29/10/2021

Published Barrhead News On Line -

News

6 hrs ago

COP26: East Renfrewshire Council bosses declare climate emergency

By Drew Sandelands Local Democracy Reporter

A CLIMATE emergency has been declared by East Renfrewshire Council ahead of COP26 – despite opposition councillors claiming the move is “political posturing.”

SNP members Annette Ireland and Caroline Bamforth urged other councillors to declare an emergency in a motion which recognised ongoing work in East Renfrewshire but called for plans to be accelerated.

They were backed by their SNP colleagues, Labour and an independent councillor, with the motion passed by eight votes to three.

However, Conservative councillors, while praising the work of council officers, said declaring an emergency was “a little ineffectual.”

Former Conservative politician Stewart Miller, who now serves as an independent, abstained.

Councillor Miller, who chairs the council’s audit and scrutiny committee which recommended renewing a climate change strategy and action plan, said the motion was a “kick in the teeth” for staff in the environment department.

The motion called for a Climate Change Partnership Group to bring together councillors, residents, young citizens and businesses to work on reducing their carbon footprint.

It asked council staff to look into funding options for the “necessary actions” to combat the crisis and for climate change impact assessments for all policies to “assist towards reaching the goal of zero emissions.”

Councilllor Ireland said: “The leaders of more than 100 countries from around the world will gather in Glasgow, the outcome of the summit will shape the future of the planet that we live on.

“Local authorities have the responsibility to lead on the climate change agenda and it is extremely important that the council declares today that we support taking action to combat this emergency.”

Conservative councillor Gordon Wallace attempted to replace the whole motion with an amendment which stated: “In the face of the challenging faces of a pandemic, this council recognises and supports the efforts made by council officers to ensure East Renfrewshire Council plays its part in the global fight against climate change.”

He said: “For East Renfrewshire Council to declare a climate emergency in the same week that 120 or so world leaders, together with an entourage of some 10,000 dignitaries and advisers, are arriving on our doorstep to attend the COP26 climate summit to discuss the measures required to address the very emergency they are declaring does appear a little ineffectual.

“Somewhat closing the stable door after the horse has well and truly bolted.”

Councillor Miller added that he was “extremely disappointed” by the motion, which he described as a “slap in the face” for all residents who recycle.

He said council staff “are doing as much as they can, given the resources this administration gives them.”

“Given that the cabinet has already accepted the audit and scrutiny committee report, this motion is merely political posturing," added Councillor Miller.

“As the wonderful Queen of the United Kingdom has said, less talking and more doing.”

Council leader Tony Buchanan said he was “astonished” by some of the discussion.

He added: “It has not been put in as being political, it is there to highlight a very real issue which impacts on us all.”

Councillor Ireland said she was a “little bit upset” at what she heard, having hoped to get cross-party support.

“I was trying to make it as non-political as possible," she added. "This affects us all.

“I would say that the motion here is to accelerate plans, I’m not belittling those previous plans that have been made.”

11/11/2021

Published Barrhead News On Line -

News

2 hrs ago

East Renfrewshire: Motorists frustrated by lack of EV charging points

By Pippa Smith Reporter

A LACK of charging points for electric cars in East Renfrewshire has been branded “shocking.”

Motorists who have switched to an electric vehicle in a bid to help save the planet say they are being let down by a lack of infrastructure.

One fed-up driver told how, with so few charging points available at the Barrhead Foundry, he has been forced to travel miles to make sure his environmentally-friendly Tesla car has enough power to stay on the road.

To make matters worse, charging points at Neilston train station have been out of action for more than a year.

“I’m having to go all the way to Silverburn shopping centre to charge my car,” said the frustrated motorist, who lives in Neilston and has asked to remain anonymous.

“It absolutely defeats the purpose of having an eco-friendly car.”

The 26-year-old driver also told how his efforts to have a charging point installed outside his home in the Taylor Wimpey development in Kirkton View have been thwarted by a public footpath there.

“I have been going back and forward with Taylor Wimpey and East Renfrewshire Council for months to try to get an EV [electric vehicle] charging point outside my home,” he added.

“They have now put me on to the factor but it’s all up in the air.”

Taylor Wimpey West Scotland have said an EV charging pedestal could be installed at the rear of the motorist’s private parking bays.

A spokesperson added: “Due to the position of the customer’s home and his dedicated parking bays, we have clarified that the installation of an EV charging point would involve installing cables under a footpath on land that is not owned by the customer and is maintained by the Estate Management Company.

“We have, therefore, confirmed the Estate Management Company should be contacted for permission to carry out this work.”

A council spokesman said it is awaiting confirmation of when the charging points in Neilston will be replaced.

He added: “We have contacted the suppliers responsible for these chargers and are awaiting confirmation of when they will be repaired or replaced.

“An electric vehicle charging strategy is currently being developed to support our ambitions for the area. As part of this work, we recently met with Scottish Futures Trust to discuss new funding and delivery models to support the further expansion of our publicly available EV charging network.”