I've just finished sending out our response to all 51 Stroud District councillors re the Council's Environment Green paper - we have put together a critical and constructive 9 page report - it has taken weeks to pull together from all those making comments. We wanted to ensure it was out well before Full Council debates it on 21st September so all those who wanted had time to read it.
This Environment Green paper is only the start of creating a green vision for the District. We have applauded this move by the Council to focus on critical issues like climate change and energy use - I might add it has taken them long enough for an area that is supposedly green!! The consultation could also have been much better. The paper has virtually no targets: it talks for example of improving energy efficiency. Is anybody going to disagree with that?
Climate change presents us with some interesting and hard choices - we should be consulting on these. What are the priorities? Increasing Council Tax to pay for energy efficiency measures that save money in the longer term? Wind turbines on our hills?
But this is a start and there is a recognition we need targets - the challenge will be to make them the right ones! This Environment paper is the first step. Then we need to move rapidly to develop a sound sustainable future for the District. Certainly Greens will be keeping the pressure on with reports like this, questions and more. There is still not enough urgency.
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