West Dunbartonshire Council
Sustainable Development at West Dunbartonshire Council
Cheryl Marshall, Sustainable Development Officer.
West Dunbartonshire Council, Policy Unit, Garshake Road, Dumbarton, G82 3PU.
Phone: 01389 737855 Email: cheryl.marshall@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Priorities: Sustainable travel, outdoor recreation/wellbeing, environmental justice.
West Dunbartonshire's Sustainable Development Strategy was developed at the corporate level. The Sustainable Development Working Group involves staff from education, social work, roads, environmental health, waste, planning, corporate procurement, technical services (architecture, asset management, energy etc) and to be extended to include grounds maintenance, leisure, catering and biodiversity.
The image to the right depicts Duntocher Village Green before a major sustainable community regeneration project. For the transformed after shot, see below...
Strategies, Drivers and Monitoring Delivery:
Our driving strategies are: the Best Value Improvement Plan, Corporate Plan 2008-2012, Community Plan 2007-2017.
The SD Strategy 2008-2012 will be used to inform departmental service plans to ensure SD actions are carried out and SD integrated at departmental level.
The Council's three priorities for delivery of sustainable development are Biodiversity; Sustainable Travel; Carbon Management
The SD Strategy highlights a number of positive SD projects in West Dunbartonshire, some examples include: 'Westbound' Green Travel Plan; doorstep recycling service to enable residents in flats to recycle easily; Walks to Health, free community walks around areas of natural beauty; 'Hungry for Success' schools' healthy eating/living initiative; community warden service to improve local environment in deprived areas and reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour. Contact Cheryl Gallacher for more information.
You can see an exmaple of West Dunbartonshire's approach to sustainable development here: West Dunbartonshire Green Travel Plan.
The images above depict Duntocher Village Green (before and after). The site had previously been used as a scrap yard and ceased use over 15 years ago. Funding was secured from the Scottish Executive to decontaminate the site in order to make it safe for reuse.
Following consultation with the local community and primary schools, West Dunbartonshire Environment Trust carried out soft landscaping in the park. The site will be further developed with assistance from the local community who will design interpretation panels and plant hedgerows. The majority of the site is wheelchair friendly and can be viewed from the main road.
We are in the process of producing our first Sustainable Development Strategy for 2008-2012 and an Action Plan for 2008-2009. SD will be monitored through progress on the Action Plan by the Sustainable Development Officer.
Background Information
The political composition of WDC is: 9 SNP, 10 Labour, 2 Independent, 1 SSP
Name of Council leader: Iain Robertson (SNP)
Name of Chief Executive: David McMillan
Number of staff: approx. 6000
Geographical size of LA area: over 70 square miles
Population of LA area: est. 91,400
Links to relevant webpages:
Environment Trust
West Dunbartonshire Council