7th September 2006

Stroud District Green councillors have welcomed the Council's Environment Green paper (i) in a 9 page response (ii) which has been sent to all District councillors ahead of the Full Council meeting on 21st September. At that meeting the Environment Green paper is up for discussion and Greens hope this will be the first step to creating a green vision for Stroud's future.

Cllr Martin Whiteside, the Green party's Parliamentary spokesperson for Stroud, said: "This Environment Green paper is only the start of creating a green vision for the District. We applaud this move by the Council to focus on critical issues like climate change and energy use. If we are to build a long term sustainable economic future for Stroud it will be vital we work together to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."

The Environment Green paper has gone out for consultation with the public, Parish Councils, businesses and many other groups.

Martin Whiteside however expressed disappointment with the consultation process. Martin, who is a Stroud District councillor and Parish councillor, said: "The consultation could have been much better. Disappointingly this paper has virtually no targets: it talks for example of improving energy efficiency. I can hardly see anybody disagreeing 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?"

Martin Whiteside said: "Greens hope this Environment paper will be the first step in moves that see Stroud rapidly quickening the pace to develop a sound sustainable future for the District."


Notes:

(i) Download a copy of the Draft Environment Green Paper (26/07/2006) at:
http://www.stroud.gov.uk/docs/environment.asp?did=environment
(ii) See under Reports at the Glos Green party website.