Local Biodiversity Action Plan and Draft Green Network Consultations

Launch of the Draft Local Biodiversity Action Plan and Draft Green Network Strategy consultations

The Sustainability Policy Team is doubling its efforts for sustainability with the launch of the Draft Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) and the Council’s Draft Green Network Strategy for a six-week public consultation from 1st August - 12th September 2016 .  With a green theme at the heart of both, each document takes a unique approach to showing how the natural environment underpins our social and economic wellbeing.

The Draft LBAP, prepared by the East Dunbartonshire Local Biodiversity Partnership, illustrates how crucial the natural environment is to the goods and services we depend on, and sets out how the Council and its partners will protect and enhance local ecosystems.
The Draft Green Network Strategy, led by the Council in partnership with the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership, is an innovative document – the first of its kind in Scotland – that maps connected green areas in East Dunbartonshire and proposes improvements, aiming to deliver a number of benefits for biodiversity, access, economic development, flood management, land use planning and health promotion.

Click the following links to view the Draft LBAP and Draft Green Network Strategy  consultations. Paper copies will be placed in libraries, Community Hubs and the main Council offices (Southbank Marina HQ, Southbank House and Broomhill Depot).

The Sustainability Policy Team is keen to engage widely and is encouraging feedback on both documents. Stakeholders are invited to contribute to the consultation by emailing sustainability@eastdunbarton.gov.uk , by phoning 0141 578 8531 or by writing to the Sustainability Policy Team at Southbank House.

Public drop-in sessions are also being held across East Dunbartonshire and we hope to meet some of you there:

Lennoxtown Hub on Wednesday 24 August from 10am – 12 noon
Milngavie Community Education Centre on Friday 26 August from 2pm – 4pm
Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on Wednesday 31 August from 6pm – 8pm

Consultations on Bears Way 2

Residents are being invited to get involved in designing the next phase of the A81 Bears Way at a series of public meetings.
Public forums will be held on 1 and 7 September in Milngavie Town Hall to inform future work on the cycleway - which offers protected space for people of all ages to cycle in safety and comfort.
Phase 1 of the Bears Way - funded by delivery partners Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Sustrans - runs from Burnbrae roundabout to Hillfoot.
However, it will not be fully functional until all phases are complete - providing a traffic-free route from Milngavie to Glasgow.
The proposed Phase 2 will run from Hillfoot to Kessington and one of the goals is to address issues which have been identified through engagement to date.
Public forums will be held on:
·        Thursday 1 September, 6pm – 8pm in Milngavie Town Hall
·        Wednesday 7 September, 7pm – 9pm in Milngavie Town Hall
Three other 'drop-in' information events will be held in the Allander Leisure Centre to complement the public forums.
Please note these will be informal and a chance for the public to access information ahead of the public forums.
Drop-in information events will take place on:
·        Thursday 1 September, noon - 2pm
·        Saturday 3 September, 11am - 3pm
·        Wednesday 7 September, noon - 2pm
Leaflets are being delivered to properties in Bearsden and Milngavie - giving people information on how they can get involved and help shape the future of the Bears Way.
In addition a Business Forum will be held on Thursday 18 August and a Design Forum is scheduled for Thursday 25 August - including stakeholders and representative groups. Both of these forums are invite only.

Help shape the Council's green dream for the future

Courtesy of Councillor Manjinder Shergill

Two vitally important draft documents, with a green theme at their heart, are being launched next month and local people are being urged to have their say.
The publication of the Draft Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) and the innovative Draft Green Network Strategy on 1 August kick starts a six week public consultation.
Each document takes a unique approach to showing how the natural environment underpins our social and economic wellbeing and strengthens the Council’s commitment to sustainability.
The Draft LBAP, prepared by the East Dunbartonshire Local Biodiversity Partnership, illustrates how crucial the natural environment is to the goods and services we depend on and sets out how the Council and its partners will protect and enhance local ecosystems.
The Draft Green Network Strategy, led by the Council in partnership with the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership is the first of its kind in Scotland.
It maps connected green areas in East Dunbartonshire and proposes improvements, aiming to deliver a number of benefits for biodiversity, access, transport, economic development, flood management, land use planning and health promotion.
You can view and comment on the Draft LBAP and Draft Green Network Strategy through the consultation pages of the Council’s website:www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/council/consultations
Paper copies are available in libraries, Community Hubs and the main Council offices at Southbank Marina HQ, Southbank House and Broomhill Depot.
Drop-in sessions are also being held across East Dunbartonshire to give people the chance to speak directly with officers.  Details are as follows:

Lennoxtown Hub                                         Wednesday 24 August 10am – 12pm 
Milngavie Community Educaiton Centre                Friday 26 August 2pm – 4pm 
Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall                        Wednesday 31 August 6pm – 8pm        

In the meantime, there are a number of ways to share your views. You can:

·         Email comments to sustainability@eastdunbarton.gov.uk 
·         Write to the Sustainability Policy Team, Southbank House, Southbank Business Park, Kirkintilloch, G66 1XQ.
·         Call the team on 0141 578 8531 to discuss. 

East Dunbartonshire's Trails and Tales Project

Courtesy of Councillor Manjinder Shergill

Over the last two years hundreds of people from across East Dunbartonshire have come together at events run by the East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust to help capture and immortalise stories from local history.
The ‘Trails and Tales’ project, focusing on the rich and varied past of the area, captured the imagination of communities and culminated in a special exhibition featuring objects gathered at events over the past 24 months.
And now, local people are being asked to get involved for the last time and help decide the detail of 11 outdoor trails which will be installed across the area as focal points to ensure the lasting legacy of the project.

Evening consultation events, from 7-9pm, are being held over the summer at various locations.
The events will be fun and relaxed with refreshments provided. The details are as follows:

·        Bearsden & Milngavie & Westerton
Wednesday 17 August, MIlngavie Library, Allander Rd, Milngavie , G62 8PN
·        Twechar
Thursday 18 August, Twechar Healthy Living Centre , St John's Way, Main St, Kilsyth G65
·        Kirkintilloch & Lenzie
Tuesday 20 September, William Patrick Library, 2-4 W High St, Glasgow G66 1AD
·        Bishopbriggs & Auchinairn
Wednesday 28 September, Bishopbriggs Library, 170 Kirkintilloch Rd Bishopbriggs, G64 2LX

To book a place at an event near you please check out: www.booking.edlc.co.uk or drop an email to: info@trailsandtales.org. Alternatively you can ring 0141 777 3143      

For more information on the project please visit: www.trailsandtales.org