From vision to reality
A small project team has now been established to oversee the day to day development and delivery of the Dearne Valley eco-vision. The team will work with officers from the three local authorities making up the Dearne Valley (Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham) as well as partner organizations operating in the area. The project team is funded from the European Regional Development Fund technical assistance programme for South Yorkshire and is based in the Sheffield City Region team at The Source, Meadowhall.
The project team is currently facilitating a number of important pieces of work including supporting priority themes arising from the eco-vision, development of an action plan and looking at governance issues for the Dearne. We are also developing a communications strategy to engage the communities of the Dearne, working with them to consider how we can turn the ideas in the vision into reality and how people might become involved in helping to shape and deliver the vision.
The eco vision is a major initiative which will be achieved over the next 20 to 30 years. A small number of priority themes have been identified to provide focus for the early work:
Community - working with communities to help reduce fuel bills by changing over to a low carbon lifestyle and tackling climate change on a local level
Economy - encouraging new green businesses into the area, creating jobs for local people, addressing the training needs of local people to meet this demand
Environment - improving the local environment and leisure activities by rediscovering the river
Transport – improving public transport, walking and cycling links.
