IMPROVED public transport and air quality should be Flintshire County Council’s key climate change priorities according to residents.
And according to one councillor, community investment could help address both issues by allowing residents to invest in bonds to create a council-run bus company similar to Manchester’s Bee Network.
The findings were part of a review of Flintshire County Council’s climate change strategy, which included a public engagement programme which actively reached out to residents and high school students for their views.
The review, presented to the council’s climate change committee on Wednesday, found that 49% – the highest proportion – of residents felt that climate action should be led by improvements to public transport, while 47% said the authority should focus efforts on cleaning up the air that we breathe.
Public transport has been included in the council’s cost reduction measures this year, with changes to the number 5 route- which now terminates in Deeside rather than Cheshire Oaks – saving the council £270,000.
Chairman of the authority’s climate change committee Alasdair Ibbotson suggested that community municipal bonds could be used to fund a council-run bus service that offers good, reliable service and reduces people’s reliance on cars, improving local air quality.
The bonds, issued by the council, allow residents to invest in low-carbon services to meet set-up costs or improve programmes. Investors get ongoing returns if schemes make a profit and they are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Bonds have been used in a number of other authorities to fund low-carbon initiatives. In Swindon £4.2 million was raised for two solar farms to power 1,200 homes.
In West Berkshire bonds were used to raise £1 million to support works including urban planting and active travel schemes.
“One of the greatest ways we can reduce carbon emissions in Flintshire is by providing a high quality network of public transport,” said Cllr Ibbotson.
“A community bond issue in relation to a municipal bus company would seem like an absolutely fantastic way of using community bonds in order to meet the initial capital costs of acquiring vehicles.
“Going down that route would not only be particularly attractive from a financing point of view, but is also likely to attract significant public interest.
“A municipal bus company would drive a dramatically improved rate of public service as well, adding an extra incentive to local residents and community councils who want to invest.”
