COUNTY chiefs want members of the public to submit ideas on how Dorset Council can help tackle climate concerns.

Since declaring a climate and ecological emergency, earlier this year, councillors and officers say they've been working hard to develop ideas for a climate change strategy and action plan.

However, now they are calling on all Dorset residents to submit ideas on how they think the authority should press ahead with reducing carbon emissions and protecting the county’s wildlife and natural environment.

Dorset Council deputy leader Cllr Peter Wharf said: "Climate change is something that affects us all, so we wanted to tap into the wealth of knowledge and ideas that Dorset residents may have in how we could tackle this emergency.

"We know that local businesses and local people of all ages have the creativity and ambition to come up with some brilliant solutions for addressing climate change and we want to hear them."

This 'Call for Ideas' is open to everybody, and each submission will be reviewed by the council.

The areas that are being looked at cover five themes:

  • buildings
  • natural environment
  • waste and energy
  • transport
  • leadership and influence

Residents are asked to submit ideas under one or more of these categories via an online form.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: "There are also questions around barriers to action, benefits, priorities and funding that participants are being asked to answer.

"Some people will be invited to present their ideas to the climate change and ecological emergency executive advisory panel in the new year as part of the council’s forthcoming Climate and Ecological Inquiry Day, a public event scheduled for February.

Each proposed policy and practical action submitted will be passed to the appropriate task and finish group for investigation, each of which is made up of Dorset Council members and officers.

Cllr Wharf said: "The online form is easy to complete, and people can submit as many ideas as they like.

"I’m excited to see what suggestions are out there and look forward to seeing some of the more developed ones presented to the panel early next year.”

The 'Call for Ideas' is now open until 28 February 2020, but submissions should be sent before January 16, 2020.

The results from the process will be published alongside Dorset Council’s draft climate change strategy and action plan in Spring 2020, that will be open to public consultation.