13th December 2007

Green party comment in response to protesters complaining at the "high" cost of petrol

Cllr Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor and spokesperson for Stroud District Green party: "The reality is that the cost of motoring has declined under Labour, and the Green Party believes that the price of fuel should reflect all of its environmental costs. High prices are down to declining oil reserves, wars in oil-producing countries, global inflation and oil company profits, not high taxation. The real cost of motoring has declined since 1997, while public transport fares have rocketed. Tax as a percentage of the fuel price has not been this low since 1993."

Philip Booth added: "If we have cheaper petrol, people will drive more and emit more carbon. Instead, we need government support for EU-wide targets on car emissions, as well as investment in a range of sustainable public transport options. There is basically no other way. If the Government continues to fail to act we will be heading for a much more serious situation: oil prices are set to rise from now on. There maybe some fluctuations but we are going to have to get use to it and move towards the alternatives."

Green Party Principal Speaker Derek Wall also spoke of the need for a  more localised economy, amidst suggestions of possible fuel protests  this weekend. Dr. Wall said: "Over-use of fossil fuels is a major cause of climate  change and pollution, and our current dependency upon them cannot be  sustained as the finite natural resources run out. A localised economy, with more stable and self-sufficient  communities, is the way forward. Reducing our need to travel is one of  the key ways in which we can prevent runaway climate change. Not only will this curb our emissions, it will also bring about a  happier and less stressed society. We also need to look at transporting far more of our goods by rail -  this could create thousands of jobs. The threat of climate change poses a real opportunity to transform  the way in which we run our societies - for the benefit of all."