Climate Emergency?

The two words that have battled Brexit for the top news stories during these past few months have undoubtedly been ‘climate emergency’.

Our government was the first to commit to a 2050 target for bringing all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. This is in direct contrast to the protest group Extinction Rebellion who demand the net zero target should be reached by 2025.

Whatever your opinion on the subject it cannot be argued that society needs to find a more sustainable way to exist if we are to flourish and continue developing. We all have a responsibility to but the lead must be set by governments, both National & Local.

Ipswich Borough Council was one of a number of local authorities who declared their own ‘climate emergency’.  In July IBC committed to become carbon neutral by 2030. This was not widely publicised at the time as the Labour group decided to agree this at Executive level, denying Councillors the opportunity to question the Labour leader as to how they planned to achieve this. This is in direct contrast to most other Councils who have had open discussions on the best ways to implement plans.

I believe the Labour group are more concerned with appearing to be proactive than they are about achieving their over-ambitious target. I challenged Cllr Ellesmere as to whether the target covered all of IBC (including the companies they own), knowing full well that they control Ipswich Buses, a major contributor to Co2 and other noxious gases. He confirmed that it did not cover them as it would be impossible to reach their targets!

On the same night they declared the climate emergency IBC approved another surface car park to be built in the Town Centre – attracting more cars into an area already designated as an ‘Air Quality Management Area’.

Last month IBC took delivery of the first of their 11 new refuse trucks, all diesel-powered. At the time of making the decision IBC stated that the current standard of electric refuse trucks did not meet their needs but that the standards were rapidly improving. I urged them to consider purchasing the new vehicles over several years in the hope that the electric battery technology improved, but they refused.

The expected life of these trucks is ten years, some are in use for longer. To put that in perspective some of these will still be expected to be in operation after IBC’s target of net zero.

 

For 12 months IBC have been promising a variable messaging system for the town, designed to ease congestion – this has not materialised. For 6 months they have been promising a commitment to the return of the Bury Road Park & Ride – this has not happened. Over the past 18 months IBC has loaned Ipswich Buses over £1 million to purchase a fleet of second-hand diesel buses

The time for virtue-signalling really should be over and this should be the time for sensible action to reduce our carbon footprint, less of the slogans and more of the new initiatives.

Cllr Ian Fisher

Conservative Group Leader @ IBC

Ed Sheeran – Fortune or Bust?

Like his music or not, Suffolk’s own Ed Sheeran is about to show Ipswich just how much of a star attraction he has become. Tens of thousands of tickets have been sold for his four concerts to be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend in the Council-owned Chantry Park; these concerts will generate revenues of several million pounds. Of course, most of this money will go to the performer and his promoter but with concerts of this size there are always several winners.

This really is an excellent chance for our Council to promote Ipswich to a much wider audience than usual but also to take advantage of the financial opportunities gifted to them.

IBC have come in for some criticism regarding the cost of the Park & Ride they are operating from Trinity Park. At £12 in advance & £15 on the day it certainly seems steep but they really missed an opportunity to reward the people of Ipswich. The Conservative Group @ IBC have campaigned for some time for Ipswich residents to get discounts on all Council run services such as buses, car parks, theatres etc. This could easily have been rolled out to include the Ed Sheeran Park & Ride. Why not charge non-locals slightly more and pass the discounts to local residents, after all Chantry Park belongs to all of us?

Because of the criticism IBC released a press statement claiming they would make no profit from the park & ride operation. If they have budgeted to break even then there is a real chance that they could actually make a loss – which will cost all tax payers in Ipswich

The Conservative Group have been concerned at the finances for the whole project, we have attempted to get more information on how much is being charged to hire the park but we have been told it is against public interest to release the info! Sources have also told us that several IBC staff have been taken away from their normal duties to work on the concert, what impact will this have on other services.

This is another example of the poorly run Labour administration failing in their task of running our Town for the benefit of us all. A local boy made good really has gifted our Town with a golden opportunity but poor organisation risks throwing this away.

It’s been 8 long years of missed opportunities for Ipswich under Labour rule, how much more can we all suffer……

Written by Cllr Ian Fisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

been concerned that the Council maximises its potential