Question looms over green Suffolk

CLAIMS that Suffolk was aiming to become the greenest county in England were today rubbished by opposition politicians.

However county council environment spokesman Eddy Alcock insisted Suffolk was making great strides towards boosting its green credentials.

The county's cabinet is expected to adopt a programme called: Suffolk, creating the greenest county, at its meeting on March 6.

It is planning to set up a panel looking at how the county can reduce its carbon emissions and come up with more green policies.

However Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Cann told the county's meeting earlier in the week that budget cuts meant green policies had to be sacrificed.

He said: “The council is cutting back on money it spends on many environmental initiatives like the Real Nappy Network.

“It has taken away funding for this, £25,000, yet it spends £600,000 a year on putting disposable nappies in landfill sites. It says one thing and does another.

“This report sounds good but does virtually nothing - it is full of words which might look like good intentions but the only positive thing it suggests is holding a conference in the autumn, a year after the Nottingham Declaration was signed.”

The Nottingham Declaration is a commitment signed by councils across the country pledging to do all they can to combat climate change.

Mr Alcock defended the council's position. He said: “The Liberal Democrats talk a lot about the environment, but we had to wait until we took over power before the council signed the Nottingham Declaration.

“The Real Nappy Network is still operating. We had to cut funding to many organisations because of the tight financial settlement.

“I don't think the loss of the funding to the Real Nappy Network will have a major effect on the amount of nappies going into landfill sites.”