Surrey Tories refuse to act on climate change

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th Oct 2009

Peter Lambell says SCC Tories have wasted a chance to show leadership

Liberal Democrat Councillor Peter Lambell (Reigate Central) has condemned the recent refusal by Surrey County Council's Conservative administration to sign up to the national 10:10 climate change campaign. This high profile initiative is supported by all the main national party leaders. It seeks to achieve a 10% cut in carbon emissions in 2010.

Despite the apparent support of their party nationally, when Cllr Lambell proposed a motion at the meeting of Surrey County Council on 13 October, urging the Council to sign up to this initiative which has already been adopted by 27 Councils since the campaign was launched in September, the Conservative controlled Council refused to even discuss the motion, instead referring the issue to a Select Committee.

Cllr Lambell commented : "Council Leader Dr Andrew Povey has claimed that Sustainability and Climate Change must be a key part of the Council's agenda, but when it comes to taking action he has done little to confront this huge challenge".

He added "This is a wasted opportunity for Surrey County Council to show leadership on this issue. Early commitment to the 10:10 campaign by has the potential to influence the Copenhagen talks in December to make urgent cuts in global emissions a reality. This has been acknowledged by politicians of all parties, but the Conservatives on Surrey County Council continue to bury their heads in the sand."