Witney News - Green Apple award

Green Apple award

West Oxfordshire District Council has gained a prestigious silver Green Apple award for environmental best practice.

Green Apple awards are presented to the world's greenest companies, councils and communities by The Green Organisation, which promotes environmental best practice. Now in their twelfth year, they are well established as running one of the biggest and most extensive environmental award schemes.

The Award recognises the efforts the Council is making to tackle climate change. Council workers have been taking simple energy saving steps such as switching off electrical appliances when not in use, reducing waste and recycling more.

A Green Travel Plan encourages staff to adopt environmentally friendly ways of travelling to work and already car sharing and bicycle loan schemes are up and running. A recent green travel week focussed on promoting more sustainable ways of travelling, including walking, cycling and using public transport.

The Council's flagship environmentally friendly building, Elmfield, is at the forefront of using renewable energy sources and energy saving technologies. Clean fuel has also been introduced to the fleet of council-owned vehicles.

The 2006 Green Apple awards ceremony was held at the Tower of London. Professor David Bellamy OBE presented West Oxfordshire District Council with a framed certificate.

Cllr David Harvey said: "This is a tremendous achievement as this award has become one of the most aspired environmental honours. It is a proud moment for members and officers of West Oxfordshire District Council to be receiving a Green Apple award and I want to thank all concerned with this for their hard work.

Because the Council has the responsibility of leading by example we are putting a lot of thought, time and money into reducing our own carbon emissions and using the latest green technologies wherever possible. Commitment from staff in adopting environmental best practice by taking simple measures is really helping to make a difference and this award acknowledges their efforts."