How Blackpool is trying to tackle climate change

Last year councillors agreed a climate emergency declaration to ensure the resort was working towards reducing its impact on global warming.

The council has a target to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Other initiatives include reducing waste, introducing more efficient energy systems in council owned buildings and switching to more efficient LED bulbs, which are already used by the Illuminations.

A citizens assembly, led by young residents of the town, will also be established and is expected to hold its first meeting in May.

Further use of wind power is also being investigated, which could eventually see more turbines similar to those already in place at the Solaris Centre on South Promenade, installed.

The projects were set out in a report to the council's tourism, economy and communities scrutiny committee and cover the town hall's core departments as well as the council's wholly owned companies.

They also include: -

* Blackpool Transport continues to upgrade its fleet of buses to models with lower emissions.

* The Sandcastle water park has introduced more energy efficient boilers and reduced energy use at off peak times.

* The Winter Gardens is installing LED lighting over 2020, and fitting thermostats to gas heaters.

The meeting was also updated on the council's single use plastics policy which has seen plastic cups and stirrers banned at town hall buildings and council companies.

Future initiatives could include encouraging 'reverse vending machines' which reward customers who return used drinks bottles for recycling.