The following document is our well considered response to the public consultation carried out by Exeter City Council as part of their Agenda 21 submission. We submitted our vision in October 1995.
All of our ideas are implementable at the local level, and would require a partnership being created between Exeter's citizens, Community Groups and Local Authorities at District and County level.
Our ideas and proposals are all positive. We do not believe that the Agenda 21 process will mean a reduction in the quality of life, and look forward to playing a major part in bringing about the enormous benefits that true sustainability will bring, not only to the current generation, but to future generations.
There are no grandiose schemes in this vision. We believe that sustainability will be brought about by a myriad of small improvements, each of which may appear to have limited effect, but when considered in conjunction with the sum total of all the other ideas, represents a comprehensive improvement to our overall quality of life. Consequently, this should not be regarded as a pick-and-choose document; each component of the vision has a positive benefit to sustainability.
Our report, containing 71 ideas, is sectioned into the following subject headings:
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| Idea | Why? | |
|---|---|---|
| E1. | Set a target for Carbon Dioxide reductions as follows: - 30% reduction by 2005 - 70% reduction by 2025 | In order to comply with emissions reduction scenarios developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| E2. | Set energy efficiency standards for Council's own buildings 50% better than current Building Regulations | Local Authorities should set the pace for change |
| E3. | Require energy evaluation for all Building Regulation applications. Indicate requirement at Planning Application stage | To persuade developers to think in terms of Energy Efficiency at an early stage in the design |
| E4. | Set a standard for Energy Efficiency at least 20% better than current Building Regulations standards | To set a standard that delivers real improvements to the current situation. |
| E5. | An annual competition for the most energy efficient building in Exeter. Use BREEAM or similar model | To provide incentives to incorporate energy efficiency measures |
| E6. | Set up regular seminars for developers and designers on energy efficient design | To ensure that energy efficiency methods are well understood |
| E7. | Issue leaflets to all developers and designers who submit Planning and Building Regulation applications | To enable a full understanding of Exeter's commitment to energy efficiency |
| E8. | Campaign to ensure all shop entrance doors are closed in winter | Most shop doors are left open and waste enormous amounts of energy |
| E9. | Promote the development of Renewable Energy sources | We are running out of fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas |
| E10. | Introduce combined heat and power stations wherever possible | CHP maximises usage of limited resources |
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| Idea | Why? | |
|---|---|---|
| T1. | Set a target for traffic reduction for Exeter of 30% by 2005 | To reduce pollution/noise etc. and to improve quality of life |
| T2. | A greater vision for cycling - All routes to be cycle safe by 2001 | Cycling is the most sustainable form of transport |
| T3. | An action plan for cycle parking throughout the city. Local Authority / Shops / Business | Cycle parking woefully inadequate |
| T4. | Cycling permitted in the High Street | It's an important cross town route |
| T5. | Consideration of feasibility of tram/light rail potential for Exeter | This would encourage more transfer from car journeys to public transport |
| T6. | Support for a national comprehensive travel information service (Rail / Bus / Taxi) | Easy access to information will assist people to transfer to public transfer |
| T7. | Subsidies for bus fares (Stagecoach) | Bus fares in Exeter are very expensive |
| T8. | More electric buses in the High Street | To reduce pollution |
| T9. | Carry out a feasibility study of light rail link between Exmouth line at Digby, and Penzance line at Marsh Barton | There is the possibility here of a circular rail loop connecting major employment and housing areas |
| T10. | Campaign for Joint Tickets between Rail and Bus | To allow easier mixed journeys |
| T11. | Encouragement for cheap family public transport tickets | To try to replicate the advantage that a car has |
| T12. | Concentrate on Rail based Park and Ride, and investigate effectiveness of edge-of-town Park and Ride | Edge-of-town Park and Ride may harm Rural Public Transport patronage |
| T13. | Reduce car parking in the city centre | Car parking encourages car traffic |
| T14. | Increase cost of car parking greater than the inflation rate | To create a more level playing field for sustainable modes of transport |
| T15. | Car parking ban zone 400 metres around schools | To encourage more children and parents to walk / cycle to school |
| T16. | Campaign for a tax on private non-residential parking | This type of parking cannot easily be controlled by the Local Authority |
| T17. | Provide secure cycle parking lockers in car parks | For long stay cycle parking |
| T18. | Implement a series of road closures throughout the city to create community enclaves | Traffic cells will ensure that there is only local traffic in communities. Reduces traffic and ratrunning |
| T19. | Allow shared use of selected pavements for cyclists | To encourage cycling without discouraging walking |
| T20. | Create bottlenecks at the fringe of the city to concentrate congestion outside the city | Incoming traffic only. Relieves congestion within the city |
| T21. | Abandon SCOOT Urban Traffic Control | It is expensive and encourages more car traffic |
| T22. | Abandon all urban road building plans | Urban road building is expensive and counterproductive |
| T23. | Abandon the Red Cow Bridge and implement a high speed bus service on that route for Exwick | The Red Cow Bridge is expensive, and will increase the volume of congestion |
| T24. | Build a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the Exe at the Mill-on-the-Exe | This is a key crossing point between Exwick and the city centre |
| T25. | A car ban and extended pedestrianisation of the city centre. Within city walls | To enhance attractiveness of the city centre and reduce car traffic |
| T26. | Close Edmund Street to car trafic and allow pedestrian link from Fore Stret to the River Exe | To connect the city centre to the River Exe and St Edmunds Bridge as a tourist attraction |
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| Idea | Why? | |
|---|---|---|
| R1. | Expand door-to-door waste collection service to all households in Exeter | This is the only way to ensure household waste collection reaches close to 100% |
| R2. | Localised recycling banks at distances no greater than 300 metres from each home | Recycling banks should be within easy walking distance |
| R3. | City Council sponsored community composting schemes | To persuade everyone to reduce the bulk of waste by composting |
| R4. | Investment in a plastics separation scheme | No such scheme currently exists in Exeter |
| R5. | Investigation into different types of domestic waste separation containers | Wheely bins are too bulky for elderly and some female users |
| R6. | Set up local re-use shops, as part of a series of local recycling/salvage centres. Connect each local centre with an internet link | Re-use has a higher priority than recycling. Local centres at walking and cycling distance |
| R7. | Campaign to stop shops using unnecessary packaging and bags | Many shops force bags on customers as a matter of policy |
| R8. | Close down Marsh Barton Incinerator for good | Pollution levels exceed European standards. Also reduces incentive to re-use and recycle |
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| Idea | Why? | |
|---|---|---|
| P1. | Increase density of housing | To bring more people within walking distance of services |
| P2. | More mixed use developments | To avoid monoculture "ghettos" like Exwick (housing) and Marsh Barton (industry) |
| P3. | Implement a locational model based on the Dutch ABC Strategy | To focus traffic generating development in existing centres |
| P4. | An end to all out-of-town developments | To avoid urban sprawl and create a more compact city, thus reducing traffic growth |
| P5. | A halt of all superstores above 10,000 sq. ft | It is size as well as location that encourages car journeys |
| P6. | Encourage small scale local services in communities within walking distance | To maintain self sustaining communities |
| P7. | Carry out Environmental Impact Assessments of all major developments | We need to know in advance the damage caused by developments |
| P8. | Set maximum car parking standards throughout city | Applies also to edge-of-town sites |
| P9. | Set minimum cycle parking standards | To ensure sufficient cycle parking is created |
| P10. | No more development on Matford Marshes | It is out-of-town development |
| P11. | The upper site of RNS depot and Old Rydon Lane should not be developed | Too remote and would require additional road access |
| P12. | The Digby site should become a self-sustaining community, not an out-of-town retail/leisure park | To reduce car journeys and improve quality of life in this area |
| P13. | Land at Smythen Street should be developed as a high density, self-contained, urban mixed use development | To allow for efficient and sustainable use of key urban site |
| P14. | Water Lane area should be developed as a high density car free self contained community | To provide a visionary example of car free living. Berlin and Edinburgh are already doing this |
| P15. | The development of vacant derelict land should be encouraged | To enable more compact communities. |
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| Idea | Why? | |
|---|---|---|
| G1. | Allow environmental groups more influence and involvement in the Local Authority processes | We have been involved in sustainable thinking for longer than anyone else |
| G2. | Set up 'Green Teams' at all levels and departments of Local Authority functioning | To bring sustainability to all aspects of Local Authority thinking and working |
| G3. | Set up local education/information points throughout Exeter | To explain to citizens what is being done, and how they can help |
| G4. | Produce a community Local Agenda 21 newsletter | The vast majority of Exeter's citizens are still oblivious to the Local Agenda 21 process |
| G5. | Breakdown Local Authority governance into smaller units relating to wards | To bring local government closer to the community and enable it to be more locally accountable |
| G6. | Allow dog wardens to fine dog walkers without scoop devices | How do they clean up the mess otherwise? |
| G7. | Campaign for a selective levy on water usage | To allow heavy water users to pay for the water they actually use, and encourage conservation |
| G8. | A city-wide tree planting campaign | To increase carbon fixing and provide habitats |
| G9. | Enhance appearance of the full length of the Exeter Canal and River Exe | Reduce pollution, increase tourism and allow public swimming |
| G10. | More wild natural areas in parkland | To increase natural biodiversity |
| G11. | See what London Borough of Sutton are doing | This Authority is well ahead of Exeter in developing Agenda 21 |
| G12. | The Local Authority must take Agenda 21 on board as an important central focus of its functioning | Currently Exeter are merely paying lipservice to Agenda 21 |
Latest Update:
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Web page updated by Maurice Spurway - Exeter Friends of the Earth
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