Liberal Democrats force action on environment

9.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 2nd Oct 2006

Cllr Andrew Simpson suggested the use of wind power to reduce Northampton's carbon footprint

Northampton Borough Liberal Democrats have won support for an environmental audit of the Borough Council following a fierce debate at a meeting of full Council last Thursday.

Councillors Jane Hollis and Andrew Simpson put forward a motion urging the Council to review its use of energy and look at ways to reduce its environmental impact.

During the meeting Cllr Hollis, along with Cllr Trini Crake and Cllr Richard Church, grilled the Conservative administration on their environmental record so far. Their questions revealed a number of targets detailed in the Council's Energy Strategy have been missed such as the implementation of a Green Travel Plan.

Following a previous Liberal Democrat motion to Council on Monday 24th July, Northampton Borough Council has signed a revised version of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change which commits the Council to work with partners to reduce carbon emissions.

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Cllr Andrew Simpson said: "We are delighted our interventions have forced some action on the environment. The Conservatives are clearly responding to our demands for a more efficient use of energy which is to be welcomed."

Cllr Jane Hollis also welcomed the news, saying: "Our two recent motions on the environment have led to some real action but we will not become complacent. The consequences if we fail to deliver will be dire so we will continue to press for more to be done."

To find out more about Liberal Democrat policy on the environment go to: http://www.libdems.org.uk/index_environment.html