Reducing Exmouth's carbon footprint | Opinion

"As a serving Green Party Town Councillor I have been attempting to initiate action in Exmouth that will reduce Exmouth's Carbon Footprint.

"My first initiative was to attempt to have some water bottle refilling stations installed around the town – to reduce single use plastic (it has been estimated that by 2050 plastic production will produce 15% of all carbon emissions).

"We located suitable sites, which are owned by East Devon County Council and Devon County Council. Officers from East Devon declared support for this initiative. Our officer supplied them with information requested in August last year but we are still waiting for authorisation from them to install these facilities.

"Another initiative that I and a Conservative town councillor have supported is to make the seafront more pedestrian- and cycle-friendly by introducing a one-way traffic system that will free up road space enabling separate cycle and pedestrian paths, thereby reducing the risk of collision.

"I was told that this resulted in a statement from a Devon Highways manager stating that as none of the existing Exmouth and Littleham County Councillors for Exmouth were in favour of this idea they would not pursue it (one reason to stand for Devon County Council).

"On a more positive note, as a member of the Town Council's planning committee, I have often been happy to support decisions of that committee. I am hoping that the Town Council can secure the agreement from East Devon Council and other land owners to increase tree planting - the more trees planted in Exmouth, the more carbon will be captured.

"I am now retired but previously worked as a social worker helping to support some of the most vulnerable in our society.

"If elected I will commit to:

- Supporting essential workers

- Reducing Devon's carbon footprint."

- Exmouth Town Councillor Michael Rosser, Green Party candidate in the Devon County Council elections for Exmouth Division.

The full list of candidates for Exmouth Division can be found here on the Devon County Council website.

Editor's note

Nub News is politically impartial and does not endorse any views expressed in opinion pieces.

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