Decarbonisation and reaching net zero are two concerns that I frequently hear about in my post bag. I recently visited the Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship to find out how they are doing in their mission to be an ‘eco church’. Members of the congregation told me about the environmentally conscious aspects of the Tove Valley Centre, including the construction of the building, regular auditing, support for Fairtrade, and for low carbon travel.

The church encourages and inspires all members of the congregation to reduce, reuse and recycle, and many younger members work with them to ensure that protecting the environment remains a high priority. 

We discussed the current energy mix in the UK, and the future of the UK’s energy supply. We shared thoughts and concerns regarding international energy supply chains, the recent food strategy released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Government’s Environment plan.

Pedestrian connectivity between Towcester and surrounding villages was also raised, and members of the congregation highlighted the lack of footpaths between Greens Norton and Towcester. I am grateful to the group for bringing this to my attention and I entirely appreciate the safety concerns as more people are opting for low-carbon modes of transport like walking or cycling. I have written to West Northamptonshire Council on this issue, and a copy of my letter to Ms Anna Earnshaw, Chief Executive West Northamptonshire Council is below.