Tag: zero emissions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Eastbourne drop 8% for 2020

Eastbourne Greenhouse Gas emissions for 2020 continue to decrease, as they have done for the last 15 years. Some of this is down to a 5% trend, year on year, and some of it is Covid. However the question is will it be enough ?

The latest national statistics for 2020 have been published. Everybody expected a big decrease due to the pandemic. However it still looks like at this rate the 2030 target for Eastbourne remains a long way off. An 8% reduction in 2020 is in the right direction but as life goes back to normal, following the pandemic, it will be interesting to see the data for 2021, published in a year’s time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tyndall Centre analysis  believes 8% is not enough and says Eastbourne should  “Initiate an immediate programme of CO2 mitigation to deliver cuts in emissions averaging a minimum of 12.3% per year to deliver a Paris aligned carbon budget.”

Emissions per capita, for Eastbourne, using the Government methodology are 2.5 tonnes per person. This is a narrow scope as  it does not include the wider carbon footprint, such as  the transportation  and manufacture of imported goods.

An analysis that includes more is at Carbon Place  ( filter on Eastbourne) where the carbon footprint per person is 6.5 tonnes a person. ( left hand column for Eastbourne right hand is UK average ) Plus there is a useful breakdown of the embodied carbon consumption of each area of Eastbourne. It also reveals the gross inequality of carbon footprints between the richer and poorer parts of the town.

“Nationally transport greenhouse gas emissions saw a decrease of 18% in 2020 compared to 2019. This was largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as people stayed at home for large periods of 2020. Despite this large fall, transport remains the sector with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in many local authorities.”

In conclusion the 2030 Eastbourne carbon neutral target seems a long way from being reached. There needs to be a stronger commitment to climate action. This is across the community, with ever deeper collaboration between councillors, council officers, businesses and community groups to ensure that the transition away from dependence upon fossil fuels is as fast as possible

Authors – Paul Humphreys and Andy Durling

Will Eastbourne get a share of a £3bn bus fund?

We all know that East Sussex County Council hold the future of the Eastbourne bus service in their hands.

We all know that East Sussex County Council hold the future of the Eastbourne bus service in their hands.

A new report indicates that bus usage in the United Kingdom has decreased over the past decade as more people take journeys in their cars. The Annual Bus Statistics Report shows that over half a billion less bus journeys were made per year between 2010 and 2020, a fall of some 11.8 per cent compared to previous decades.

The decline in bus passengers across the country, particularly in England, has caused significant concern among local authorities. In March 2021, the Government announced Bus Back Better, a £3bn fund to help Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) make English bus services more appealing to people who live outside of London.

In June 2021, East Sussex County Council, which is the LTA for Eastbourne, declared the Council would pursue an Enhanced Bus Partnership in partnership with Stagecoach. The Council and Stagecoach must submit a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to the Government, who will then choose whether or not to reward the funding to Eastbourne.

Why does Eastbourne need a Bus Service Improvement Plan?

Investing in a better bus service could reduce the rush hour traffic on key Eastbourne routes, such as Lottbridge Drove

One of the Bus Back Better scheme’s aims is to move England towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050. By stimulating the greater use of buses, the hope is that there will be fewer private car journeys. As a result, traffic congestion will decrease, which in turn will cut down the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere.

The next deadline for all LTAs to submit their proposals is the end of October 2021.  East Sussex County Council are required to publish their Bus Service Improvement Plan, which is highly anticipated by many Eastbourne residents.

A large part of the £3bn funding is dedicated to buying zero emission buses. However, East Sussex County Council will only receive funding if their bid is approved. The Government is clear that the funding will be allocated on the basis of the ’overall quality of the BSIP’. If East Sussex County Council submit a poor plan, Eastbourne could receive less funding than expected.

If the bid is successful, what can Eastbourne residents expect to see?

A better bus service is in reach…but only if East Sussex County Council can win over the Government

Because the government funding is spread thin across England, it is likely that local bus services will only receive enough money to make a few minor changes. As for spending the money, East Sussex County Council have several possible options. These “leveling up” plans could include the following:

  • More frequent buses.
  • Bus priority measure to speed up buses (e.g. limiting some road side parking).
  • Lower fares.
  • More comprehensive coverage by bus services.
  • Sections of bus lanes on roads.

What do Eastbourne residents want from a modern bus service?

A fleet of Stagecoach buses waiting for someone to invest in their wheels

Between August and September, the Eastbourne Eco Action Network CIC created a survey to find out what Eastbourne actually wanted from a modern bus service. Almost 300 people responded and their thoughts were inspiring.  The EEAN’s Bus Survey Report is now available to view. We recommend it highly.

David Everson

EEAN Transport Group