From November 2023 to March 2024, Torbay Climate Partnership (TCP) ran its consultation on the ‘Greener Way For Our Bay Framework and Action Plan.’ This is the TCP’s plan to accelerate local action to tackle climate change and to make homes more energy efficient, protect the natural environment, support businesses to become more sustainable, and make sustainable and public transport (like walking, cycling and taking the bus) more accessible and affordable.
The TCP used a wide range of methods to engage with local people and to ensure there was a representative response.
There were three main surveys, a short version, for those that agreed with the proposal, a longer version and one for those who disagreed with the proposals put forward. The long version of the survey was available both online and as a paper version in libraries.
In addition, Tonic Creatives were commissioned to run a series of interactive engagement activities with local groups between December 2023 and March 2024.
Survey response numbers
Across all surveys there were 606 responses in total. There were 295 positive responses, 109 negative, and 202 long responses. In addition to the surveys there were four group submissions to the consultation, from Devon County Council, Torbay Labour Party, The National Grid and the Seven Concerned Citizens.
Tonic Creatives
Tonic Creatives also engaged with 1263 people, including 1063 face to face engagements.
Climate change concern
Across all three surveys, in response to the question, “How concerned are you about climate change?” a total of 70% of respondents said they were either concerned or very concerned.
The Ten Things
Survey Results
The surveys were asking people if they approved of the ten key things being proposed by the Greener Way for Our Bay Framework and Action Plan. The majority of people approved of all ten things.
- 75% agreed we should help more people live and work in homes and buildings that are energy efficient.
- 75% agreed we should make sustainable and public transport more accessible and affordable.
- 75% agreed we should ensure that roads and paths are safer and more accessible for cyclists and walkers.
- 77% said we should reduce waste and increase recycling.
- 79% said we should enjoy and protect our marine and natural environment.
- 76% said we should help green our businesses and create new jobs with the environment at their heart.
- 74% agreed we should ensure the community is at the heart of local action.
- 76% agreed we should monitor progress and set up initiatives that celebrate success.
- 76% agreed we should help everyone understand why change is needed and how sustainable choices make a difference.
- 74% of respondents agreed we should work with nature and the local community to prepare for a changing climate.
Tonic Creatives Results
Tonic Creatives found even higher support. 96% of the people they engaged with were happy with the overall plan.
Tonic Creatives used a ‘Marble Run’ to ask participants to vote for their top three issues. The top three priorities they identified were:
- Enjoying and protecting our marine and natural environment.
- Reducing waste and increasing recycling.
- Helping more people live and work in homes and buildings that are energy efficient.
Open Text Questions
The three open text questions in the surveys found:
That the three most common things people cared about were:
- Environmental Issues, including climate change, protecting the natural environment, and taking action on these.
- Issues of social equity, such as homelessness, inequality, the housing crisis and poverty.
- Improving and maintaining our towns and roads and keeping them clean.
That the three actions in the plan that received the most support were:
- Communication and exposure of the plan to encourage community buy in.
- A just and fair transition with financial support when needed.
- Prioritising cycling and walking.
The most common suggestion to improve the plan was:
- To deal with litter and clean up the area.
The most common concerns about the plan were:
- Doubt in the plan, the council or the government’s commitment.
- That Climate Change is natural, and the plan is not needed.
- That not enough action is being taken and the plan does not go far enough.
As well as the free text questions, all three surveys and Tonic Creatives also asked people:
- What three words would you use to describe your best version of the Torbay of 2050?
From all these responses a word cloud was created. A word cloud is a visual tool that shows the most common words in a text, with more frequent words appearing larger. This is the word cloud created:
Analysis and actions taken
The results show:
Torbay is concerned about climate change and there is broad support for the Greener Way for The Bay Framework and Action Plan and its ten priorities (and associated actions).
Based on all the information received, a number of changes will be made to the Greener Way For Our Bay Framework and Action Plan. These include:
- Add a new action to the plan to ensure that all local campaigns are reached by many more people
- Add a range of new community based actions on local food
- Add a monitoring progress section back into the plan to promote accountability and transparency.
- Make explicit references to who’s document the Greener Way for our Bay is and how the Torbay Climate Partnership works so that people can be assured that, where funding is available, it will be sought across the public and private sectors and central government to support the transition
- Passed all comments on to the transport department at Torbay Council so they can be fed into the development considerations of the new Local Transport Plan (being drafted in 2024)
- Invite a representative of ‘Torbay on the Move’ to join the Torbay Climate Partnership
- Invite a representative of a community cycling group to join the Torbay Climate Partnership
- Feed comments into the development considerations of the upcoming Nature Plan
- South West Water to be invited onto the TCP to explore ways to increase water saving advice as part of the Action Plan
- Add a new action to explore with partner Exeter Community Energy options for solar panel buying schemes in Torbay (links with comment on making Torbay a solar eco resort)
- Add a new action for the Torbay Bus Partnership to spend £7m to upgrade and improve buses across Torbay
- Add a new action for Torbay Council to spend just under £1m on installing Electric Vehicle charging points across Torbay Council
- Add new action for Torbay Communities – Imagine This Environment Group to lead a Climate Action Fund bid to increase climate action and training in young people and their communities
- Compose a child friendly version of the Ten Things
- Invited a representative of ‘Healthwise’ to join the Torbay Climate Partnership to help address ‘ableist’ concerns