CLIMATE campaigners led a protest march at County Hall last month to question Wiltshire Council’s actions in combating climate change.
The march marked the first anniversary of the climate emergency declaration by Wiltshire Council.
Members of Westbury Gasification Action Group joined other climate action groups from across the county in a protest march on Tuesday 26th February to demand more is done by Wiltshire Council to tackle climate change.
At the County Hall protest march, speeches were made by the deputy leader of Wiltshire Council and chair of the council’s climate change task group about what they are doing to become carbon neutral by 2030. However, protest groups attending said they were left ‘unconvinced’ by the speeches.
Wiltshire councillor, Gordon King from Westbury, said he was unimpressed by Wiltshire Council’s ‘piecemeal approach’.
Westbury Gasification Action Group members continue to fight against Wiltshire Council’s decision to grant planning permission for an energy-from-waste plant in the town.
Marie Hillcoat, WGAG member said, “Support on the incinerator issue from other environmental groups around the county was fantastic. There were questions and statements throughout the day by groups on waste and recycling, plus about the incinerator.
“We knew it was important for WGAG to remind councillors they could change their minds about the ATT plant. Our input to the meeting drew attention to the impact it would have on CO2 levels, and would do nothing to improve the woefully poor recycling rates in Wiltshire. The rate here is 44% while the best rate nationally is 68%! With a 20% recycling gap to work on, the ATT is no solution to Wiltshire’s waste.”
Margaret Cavanna, WGAG member added, “Westbury Gasification Group was involved in the climate protest because of Wiltshire Council’s approval of the incinerator that would emit vast amounts of carbon dioxide, possibly up to 4.5 million tonnes CO2 equivalent over 20 years.
“We joined others who are asking the council to withdraw support for all carbon-intensive projects that would seriously undermine their aim to achieve carbon zero by 2030, including this plant.
“Councillors Richard Clewer, deputy leader of council, and Graham Wright, chair of the climate change task group came out to speak to us. Unfortunately the speeches given outside County Hall were as unconvincing as the reports on progress given at the official meeting.
“While some councillors seem to appreciate the scale of the challenge, their responses fall depressingly short of what’s needed.
“They are stating that they can’t reverse the planning decision on the ATT, but we believe it must be re-determined because of its climate impact. And more generally, haven’t yet been able to establish a baseline figure for carbon generated across the county to assess the gap against the 2030 carbon zero target. There doesn’t seem to be a credible action plan with interim targets to get things done. They have had a year to do this.
“It raises the question as to whether they have anyone with the relevant knowledge and expertise to take responsibility for climate change. Shouldn’t they be beating down the doors of central government, along with other councils, to demand the funds and expert help needed?
“WGAG and Wiltshire Climate Alliance will most definitely be keeping up the pressure over coming months. There’s no future in business as usual!”
Wiltshire councillor for Westbury, cllr Gordon King said, “Like me, the gathering is unimpressed with the piecemeal approach of the council or the obvious charm offensive of its deputy leader; and has demanded instead that the council tie these actions together into an overarching and meaningful strategy for combating and mitigating the effects of climate change in Wiltshire.
“Until the council makes clear ‘what’ and ‘how’ it wants to achieve in terms of combating the effects of climate change for future generations of Wiltshire’s children, they will continue to hear from the rebellion.
“Protesters conducted a brilliant campaign of speaking in the public forum before every agenda item, linking that item to climate change where possible, or simply making climate statements where they did not. The net effect of that action was they got well and truly under the skin of the council’s administration whose behaviour and good grace deteriorated over the course of a long day.”
Wiltshire Climate Alliance Group is asking people to sign a petition at www.change.org/p/wiltshire-council-wiltshire-council-should-take-the-climate-ecological-crisis-seriously to increase the pressure on Wiltshire Council to act on climate issues in the county.
