Rugby Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Pledges on Our Environment

A Liberal Democrat government would mean less pollution, less waste, a higher priority for public transport and more help for cyclists and pedestrians, says Rugby and Kenilworth Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman Richard Allanach.

Manifesto for the Environment 2005

Welcoming the publication of the Liberal Democrat Manifesto for the Environment, Mr Allanach said:

"Liberal Democrats believe that there should be a green backbone running right through Government. We need to start with firm action to tackle climate change, cut traffic congestion and invest in clean sources of energy.

Since Labour same to power in 1997, total municipal waste has gone up by nearly a fifth, we remain bottom of the European recycling league, and our streets are littered with more abandoned cars then ever before.

Liberal Democrats would get tough on polluters, with a new specialist Environmental Court to deal with enforcing environmental rules. We will ensure the level of penalties which polluters have to pay are appropriate to the offence -at present they are often trivial compared to the profits from environmental crime.

This contrasts with the Conservatives, whose policy is to slash funding for the Environment Agency, who have wide-ranging responsibilities for nature conservation and preventing pollution, and who oppose the legislation currently going through Parliament to crack down on fly-tippers, fly-posters and other kinds of environmentally damaging activity.

We will tackle unnecessary waste through waste minimisation, reuse and recycling. Warwickshire County Council is not setting itself a challenging enough recycling target. As a first step, we will ensure that within seven years 60% of all household waste is recycled, and we will offer every household regular kerbside recycling collections. In Rugby the council are only now beginning to look at how recycling can be extended to their sheltered accommodation. As one resident of Stacey Court recently told me 'Just because we are getting on a bit it doesn't mean to say we don't like the occasional drink and we want to be able to recycle our bottles'. If we achieve our goal there will be no need for the new municipal waste incinerators the county council believes it needs.

We will also work with industry to find ways of reducing the transport of goods (so-called "product miles"), through shorter and more local supply chains and more efficient distribution systems. Locally Liberal Democrats have supported the farmers markets initiative.

We will encourage walking and cycling. Children walking to school get fit for life - but it must be safe. Fewer school-run car journeys also mean less pollution, less congestion and fewer road deaths. We will provide more cycle routes and reform planning rules to make sure key services are more easily accessible by foot or bicycle.

These proposals would protect and improve the environment - helping our pockets, our families, our communities and our world. A greener Britain means a better environment, and a better life for all."

BACKGROUND NOTES:

1. Key policies in the environment manifesto include:

1.1 Tackling Climate Change: Britain must take a lead on negotiations for tough new targets for greenhouse gas emissions, prioritising inclusion of the USA and Australia, and bringing developing countries on board on the principle of contraction and convergence;

1.2 A Greener Treasury: We would develop an Economic Incentive Programme within the Treasury to give real incentives for environmental improvements. This will shift the burden onto the polluter; such as scrapping Air Passenger Duty and replacing it with a charge on each aircraft and lowering excise duty on less polluting cars;

1.3 Tackling the long-term challenge of rising road transport emissions: The Liberal Democrats are committed to replacing fuel and vehicle excise duties with road user charging, based on the type of vehicle you are driving, and when and where you are using it.

1.4 Cleaner Power: The Liberal Democrats are committed to building no new nuclear power stations and instead would meet future demands through a combination of energy conservation measures and an array of renewable sources (20% by 2020).

2. Local Action

2.1 Cycle Routes. In 2001 Richard Allanach organised the first cycle rally between Dunchurch and Ashlawn School to promote the case for a proper cycle route.

2.2 Green Buildings. In 2004 Kenilworth Cllr Ann Blacklock led the call for a new civic centre to be built on environmentally sustainable grounds.

2.3 Recycling. In 2002 Rugby Cllr Chris Holman's term of office as cabinet member for the environment saw a doubling of recycling rates. Now the Liberal Democrat-Labour coalition that runs Warwick District Council has achieved the best recycling rates in Warwickshire. Warwick District Council was rated as "excellent" in the recent Audit Commission review of Local Authorities.

2.4 Co-incineration. In Rugby the Liberal Democrat group have led the campaign to have the Environment Agency's decision to let Rugby Cement burn tyres be subject to proper scrutiny.

2.5 Protecting our green fields. In Rugby Cllr Neil Sandison has led the campaign to promote the development of urban brown field sites before more green fields are built on. Cllr Ron Ravenhall has fought off many planning proposals to build on green fields eg the Bilton Grange site. Richard Allanach has campaigned against building on the Rugby Radio Masts site.

2.6 Global Warming and Air Transport. Whilst all councillors have been campaigning against airport development in Warwickshire none has been more active than Cllr Ron Ravenhall. The Liberal Democrats have been the only group to argue for shifting the balance of taxation onto air travel to prevent global warming.