Coronavirus has had ‘enormous impact’ on climate change targets set by South Northamptonshire Council

The authority set the targets in May following a report from a working group that examined how the council could help contribute towards nationwide targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Plans included planting one tree for each of the 92,515 residents in the area, upgrading insulation in more than 2,000 homes every year for the next decade, and persuading 40 per cent of its population to commute by public transport, cycling or walking by 2030 – compared to the current level of 13 per cent.

But according to an update report by the authority, the impacts of COVID-19 have been ‘enormous’ and have required a fresh look at how some of the actions in the plan can be progressed.

Plans to promote lift sharing and car clubs have had to be abandoned as they do not fit with the current government guidelines in tackling the pandemic. And the mass tree planting has been delayed due to Woodland Trust staff – who were going to be working on the proposals – having been furloughed until recently. It is now expected that work to engage with landowners for the planting project will not take place until next year.

Councillor Sandra Barnes, the chairman of the council’s scrutiny committee, said: “I find it incredible that an organisation that’s dedicated to trees and forests had staff on furlough during this so they couldn’t do anything. Surely with enough fresh air around them they could have done something.

“It’s unfortunate though that we had this ambitious plan and this wretched virus has intervened and stopped a lot of this stuff happening. But I do think we’re ahead of the curve compared with some other councils.”

Councillors were told however that climate change had formed a big part in the new Local Plan for housing and development that had been produced; that they were working on leaflets to send out to residents and businesses on home efficiency measures they can take; and that they were working with the councils in Daventry and Northampton to produce a ‘de-carbonisation’ plan for the whole district before the end of the year.