'Climate Nan', which talks about climate change in a caravan, is coming to Ipswich as part of England-wide tour

People from Suffolk will soon have the opportunity to put their feet up, have tea and biscuits, and talk about a vital issue affecting their lives.

'Climate Nan' will park her caravan outside Ipswich Town Hall on March 18 and 19 as part of a tour of communities most at risk of flooding linked with climate change.

Residents can visit, share their experiences or concerns, and learn about what can be done about the issue.

There will even be a flood map in the caravan showing which areas of the town could be most affected by flooding, which people can 'pin their homes to'.

Climate Nan is an initiative by the We Are Here campaign.

The tour will coincide with Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill, which is passing through Parliament.

The organisers said the bill would 'fail to create a climate duty for decisions on development, and silence the voices of local residents'.

Once the tour ends, the campaign will travel to Westminster to make their voices heard, and deliver hand-written postcards from residents.

Organisers called for a 'fairer planning system' that involved local people in decision making and 'puts the power of climate planning down to a local level'.

The Department of Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities has been approached for comment and details.

The bill looked to 'reduce disparities' between different parts of the UK, support devolution, and create a framework for the delivery of green homes.

Naomi Luhde-Thompson from Rights Community Action said: “Legislation such as the Levelling-Up Bill presents the opportunity to safeguard people living in climate-risk areas through requiring climate resilient development for communities.

"However, the bill in its current form weakens the voices of local residents and fails to create a strengthened legal requirement to address the climate crisis through planning.

"The tour serves as a call to arms for people to encourage their MPs to push for the necessary changes to the bill in Parliament”.

Edie Gill Holder, a campaign manager at Glimpse, said: “Climate Nan is kind and comforting, more than happy to listen to residents talk about their planning and climate change-related concerns.

"But she is also feisty and fierce and will have no problem taking their concerns right to the very top of Government."