With winter approaching, our thoughts turn to the weather and what it may have in store for us over the coming months.
Many of you will remember, and some of you will have been directly affected, by Storm Henk in January 2024. Three months of extremely wet weather was followed by intense rainfall on already saturated ground on the first four days of the year.
The River Thames at Reading reached its highest recorded levels since the major floods of 1947 and, sadly, 21 homes and three businesses in Reading suffered flooding.
Predictions are that climate change means that such extreme weather is going to be a more regular occurrence. You only need to look at the horrible recent scenes in and around Valencia in Spain to realise these major weather events are now happening not too far from home.
The Council and its partner agencies can take certain measures to reduce the risk of flooding and have plans in place to respond to future flooding emergencies.
But it is vital that residents and business owners also take action to prepare themselves for any threats of flooding.
This November, the Council is teaming up with Met Office and other partners to run a month-long campaign on Local Climate Action.
The campaign will include advice and information for residents and businesses about ways they can be prepared for the effects of climate change and stay alert to flooding and other weather threats. Of course, this may also include periods of very hot weather which can have dangerous effects on people’s health.
The campaign will also provide tips and advice on everyday actions individuals can take which will benefit them as well as the environment.
This includes improving the energy efficiency of your home, choosing cheaper, sustainable forms of travel and considering following the growing trend of buying secondhand. Red or Dead co-founder Wayne Hemingway will be giving tips on looking great while saving money.
Local charity, the Reading Library of Things, will show off their huge stock of tools, equipment and other items which are available to borrow for those one-off jobs around the house or garden.
The campaign will also highlight the activities of local organisations which are playing a part in helping Reading become a net-zero town. This includes a tour of the Reading Buses depot with Chief Executive Robert Williams and a visit to The Heights School in Caversham where parents and children have started a popular bike bus scheme. We also see how the University of Reading has become one of the greenest universities in the world and how action is being taken by Reading’s Business Improvement Districts to reduce the carbon footprint of our town centre.
Of course, the Council must be seen to be leading by example when it comes to local climate action, and the campaign will feature the huge amount of work that is taking place, including the decarbonisation of Council buildings, reducing the environmental impact of festivals in the town and encouraging young people to join in the debate with the Reading Schools’ Climate Conference.
Keep an eye on the Council’s social media channels throughout November to find out more about local climate action.
Liz Terry is the leader of Reading Borough Council
