Councillors have given the green light to an ambitious and far-reaching plan to make Petersfield a net zero town.

The Climate and Environment Strategy drawn up by Petersfield Town Council has been called “one of the most comprehensive in the nation” by mayor, Cllr JC Crissey.

The document put forward by the council’s Finance & General Purposes Committee has been nearly four years in the making and follows work with PeCAN, EHDC, town councillors, officers and concerned members of the community.

The council adopted a Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan in the two years after declaring a Climate Emergency in March 2020. 

The new Climate and Environment Strategy 2024-2029 is the next step with 39 additional measures being approved in a move to make Petersfield a “pivotal force for enhanced resilience and green innovation”.

The measures include aspirations on green communities, travel and transport, energy, the natural environment and mitigation and resilience.

They range from making comments on planning applications to providing more EV charge points, more financial support for green businesses, biodiversity improvements and bringing PTC-owned buildings including Festival Hall to certain green standards. 

There’s also a section on active travel with support promised for community groups like the Friends of the Rother Valley Way and their plans for a safe route between Petersfield and Midhurst.

The council hopes the move will broaden PTC’s scope to influence and lead locally on green issues while demonstrating the critical role it has to protecting the natural environment.