Huge fine as Council misses environment targets

Published on Wednesday 26th January 2011 by Jon Hubbard

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Local residents have been shortchanged again by Wiltshire Conservatives, as the Council receives an enormous fine for failing to invest in measures to reduce CO2 emissions. The council have seen Wiltshire emissions grow by more than 3%, whilst the rest of the South West has seen an average reduction of over 2%, giving Wiltshire Council one of the worst records in the country.

The £600,000 fine comes as a result of the council missing their obligations to clean up Wiltshire, and ensure a clean, green future for us all.
Lib Dem Group Leader on the council, Cllr Jon Hubbard said “We understand in these financially difficult times, the Council needs to make some cuts, and new investment is tight. But putting money into energy efficiency is something that will save Wiltshire money, and something that the Conservative-run Council should already be doing, and should have been doing for several years

“This fine is now going to hang like a noose round our necks for the next few years, draining much needed money from frontline services to pay for the Conservative administration not properly planning ahead”.

Central government has imposed fines on local Councils of £12 for every tonne of climate change- causing carbon dioxide that the Council emits, through a scheme called the  Carbon Reduction Commitment.

Local campaigner and Lib Dem environment spokesman, Cllr Howard Marshall, said “Wiltshire has a beautiful environment, and we must protect it. The council has a poor record on fighting climate change. Between 2005 and 2007 Wiltshire emissions shot up whilst the South West as a whole made big reductions in its carbon footprint. The council are dragging their heels.

Cllr Marshall continued “These enormous fines will only increase year-on-year. We need to take action now for new green jobs in Wiltshire, and to protect our environment for future generations.”

“Wiltshire Lib Dems have produced a fully costed, easy to understand budget which shows that the council can help the local  environment and save money at the same time, for instance, through better recycling collections.”