A PANEL of residents and people who live and work in Thurrock have delivered their thoughts on how the future of the borough should be laid out.

Twenty people with strong local connections were recruited by policy think tank the IPPR Environmental Justice Commission. to form an 'innovative climate citizens' jury' to discuss Thurrock's problems and plan a route map for a positive transition going forwards.

They have produced a 32 step plan to improve air quality, protect green spaces and boost clean transport in the area with a focus on creating more genuinely affordable transport and housing.

The Commission, which is a registered charity, believes local people should have more meaningful ways to shape planning and development decisions to ensure environmental and community needs are met.

It has targeted Thurrock as an area with one of the largest development programmes in the UK, with a target for 32,000 new homes planned.

The Thurrock climate citizens jury's 32 proposals for a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous low-carbon future for the area include investment in cleaner, more reliable and affordable public transport; the creation of low emissions zones; surcharges for polluting lorries coming from the ports; support for local farmers markets to sell more affordable and healthy food; and introducing schemes to allow employees to take time off work to help restore nature.

In the first such deliberative democracy project on climate in Thurrock, over eight sessions organised by the Commission, the group of 20 representative locals heard from experts, deliberated and developed their proposals.

The jurors drew on their varied life experiences and local knowledge to provide recommendations that are grounded in their ideas of fairness and an understanding of what a good quality of life should look like.

To ensure fairness, the jurors want to see climate actions sequenced so that there are positive, affordable options for people, such as more genuinely affordable transport and housing, in advance of any sanctions or penalties.

One juror said during the deliberations: "Any costings need to be phased in gradually and give people time to prepare for changes that will need to happen for climate and nature."

To make the most of Thurrock's development ambitions, the value of nature and wellbeing should be built into decision-making processes used by the council when considering plans, with real involvement for locals and safeguards for nature.

Another juror added: "The community can make a real difference. Don't make it so hard for them to help. Because it is!"

The jury's proposals include:

• Boosting transparency around decision making, more proactive communication with residents, and reducing the barriers for citizens to participate in decision making.
• Improving the planning process to protect green space, the green belt and Thurrock's natural assets, such as mudflats, bird life and saltmarshes – that act as a natural carbon sink.
• Only allocating Section 106 funding to support nature and address community needs – these should be considered in both the specific conditions placed on developers and in the general allocation of this funding.
• Ensuring all developments consider school provision, access to green spaces, road safety and meet commitments to genuinely affordable housing.

Transport and air pollution

The jurors want action tackling the climate and nature crisis to deliver a public transport system that is affordable, joined up, convenient and quick, to encourage people to use cars less.

Thurrock's busy roads caused 41 per cent of carbon emissions, across the region in 2018, two thirds more than the national average. Jurors also highlighted pollution from the Tilbury port and industrial areas in Purfleet and North Thurrock as a concern, as well as the possible impacts of the new Lower Thames Crossing.

Their proposals for cleaner travel include:

• Investment in hydrogen and electric buses and run them on the TfL model to keep costs low and ensure they serve all areas. More buses should be provided for the school run to make the journey cleaner and safer for children.
• Creating low emissions zones with the money generated used to fund free public transport for people on low incomes.
• Implementing surcharges for large vehicles that don't meet environmental standards, such as lorries coming from the ports. This money should be used to invest in road maintenance and walking and cycle infrastructure.
• Cutting taxes on electric vehicles and scooters to incentivise low carbon travel.

Jury member, Charles, who runs a local accountancy consultancy, said: "What struck me was how much land use and what we eat impact on the environment."

Lindsey, a school science technician and local cub leader, said: "I hope that some of the ideas that I brought across might change what some others are doing… If you work as a community you can achieve more than you can as an individual."

Jury member Danny added: "If we don't do anything, then we're all going to suffer. So, we can't please everybody; decisions need to be made. That's what got us into such a mess in the first place, because we're trying to please everybody and that's just not possible.

"That's what I find frustrating. The optimistic part of it is that we're having these meetings. There are signs that we're looking to move forwards and we're open to ideas."

Becca Massey-Chase, Deputy head of the IPPR Environmental Justice Commission, said: "These ideas provide positive, insightful and tangible recommendations that can be taken forward by national and local government, as well as by companies and communities. The jurors have established a clear set of actions and principles for a rapid and fair transition, demonstrating the opportunity to improve fairness at the same time as tackling the climate and nature emergencies."

Luke Murphy, head of the IPPR Environmental Justice Commission, added: "These findings show that the public want to see action taken on the climate and nature crises but they want to see benefits for their local areas too.

"Crucially, they want protection of the environment put at the heart of every decision, from ensuring that new home developments consider nature and wellbeing to using low emission zones to reduce air pollution and raise funds for free, local, and accessible public transport."