Surrey council to make £18k eco upgrades to offices
A Surrey council is washing its hands of paper towels in favour of electric hand driers for staff.
Runnymede Borough Council will replace 22 hand towel dispensers at its Addlestone Civic Hall site on Station Road, Addlestone, with 18 standard driers to reduce "carbon and costs".
Last year the authority spent £12,000 on paper towels but said the £18,000 spend on new driers would save money in the long run.
The idea was initially raised in July 2024.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service , Councillor Isabel Mullins described the move as a "welcome idea from staff" and added that cost savings were "very much there".
The existing system was described as producing "large amounts of unrecyclable waste".
However, questions have been raised over why the authority was making the changes ahead of its potential dissolution.
Devolution plans, which would merge some boroughs and districts within the county to create new unitary authorities, are due to take place in 2027.
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
Surrey Youth Games will not go ahead in 2025
Surrey council reorganisation plans approved
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Development of 24 homes refused for a second time
A new proposal for a housing development in a village has been refused by planners at a council. The plan for 24 new homes in Glinton, near Peterborough, was put forward by the Rutland-based developer, Hereward Homes Ltd. Peterborough City Council refused the new scheme on Wednesday, following an initial application that was declined in December. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the case officer report stated the latest proposal was "near identical" to the last and would have a "detrimental impact" on the village's rural setting. The fresh application was put forward in March, which Hereward Homes Ltd said addressed the previous issues. The developer argued the proposed development demonstrated a "high quality of design" and would use materials appropriate to the character of the village. The application received objections from the council's conservation officer, urban design officer and five local residents. The area has been the subject of three applications for new homes in the past. All of them were refused for reasons including insufficient visitor parking and highway safety. In May, plans for 250 homes submitted by Gladman Developments were refused, which raised concerns with the parish council and residents. Another application by Larkfleet Group for 95 homes was refused in February following opposition from councillors. Bob Randall, the vice-chairman of Glinton Parish Council, previously told the LDRS of the village's concerns about the proposed allocation of 355 homes in the council's draft Local Plan. He said: "Glinton is getting a big chunk of the development that's being proposed for rural villages and that is really unsustainable." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Plans for 250 homes in village refused by council Plans for 55 new homes in village refused Plans for 95 homes on arable farmland thrown out Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Biofuel plant workers take concerns to Westminster
Workers from the UK's largest bioethanol plant have visited Westminster to raise concerns the facility could close within days without government support. Bosses of Vivergo Fuels in Saltend, near Hull, said the plant's future was "hanging in the balance" after the removal of a 19% tariff on US ethanol imports, which was part of the recent UK-US trade deal. The firm said that without urgent action, the plant, which employs more than 160 people, would no longer be viable. The government said it was working closely with the industry to understand the impacts of the trade deal and it was open to discussions over potential support. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, about 35 workers made the trip to London. Ben Hackett, managing director of Vivergo Fuels, said: "With the future of the Vivergo plant hanging in the balance, our workers felt compelled to speak directly to their MPs about what is at stake. "This isn't just about one site. It's about protecting thousands of skilled jobs, supporting British farming and preserving a vital part of our green energy infrastructure." MP for Hull East Karl Turner said: "The fact that dozens of workers had to travel from East Yorkshire to Westminster today shows just how serious this situation is. "Vivergo is not only a major employer in our region - it's a key player in our green economy and food security." The new mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, urged the government to "rethink" the trade deal with the US to protect British job. In April, Associated British Foods (ABF) said it was in talks with the government to help save its Saltend plant after the company was forced to cut production levels due to low bioethanol prices. Vivergo Fuels produces bioethanol which is used in E10 petrol. E10, which was introduced in 2021 to help cut carbon emissions, contains up to 10% bioethanol. The plant also produces animal feed, which is a by-product of the bioethanol production process. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Biofuel plant 'faces closure after US trade deal' Biofuel plant could close with loss of 150 jobs Local Democracy Reporting Service Vivergo Fuels
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Major housing scheme decision delayed
A decision on plans to build 150 new homes has been deferred after councillors asked for more details around the developer's contribution towards extra school places. The planning application, from Stonebridge Homes, would have seen the development built off Hatfield Lane, in Barnby Dun, Doncaster. A report by planning officers said the developers would be asked to make financial contributions to local schools, including Hungerhill, to provide additional school places. However, councillors decided they needed answers from the council's education department on how it calculates figures regarding school places for developments. The report said a contribution of £605,000 would have funded 25 additional school places, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. It prompted questions from councillors Steve Cox and Neil Wood, with the latter referencing other developments near to Hungerhill school which would add to demand. Cox moved to defer the decision on planning permission until staff from the council's education department came to offer "clarity". Wood asked if a cumulative figure for places at schools affected by multiple developments to be put in council reports. The vote was carried and the application will come back to planning at a later date. The plans consist of 115 dwellings for "market housing" and 35 dwellings for "affordable housing". The council report stated the proposal "meets all key policy requirements in respect of affordable housing, public open space, education, and biodiversity net gain". A total of 63 objections had been lodged by residents in the area, raising concerns about the impact on services, including GPs in the area. However, officers informed councillors on the committee the GP practice locally "is still accepting new patients and there are others also nearby". Katie Purdam, who spoke on behalf of Stonebridge Homes, said: "The scheme has been subject to a number of changes since it was first submitted." She said it was an "opportunity" shaped with the local community and council "to deliver much need housing on the site". "The proposals have been designed with community in mind," she told the meeting. A decision on the application will be made at a future date. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Doncaster Council
