Council axes plans to reach net zero by 2030

A council recently taken over by Reform UK has axed plans to reach net zero by 2030 and proposed to rescind its climate emergency declaration.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's administration described the policies, which were initiated under previous leadership, as "political virtue signalling" and "the worst kind of groupthink".

The Net Zero Newcastle 2030 action plan committed the council to becoming carbon neutral across its buildings and services by the end of the decade, while the climate emergency declaration was made in 2019.

Council leader Jonathan Gullis said the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme "voted for change" and for an authority "that puts their priorities first".

He confirmed the net zero plan had been scrapped immediately and the proposal to revoke the climate emergency declaration would be put forward during July's full council meeting.

"This declaration was little more than political virtue signalling," the former deputy chair of the Conservative Party said.

"It has not cut council tax, improved a local service or made life easier for working people."

He said the authority should be focused instead on clean streets, safer communities, better services and value for money rather than "gimmicks".

The announcement came a few weeks after Reform wrested control of the council from the Conservatives with the former winning 27 seats and the latter 15, while Labour were left with two.

Gullis, who defected to Reform from the Tories last year, was chosen to lead the authority after he was elected as councillor for Kidsgrove and Ravenscliffe.

Sharon George, a consultant in clean technology from Penkhull who used to work at Keele University, said she travelled across the world during her career and had seen the impact of climate change "in a very real sense".

On the council's announcement, she told BBC Radio Stoke: "It's not a stretch to say I'm not just taken aback by this statement, it's actually quite upsetting."

She said it was upsetting for scientists and professionals who have presented the evidence proving climate change was "very real".

"Newcastle is suffering from climate change whether we like it or not," she added.

"Whether you see that damage or not visually, you feel it in your pocket every time there's a wildfire, because we've had hot, dry spells, which we shouldn't be having to this extent.

"The fire service is being called out more to deal with these and that has a cost with it."

She described Gullis' statement as "madness" and a "knee-jerk reaction", adding: "It just does not make any sense to me."

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