RULING Tories at East Hampshire District Council have come under fire for their track record in tackling climate change – just a week after the issue was moved to the top of the political agenda. Protecting the environment has surfaced as a key, long-term priority at EHDC this month. But with barely a week gone since a cross-party launch meeting to discuss ways of making the district greener, a political row has broken out. The ruling Conservatives' efforts to take action over the environment in the last four years have been branded "appalling". Liberal Democrats have slated a number of decisions by the majority party, including the removal of environmentally friendly pool cars at the council. The liquefied petroleum gas-powered vehicles were replaced with conventional cars in 2005 following a Tory cabinet decision. And a year later, according to Lib Dem councillor Adam Carew, a motion to sign up to the Nottingham Declaration to tackle climate change was pulled off the full council agenda without any warning. An apology was later made by the chairman of the council. Mr Carew said: "Another presentation was made at the recent climate change meeting, but even then the chance to sign up to the Nottingham Declaration was not taken. "The Tories also failed to give the Sustainability Centre (in East Meon) the full grant for their wood- for-heat business. "In 2003, the Lib Dems kick-started East Hampshire's biodiversity action plan to protect local wildlife and demanded that it was made supplementary planning guidance. "Despite repeated attempts to move this forwar, four years on we are still waiting. "And in 2004 my environment audit motion was passed with cross-party support. It was designed to look at everything the council does from procurement to travel and from housing to planning. "The Tories watered it down and limited the audit to a survey of EHDC offices at Penn's Place. "Following further pressure from liberal democrats, consultants were brought in and a report was written. "Although there has been some progress, many of the recommendations are still to be implemented as there is not the political will, officer time, or necessary resources allocated to do them." Patrick Burridge, the chairman of last week's joint meeting of the protecting the environment panel, building successful communities panel, and the development policy panel, was unavailable for comment as The Herald went to press.
