SUSTAINABILITY
The Alton Society actively endorses and supports local initiatives:
Alton Climate Action Network (ACAN) & Energy Alton.
A key objective is to highlight the risks and challenges of climate change and to support the local community with understanding these challenges and taking steps to reduce energy consumption.
To that end, the Alton Society is keen to encourage sustainable developments in and around the town – it is very important that all proposed local developments, housing and commercial, are designed and delivered in a sustainable manner.
We will endeavour to hold the developers and planning authorities to account to deliver truly sustainable solutions by making constructive, sustainable contributions to planning consultations. We monitor the delivery against local authority planning commitments and are not shy about holding to account those who fail to deliver!
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
FLOOD MEADOWS
The management of public open spaces is the remit of Alton Town Council. However, historically, the Society has adopted the area of Flood Meadows, which is close to the source of the River Wey. Supported by Alton Town Council, a dedicated band of volunteers meets monthly to carry out maintenance and improvements to the area.
LITTER PICKS
A priority for the Society is the town’s High Street and public spaces – it is important that they show vitality and a clean healthy environment. Working with other organisations within the town, we support and promote regular town litter clearance, a regular feature in the Society’s diary.
TREE WARDEN
The Alton Society has its own Volunteer Tree Warden, Fiona Lapraik, who can be contacted by members of the Alton Society for free advice about their trees. The main duty of this post is to carry out a visual inspection and present comments to both Alton Town Council and East Hampshire District Council on every formal application in relation to any work which might affect trees in the Alton area. As a bonus, Alton Society members can ask Fiona to visit their gardens and provide advice and/or comments on trees that they might be concerned about.
Fiona can be contacted at altontreewarden@gmail.com
TRANSPORT
The Alton Society supports sustainable transport and the local groups that are active in this area:
We also promote the expansion of affordable public transport serving the town and surrounding communities.