LA21 Action Plan

One of the central tasks for Local Agenda 21 - as recommended at the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 - was to prepare a local strategy setting out actions that would lead to sustainable development.

In 1993 Woking Borough Council laid the foundations for the formation of a community led Local Agenda 21 process within the Borough.

Local Agenda 21 seeks to enable the community to influence environmental policy and in so doing improve the quality of life for themselves and future generations. It draws together good environmental, economic and social practice and through raising public awareness of the issues, encourages improvement at a community level whilst recognising that one of the most important components for success is the individual.

This important document now before you is the outcome of several years of hard work by local people. The Council welcomes the publication of this document and the ideals it promotes and hopes the plan receives the response and commitment from the community that it deserves.

A wide ranging commitment from all sections of the community has been secured and the real challenge is now to translate these proposals into real action to create a sustainable future for Woking.

I am urging all local people living and working in the Borough to play their part in realising the visions outlined and I can assure you the Borough Council has already committed itself to many actions and will continue to support the process.

Councillor Mrs Pat Bohling
Chairman of Planning and Environment Committee
July 1998

This Page...

Introduction
Local Agenda 21 Mission Statement
Local Agenda 21 Vision for a Sustainable Woking
What is Woking LA21?
Woking Local Agenda 21 Process
How Did we Get Here?
Sustainability Indicators
Over to You
Contributors and Consultees
The Thirteen Themes Identified by the LGMB

Next Page...

The Action Plan

Introduction

Local Agenda 21

Local Agenda 21 was an important outcome of a major United Nations conference on Environment and Development - the "Earth Summit" held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

At that summit it was recommended that local councils, in partnership with their local communities, should agree a "local agenda" for development into the 21st century. Hence the name Local Agenda 21. The aim is to allow everyone a good quality of life - both now and in the future. This has been called sustainable development: living today - with tomorrow in mind.

Countries that agreed to Agenda 21 said they would:

  • reduce their use of natural resources such as energy and try to use more renewable resources
  • produce fewer wastes by re-using and recycling
  • reduce the amount of pollution produced
  • preserve and enhance the numbers and types of animals, plants and habitats
  • protect and manage their natural assets for the long term
  • ensure that everyone has access to basic needs such as good food, water, shelter
  • protect people's health
  • allow everyone access to education, information and has the opportunity to get involved with making decisions
  • make opportunities for culture, leisure and recreation available to all.

The Prime Minister has stated that he would like to see all local authorities adopt Local Agenda 21 strategies by the year 2000 and so far, more than 70% of local authorities have started the process.

Woking Borough Council's Commitment

The Council have always given their wholehearted support to this community led initiative and are very active in developing the partnership between officers, Councillors, Local Agenda 21 Members and the community at large.

The Council's own Environmental Strategy spells out the commitment to the implementation of Local Agenda 21.

A Local Agenda 21 Liaison Group has been set up including representatives from each of the political groups of the Council, Officers from key Departments and the Chairmen of the Steering Group and the Working Groups.

Woking Borough Council has committed itself to achieving the actions specified later on in the document.

LA21 Mission Statement

The Woking Local Agenda 21 Initiative exists...

  • to promote an awareness of the need for a sustainable lifestyle;
  • to promote our shared responsibility at local and global level;
  • to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices by all sectors of the community;
  • to avoid damage to the environment;
  • to conserve natural resources for present and future generations; and
  • to promote monitoring and improvement of the quality of life and of sustainable development using the themes acknowledged at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and adopted by the Local Government Management Board.

LA21 Vision for a Sustainable Woking

The Woking Local Agenda 21 Initiative developed the following Vision for a sustainable Woking in the 21st Century as a result of discussions and a special visioning seminar with a wide range of representatives of the local community:

  1. A strong sense of community with responsibility to each other and the environment at the local and global level;
  2. A healthy environment with clean air, water and soil and high water quality with no avoidable light and noise pollution;
  3. A variety of local businesses, appropriate to the area, to provide local needs and high levels of employment. Provision for flexible working hours and use of communication technology to reduce the need to travel;
  4. Adequate, acceptable, well designed housing for all ages for both rented and privately owned accommodation;
  5. Community facilities for all ages - shops, schools, sports, leisure, welfare and health - available at the local level;
  6. Fair opportunities for education, jobs, culture, recreation, leisure for all sections of the community;
  7. Access to information and decision making processes available to all members of the public;
  8. People feel secure from crime and persecution;
  9. A comprehensive choice of transport systems and access so road vehicles do not dominate and it is safe to walk and cycle;
  10. Resources e.g. energy, water and all types of materials, are used efficiently, waste is minimised and materials recycled;
  11. A valued and protected natural environment with wide biodiversity and variety of landscape in the countryside with areas of public access. An appreciation of green spaces within built-up areas and features of heritage, culture and architectural importance.

What is Woking LA21?

Anyone who lives or works in the Borough of Woking qualifies for membership of the Woking LA21 Group. Everyone is invited to the general meetings which are held every 3 months. There is a steering group made up of the main project leaders and representatives from the Business Community, the Community Relations Forum, Woking Borough Council and Surrey County Council.

Liaison meetings are held regularly with Woking Borough Council Members and officers.

A diagram of how the various parts of the LA21 process interact is illustrated below.

The Steering Group is made of the Chairman, Project Group Leaders, a member of the Business Community, a member of the Community Relations Forum, the elected representatives of Woking Borough Council and Surrey County Council and the Surrey County Council Local Agenda 21 representative. There is the possibility to nominate further representatives from other parts of the community. The Steering Group is chaired by an independent Chairman from the local community and receives administrative support from the Council's Environmental Co-Ordinator.

Woking Local Agenda 21 Process

How Did We Get Here?

Comments were sought on a Draft Action Plan, based on the Visions for a Sustainable Woking. This Action Plan is the result of those comments by businesses, community groups and local people. In the "who by" column organisations who would carry out the action are listed; bold type indicates a firm commitment. Projects to enable us to put into practice some of the actions of the Action Plan are:

  • Green Transport - Seeking ways to reduce our dependence on the car.
  • Action at Home - A scheme to encourage saving energy, water etc. in our homes.
  • Gardening For Life - Creating your environmentally friendly garden.
  • Cycle Users Group - Promoting cycling within the Borough.

It is hoped that many new projects will be set up by Members and community groups.

Now is the time for all sections of the community to play their part in working towards a sustainable Woking. The Action Plan is an important framework to start the process to achieve our vision for sustainability. It will need to be reviewed regularly as we chart our progress.

The Working Groups drew up a Draft Action Plan, based on the Visions for a Sustainable Woking (above). After consultation with business and numerous community groups and the local people it has been possible to insert by whom the actions can be carried out. We intend to contact them in the future to see if they have been true to their word.

Sustainability Indicators

Sustainability indicators are an important part of charting the route towards sustainable development. Indicators set benchmarks for measuring future progress on environmental initiatives.

In Britain a pilot study to identify the most useful and appropriate indicators was carried out by the Local Government Management Board. Surrey County Council has identified suitable local indicators. The Woking LA21 Initiative is following developments in this field and will adapt the findings of those studies to the Woking situation and if necessary will identify further more specific indicators to reflect local circumstances.

Over to You

Local Agenda 21 is about everyone playing their part. Every little helps - together we can make a big difference. This Action Plan represents the way we would like to see Woking in the 21st Century and ideas on how we might achieve it. It is our Local Agenda 21 for the 21st Century. If you live or work in the Borough of Woking you are part of LA21. Your ideas count. If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem. We do not inherit the world from our ancestors but borrow it from our children. This is your Borough, your future and together we can make it happen.

Sophia Atkins
On Behalf of the Local Agenda 21 Group
June 1998
(Tel: 0208 541 9105)

Contributors and Consultees

This Action Plan has been compiled by the Woking Local Agenda 21 Steering Group with the support and help of the Members and officers at Woking Borough Council.

The Steering Group are:

  • Sophia Atkins
  • Gill Stribley
  • Steve Cardis
  • Sam Skennerton
  • Roy Benson and the Woking Cycle Users Group
  • Michael Davis
  • Shirlyn Grover
  • Bernard Allen
  • Clifford Rogers

Thanks are also due to Phillip Arnold, the previous Chairman.

Consultees

  • Business/Commercial
    Boots
    James Walker
    Phillips Petroleum
    Victoria Wine Company
    Waitrose
  • Utilities
    North Surrey Water
    South West Trains
  • Schools
    Barnsbury County Infants
    Bishop David Brown School
    Sythwood School
    The Oaktree School
  • Churches
    St Mary of Bethany Church
    Trinity Methodists
    York Road United Reform Church
  • Conservation/Local Interest Groups
    Kingfield Conversation Society
    Mayford and Woking District Historic Society
    Surrey Wildlife Preservation Group
    Surrey Wildlife Trust
  • Business Organisations
    COTAC
    Surrey TEC
  • Woking Local Agenda 21
    Cycle Users Group
    Pollution Group
  • Elected Bodies
    Byfleet Parish Council
    Runnymede Borough Council
    Surrey County Council
    Woking Borough Council
  • Individuals
    Marion Malcher
    Mrs M.B. Walker
    David Wooller
    Mr and Mrs Kennard
  • Residents Associations/Village Society
    Horsell Residents Association
    Mayford Village Society
  • Community Groups
    Woking LETS

The Thirteen Themes Identified by the LGMB

A sustainable community would be one in which:

  • resources are used efficiently, waste is minimised and materials are recycled;
  • pollution is limited to levels which do not cause damage to natural ecosystems;
  • the diversity of nature is valued and protected;
  • where possible, local needs are met locally;
  • everyone has access to adequate food, water, shelter and fuel at a reasonable cost;
  • everyone has the opportunity to undertake satisfying work in a diverse economy. The value of unpaid work is recognised, and payment for work is both fair and fairly distributed;
  • health is protected by the creation of safe, clean and pleasant environments and of services which emphasise prevention of illness as well as care for the sick;
  • access to facilities, services, goods and other people is not achieved at the expense of the environment or limited to those with cars;
  • people live without fear of crime, or persecution on account of their race, gender, sexuality or beliefs;
  • everyone has access to the skills, knowledge and information which they need to play a full part in society;
  • all sections of the community are empowered to participate in decision-making;
  • opportunities to participate in culture, leisure and recreation are readily available to all, and;
  • buildings, open spaces and artefacts combine meaning with beauty and utility; settlements are "human" in scale and form; and diversity and distinctive local features are valued and protected.