are-usually- underestimated/#3ea499eb6ac8 and https://www.theccc.org.uk/ publication/land-use-policies-for-a- net-zero-uk/
Thame Green Living Plan End Notes: Page 59 Summer 2020
www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk www.thamegreenliving.org.uk