The Icon

FEARS that electric cars could actually increase carbon emissions are unfounded in almost all parts of the world, new research shows. Dr Pablo Salas from the University of Cambridge commented: "Understanding the effect of low-carbon innovations on relevant sectors of the economy, such as heating and transport, is crucial for the development of effective policy." Reports have questioned whether electric cars...

GROWING fruit and vegetables in just 10 per cent of a city’s gardens and other urban green spaces could provide 15 per cent of the local population with their ‘five a day’, according to new research. In a study published in Nature Food, academics from the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield investigated the potential for urban...

A COMBINED total of £294,814 has been awarded to 51 secondary schools, university and college campuses from the Scottish Government’s active travel budget and delivered through Cycling Scotland’s Cycling Friendly programme. More than 261,000 people will benefit from the funding which will provide new or improved cycling facilities. Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, commented on the news:...

LAST month CATCH Skills hosted 80 University of Lincoln Mechanical students for four days to take part in the ‘CATCH Experience’ programme. The students, who were in their first year of their degree, benefited from practical hands-on experience. The aim was to demonstrate how their skills would be used within a workplace. The training included Introduction to Plant Process, COSHH/Hazard Identification, DCS...

AFFINITY Water has deployed a Step Testing technique to locate leaks in its network of pipes faster to reduce the amount of water lost through leakage. Step Testing will allow Affinity Water engineers to systematically 'step by step' work through district areas, opening and closing valves to isolate parts of the network to narrow down areas suffering from loss of...

WRAP is offering a total of £1.5 million in grants to support projects that provide innovative ways for textile waste to be recycled or re-used, keeping it out of landfill or incineration so that it remains a valuable resource. The money is part of Defra’s £18m Resource Action Fund, set up to support key priority policy areas. The grants, of between £20,000...

SPECIALIST teams at Southern Water have completed their first year of nitrate reduction measures for drinking water catchments in the Worthing area. Southern Water’s catchment team has been working closely with the Arun to Adur Farmer's Group to raise awareness of water quality issues, and implement measures designed in collaboration with the group, to reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater. Catchment Officer...

A SECOND chance to invest in Scottish Communities Finance's Community Bond Offer has been announced in order to bring community and climate benefits for the people of Linlithgow. Linlithgow Community Development Trust is currently developing a number of local projects, one of which is the ‘Linlith-Go-Solar’ project. Linlithgow gets 1299 hours of sunshine per year -higher than the Scottish average. It is...

A RAFT of new rapid public electric vehicle charging points will be installed in the district after the Canterbury City Council secured a government grant of more than £150,000 for three air quality projects. Seventeen dual 22kw charge points, capable of charging 34 vehicles in total, will be put into car parks and park and ride sites, including the first...

WE are about to start our first weekend under lockdown and it's probably starting to pose a challenge finding new things to do without leaving the house. In the first of a series of posts with suggestions for virtual activities, how about a trip to the zoo? The calming influence of nature is always good for the soul and for young...