The manifesto upon which I was elected outlined a bold aspiration - to be the first generation which leaves the environment in a better state than we inherited it. I am in conversation with ministers and constituents about how we can achieve this goal.
Air Quality and Environmental Protection
Air pollution poses one of the biggest environmental threats to public health. Our ambitious plan is to decarbonise transport, improve air quality, and support more active forms of travel have not changed, including the £3.8 billion already investing to clean up our air. Wolverhampton is part of the 2017 UK plan to tackle roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations. For Wolverhampton this includes the retrofitting of existing bus fleet and implementation of traffic management measures.
The 'Trees for Schools' programme, delivered in partnership with the Woodland Trust and England’s Community Forests, has given hundreds of thousands of primary aged school children the chance to plant, care for, and learn about trees. Over 1 million new trees have been planted in school grounds and communities, often in our most urban and deprived communities. This contributes to our 25 Year Environment Plan commitment to connect more people with nature. The Government is consulting on a new England Tree Strategy and would welcome views as part of that on what more we can do to connect people, especially children, with trees and woodlands in the future: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/forestry/england-tree-strategy/
I am a strong advocate of protections for the Green Belt.
Cycling and Walking
Building on significant recent investment, I am pleased that Ministers have pledged to invest an additional £2 billion in cycling and walking and committed to publish a national cycling plan, as well as an updated Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The first stage of this £2 billion investment will be a £250 million emergency active travel fund. The Fund is intended to deliver new pop-up cycle lanes with protected space for cycling, cycle and bus-only corridors, safer junctions and wider pavements. New statutory guidance has also been issued to councils to ensure they are able to reallocate road space for significantly increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians. Up to half a million £50 Fix Your Bike Vouchers will be issued to help people to bring bikes out of retirement. Find further details online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fix-your-bike-voucher-scheme-apply-for-a-vo…
