Yorkshire Division Biography
Yorkshire Division covers the county of Yorkshire and the northern edge of Lincolnshire. Most of the large Local Authorities are members, heavy industry is represented as well as consultancies and academic institutions. There are also some individual members. At the end of 2007 we have 19 organisations with 83 named representatives and 13 individual members. The Yorkshire membership has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of environmental protection and public health.
There are formal links with Yorkshire and Humberside Pollution Advisory Council (YAHPAC) and the Yorkshire Contaminated Land Forum and we have had joint meetings with the Sheffield Green Business Club.
In Yorkshire the quest for clean air in the past was made more difficult by the local economy being based around heavy industry. There was a perception that clean air would result in heavy job losses. Gradually the enlightened councillors managed to persuade others that use of smokeless domestic fuel would achieve better health and still retain the jobs. This process was facilitated by the shared knowledge and experience that had accrued as a result of membership of this organisation.
We normally meet 4 or 5 times a year for an afternoon seminar or visit. Recent events included a seminar on anti-social behaviour and one on land quality and visits to : Drax Power Station with a presentation on carbon in the atmosphere; Yorkshire Water Grid Control to see the operation and maintenance of the county water supply grid; Leeds Urban Traffic Control Centre to see developments in traffic prioritisation and control; Bishop Burton Agricultural College where environmental control techniques are employed to minimise impact and Corus steelworks where 1 million tonnes of metal is recycled every year.
Find out more yorkshire@environmental-protection.org.uk