The Isle of Wight Council looks set to commit to continue its record of minimising its environmental impact and maintaining the beauty of the Island if a Motion put down by a Conservative councillor is passed at the next Full Council meeting.
Councillor Chris Whitehouse (Conservative, Newport West Ward) has given notice that he intends to move the following Motion:
‘To move that, in the light of scientific reports relating to the world’s climate, the Isle of Wight Council, in keeping with its longstanding record, will continue to take all reasonable steps to minimise its environmental impact and to maintain the beauty of our Island.’
Cllr Whitehouse today says:
“We need to protect and preserve the Island environment so that it remains a healthy place to live and an attractive destination to visit. The current Conservative administration in County Hall is already delivering excellent waste recycling, reduction and re-use; and the garden waste collection scheme is proving extremely successful. We have dramatically reduced the amount of waste going to landfill or being burned on garden bonfires, so reducing our environmental impact and improving air quality”.
The councillor, who recently organised a Parliamentary briefing meeting with Conservative peer, Lord Deben, the Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, goes on to say:
“Other political parties have a tendency to jump upon every passing environmental bandwagon, but Conservatives just get on with doing the job of protecting and improving our environment; reducing pollution and improving air quality”.
Transport improvements were also highlighted by Cllr Whitehouse who adds:
“We’re investing in improving footpaths and introducing new cycle ways, and encouraging our schools to promote healthier travel options both to reduce air pollution and to improve children’s health. Our main ferry companies are already introducing more eco-friendly vessels, and we’re lobbying the government to reduce the ridiculously high numbers of new houses that civil servants have persuaded Ministers to ask us to build.
“We’re also tacking traffic congestion with schemes to improve the flow of motor-vehicles on our roads and we’re doing what we can to encourage the use of electric cars which are much less polluting than their petrol or diesel counterparts”.
Action is also being taken at national level, argues Whitehouse, with recent policy announcements by Conservative Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, including a new plan to measure the progress of the 25 Year Environment Plan, a ban on single use plastics, a tax on plastic packaging, and a whole raft of measures to reduce pollution and improve air quality.
If you support my initiative to protect and improve the environment, do contact your Isle of Wight Councillor and ask them to vote for my Motion at the next Full Council meeting. You can find out who your Councillor is here:
https://www.iow.gov.uk/councillor/azCouncillors.aspx