Didsbury West

Nature and Biodiversity:

• Ensure green areas are improved and maintained to a high standard. Work with Parks Department, Friends of Marie Louise Gardens, Parsonage Gardens, Cavendish Park and Didsbury Park.
• Support development of Blackburn pocket park. Include mural to raise awareness of the conservation area.
  • Target 25/26: Site visit with group. Support with Neighbourhood Investment Fund (NIF).

Flood Risk:

• Work with the Environment Agency (EA) to help reduce the risk of flooding. Support the development of Flood Defence Plans and flood risk category assessment. Promote EA early warning flood alerts and updates.
• Share flood advice leaflets to help prepare in the event of an emergency.
• Arrange any engagement events to share valuable flood-related advice and information. Include partners such as EA and Flood Hub.
• Work with EA and stakeholders to maintain the Mersey corridor. Identify specific work, repair and river testing.
• Oversight of future planning applications. Consider new developments in flood zones. Assess the impact on localised flooding.

Children and Young People:

• Support projects for young people. Encourage schools to take part in tree planting. www.cityoftrees.org.uk. Help to create better, greener spaces.
  • Work with Islamic Girls School. Support project with City of Trees.
  • Support Lancasterian School to develop community and sensory garden.
• Utilise Bradley Fold Allotment to share skills. Arrange tour for schools.
• Encourage parents and young people to walk, cycle, use public transport and car share. (Beaver Road Junior School, Cavendish Road Primary, Didsbury High, The Birches Specialist Support School, Lancasterian School and Islamic Girls School.)
• Hold a morning of action at Islamic Girls School with partners. Encourage active travel. Tackle vehicle idling at school pick-up/drop-off.
• Work with the Education Department to encourage involvement in eco programmes and events.
• Promote school trips to Longley Lane Recycling Centre.

Transport, Air Quality, Active Travel:

• Work in partnership with Withington Hospital. Encourage staff to walk, cycle, use public transport and car share. Promote car-free days.
• Work in partnership with Didsbury Mosque. Encourage sustainable travel including walking, cycling, public transport, car share and car-free days.
• Improve security for cyclists. Work alongside GMP to provide bike marking. Consider providing free bike repair and maintenance at events.

Things We Buy, Use and Throw Away:

• Promote recycling, reducing and reusing at engagement events. Work with partners to engage with residents and businesses on Vicker Grove.
• Promote Great British Spring Clean / Keep Britain Tidy campaign. Support a local event.
• Manchester Refill Campaign:
  • Work to increase the number of local businesses signed up to the Refill campaign.
  • Support Burton Road traders. Work to make those already signed up more visible to consumers.
  • Promote the campaign amongst community groups and residents. Encourage them to download the app and refill on the go. Help avoid unnecessary packaging and single-use plastic.
• Promote tours to Longley Lane Recycling Centre.

Food:

• Promote and support the work of local food banks, charities and groups to reduce food waste.
• Signpost to relevant sources of funding.
• Work with Didsbury Traders to explore the potential to increase recyclable packaging.
• Encourage grow-your-own initiatives and allotment projects. Encourage surplus produce to go to food banks and charities.
• Use opportunities, activities and events to promote less carbon-intensive meals. Include seasonal fruit and veg and encouragement to eat less meat and dairy.

Homes and Energy Efficiency:

• Continue to promote energy efficiency. Engage at events which include energy efficiency advice and information. Work in partnership to provide a range of ways to save energy.
• Help make homes more energy efficient and save residents money. Provide residents with LED lightbulbs at community events.
• Support new carbon improvement works and installation of a new boiler at Didsbury Library.

Engagement, Raising Awareness, Influencing Change:

• Attend local events to engage with residents on climate change. Promote the steps everyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Promote funding for local climate action. Ensure the ward NIF budget includes support for climate-related projects.
• Consider holding a Climate Dragon’s Den event. Encourage community groups and schools to apply for funding.

Want to know what progress we made on last year's objectives in Didsbury West? Email southnt@manchester.gov.uk.