Slough Young People’s Question Time: Environment Special was an inspiring reminder that young people deeply prioritise the planet and are ready to lead change in their local community. Chaired by TAO volunteer and Slough & Eton 6th former, Nadiya, the event provided an empowering platform where young people contributed passionate, well-researched questions.
The Panellists
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Ved: UK Youth Parliament Representative for Slough
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Councillor Chloe Hart: Cippenham Green (Slough’s first Green Party councillor)
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Sonia Khan: Council officer stepping in for Councillor Nadeem Khawar, Slough Borough Council
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Divya Kumar: Environmental expert from Earthwatch
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Rosie Dean: Conservation expert from What on Earth
Ved from Slough Youth Parliament addresses the audience.
Challenging Data Centres and Shaping Local Policy
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With over 40 data centres operating in Slough, young people raised serious concerns about their immense water and energy footprint.
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Divya Kumar pointed out that a single data centre can use as much water in a day as 3,500 households at peak usage.
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Panel solutions included requiring closed-loop cooling systems, solar panels on large roofs, and district heating to pipe excess heat into local homes.
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Recognising the strength of feeling in the room, Sonia Khan committed to taking the community’s concerns directly into discussions surrounding Slough’s Local Plan refresh and 2040 vision to address cumulative impacts.
Protecting Local Wildlife During Heatwaves
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Drawing on real community action, such as TAO volunteers watering vulnerable plants in Herschel Park during heatwaves, the room explored ways to safeguard local nature.
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Solutions ranged from native species planting and soil mulching to rethinking traditional tidy gardens.
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Panellists encouraged letting wild plants grow naturally to help retain vital soil moisture during periods of extreme heat.
Holding Industry Accountable and Protecting Workers
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Young people pressed the panel on how Slough intends to cut carbon emissions from major commercial sites like the Trading Estate.
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In response, Sonia Khan pledged to investigate council plans directly and report back on specific reduction measures for large businesses.
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Addressing questions on economic fairness, Sonia Khan also committed to feeding back how Slough’s economic strategy can retrain and protect local workers as industries transition to green energy.
Green Careers and Youth Action
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Focusing on the future, panellists reassured young people that transferable skills in maths, coding, and communications can all lead directly into conservation work.
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Rosie Dean highlighted practical, hands-on green jobs that AI cannot replace, such as installing heat pumps and solar technology.
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Panellists urged young people to harness their collective power through petitions, social media, and family conversations to demand accountability from politicians.
The One-Policy Wishlist
To close an uplifting evening, each panellist shared the single policy change they would implement immediately:
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Ved: Legally require large corporations to lead green initiatives and cut emissions.
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Soniya Khan: Prioritise greening, clean waterways, and active travel routes across all national planning policies.
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Divya Kumar: Mandate that all government policies work in harmony with nature rather than against it.
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Rosie Dean: Ban all new oil and gas drilling immediately.
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Councillor Chloe Hart: Pass a Nature’s Rights Bill to give local ecosystems legal protection against destructive developments.