A NEW strategy on beating climate change has been drawn up by Cherwell District Council - and residents are being asked to chip in with ideas.

Cllr Kieron Mallon, the council's executive member for the environment, said: "There is a lot we can do to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and we have drawn up a clear action plan.

"The council has an important role to play in encouraging and supporting action by residents and businesses on this issue, and by working together we can make a positive contribution to the district's environment.

"We can ensure that Cherwell remains a beautiful place for this and future generations."

The council's plan contains more than 120 ways of tackling climate change and improving the environment.

It includes measures to reduce the council's own carbon emissions and ways in which local communities can play a part.

Some of the suggestions are cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the council's operations by 22 per cent over the next five years, reducing fuel-use by the council's vehicle fleet, cutting water consumption in council buildings by smarter metering, installing low energy lighting and more energy-efficient heating, implementing a greener policy on goods and services bought by the council, more recycling, using the planning system to improve the energy-efficiency of buildings, and reducing the need to travel and providing access to public and other sustainable forms of transport.

Cherwell's Environmental Strategy for a Changing Climate is available on the council's website www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk - and the consultation lasts until the end of the March.