Many of the essential services provided by local authorities fall within the remit of its environment policy. Whether it is ensuring a safe and adequate supply of water, to having refuse collected or if it is important physical works in the town or the more global responsibility of reducing carbon emissions and changing its work practices to those that incorporate ‘green’ technologies and are more sustainable for the future.
Recent weather related emergencies have shown the importance of ensuring that watercourses in the town are managed well. While such amenities add to the character of the town they must also not present a threat to nearby residents and add to the risk of flooding. Smaller rivers throughout the town must be dredged on a regular basis, kept free of debris and connecting water sources must do so in a manner that does not put pressure on the watercourses.
Clearly the biggest such watercourse that needs to be addressed is the Dargle River. Following the flooding of the past, many local residents in the Little Bray area remember only too well the night of August 25th 1986 when the river last flooded. The proposals that are currently being developed by Bray Town Council and the Office of Public Works must be advanced once permission to proceed with the scheme has been given by An Bord Pleanala. This will be the single most important and vital piece of environmental infrastructure ever carried out in the town.
Litter management is also an important aspect of environment policy and one that Bray Town Council spends considerable amount of its resources on. From street cleaning, to maintenance of the seafront, to clearing litter from its parks, to funding the recycling centre and to the removal of graffiti are all part of the Council's daily efforts to keep the town clean. It is important that all interested parties in the town play a role in keeping Bray clean.
Many local organisations have also contributed to the environmental aspects of the town. The weekly efforts by Coastcare, local residents associations and school’s ‘Green Flag’ committees have all played a part in improving the town for everyone.
Energy conservation, use of renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions and maintaining air quality all contribute to protecting the environment. Bray Town Council has a significant role to play in encouraging this policy though its own activities and also in the evaluation of planning applications and the appropriate conditioning of planning permissions. The use of micro-renewable sources of energy generation should be facilitated in the town and support give to tenants in local authority homes who wish to carry out works in their homes that will improve their energy rating.