“For our children’s sake declare a ‘Climate Emergency’” - Slough Lib Dems’ environmental policy

Slough Lib Dems demand the Council should join the increasing number of councils across the UK that are declaring a 'Climate Emergency' in their area. Climate change is the single greatest threat to our future way of life. It is even more of a threat for the residents of Slough because the town has the youngest population of any large urban area in the UK.

Lib Dem campaigner Matthew Taylor said:

" In the environmental section of the Slough Lib Dems manifesto for the 2019 SBC elections, we demand Slough Borough Council adopts an action plan with the following key points:

1. Declare a 'Climate Emergency'.
2. Commit to a target of making Slough carbon neutral by 2030.
3. Request a report within six months setting out the immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency and a plan to measure annual townwide progress towards meeting the 2030 target.
4. Work with partners across the town and across the region to deliver this new goal.
5. Actively lobby the Government to provide the additional powers and resources needed to meet the 2030 target."

Robert Plimmer, chair of Slough Lib Dems, added:

"Our environmental policy also sets out six specific steps the Council should adopt. These include:

• an urgent audit of progress towards achieving the target set out in my 2009 motion that was supported by all parties for Slough Council itself to go carbon-neutral by 2020;
• adoption of steps to improve air quality as an urgent public health measure; and
• development of a strategy for the eventual widespread charging of electric vehicles across housing estates.

Matthew Taylor highlighted the importance valuing the environment in which we live, including by preserving Slough's iconic industrial heritage, and keeping the general environment as clean and as attractive as possible. Matthew said:

"As an architect, I'm acutely aware of Slough's iconic industrial heritage, and campaigned for preservation of the facade of the Horlicks factory. I am also pleased that my son joined me, and Robert Plimmer and Josephine Hanney when we led a community litter pick in Cippenham in the November to do what we could to reduce the curse of litter, especially plastic."