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Greens rue 'Brown Thursday'

Jan 10th - a Bad News Day for a Green Future

10th January 2008

For immediate release

Bristol Greens are dubbing this as 'Brown Thursday' as a rash of announcements bring bad news for the area's future environment. Nuclear risks, climate change, and lower quality of life are all being brought a stage nearer for Bristol's future residents. And Gordon Brown's government has a finger in every part of it.

Nuclear cop-out

Number 1 on the Greens' list of disappointments ^{[Note 1]} is the government's announcement of a new wave of nuclear power stations.

Cllr. Charlie Bolton said:

"This confirms how the government doesn't give a damn about creating huge problems for future generations as well as those who will suffer the risks, and pay the costs. To describe this climate cop-out as "cleaner, more secure and affordable" is transparent nonsense."

More Carbon, more cars; the ring road and the airport

Still closer to home, a key report ^{[Note 2]} into regional planning issues has endorsed proposals to extend Bristol into the green belt, along with expanding the airport and building a dual carriageway Ring Road through South Bristol. Last summer, the 'Examination in Public' into the south-west's Daft regional Spatial Strategy had heard arguments against all three - but has decided that it can't go against government policy.

The Green Party's Peter Goodwin said:

"It's disappointing, but not surprising, that the business agenda has outweighed considerations of climate change and local quality of life. Of course the Inspectors' recommendation won't in itself make these things happen - but they certainly bring it closer and will make it more difficult to resist."

Charlie Bolton added:

"Taken together, these things show how shallow is the government's commitment to the real issues that confront us. "

"The nuclear policy will have very little impact on climate change but it will bring real dangers at every level. The local proposals will increase climate change emissions as well as making South Bristol a less attractive place to live. These are bad long term decisions being made by people with only shortsighted vision."

ENDS

Notes

1. Green Party national news release at www.greenparty.org.uk/news/3273, local (Severnside) reaction at www.stophinkley.org/Press%20Releases/pr080108.htm


2. Panel report in full at www.southwesteip.co.uk/downloads/FinalSouthwestEiP.pdf (3.5MB pdf file)

Contact:

Peter Goodwin (Green Party Press Officer) 01275 543280
Cllr Charlie Bolton, 0117 966 1639