Letter from Green Councillors to Children’s Committee says council can do more to support school plastic free initiatives
Schools in Brighton and Hove aspiring to go ‘plastic free’ must be given greater support from the council with the cost of new environmental measures, Greens have said today.
Councillors Clare Rainey and Amy Heley have asked the Children, Young People and Skills Committee to consider what support can be put in place for schools wishing to implement more environmental measures, saying that many local schools are being held back by cost pressures.
In a letter going to committee on 13th January, Councillors Rainey and Heley have outlined some of the positive changes Dorothy Stringer are making towards reducing their carbon impact and waste. However, at present, the school is having to fundraise for these initiatives.
Greens have asked the Labour council to consider providing both guidelines and funds for schools making these positive changes to their environment.
Councillor Clare Rainey said:
“In the wake of huge attention to our climate crisis, and the youth climate strikes, it is no wonder that schools in our city are aiming to make positive changes to our environment.
“So
we were saddened to hear the challenges schools are facing with this – and we
hope that the council can put more support in place to addressing them.”
“We hope Dorothy Stringer school can inspire all schools in Brighton and Hove
to reduce their use of single-use plastic and support pupils with addressing
the environmental challenges that we face’.
Councillor Amy Heley, who is a former pupil at Dorothy Stringer added:
“I’m really inspired to hear of the work being taken by schools such as Dorothy Stringer and I hope that we as a council can do more to support them.
“Simple changes such as reducing plastic use can have a large impact and in a school environment can be really effective in educating students in reducing their carbon impact – and learning about the urgency of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.”