East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 19 January 2022 | Comments

A charity in Lowestoft reduces its environmental impact and its running costs thanks to donations from local district councillors.

Cllrs Peter Byatt, Janet Craig, Louise Gooch, Malcolm Pitchers, Linda Coulam, Andree Gee, Frank Mortimer and Trish Mortimer have jointly donated over £7,500 from their Enabling Communities Budgets to Citizens Advice in Lowestoft, allowing it to make environmental improvements to St Margaret’s House, its distinctive Grade II listed building in the town centre.

The charity approached the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership’s free survey service in 2018 to learn more about reducing its carbon footprint, lowering its energy bills and making its Victorian building more comfortable for staff and visitors.

After receiving support grants for modern radiators, roof insulation and LED lighting, an additional funding of £7,527 from East Suffolk Council’s Enabling Communities Budget, boosted by The Geoffrey Watling Charity, meant the charity could also install secondary glazing, which was the last of the four recommendations from the survey.

Speaking on behalf of the Councillors who made a donation, Cllr Peter Byatt, local ward member for Kirkley and Pakefield, said:

“Citizens Advice is a very worthy charity so we’re extremely pleased to have been able to support it with a donation that has the twin benefits of cutting carbon emissions and saving money on electricity - money that can be better spent elsewhere on the charity’s activities.”

Janet John, the Chief Executive from Citizens Advice North East Suffolk said:

“We were very appreciative of the initial environmental survey report that highlighted where we could make changes and thrilled that with various grants we have been able to make all the recommendations a reality.

“This last activity, the installation of secondary glazing throughout, has not only meant we can keep heat in the building and make it draft free, the extra glazing keeps traffic noise from the outside to a minimum too. In fact, the impact was immediate. The day the secondary glazing was installed to coin a phrase from an old song "the silence was golden"!! and the whole building feels much more comfortable already.

“We are very grateful to the East Suffolk Councillors that made this possible and we look forward to welcoming the residents back to our cosy building and providing the advice and support they need once covid restrictions are lifted and face-to face meetings return.”

Carbon savings from the changes made to the building are expected to reduce its carbon footprint by 15tC02e supporting a key strategic environmental aim of East Suffolk Council, whilst financial savings to the Citizens Advice should be in the region of £2500 - £3000 per year once the building is fully occupied again.

East Suffolk Council’s Enabling Communities Budgets support activities delivered by community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations with each councillor having £7,500 per year to spend on community projects or to develop new projects in their ward to tackle local need.

Previous projects which have benefitted from Enabling Community Budget funding include play areas, village hall refurbishments and equipment, community events, projects supporting people with disabilities and the purchase of defibrillators.

Community groups wishing to apply for the funding should contact their district councillor or visit the Enabling Communities Budget page on the Council's website.