Sustainability Champion of the Year award nomination for SLDC deputy leader Clare Feeney-Johnson (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Sustainability Champion of the Year award nomination for SLDC deputy leader Clare Feeney-Johnson

1:47pm Friday 1st February 2013 in News

A SENIOR South Lakeland councillor has been nominated for a national award for showing a 'passion for the environment'.

Clare Feeney-Johnson, deputy leader of South Lakeland District Council, could be named Sustainability Champion of the Year at the Local Government Information Units Achievement Awards (LGIU).

Coun Feeney-Johnson, who holds the environment and sustainability portfolio on the council's cabinet, piloted the first ever community energy switch project, which has seen some residents save up to £700 on their energy bills.

And other successful schemes have seen South Lakeland record the lowest green house gas emissions in Cumbria, with carbon emissions down 16 per cent since 2008 and water savings of £21,000 per year.

Coun Feeney-Johnson has aimed to inspire and deliver behavioural change both within the council and the community.

Within SLDC, she has established a carbon management board involving influential members and officers which drives carbon reduction projects.

An enthusiastic proponent of community litter picking, Coun Feeney-Johnson said: “I am thrilled at being nominated for this award. It is recognition of the hard work SLDC has put into making an impact on improving South Lakeland’s environment.

“The success of the community energy switch programme, which SLDC was the first council to pilot, is just one way in which we have helped our communities.”

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on February 25.