A major arterial route in Scunthorpe is set to undergo a dramatic environmental makeover, enhancing the space for residents and creating urban wildlife habitats.
North Lincolnshire Council will begin the investment by replacing the fencing, planting new sustainable hedging and creating low maintenance wild flower meadows along the Queensway.
Once this first phase is complete an avenue of trees will be planted along the two mile stretch of road as part of the Government’s Northern Forest project.
The whole scheme is part of an environment fund announced by the council in the budget in March.
More than £1m was allocated for environmental projects designed to enhance the towns and villages across the area. The funding will help to develop habitats for birds and insects. Almost £700,000 of the cash is coming from the Northern Forest scheme which will see more than 250,000 trees planted across the area.
Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“This project will really enhance the stretch of road. It is a main route into the town centre and this scheme will make a big different to the residents who live nearby and for those people on the approach into and out of town.
“The creation of wildlife habitats and the planting of trees are both simple ideas but ones which have a profound effect our communities by cleaning the air we breathe, cutting the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, enhancing our green spaces and reducing the risk of flooding.
“Everything we do presently has Covid-19 considerations; how we operate, how we deliver, how we begin the process of getting back to normal while being absolutely aware of the responsibility we all have to keep ourselves and our communities safe.
“The teams delivering this project, which will significantly enhance a very busy route through the town, will be careful and considerate in their approach to social distancing and to hygiene matters. While we must carry on with the development of North Lincolnshire, we know we must do so responsibly and be aware that everything we do for some time will have an impact of the spread of the virus.”
Cllr Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for the environment, said:
“The Government’s ambitious Northern Forest plan will see more than 50 million trees planted between the Lincolnshire coast and the Mersey.
“We have started our investment of this cash and we’ve seen already seen some local business tap into the fund but the local communities can get involved in this plan in our area by holding community planting days – giving everyone the opportunity to plant a tree and make a difference.
“Planting trees is part of the council’s long term plans to make North Lincolnshire an even greener and cleaner place by embedding environmentally friendly policies and projects across our organisation.”
The project is part of the council’s wider sustainable, environmental initiatives. A series of projects have seen the council reduce its carbon footprint by more than 60 per cent in the last decade. In the last two years alone the council reduced its carbon emissions by more than 6,000 tonnes – smashing an already ambitious target three years ahead of schedule.
A major project has seen 21,000 street lights replaced with LED bulbs which emit white light which improves visibility, cost less, last up to ten times as longer and use around 75 per cent less energy.
