Characteristics of a Sustainable Community
The Sustainable and Healthy Communities programme at Stafford Borough Council aims to guide us towards a more sustainable community, a place where:
- the needs of everyone in the community are met and people feel safe, healthy and ultimately happy
- our environment is appreciated, protected and enhanced and damage to the environment is minimised
- our economy is vibrant, employment opportunities are improved and our working lives are more rewarding
Creating a Sustainable Society involves:
Protecting and Enhancing the Environment
- use energy, water and other natural resources efficiently and with care
- minimise waste, then re-use or recover it through recycling, composting or energy recovery, and finally sustainably dispose of what is left
- limit pollution to levels which do not damage natural systems
- value and protect the diversity of nature
Meeting Social Needs
- create and enhance places, spaces and buildings which work well, wear well and look good
- make settlement 'human' in scale and form
- value and protect diversity and local distinctiveness and strengthen local community and cultural identity
- protect human health and amenity through safe, clean and pleasant environments
- emphasise health service prevention action as well as cure
- ensure access to good food, water, housing and fuel at a reasonable cost
- meet local needs locally wherever possible
- maximise everyone's access to the skills and knowledge needed to play a full part in society
- empower all sections of the community to participate in decision-making and consider the
social and community aspects of decisions
Promoting Economic Success
- create a vibrant local economy that gives access to satisfying and rewarding work without damage to the local, national or global environment
- value unpaid work
- encourage necessary access to facilities, services, goods and other people in ways which make less use of the car and minimise impacts on the environment
- make opportunities for culture, leisure and recreation readily available to all
So how can I help to build a more sustainable Stafford?
Make a start by following these 21 easy tips for the 21st Century!
Link: 21 Tips on Sustainable Development
Find out more about Sustainable and Healthy Communities' initiatives and Projects.
Link: Initiatives and Projects
Get involved by joining one of or groups.
Link: Sustainable and Healthy Communities Groups
Join one of the many local groups working for sustainable development.
Link: Local Contacts
