Fighting climate change for the sake of local communities

Fighting climate change and benefitting local communities isn't an either/or choice.

Cllr Zoe Smith told a West Northants Council meeting in Towcester last night that it was wrong to scrap net zero targets and called for a rethink on the Reform administration's keynote policy.

She cited the need to improve air quality as one of the big challenges in Northampton. The town has one of the highest rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the country.

"We have a problem of poor air quality in the town, especially in the town centre Castle ward, especially in York Road outside the Barrett Maternity Hospital where most people born in Northampton start their life," she said.

Cllr Smith, a long-standing campaigner on climate change, said the Reform administration had decided to scrap the previous net zero targets - but had failed to set other milestones in the roadmap to achieve the government's national net zero target by 2050.

"We need clear policies, direction and leadership from the Council."