Convener of the South Ayrshire Sustainability Forum, Councillor Douglas Campbell, officially opened their first conference that was held within South Ayrshire Council headquarters in Ayr.

The aim of the conference was to ascertain the views of those living and working in South Ayrshire on key sustainability issues, at both local and national level, in order to determine the priority for local initiatives.

Councillor Douglas Campbell said: “This was the first time that the South Ayrshire Sustainability Forum has organised a conference of this type.

“In order to get a true representation of people in South Ayrshire invitations to attend the conference were sent to young people, businesses, local interest groups, national non-government bodies and Officers of the Council.

“It is an indication of the importance of the matters discussed at the conference that so many eminent people, from a variety of backgrounds, eagerly agreed to run workshops and spend time with delegates.

“Climate change is usually talked about in global terms, however, I think it is vital that people understand the impact that climate change would bring at a local level. Explaining how the changes would affect the local landscape, and the lives of local people, makes it seem very real.

“The conference gave delegates a chance to hear from experts, discuss topics, establish new contacts, and renew old ones.

“I would like to thank everyone who took part in the conference, and in particular the partner organisations that the Council works so closely with.”

Delegates were given information on a number of workshops which were being held during the day, with an ‘expert witness’ running each workshop and, asked to choose the workshops which they would like to attend. The workshops were held on the following subjects:

• Waste production
• Energy consumption
• Private and public transport
• Built environment and low impact living
• Natural environment and biodiversity
• Climate change

The South Ayrshire Sustainability Forum was established to encourage a wide range of interested parties to participate in maintaining, and where possible enhancing, a high quality environment in South Ayrshire based on the principles of sustainable development.

The Forum’s activities concentrate on the physical environment and the impact of energy and other resource consumption, waste, transport, and environmental education, it delivers the environmental theme of the Community Plan and liaise with other groups of the Community Planning Partnership to ensure environmental protection and social justice are linked to sustainable development.

The Forum aims to:

• Develop and report on local environmental performance indicators to the wider community.
• Provide information to all sectors of the community on environment related issues.
• Encourage the involvement of young people and voluntary organisations.
  Promote partnership working with local groups and local businesses to safeguard and improve the local environment
• Support and promote the development of practical and innovative projects.
  Provide a strong environmental element to the Community Planning process.

Key local environmental themes identified by the Forum are:

• Water Quality
• Energy
• Waste minimisation resources use
• Low impact living
• Transport
• Urban environment
• Rural environment
• Climate change
• Biodiversity
• Community involvement
• Youth
• Health
• Marine and coastal environment

The following have been identified for priority action:

Community involvement – the Forum seeks to building on existing work with South Ayrshire Waste and Environment Trust, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and Community Groups in developing garden and open space maintenance, recycling projects and Local Exchange Schemes.

Marine and coastal environment – much of the attraction and economic potential in South Ayrshire lies along the coast, and this is vulnerable to changes in the physical environment. The Forum seeks to build on existing projects on coastal erosion, biodiversity, bath water quality, tourism and transport infrastructure in South Ayrshire.

Low impact living – following a local feasibility study on ‘Earthship’ ecohomes the Forum seeks to further examine the scope of promoting environmentally friendly housing development through awareness raising, developers briefings, and a local environmental ‘footprint’ project, and to investigate the potential for rural regeneration and affordable housing by this means. The Council’s partnership with the Fairtrade initiative will also be promoted.

The following partners are involved in the Forum in addition to key Council Services:

Ayrshire & Arran Health Board; Ayrshire & Arran Tourist Board; Ayrshire Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group; Ayrshire Housing; Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan; Ayrshire’s Rivers Trust; Council for Voluntary Organisations; Energy Agency; Girvan Connections Partnership; Kyle & Carrick Civic Society; National Trust for Scotland Culzean; North Ayr SIP; SAC Auchincruive; Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire; Scottish Environmental Protection Agency; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Power; Scottish Water; South Ayrshire Community Councils and South Ayrshire Waste & Environment Trust.

Anyone who would like more information on sustainability in South Ayrshire should log on to the Council’s website at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk or contact staff by telephone on 01292 616612 or 01292 616599, alternatively e-mail staff at Sustainable.development@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.

Pictured at the Sustainability Forum are (left to right) Ken Gibb, Council Sustainable Development Manager, Christine Nevin, Operations Manager for Scottish Natural Heritage, David Grierson, Director of Sustainable Engineer at the University of Strathclyde, Councillor Helen Moonie, Convener of the Council’s Planning Committee, Gerry Metcalf, UK CIP, Councillor Douglas Campbell, Convener of the Council’s Community Safety Committee, Martin Mathers, Scottish Power Renewables, and Liz Marquis, Energy Agency Director.

March 2005