Stratford Climate Action

As the Green Party candidate for the Alcester and Rural Ward I would immediately support the declaration of a Climate Emergency. I would call on the Council to appoint someone with authority to drive the campaign and instigate an assessment of what greenhouse gas emissions the council is responsible for.

Then, working with the local community we would publish a realistic plan of how we could reduce emissions aiming for net zero emissions by 2030.

We would start with the low and no cost options around transport, making more use of public transport, no further road building, and switching to electric vehicles for the council. We would use our powers to insist on increasing energy efficiency in rental properties, new builds and council stock. We would ensure the council uses a green energy supplier, we would plant more trees and encourage local businesses and residents to make Stratford into a truly sustainable district.

I would support Stratford District Council to declare a Climate Emergency.

One thing I would like to see in a plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a substantial increase in the provision of local bus services, such that travelling by bus becomes a viable alternative to the car even for those able to drive.  Currently, many of those no longer able to drive describe a loss of independence, as there are no buses when and where they want to go.

Revenue for increasing the subsidy available for bus services could be generated through a levy on the developers of new build estates, which should also be required to have better provision of local amenities (e.g. a local shop within walking distance) and cycle paths and footpaths so that dependence on private car use can be reduced.

I support the concept of declaring a Climate Emergency to concentrate minds. Local Government should lead, pull together community networks, work with local business and coordinate action as well as setting standards for the council itself.

I was the Council leader 1997 – 2000, when SDC was a national leader of Local Agenda 21. The programme no longer exists, but the council must continue to set a framework (with targets) to address sustainable development and climate change, not only for their own activities, but also as a leader and coordinator for others in the community. Where Government hinders progress, the council should make representations for change.

Energy efficiency in existing houses is the Cinderella of local decarbonisation. Home energy demand accounts for around 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. I helped to found Act on Energy (and remain a trustee) as a registered charity dedicated to reducing the environmental impacts associated with climate change and the social impacts of declining fuel resources and the inability of many to afford adequate heating.

Local government can use the planning system to address climate mitigation, sustainability and resilience with stronger standards but will also need Government support for stronger Zero Carbon policies.

Local government can offer support for community energy, which has had a difficult few years as the result of changing government policy. The impacts of subsidy and tax incentive redactions and reductions continue to be felt. The district council can, and should drive the provision of charging points for electric vehicles and can support and encourage low carbon public transport.

Air quality is essentially a public health strategy at a local level that requires more than Clean Air zones to be effective.

Local Government has to be innovative with their local waste and resource strategies. In a previous role, I helped councils drive forward innovative projects for a circular economy with reductions in waste and a more efficient use of resources.

I support a declaration of climate emergency and, if elected, I will ensure that an ambitious climate emergency plan – which covers planning, transport, waste, energy, climate change adaptation, as well as environmental education in Schools – is put in place in our District. The plan must include clear targets in all the main areas, working with businesses and residents, so that Stratford on Avon District can become carbon neutral within a decade. 

As an environmental economist running my own consultancy in the area (http://envpolconsulting.co.uk/), I understand the importance and urgency of reducing dangerous and harmful greenhouse gas emissions, whilst at the same time adapting to the impacts of climate change that are already being felt and expected to get significantly worse. Therefore, I fully support a declaration of climate emergency and, if elected, I will work to ensure that an ambitious climate emergency plan – which covers planning, transport, waste, energy and climate change adaptation – is put in place in our District.

I am standing in a ward where communities are vulnerable to flooding, so effective climate change adaptation measures, together with developing resilient communities, must be part of the plan.  

Traffic, congestion and air pollution are not only contributing to carbon emissions, but have also been linked to serious illnesses and reduction of life expectancy. I support further pedestrianisation of the town centre, increased parking charges, better infrastructure and priority for pedestrians and cyclists, and free public transport (buses and trains). In the age of species extinction any infrastructure and housing development must be sustainable and green, with minimum environmental impact on their surroundings and no health impact to residents, and a focus on renewable energy and electric vehicles. 

I strongly believe that the new Council, whatever its make-up, should make climate change a priority, and make Stratford District a model for our region.

If elected I will declare a climate emergency for my ward and propose and support that the District Council should declare a climate emergency.

A district plan to address the climate emergency we face needs to be evidence led. The evidence and solutions to avert climate change are well known. Actions in these areas should be prioritised.

In parallel I will speak to the local community, door to door, to quantify needs locally and how best to address these in the context of our climate emergency. 

My own feelings would be to start a local grassroots movement to involve and educate the community in the effects of, and solutions to, climate change.

I would also propose the following:

• Improve local transport infrastructure to facilitate the reduction of our reliance on fossil fuel based transport, to include improving the provisions for walking, cycling, public transport & local electric car schemes.
• Discuss and act with the community to increase the biodiversity of our land.
• Start community based farms in the ward to localise the production of food.
• Influence social housing provision and planning strategy to improve the sustainability of our housing.
• Discuss within the community the science of Climate Change.

I am fully in favour of declaring a national emergency over climate change because the effects of climate change which we are seeing all over the world have been continuing with little acknowledgment over several years by government, media and the newspapers. The entire planet is affected by rising temperatures and as fossil fuels continue to be a huge factor in producing energy, we need those green initiatives to be restored nationally including the renewable feed in tariff so that investing in green technology can get back on track and continue to reduce our need on fossil fuels.

Investment in our natural renewable energy including solar and hydro hasn’t been a priority over several years which is a huge disappointment for us all. Combined with air pollution being above recommended limits in most cities, this  demonstrates that this has not been a priority for this government. Looking at the expected temperature rises we cannot fix this quickly and will require an extensive commitment locally and nationally and a commitment by the government to reduce our footprint on the environment. Our planet deserves to be treated with kindness and time is running out if we don’t act quickly. We owe it to the next generation and every generation that follows them to stand up for the planet.

In Stratford-upon-Avon we have issues with congestion on many routes in and out of our beautiful town and we also have some major routes nearby which should be monitored for air quality, which I understand does take place but not on a permanent basis.

I agree that the District Council declaring a Climate Emergency would give a powerful and a positive message to our community that something must be done. However, I believe it is also in taking practical measures that we will begin to change the serious problems we face.

I want to see a stronger message being issued to all ages, I believe education in these matters is vital. But not just about how to reduce waste, but how to reuse, and choices people can make everyday to help reduce waste. 

• Looking at the use of alternative means of power. The Liberal Democrats proposals to extend electric car charging points to all district council car parks were voted down by the Conservatives in February 2019. I would want to revisit this. Councils should be positive on leading by example.

• How could the Council help provide guidance to people on what they can do? Sometimes it is difficult for people to know where to start and what to do for the best. We could reverse the reductions to the grant for Act on Energy so they could continue providing information and advice to local communities on energy saving and conservation.

• Recognise that lower income families, disabled, and other disadvantaged members of the community might find it harder to make changes than others – how could we support them?

• Councils who have declared the Climate Emergency should act together to bring pressure to bear on the Government to change national policy.

• I want to see the council lead by example. At a recent meeting, councillors were sitting with disposable cups from a coffee machine, why have they not bought reusable cups?  The Town Council have stopped buying bottled water, and instead are using filter jugs. I want to see more of this happening.

• I will be looking at reducing paper use. In a digital age, there should be no need to be printing huge reams of paper. All notes, and agendas should be sent digitally. 

As a 19 year old, the issue of global warming is at the forefront of my mind. All other political issues are irrelevant if we haven’t an Earth to implement societal changes upon, which is why I am more than happy to support the declaration of a ‘Climate Change Emergency’. The Stratford area is rife with natural beauty, particularly in Brailes (bias intended), thus it should be easy to gain inspiration to actively preserve these precious habitats that, across the globe, are being threatened by climate change. Wide-reaching change needs the backing of a climate-concerned central government with a plan such as Labour’s “Green Transformation”. On a local level, however, it is transport and sustainable housing that are key to making a difference. The removal of regular, reliable bus routes by private companies to protect their profits forces more and more people to drive cars into Stratford town, pumping out harmful emissions – a problem that could be easily avoided with a reliable and more accessible ‘park and ride’ service and an improved overall transport network. Many housing developments in the local area are built in ignorance of environmental implications. There is a need for housing, but there is no reason developments cannot be constructed sustainably, with the inclusion of renewable energy sources and green spaces.  

It is time that local authorities make a clear stance on this issue and provide workable local solutions. We are indeed at breaking point and for the preservation of everything from our local green spaces to the Amazon Rainforest it is time that we, both as locals and as Britons urge those in power to decide what is really more important, the profit in our pockets or the air that we breath.

If I am elected as your Councillor, one of my first actions will be to make contact with you as a resident of Ettington, to establish your local priorities. In voting for me as a Green Party councillor, you will be aware that environmental concerns are a high priority for me, just as they are for you. With this in mind, I shall be campaigning for Stratford District Council to follow the example of a number of other town and city councils in declaring a climate emergency. This is in recognition of the urgent need for intense action to limit climate breakdown. It would commit the Council to drastically cut their greenhouse gas emissions over the next ten years.

As part of this commitment, I would work to secure several specific environmental measures, including:

More sustainable transport services

• Opposing HS2 which offers little benefit to those living between major cities, and instead seeking to enhance local rail services, e.g. re-establishment of the Honeybourne to Stratford rail service.
• Opposing the Stratford South West Relief Road as part of an overall policy of reducing reliance on road transport.
• Incentivising road users to switch to public transport in order to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and ease congestion in Stratford town centre.
• Making public transport more sustainable by the introduction of more electric vehicles.

Enhanced recycling services

• Improving recycling rates in local businesses by introducing fines for those who do not recycle rather than charging businesses for the provision of recycling services.
• Introducing recycling inspections of business premises in the District.
• Requiring applicants seeking planning permission for business premises to demonstrate a clean energy strategy and a recycling strategy.
• Increasing the number of on-street recycling bins in towns in the District.

Community engagement

• Taking a more active role in engaging with local residents about ways to live sustainably, by means of regular, user-friendly written communications, and offering of talks to local groups about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling.
• Establishing an annual writing competition to promote themes of living in harmony with the planet in the context of Stratford District. Prizes and publicity would be offered to the winners. This would be a way of encouraging residents to think creatively about the protection of their local environment.

Tree-planting

• Incentivising tree-planting to reduce CO2 levels and enhance the environment in towns and villages throughout the District.

Although there will be budgetary implications for implementing these measures, some of them will be self-funding or virtually cost-free.

I am in favour of declaring a national emergency over climate change. Whilst this is an international issue, it requires everyone to act in order to achieve the goals outlined. It is key that we send a message in the Stratford area as many people visit the town as tourists from abroad, and if we can promote a greener town it will help raise awareness not just locally or nationally but in many parts of the world. I am currently writing this from Hamburg, the second greenest city in Europe and there is a clear message across the city. Their European election campaigns have many of the parties using a platform of promoting a greener city and I believe this is an important issue that should be brought to the fore in our own politics. Issues like Brexit have dominated the news, but climate change is arguably the most important issue for us right now, with time running out. The consequences of our indecision over this will outlast everything else and so should betaken seriously.

In Stratford and the surrounding area, we need an authority to establish appropriate measures across the district in order to reduce our pollution. This will affect many different areas that the council controls from transport to planning permission. As a student who lives outside Stratford, I know first hand the inadequacies of our public transport, especially buses. Thus I see many people in this rural area drive into Stratford or elsewhere, when a proper bus service would reduce reliance on cars and thus reduce emissions. Equally with planning permission, I have witnessed many new housing developments arise in the area, that have been built on green land and have as many houses as possible packed within the developments. This is clearly unsustainable and we risk forever losing our green belt, and with it destroying the habitats of innumerable animals and wildlife of all kinds. This is a problem for now, not tomorrow. We must act today or else risk losing it forever.

The Liberal Democrats at District level have demonstrated long term commitment to be proactive in the face of climate change, being instrumental in setting up LA21 in the early 90s and Act on Energy in the mid 90s.

I have led on successful Cycle and Climate Adaption motions at County and have worked with Friends of the Earth on aspects of Air Quality Control at District. The Liberal Democrats have proposed car charging points in residential areas and appropriate car parks, and there is still more work to be done here. Waste management, reducing rubbish to landfill and reduction of one use plastics have been areas where the Liberal Democrats have worked with Town, District and County Councils in partnership to produce positive results.

I am fully committed to do what I can to promote understanding and taking action to reduce our impact on our climate, and seeking to achieve all three levels of local government committing to reduce their carbon footprint is at the top of my action list.

As the Labour candidate for Harbury Ward, I fully support the Climate Emergency initiative.

I support the motion to declare a climate emergency at district council level.  David Attenborough’s program last month highlighted the fact that we need to take urgent action now, and that the longer we wait the worse the problem will be. By declaring a climate emergency now the council can start to take responsibility at a local level and reduce the level of emissions from Stratford-upon-Avon. As more councils follow this lead all across the country, we can be part of a growing movement to prepare for a carbon neutral future.

I support further pedestrianisation of the town centre, if this is possible, and would like to see the introduction of more cycle routes around the town. 

My name is Kieran Kelly I am your Labour candidate for Hathaway Ward and 100% I would support ‘a declaration of climate emergency’ 

As a working carpenter I have always embraced reclaimed materials in all the work that I do, as and when the project allows me to! I have been doing for some 30 years!

In the late 90’s and early 2000’s I was a TV presenter for BBC’s Real Rooms, ITV’s Better Homes, plus my own series on the Discovery Channel. I was famed as presenter-cum-carpenter for my ability to up-cycle and recycle all my timber products, a practice I still have today. For example turning old pallet timber into furniture. 

I would suggest, we as a community could introduce workshops, through which we could explore how collectively we can change our habits and be more aware of how we can change our planet, by finding the answers in our day to day activities! If our community gets involved, then innovation born out of necessity will come alive! It’s all about empowering ‘us’ to make simple changes that have great rewards. We are only just taking the first steps to make our world a safer, healthier, cleaner and more beautiful place for the generations to come. ‘We are all responsible!’

Change is not the problem. Resistance to change is the problem!

I am running for the first time as the Liberal Democrats candidate for Hathaway Ward for Town and District council and as a vegan and an environmentally conscious person, I was terrified by the report published in September 2018, by the world’s leading climate scientists (IPCC). It is the starkest warning so far; it stated that our current actions are not enough, we absolutely need to do more.

Childhood asthma is on the rise, due to air pollution, both long-term and short-term exposure to air pollution can cause health problems such as reduced lung function and more asthma attacks.

I am dedicated to do what I can to help others understand what they can do to decrease our impact on climate change, whether it’s taking simple steps such as reducing the amount of water and electricity we use daily, to promoting the reduction of single use plastics or the amount of times we use our vehicles. If each person can stay off the road just two days a week, we can potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 721 kilograms per year.

As mentioned by Jenny Fradgley, the Liberal Democrats have proposed car charging points in residential areas and appropriate car parks. Waste management, reducing rubbish to landfill and reduction of one-use plastics have been areas where the Liberal Democrats have worked with Town, District and County Councils in partnership to produce positive results.

We will also inform residents about where and how recycled waste is used with a view to help them maximise recycling and avoid undesirable practices such as long distance “export” of waste. We will continually review energy consumption across the District, particularly at the Council’s own sites, to minimise the use of carbon-based fuels. We will invest in energy improvements to provide a financial and carbon Payback and we will work with partners, suppliers and contractors to improve both their and our environmental performance.

Our polar icecaps are melting, and sea levels and global temperatures are rising, forest fires are on the increase and flooding is becoming a regular occurrence all over the world. This is due mostly to human-caused global warming. We cannot sit idly by and allow this to continue. The environment should be a priority for every Party in order to preserve this planet for our children and their children.

Stratford needs to declare a Climate Emergency, as this is the most important issue in the world today. (There are only 11 years left to avoid world catastrophe.) If elected, I would support the appointment of a person responsible for assessing, reporting on and reducing carbon emissions on Stratford District activities, including those of all subcontractors. There must be a declared budget for such a person.

I would push for

• New buildings to meet greater carbon reduction requirements than the UK minimum.

• Much improved and new cycleways.

• Consideration of all 33 things on the Friends of the Earth list (download), with a view to actioning as many as the council budget will allow.

• A greater proportion of the budget to be used for Climate Emergency activities.

I certainly support a declaration of climate emergency. I have been impressed by the Extinction Rebellion movement which has highlighted the very urgent need for action to tackle climate change for present and future generations.

Action needs to be taken by national governments, but local councils also need to act. 

Stratford District Council needs to plan to reduce carbon emissions as a priority. Public transport needs to be greatly improved and high emission vehicles need to be penalised. Renewable energy needs to be encouraged and housing and business need to have much higher standards of energy efficiency.

As the Labour Party candidate for Kinwarton I fully support this action. This is a real and urgent issue, indeed an Emergency. It requires a coordinated response on local and national level. Stratford District Council needs to set up a committee to set out a plan of action and work jointly with parish and county councils, and at the national level.

If elected you can expect my full support in this matter.

• An introduction of the use of electric cars/delivery vans of goods, for all new vehicles.
• A commitment to opposing fracking and other fossil fuel extractions.
• Zero waste to landfill. Plus encouraging businesses to cut down on waste by using renewable materials and packaging.
• Refusal of planning permission on proposed new housing estates that impinge or destroy local green areas.
• Encouragement for bio-diversification of land use, between crops and wildlife, i.e. unploughed strips of land at the edges of fields. Plus the planting of trees on unused land.
• Finally, provision of advice to individuals and businesses on the importance of food waste and disposal of plastics etc.

Last month, world leaders at a General Assembly of the UN met to discuss the findings of a report they had commissioned on climate change. The report indicated that we have just eleven years to radically alter our environmental approach in order to prevent catastrophic, irreversible climate change.  Limiting global warming “would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented change in all aspects of society.”

As a Green Party councillor, I would put forward the case for Stratford-upon-Avon District Council to join the growing number of councils in the UK (54 and rising) who have declared a climate emergency. This would be a declaration of our serious intent to preserve our home – in Stratford-upon-Avon District and beyond – for our children. As a district council, we have a vital role to play, particularly in transport and planning. We are well placed to lead on this, modelling best practice, showing the way for businesses and making informed decisions.

Declaring a climate emergency will mean developing an emergency plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of making Stratford District carbon neutral by 2030. As a councillor, I would advocate for the appointment of an officer dedicated to monitoring and reviewing council policy and practices in line with this target. I would support:

• Setting and reviewing annual carbon budgets for the district, consistent with carbon neutrality by 2030.

• Reviewing and revising transport strategy in line with carbon budgets.

• Reviewing and revising planning strategy consistent with climate goals.

• Using council land to draw down carbon, by planting native trees or letting trees grow.

• Using renewable sources to supply the council’s energy needs, including vehicle fuel.

• Ensuring the council’s investments are in line with environmental policy.

• Encouraging the development of sustainable energy schemes.

• Working with local businesses and organisations on climate change.

I have dedicated the latter part of my professional working life to reducing carbon emissions. I agree that immediate and committed action is needed at all levels to address climate change. It would be naïve to say this is easy and simple. All levels of government to need to become engaged, and to engage the public in personal, corporate and legislative action. The Council needs to embark upon information dissemination and encouragement by example to this end. Personally I have had solar PV since 2010, I drive an electric car and I chose climate change awareness as my charity when I was President of my Rotary Club in 2004 (when it was of an even lower profile than it is now).

I was a District Councillor 2003-11 and during this time I pushed for (and achieved) the 10% renewables rule for new buildings at Stratford Council.  I worked in an small environmental consultancy for 11 years until retirement a year ago, where one of my roles was to manage our environmental standards and where we logged savings of 356,000 tonnes of CO2 over eight years.

Individually we can achieve small steps – collectively, and by example we can make big strides. 

As the Labour Party candidate for Quinton I would be 100 percent in favour of Stratford Council declaring a climate emergency. I was made very aware of the need to achieve sustainable living nearly thirty years ago when first visiting The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth and seeing the work they were doing. At the time they were widely regarded as a bunch of crackpot hippies living in a Welsh quarry. Unfortunately, thirty years of unfettered mass consumerism have proved them to be remarkably prescient.

Stratford District Council should seek to lead by example. All council controlled vehicles should be either electric or biofuel when they are replaced, this also being a condition of contract with any outsourced services. A greater number of electric car charging points should be provided, and such provision should be made compulsory as a condition of planning permission both in large scale residential and commercial developments. Furthermore, all south/southwest facing roofs on new large scale residential developments should have compulsory PV panels, significant amounts, not just the token ones they get now. These would be relatively cheap to install during construction. Their cost is further reduced when aggregated with the roofs of houses in the same development which don’t face south. This should also apply to industrial development. How often does a large box type warehouse/factory unit go up with acres of Spanclad roofing and not a single solar panel in sight? These sites are ideal for solar PV as they are usually open to full sunlight and do not raise objections to loss of visual amenity. This should reduce the need for large scale solar farms on greenfield sites such as that adjacent to the former Drayton research station on the edge of Stratford. In addition to this, all such developments should have rainwater harvesting systems for flushing toilets etc, firstly to help reduce flooding from runoff and also to stop wasting gallons of water which has been purified to drinking standards.

As a world tourist destination Stratford has an opportunity to send a message across the planet for green consciousness. This could range from a promotion of the less conspicuous things listed above to the more obvious such as street recycling bins and and increased use of the park and ride, pedestrianisation and more cycleways.

There can be no doubt that if society is treated as little more than a resource to be exploited for profit, the destruction of the planet is inevitable, fracking being the ultimate example of this. As if sucking oil out of the ground, releasing carbon into the atmosphere for the last hundred years and going to war countless times to secure the rights to that oil resulting in the deaths of millions was not enough, market economics now dictate that it is now worth pumping toxic chemicals into the ground to try and wring out every last drop. The earth died screaming, as UB40 once sang. The Labour Party has a green transformation policy and proposals for a green new deal, real jobs for a new green economy, furthermore the activists to push for this sea-change. Take action against Barclays funding of planet destruction this Saturday www.bankruptclimatechange.com

I would fully support a declaration of a Climate Emergency by Stratford District Council. I have been active over many years in environmental initiatives in Stratford District such as Friends of the Earth, Agenda21 committee, Transitions Stratford and Shipston. I am currently a Director of Heart of England Community Energy near Stratford.

My carbon emissions reduction plan for the District would include:

• Stop increasing road capacity around the District. New roads attract more traffic and result in increased carbon emissions and pollution.
• Halt the building of the Stratford South West Relief Road
• Reinstate the Stratford to Honeybourne link and in doing so complete the rail link to Oxford and on to London as well as to the South West. It would also reduce road traffic from the 3500 new houses to be built in Long Marston
• Make quality walking & cycling routes a priority around the District
• Pedestrianise town centres around the District where possible
• Require all taxis to be Electric Vehicles through licensing
• Charge high carbon emission vehicles more for parking
• Change the District Council’s own fleet to electric vehicle
• All subsidised bus routes should be required to use electric or hydrogen buses
• Use powers to require higher standards than current national standards for new build houses
• Require renewable energy such as solar thermal, PV or heat pumps on new build homes

I am an artist and gardener living in a village South of Shipston. I have three grown children and I have recently become a grandmother. 

If elected, I wouldn’t just support a declaration of climate emergency – I’d propose it! I’m in a good position to do this, not just as a member of the Green Party, but also as a subscriber to the Association of Green Councillors (AGC).  They’ve been working in partnership with the other parties to table motions across the country – so that local councils at all tiers of government will do whatever is possible to tackle climate change and become carbon-neutral by 2030.  

I don’t know how quickly this could be implemented.  But I’d use AGC members’ experiences to help me get the motion tabled as quickly as possible: this is an emergency!  North Somerset had a declaration proposed and passed within a month – could Stratford achieve the same?

I can’t tell you what measures I’d support.  I’d want us first to undertake a review of Stratford’s services, in order to quantify our carbon emissions, then identify measures to reduce them, using the excellent check-list drawn up by Friends of the Earth, and then prioritize those measures. I’d be willing to use my allowance as a councillor to kick-start this process in advance of budget allocation.

And I can’t offer a timescale.  But Stroud, the first authority to make such a declaration, has already become carbon-neutral  and aims to be carbon-free  by 2030 – could Stratford achieve this too?

I think it’s fantastic that the fundamental political and ecological issue of climate change is now being more thoroughly considered in the mainstream media. I wholly support this initiative.

I am wholeheartedly in favour of a declaration of Climate Emergency for our district. The global changes that we are seeing are very worrying and all levels of government need to act decisively and work together to avert catastrophe.  

Our district council has responsibility for environmental health and I believe that far more can be done to measure, monitor and reduce the impact of pollution locally. For example, it has been known for several years that air quality in Studley is a real cause for concern, as we are exceeding the annual mean targets for levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air we breathe. We are not tackling this problem with enough urgency. We are told by the writers of our local Air Quality reports that as individuals we should cut down on car use, walk or cycle. How can we do this without ambitious local strategies to support new footpaths and cycle ways, and without increased investment in public transport? 

Several candidates have already mentioned the briefing from Friends of the Earth, “33 actions local authorities can take to deliver carbon pollution reductions.” This is a very helpful document and should be our starting point. Some of the actions suggested are low cost or no cost, so we just need the political will to implement them.  We also need to consider how the powers of the district council differ from the powers of the town and county councils, and make sure that this important work is properly co-ordinated at all levels of local government.

I wholeheartedly support the campaign for Stratford District Council to declare a Climate Emergency. Having a background in science, the scientific evidence is overwhelming that human activity is causing significant negative impacts on our climate.

Our district is substantially lacking in public transport services, particularly between the centres of population, with no real rail provision and sporadic at best bus services. Sadly, as highlighted recently by Jeremy Corbyn, this is endemic across the country, and not only has climatic impacts, but also leads to poor air quality through increased car use and may well be contributing to early deaths in our area. Therefore I would like to see a substantial increase in services to present public transport as a real and viable alternative to car use. I would also support feasibility studies to see if any rail lines could be extended/reintroduced to further reduce vehicle use. Additionally, the canal towpath is also in a very poor condition in places outside of Stratford town, and a minimal investment could develop this into a cycle highway.

In addition, all new developments must be planned on a sustainable basis to limit the climatic impact of new building, and should include things like ensuring sufficient infrastructure and services are planned to reduce the need for car journeys to be made, but also looking for opportunities to incorporate small scale renewable energy generation in all developments.

I would fully support the declaration of a national climate emergency as well as locally as is party policy.

We must also remember that the main perpetrators of greenhouse emissions are businesses and industry and that as the impact of each person is minimal, it is far more important to legislate to minimise this at a national level, and to enforce this, as well as to remember that offshoring manufacturing does not reduce the net effect, so a tariff must be employed on all imported products.

I fully support the concept that Stratford District Council should declare a climate emergency. If elected I would:- 

1.    Support immediate implementation of as many as possible of the 33 measures proposed by Friends of the Earth.

2.    Support the appointment of a member of staff tasked with identifying the greenhouse gas associated with all the council’s activities and all its bought in services, and the formation of a plan to reduce these to zero or near zero by 2030.

However, there may be budgetary constraints  which might limit what can be achieved immediately. I would support all possible ways of finding funding. We can no doubt learn from some of the 50 plus councils which have already declared an emergency. Finding funds may involve committing contingency money or a reduction of some services and may not be popular but we are dealing with a genuine emergency. This is because a feature of climate breakdown is the so-called TIPPING POINTS* of which there are many.**

*Some TIPPING POINTS  happen whilst the effects of climate breakdown appear not too severe but they irreversibly accelerate the climate breakdown process. Melting of the Greenland ice sheet is an example and there is evidence that it may already have reached the point where complete melting cannot be avoided. Loss of ice eventually leads to exposure of a large area of darker surface which absorbs more of the sun’s heat and thereby increases the heating of the land and the atmosphere, and so accelerates climate breakdown. Sea level rise produced by complete melting of the Greenland ice sheet is estimated at 6 metres. About 600 million people live close to sea level. Where do they go? !!! If we act quickly, we might just avoid this tipping point. This is one example of why a climate emergency needs to be declared.

**For information about a few more tipping points see here.

We need to do so much more to save our planet and I am committed to do what I can, even in a small way. I put forward a motion at District and County councils to replace all plastic cups at drinks stations around all local government buildings which was supported I am glad to say. I worked with the ‘pause for plastic straws’ campaign group to remove all plastic straws from all drinks establishments in Stratford Town. The District Lib Dem group put forward, as part of their budget proposals, the need for more electric charging points in our towns. I believe we should spend more time spreading better information about recycling to all schools and groups involving younger people. I believe the District and County Councils should give out better and more concise information to everyone on how our waste management works so as to improve recycling as much as we can. I very much support my colleague Cllr Jenny Fradgley on better infrastructure to include more cycle friendly routes in and around our towns. I will continue to do what I can to help.

I support the call-to-action associated with declaring a Climate Emergency. The opportunity presented as a District Councillor is to foster links between local business, non-governmental organisations and the district council to create change in Welcombe. I support the allocation of funding to advance the rate of decarbonisation of District Council assets. I also support, where applicable, the 33 actions suggested by Friends of the Earth:

https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/publications/33-actions-local-authorities-can-take-climate-change

I agree that the District Council declaring a Climate Emergency would give a powerful and a positive message to our community that something must be done. However, I believe it is also in taking practical measures that we will begin to change the serious problems we face.

If I were elected I would support and promote the Liberal Democrats’ long term commitment to action on climate change. I am sure that as a group and in consultation with the community we would find many new ideas but I would start with:

• Focus on reducing and reusing, not just recycling

• Looking at the use of alternative means of power. The Liberal Democrats proposals to extend electric car charging points to all district council car parks were voted down by the Conservatives in February 2019. I would want to revisit this. Councils should be positive on leading by example.

• How could the Council help provide guidance to people on what they can do? Sometimes it is difficult for people to know where to start and what to do for the best. We could reverse the reductions to the grant for Act on Energy so they could continue providing information and advice to local communities on energy saving and conservation.

• Recognise that lower income families, disabled, and other disadvantaged members of the community might find it harder to make changes than others – how could we support them?

• Councils who have declared the Climate Emergency should act together to bring pressure to bear on the Government to change national policy.

I am absolutely 100% in favour of any action that protects our environment. I am particularly concerned about the rise in pollution in Wellesbourne.

As the Green Party Candidate for Wellesbourne West, I fully support the climate emergency declaration.

We have so little time left to prevent a catastrophic rise in global temperature. It is vital we address this issue urgently.

As a long standing environmentalist I would seek to make substantial reductions to carbon emissions in the district.

As the Labour candidate for the Welford ward, I pledge to do everything I can to pusue the stated policies on climate reduction.