SHIPLEY Town Council has declared a climate emergency by releasing additional grant funding for projects that help the enviroment.

The town council say climate is changing with serious consequences and to slow this down and reduce the danger, greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, must be reduced as a matter of great urgency.

Following the full allocation of the Town Council's Community Wellbeing Fund for 2020/21, Shipley Town Council has announced an additional £4,000 of funding to be made available immediately.

The £4,000 will provide small grants for initiatives which contribute to wellbeing by addressing the climate emergency.

The town council expects to award up to eight grants of £500 each but requests for larger grants will be considered for exceptional proposals. The grants are intended to support responses from the local community.

Examples of the sorts of initiatives the Town Council wishes to encourage include but are not limited to energy conservation measures, sustainable procurement renewable energy generation, re-wilding and naturalisation, sustainable food production, tree planting, anti-idling cleaner fuels, measures to reduce reliance on cars, composting re-use, recycling and recovery waste reduction, flood risk adaptations, sustainable urban drainage, water conservation, improving public understanding of climate science, offering technical support and research and development.

Councillor Darren Parkinson, chairman of the Town Council's Climate Emergency and Environment Committee, said: "Shipley Town Council has made taking action on climate change a priority. This small grants scheme supports grassroots action on climate change by empowering the Shipley community to 'think global, act local'. The fund aims to support local groups who want to play their part in tackling the climate crisis."

Application forms and guidance notes can be obtained from (and returned to) the Town Council's office by e-mail to shipleytownclerk@gmail.com. Paper copies can be made available on request. Applicants wishing to discuss the fund should call 07517 742566 during office hours.