North Down being hindered by Government inaction on environment

5.01.00pm GMT Thu 9th Nov 2006

Bangor Alliance Councillor, Ian James Parsley

Alliance spokesperson for Youth Affairs Ian James Parsley has accused the Government in London of endangering the younger generation's future with its failure to act on sustainable transport and energy sources across the UK. He added that North Down Council's own efforts were being hindered by lack of Government policy support.

The North Down Councillor stated: "The very idea that the UK Foreign Secretary should go to Berlin and lecture the Germans on environmental matters is the ultimate example of breathtaking hypocrisy.

"Germany is literally 40 years ahead of the UK in this area, and that is to our eternal shame. Frankly, North Down Borough Council's record on the environment is probably better than Westminster's.

"Straightforward policies to protect the environment have been implemented in Germany which have not even been thought of in the UK.

"These include: 1. implementation of a system of undetachable bottle lids and location of bottle bins in all supermarkets; 2. development of a vastly superior rail system to limit the need for air travel; 3. a serious approach to provision of dedicated cycle lanes alongside roads and walkways; 4. use of septic tanks rather than sewerage plants; and 5. roadside barriers to protect residents from vehicle emissions.

"These basic moves, alongside many others such as plastic bag levies, solar panels and more advance domestic bin recycling systems, not only help the planet. They make for a healthier and cleaner day-to-day environment for us all to enjoy, bringing direct benefit to us all.

"North Down Borough Council has made every effort open to it to improve our position, including recent investment in the Coastal Path, advanced bin recycling systems and the new depot at Rathgael. But this is an international issue, and we are getting scant assistance from elsewhere.

"I backed John Gilliland's European campaign on the basis that we need 'no politics, just action' on issues like these. Our case is not helped by a Government which is 'just politics, no action'."

ENDS