All three candidates standing in the Craven District Council Penyghent ward by-election, which will be held on 6 May, have responded to the ACE questions on the climate emergency we sent out last Friday. We appreciate their responses which follow in alphabetical order and sure you will agree that this is a useful exercise in democratic accountability and giving the crucial issue of the climate emergency a higher profile amongst voters.
Barry White, ACE Secretary.
Luke Allan – Liberal Democrats
1. What ideas do you have to make the climate emergency the number one priority for your ward to address?
As we transition out of the largest public health crisis in a generation, our sights are set firmly on the biggest crisis we will ever face, climate change and the climate emergency.
Powered by passionate, engaged activists and groups like Action on Climate Emergency Settle, the pressure on local authorities, bodies, corporations and groups has been astronomical. I am pleased but disappointed with Craven District Council (CDC), pleased that they are one of 90+ local authorities to have declared a climate emergency; this is a clear acknowledgement by CDC that action must be taken in the fight against Climate Change, both tackling the causes and addressing the impact/challenges it has and will continue to create (i.e. harm to ecosystems and biodiversity and flood protection measures) – but I am disappointed that as with many other councils, CDC could and should be doing more. We need a council focused on actions, and not on words and controlling the narrative.
We are fighting a war. Pure and simple. Sadly, because we rarely see the impact (unlike the harrowing scenes we often see on the news and plastered on the front of print media), individuals don’t always understand the severity of the situation and how time is running out. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we will ever face; the second is securing and implementing support from senior politicians, external groups and bodies.
The Liberal Democrats have a proud history of supporting and promoting green issues to tackle the climate emergency. We need to step up and play our part to help locally. There needs to be a greater push at both council and county level to adopt and encourage green schemes, but our councils are letting us down even at the most basic level. I hope that if elected I can make this the priority of the council leader and ensure we devote more energy and resources to tackling this.
The first thing we need to note is that each local community will face varying degrees of challenges, that being said, we are all in this together and many of the issues can be resolved with universal actions. From the start of my campaign, I have been clear about my commitment to tackling these issues and safeguarding our communities and future.
If elected, my primary priorities green priorities:
Address systemic failures around waste management
Craven District Council has a dismal record when it comes to recycling, steadily slipping down the national league tables for a decade. Craven recycled just 39.2% of its waste in 2019/20 – for an area that is regarded as one of the most picturesque in the UK, this is a disgrace; we need action, we need it today, not tomorrow.
To tackle this, we need to launch a review into why so little waste is recycled, what proportion of this comes from residential, private or public waste collection.
As new timetables are circulated to residents, we must use this opportunity to remind residents of the importance of recycling and the impact this has on their community, specifically focus on local issues and work local groups are doing. It is important to share how this impacts them and their families – emotional storytelling is key to the success of engaging individuals. In addition to this, we need to remind residents of the recycling provisions available at Settle Recycling Centre and encourage them to avoid throwing items such as consumer electronics in normal household waste.
We don’t have enough litter bins, pure and simple. I want to increase the provision of dual compartment outdoor litter and recycling bins in key locations such as parks and tourist hot spots – these will be supported by bolding signage and communications in the area to remind visitors to use them (e.g. signage on gates and paths in key areas).
CDC needs to offer additional provisions to help businesses transition to more sustainable materials such as banning the use of polystyrene cups and takeaway containers, instead opting for cardboard mediums and pushing for paper and biodegradable plastic bags.
Fight for infrastructure improvements such as vehicle charging points
Our demand for transport and mobility far exceeds current capacity and if we do nothing, this will only get worse. I will work hard to ensure we have the infrastructure in place for current and future users.
In addition to the provision of EV charging points, as part of my larger transport infrastructure manifesto, I have outlined my plan to campaign for an integrated public transport network. Having a reliable public transport network that reachers additional locations with timings aligned to match other forms of transport, we should hopefully see increased use in these services – through increased use we will generate more revenue to make vital improvements to support services such as changing to low/zero-emission vehicles and enhancing the experience through partnerships with local businesses to use discount incentives.
2. Please describe your vision for this area (by answering any two of the options below) in terms of:
* offering low-income households the opportunity to reduce their energy bills and improve energy efficiency standards in their homes
Supporting lower-income households implement renewable saving measures is paramount, sadly, this will not be easy due to the minimal funding available to local authorities. That being said, we need to invest in solar, it’s a no brainer – there are a variety of third parties who will be happy to co-invest with local authorities, with local authorities planning departments issuing guidance on Solar electricity panels (photovoltaics (PV)) installation on every new build property and for properties undergoing significant renovation – this includes outbuildings and extensions.
* encouraging the use of electric vehicles (including private and council vehicles)
A key focus of mine is to champion and push for the integration of additional electric vehicle charging stations across North Craven and Craven as a whole, the current (lack of) provision is shocking, especially when we live in ‘The Dales.
Currently, we have three EV charging stations in North Craven (Stainforth, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and The Courtyard on the outskirts of Settle), one of which is located on business premises. This is by no means ideal. Our two largest car parks in the area which serve Settle have no provisions available, despite the ample space and the ability to install them. It is also important to note that each location listed above has one station and therefore only can charge two vehicles (providing both outlets are working).
The primary issue we face in terms of rolling EV charging stations across North Craven, Craven and North Yorkshire is capital investment, as with the capital investment needed for solar. The fact is, EV charging and solar PVs can generate significant income which can then be invested into future projects and schemes, for example helping companies transition to the green economy and looking at sustainable processes and power sources. Paybacks on the former are at 5-6 years now, and income streams last 40 years plus.
Not only do we need to ensure charging points are regularly available across the area in public areas, but we also need to ensure future residential planning proposals now factor in the provision for electric vehicle charging – may this be via outdoor power sockets or internal garage sockets. We also need to ensure future commercial planning proposals now factor in electric car charging capabilities/guidance and potential support of investment to include the provision.
3. None of the above can be achieved without proper resources and funding. Local authority budgets are under great pressure, so what action do you think is necessary to ensure adequate financial resources to take the measures necessary to achieve the aim for the District to be carbon neutral by 2030?
Looking at our current position, I cannot say with a good conscience that our District will be carbon neutral by 2030 – but that doesn’t mean we should stop pushing ahead.
The transition into a Unitary Authority is sadly one unforeseen circumstance when CDC published their Climate Emergency Strategy, and I am conscious that this coupled with the impact of Covid-19 will also cause additional delays in movement on some actions. That doesn’t mean we should be gentle in our approach, if anything we need more decisive action and residents need to pressure elected officials and Craven District Council and the future UA.
I am sure many of us remember seeing the Craven Herald earlier this month featuring the mass transplantation of trees, a good piece of work on the surface but underneath is it incredibly problematic in terms of the density of the tree population and the impact this will have on the typical biodiversity we see on the ground floor. This is a clear example of a great idea poorly executed and could almost be described as a panic move to hit the YDNP tree planting targets.
As I mentioned previously, a key focus of mine is to champion and push for the integration of additional electric vehicle charging stations across North Craven and Craven as a whole, the current (lack of) provision is shocking, especially when we live in ‘The Dales’. The primary issue we face in terms of rolling EV charging stations across North Craven, Craven and North Yorkshire is capital investment, as with the capital investment needed for solar. The fact is, EV charging and solar PVs can generate significant income which can then be invested into future projects and schemes, for example helping companies transition to the green economy and looking at sustainable processes and power sources. Paybacks on the former are at 5-6 years now, and income streams last 40 years plus.
4. We are already feeling the impact of climate breakdown with more weather extremes, so what measures do you think are necessary to protect our communities from the effects of these changes?
Flooding will continue to be one of the biggest challenges we face in our local communities, we need to adopt similar flood management approaches to those used in North West and South West Scotland and to continue the work already being done across Yorkshire Dales National Park. We need to ensure fell destruction like that to the North of Penyghent is avoided and ensure we combine mixed forest and continuous cover forestry is favoured over clear-felling.
The failure to address this seemingly small issue could result in significant damage and will impact:
- Residential and non-residential properties;
- Community facilities;
- Utility provisions;
- Transport infrastructure such as roads and bridges and rail lines;
- Agricultural land – I’m sure we are all used to seeing the scenes of fields severely flooded by now.
5. As a candidate in this election, what action(s) are you taking to reduce your carbon footprint and what guidance would you offer residents in your ward wishing to reduce theirs?
As we all know, there is a plethora of ways we can all work to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment as a whole. As with the vaccine, the focus needs to be on what we can do as a community and by speaking to communities about playing their part to support and protect others.
Amongst other things, we need to address the issues at home, from walking to the shop instead of driving to fitting taps with aerators in the Kitchen and Bathroom, from cistern bags to water butts. I believe that we should now mandate all major residential development projects to ensure the property is fitted with aerators in both the kitchen and bathrooms, dual flush toilets and water butts connected to the drainpipe, alongside with this I hope to see EV Charging abilities and ideally the incorporation of solar PVs.
ends
Brian McDaid – Labour Party
1. What ideas do you have to make the climate emergency the number one priority for your ward to address?
Whilst it is encouraging to see that Craven District Council (CDC) declared a Climate Emergency in August 2019, it is essential this is not just seen as paying ‘lip-service’ to the crisis and each and everyone of the Councillors are wholeheartedly committed to the range of measures to reduce the impact of greenhouse cases.
To enable our Council to be a vital part of addressing the crisis and be fully active in throughout Craven, it must be given more powers and resources. Our community needs creative strategies to ensure there is an inspiring, collective, and infectious fight to save our climate and environment
As a Councillor my priority would be to raise the profile of the Council’s Climate Emergency Campaign, work collaboratively with the other Councillors, engage with our communities, and ensure CDC is one of the leading Councils in the country focused on the crisis. I will also encourage the Council to send representatives to the COP26 in November, in Glasgow.
To achieve further awareness and demonstrate the commitment to the Climate Emergency, I would ensure CDC continues to work closely with local and national groups, build relationships with other Councils across the country to share knowledge, ideas and create a nationally collective focus on the emergency and look to create an education programme to roll out to all our local schools. As well as schools, work with local employers to review their policies and procedures would be crucial in raising awareness.
Finally, as part of this objective and to ensure progress on all the other objectives and strategies, having the right funding is essential, which I will outline further within question 3.
2. Please describe your vision for this area (by answering any two of the options below) in terms of:
I am more than happy to discuss my thoughts on all the options, so will do so after the election, regardless of the result.
I have chosen to describe my vision for a) offering low-income households the opportunity to reduce their energy bills and improve energy efficiency standards in their homes; and b) improving affordable public transport and better connectivity.
a) Under Labour’s “A Green New Deal” it aims to tackle the climate crisis whilst creating a fairer, more democratic society in the process. One way in which this can be achieved is through building low-carbon housing which addresses the housing crisis, tackles fuel poverty, and reduces emissions from housing – which currently account for 17% of carbon emissions. Housing is also a key area in which local councils can have a direct and lasting impact on the move towards net neutrality through enshrining strict and ambitious standards on the design and build quality of all new social housing. Housing Associations, as the UK’s primary providers of social housing, have a critical role to play. However, at present, only one in ten Local Authorities have a plan to ensure carbon neutrality in their socially rented homes.”
Fuel poverty is an issue that impacts many people across the country and throughout Carven. The CDC Climate Emergency Strategic Plan 2020-2030 contains the action point “Increasing the support available to low-income households in Craven for measures to improve home insulation and energy efficiency”. I believe that we can progress this further, be more ambitious and invest in some rooftop solar on council houses and buildings. This will bring many benefits to our community reduce levels of fuel poverty and will help support the most vulnerable in our community, reduce carbon emissions from the Craven area and develop resilience within our communities. It will also provide an education opportunity to our residents by providing advice on energy saving and other low carbon technologies. Equally important it will demonstrate how communities can work with local authorities to deliver long-term sustainable infrastructure.
b) As we are all aware, air pollution is a major problem in many of our towns with transport being the main contributor. Whilst we live in a mainly rural area, air pollution is around us and the tragic death of Ella Kissi-Debrah shows us all that urgent action is needed now regardless of where you live.
Affordable Public Transport with better connectivity is one of the most emotive issues impacting our area. Whilst in March this year Government Ministers announced new plans to make England’s buses more frequent, cheaper, greener, and easier to use, this has been needed for a long time.
I have been active in supporting and launching the regional TUC’s Better Buses Campaign, that was launched in 2020. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists taking the bus is the greenest method of transport – A couple boarding a bus will cut their carbon nearly in half, compared with driving even a hybrid car, though there is so much more to do.
Whilst it is North Yorkshire County Council that are responsible for public transport in our area, that does not stop CDC from working with them (under the current local Government structure – the proposed restructure is another much-needed debate in itself) and highlighting the crucial importance of an improved system for our community, especially the vulnerable.
It is essential we have a local bus strategy and provide the necessary level of attention it deserves. We need to protect and improve services, make bus travel affordable for more people, and transform the UK’s bus fleet to run on electricity and hydrogen, cleaning up our polluted air. As a Council, we should also support the proposal that the Government set a deadline of 2025 for all new buses to be electric or hydrogen powered. The Government should also agree a bus manufacturing sector deal to make the UK a world leader in zero emission buses, which will also provide opportunities for more jobs.
My commitment as a Councillor as part of improving our public transport, is to also work with organisations like Healthy Air Campaign partners and others. This will allow us to be a local Council to factor air pollution into all decision-making, as well as a commitment to meet World Health Organisation guideline levels for air pollution by 2030.
These may all seem ambitious and challenging under the funding and resources CDC have, but if they are all committed to tackling this emergency, then the expectation should be and must be, that they strive to achieve it with full commitment and determination.
3. None of the above can be achieved without proper resources and funding. Local authority budgets are under great pressure, so what action do you think is necessary to ensure adequate financial resources to take the measures necessary to achieve the aim for the District to be carbon neutral by 2030?
The issue of funding is one that no doubt holds back local authorities in trying to improve and grow their communities, so what would I do as a Councillor to change that?
Due to the continuing swipe of the scythe of Austerity over the last decade, local authorities have had severe budget cuts, with council net spend per person 23 per cent lower than ten years ago. We cannot also ignore the impact of the Coronavirus crisis, which will create more pressure on resources. Any current funding that local authorities can apply for, occurs through a highly competitive bidding process which can be complex and time consuming. Smaller authorities like CDC, will suffer detrimentally in the process.
Firstly, we need to have more clarity around the role of central government and the part they play in supporting local authorities. To achieve this there needs to be a central framework with the involvement of local and national leaders, that clearly defines what the Government will do to support local authorities in meeting the country’s net zero carbon goal. This also needs to include appropriate funding support for the local authority too.
There are other avenues though, which locally we can explore to achieve much needed funding. The first priority is to look at internal cost of the Council – can sufficient savings be made to move savings into other projects? This can easily be achieved by looking at Councillor and staff travel and whilst the pandemic has restricted this, a long-term plan and commitment can be set-up. This could include pool cars being changed to all electric cars, looking at the external supply companies the Council use – are they all local?
Then we look at what other options to gain much needed funding. One idea I am very keen to support and have pushed the Regional TUC to support too, is that we look to influence NYCC’s Pension Fund Committee’s to steer their investment policies away from fossil fuel companies and re-invest them in carbon free portfolios. I am aware though that the NYCC Pension Fund Committee now has less influence over investment policies than before, due to recent changes and will probably only have a monitoring role over the funds they currently hold. Due to the never-ending changes a new partnership was set-up to administer the local government pension scheme, who are called ‘Boarder to Coast’. Therefore, moving forward to achieve this objective we need to also look to influence them rather than NYCC. This will of course need exploring further, though as stated, I have raised with the TUC regionally and when they come onboard, this will strengthen the position.
The other option, that is not quite out of our hands, is a change of Government much before 2030, where their priorities will be different and see the benefit and need of more funding for local authorities!
4. We are already feeling the impact of climate breakdown with more weather extremes, so what measures do you think are necessary to protect our communities from the effects of these changes?
Throughout Craven, the surrounding areas, and the country, flooding has affected many of us, our properties, and our environment. Firstly, we need to focus on the green spaces around our rivers. We need to maintain and look to grow grassland and avoid the use of heavy machinery in flood-prone areas. This will reduce nutrient and sediment loss from fields. The prevention of river silting, can improve the flow of river water or heavy rain, therefore reducing flood risks. We should also look to adopt the idea of reinstating features that were once common to our local fields such as ponds, hedges, and leaky dams. This will create buffer strips, as well as bringing added beauty to our local area.
Education is key as well, so I would look for the Council to introduce awareness through training and workshops at schools and local community groups. These programmes could focus on maintaining homes, installing flood-resilient flooring or roofing, as well as health advice like protecting against heatstroke.
In the Trade Union movement, we focus on working with employers to introduce schemes that allow low-income workers to diversify, receive subsidies for heating and again, more education and awareness on their actions as companies on the environment.
5. As candidate in this election, what action(s) are you taking to reduce your carbon footprint and what guidance would you offer residents in your ward wishing to reduce theirs?
I am very conscious of using my car to travel, so avoid any unnecessary journeys and either walk, cycle, or use public transport (regardless how unreliable and expensive it is at present. I have taken this further by purchasing our first ever all electric vehicle and now preaching even more to all of those who listen about how great they are for the person and the environment.
My family will also confirm my scrooge-like attitude towards the heating and electric usage in our house. We have smart meters in our property, and this comes with a handheld device that monitors your household usage every minute, This device never leaves my side and is a great way to objectively back up any lecture I give about usage. As a family we are very focussed on recycling and ‘borrowing’ rather than buying and my wife’s new hobby is to create furniture and other useful items from discarded wooden pallets, which without bias, look amazing.
I have already mentioned that within my trade union role, I campaign with employers to look at their green policies and not just have them in place to pay ‘lip service’ I created a union ‘Eco Committee’ that is working with many external organisations and is continuously active within the workplace to raise awareness and educate all levels of the workforce.
Regarding guidance to residents as a Councillor, the first thing is to lead by example and maintain your commitment to a better and safer environment for everyone to see.
It is also essential that as an elected representative of the community, you recognise the issues affecting our environment, you listen to those who raise the concerns, and you act upon them. As an elected representative you drive and lead the action required, you make yourself know to all the relevant organisations and work them.
Regardless of the outcome on May 6th, I will keep committing to these actions, keep working with organisations and keep raising awareness throughout our community about the crisis and ensure all those power take it seriously.
ends
Robert Ogden – Conservative and Unionist Party
1. What ideas do you have to make the climate emergency the number one priority for your ward to address?
I must be truthful when I say that no resident in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Stainforth or Giggleswick has raised climate change as an issue on the doorstep. As someone who has lived in North Craven my entire life, this is hardly surprising. I therefore take issue with the categorisation of climate change as the ‘number one priority’ for residents. Supplanting other pressing environmental concerns, such as the obscene level of littering our area suffers from, and other issues where district councillors can effect tangible change such as economic growth and youth employment/housing, is frankly viewed by some residents as emerging from a position of privilege.
Nevertheless, I recognise why ACE would place such an emphasis on the issue. Moreover, I strongly support initiatives to mitigate climate change, and adapt to its consequences here in Pen-y-ghent:
- Explore options for a climate panel to suggest ideas to the council, which includes young people. Looking at options to gets local schools involved should be considered.
- Increased vegetation coverage on land managed by Craven District Council for aesthetic, ecological, and carbon sequestration purposes.
- Continued investment in energy efficiencies for CDC property, and provide advice to others.
- Empowering and resourcing parish and town councils to support green community initiatives.
- Encourage the authority to use its planning powers to promote low-carbon, energy efficient developments. This is a particularly important emphasis for me – I want to see more housing built in appropriate places, aesthetically complimentary to the uniquely beautiful heritage of our villages, built of local materials, by locals, for locals. Whilst aspirational, it is perfectly possible.
2. Please describe your for vision for this area (by answering any two of the options below) in terms of:
- Farming and land management
- Improving affordable public transport and better connectivity
- Locally based energy plans (to achieve energy conservation and carbon reduction)
- Offering low income households the opportunity to reduce their energy bills and improve energy efficiency standards in their homes.
- Encouraging the use of electric vehicles (including private and council vehicles)
The three largest areas to address in Craven District to address climate change concerns are as follows: 1. Residential energy use 2. Road travel and transportation 3. Land-based industries (particularly livestock rearing). Considering the options presented in your letter, I will address the latter two.
Encouraging the use of electric vehicles (including private and council vehicles)
If elected, I will work with CDC to explore options for installing more electric charging point in all of the car parks owned or managed by the council. CDC makes a significant income from the management of these assets, so the opportunity for reinvestment is present with the appropriate pressure from enthusiastic district councillors. For example, in Settle, Whitefriar’s carpark is situated next to the petrol station. It is already a hub for ‘refuelling’ cars – questions should be asked about how this site could best be adapted to suit the needs of the future, which includes the recharging of electric cars as we transition away from fossil fuels. CDC has the chance to put itself in the driving seat of change. In Stainforth, the National Parks should be lobbied to fulfil its green credentials by making more charging points available. In Horton-in-Ribblesdale, parking is a real concern for residents – for good reason. It is obviously a lot further up the dale, so car transportation is essential for most residents. However, the influx of seasonal tourists, and a lack of residential parking bays around the station, is a concern that has been raised with me that I am keen to intervene on. In terms of electric charging points, various partners, including CDC, should look at options to increase provision. Providing electric charging points this far up the dale increases accessibility to electric cars and mitigates concerns about range and the risks of being stranded with a flat battery.
Farming and land management
CDC holds areas of farmland in its asset portfolio. I would seek reassurances that the agriculture practiced here is providing a net-benefit to the environment there. There is also the potential to make these areas of land carbon sinks, or explore options for the council to diversify its portfolio to achieve that aim. In terms of the actual practice of farming and land management, I strongly believe that farmers know their land and the environment better than anyone. Applying diktats is unlikely to lead to productive action on climate change, and wider environmental improvement such as water quality and biodiversity. Only by working with farmers can sustainability be improved by consent. There is only so much a district councillor can do – I do not seek to be a climate change Pol Pot.
3. None of the above can be achieved without proper resource and funding. Local authority budgets are under great pressure, so what action do you think is necessary to ensure adequate financial resources to take the measures necessary to achieve the aim for the District to be carbon neutral by 2030?
It is of vital importance that the Conservatives retain control of Craven District Council, so that we can continue to deliver the careful management of our finances, and robustly build up the financial security that protects the interests of residents. That position was severely weakened when Craven last had a coalition of Liberals and Independents; add Labour and the Greens into the mix, and a decade of progress risks being shattered. It is only with a healthy financial situation that CDC can make the essential changes necessary to protect our climate.
It is crucial that the council focuses on entrepreneurship, economic growth, and employment. Growing the economy directly leads to the increased prosperity of working people in our area, who can then take their own action to reduce their environmental impact. Furthermore, the council would benefit financially from this prosperity in our district. This can be reinvested into green initiatives. Degrowth economics does not work – we need to conjoin economic and environmental uplift, for the betterment of our communities and our environment.
4. We are already feeling the impact of climate breakdown with more weather extremes, so what measures do you think are necessary to protect our communities from the effects of these changes?
This, like so many areas of environmental policy, is an area where CDC cannot act alone. To alleviate extreme weather events, we need global action on climate change. However, we can play our small but important part in mitigation and adaption.
We must work with the UK government to promote our area of North Craven as a place due environmental investment. One example is the changing rain patterns associated with climate change-induced extreme weather events. At the source of the Ribble, our area can play an effective role in flood defence much further down the course, into the more heavily populated areas of Lancashire. You can get more for you money spending in our area, and reduce the impact for hundreds of thousands beyond our ward. As a local councillor, I would look to encourage engagement between the government, NGOs, landowners and other groups. Flood prevention benefits all.
5. As candidates in this election, what action(s) are you taking to reduce your carbon footprint and what guidance would you offer residents in your ward wishing to reduce theirs?
The real solution to the climate emergency, and wider environmental issues, comes from the actions of individuals. Education is the key – as a secondary school teacher, I have taken time to reiterate the importance of personal responsibility for every individual across life. This includes the environment. In our beautiful area of the Dales, too many people come here and leave it in a worse state than before they arrived. Litter is a blight on our area, and no amount of action by CDC and the hard-working locals in litter picking groups can fully account for the ignorance of others. This requires a root-and-stem approach where individuals need to be challenged, individual responsibility for the betterment of our community upheld, and oikophilia restored.
On a personal level, I make a conscious effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the things I consume by buying British. As well as reinvesting in our communities, British products are high-quality and have a much lower net carbon contribution. Born and bred on to a farm, I cannot stress enough the importance of buying local, sustainable food. It is an easy change to make for many people. Look out for the Red Tractor logo when you next head to the supermarkets, or even better the local Butchers or farm shop!
I hope that these truthful and aspirational answers to the questions posed by ACE demonstrate my willingness to address the climate emergency in Craven District as a candidate in this year’s local elections, and provide you with the reassurance that the Conservative Party is the party best suited to managing Craven’s response to the global call-to-arms on environmental and climate action.
ends
