|
Devon County
Council are being challenged to drop it's costly and controversial plans for
the Kingskerswell bypass in light of the warnings contained in the Stern Report
over the threats posed by rising levels of greenhouse gases and Co2 emissions
[1].
The
Kingskerswell Alliance is writing to Devon County Council [2] in light of the
Prime Ministers comments that the scientific evidence of global warming is now
"overwhelming" and its consequences "disastrous".
After intense
pressure from environmental groups and politicians, Monday (30/11/06) saw
Environment Secretary David Miliband announce a Bill which will establish an
independent Carbon Committee to cut emissions.
The report
highlights how 1.8m UK
residents could face flooding if the problems of global warming are not
addressed now. [3]
The Alliance's challenge has
arisen after it highlighted a Devon County Council report [4] states there
would be an 18% increase in Co2 emissions if this controversial bypass
was ever built (due to increased traffic).
The Alliance
Chairman Mr Ken Pegden said "This bypass scheme was dreamt up
over 30 years ago. It represents outdated thinking and will be hugely damaging
to the environment!"
and
continued....
"It is
time the local authorities woke up and took notice of the big picture. Why do
they think we've just had the warmest September and October on record!"
Responding to
the news that Torbay Council had been asked to set aside £59,000 of tax payers
money [5] to help secure the scheme, Mr Pegden said "It is
quite obvious to me that the authorities need this fund because they know they
have an uphill struggle ahead of them. Maybe that money would be better spent
investigating a flood protection scheme?".
|