20 October - A greener climate aware Bexley
Bexley’s Cabinet “does not believe in throwing all our toys out of the pram and declaring
a [climate] emergency etc., we quietly get on with delivering and making the
changes which we believe are right for our residents”. We know that because that
was the Leader’s opening statement when climate issues came up for discussion last week.
They consider their Climate Plan to be part of the Local Plan
reported on a few days ago.
Councillor Craske said that the Council had already achieved a lot while
Councils that declared emergencies had achieved nothing and are still planning to do
things that Bexley did ten years ago. “No grand gestures!”
Greenwich is still thinking about installing LED lighting. In Bexley it saved 84%
of carbon emissions and a lot of money. Greenwich has overspent on street
lighting by half a million pounds because of increased energy prices while Bexley has saved more than that each year
by switching to LEDs quickly.
He went on to say - with zero useful details - that textiles and electrical
items are now included in recyclables collections.
Cabinet Member Munur did what he does best. Waffled. This time about sustainable
living, net zero, green jobs and green infrastructure.
Councillor Leaf said that residents had done their bit by investing in solar panels and electric
cars. In Bexley we do not glue ourselves to roads or smash the windows of banks.
“We do not need top down diktats imposed or a green agenda imposed under the guise of
socialism.” Referring to a conversation with Greenwich Council he said they were
unable to understand how Bexley had switched to LED lighting before first declaring a Climate Emergency.
Labour Leader Stefano Borella said that there should be “a Cabinet Member
singularly responsible for Climate Change. It is a very important issue. We
should be doing more”. The reduction in the number of trains and
the route restrictions
will cause more residents to drive. He made it clear that he was against fracking and more oil exploration
but did not explain how we are going to avoid freezing to death.
Councillor Nicola Taylor representing riverside Erith for Labour was concerned about rising
sea levels. Pesticide use was not mentioned in the Climate Change plan and she thought it it should be.
Councillor Dourmoush (Conservative, Longlands) said that there were nine new
commitments in the plan listed on page 48 of the Agenda and wondered what else Councillor Borella had in mind
and it was premature of him to have said that he would not be supporting the Local Plan.
The commitments listed are…
• Protect our natural environment
• Reduce, reuse and recycle
• Send no waste to landfill
• Enable a greener economy
• Empower residents and businesses to make positive changes
• To keep an open mind and go further
You are absolutely right. That’s six commitments.
The Cabinet approved the plan which will go to Full Council.
Note: A blog dated 24th July 2021 tells
a
different story about Greenwich and LED lighting.