Forum Topic

WBC and the climate emergency

WBC responded to the XR Wandsworth "Wake up Wandsworth" campaign with the following statement.“Our efforts have been applauded by Kevin Frea, managing director of Climate Emergency UK which has developed a database of what councils are doing to tackle climate change. Quoted in the Local Government Chronicle he said that unlike many councils which had done little or nothing to take concrete steps to achieve carbon reductions, 'Wandsworth for example are doing a lot."Kevin Frea has now reviewed the progress of the council so far and has given us the following statement."Wandworth Council made a good start with a Youth Climate Commission, switching to 100% renewable energy and committing to a Carbon Literacy Training programme for all their staff. However, they have failed to understand the urgency of the climate & ecological emergencies, by setting a 2050, rather than a 2030 one for the whole Borough, failing to do what 126 Councils, led by all political parties, have done. It will take far more than Electric car charge points and encouraging gardening to increase biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions at the speed required even by the Government's own, inadequate, targets."So I think that's pretty clear. When are the council going to act?

Matt Palmer ● 1750d75 Comments

Some suggestions:Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDs)explainedRe-routing of downpipes into separate rainwater pipes  and foul water pipesGreen RoofsWater butts - different kinds and shapes (you'd be amazed) and help in choosing and fitting them  Permeable surfaces for gardens and hardstandings instead of concrete and tarmac

Philippa Bond ● 1662d

There is the first of some free webinars tonight on the climate emergency - unfortunately when many will be watching the football - so if you're no fan and are interested or are just interested you can register for it with the Centre for Alternative Technology:https://cat.org.uk/events/free-webinar-climate-justice-a-just-transition/

Philippa Bond ● 1671d

You do not have to be a radical activist to appreciate the urgency of the situation. A radical agenda which challenges climate change in Wandsworth needs to be adopted by the Council as soon as possible. The clock is ticking and time is of the essence!

Miles Thompson ● 1671d

And I have seen the City police stopping cyclists who've gone through red lights ...

Michael Ixer ● 1672d

The IRA may well have influenced traffic policy in the City but pedestrianisation and cycle lanes have been a thing there for many years.There are also lots of alleys and cut throughs reflecting the original streets and alleys of medieval times. No room even for a bike on some of them. All very Dickensian. By the way even the police patrol on bikes, specially modified with a siren and blue lights!  Only for the fitter cops of course but very cool all the same.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1672d

wow!I wasnt referring to streets closed to cars Michael, i was referring to streets with proper cycle lanes, two way segregated cycle lanes, with brick borders and everything, felt really safe.

Matt Palmer ● 1672d

A lot of the blocking off of through traffic and removal of parking spaces (although not the creation of cycle lanes) started in the 1990s for security reasons after the IRA bombs. Very few people drive into the city for work (mostly only those with underground parking spaces!) but quite a lot of office workers cycle to and from.

Michael Ixer ● 1672d

It is late so may be my eyes - but I do not think enough weight has been given to:"Road collision pedestrian casualties, 2021 Scorecard data, by London borough"https://www.healthystreetsscorecard.london/results/results_indicator_charts/

Ed Robinson ● 1672d

yeah i'm not sure. I have to say a few weeks ago i rode though 'the city' and was amazed by some of the high quality (totally blocked off from traffic) cycle lanes. Was like being in a different country!

Matt Palmer ● 1672d

Interesting that the City of London seems to come out top on the scorecard given that it's not part of Greater London and most of its votes are controlled by businesses rather than residents, although it's true there aren't many of those. I assume the GLA and the CoL have an accommodation over the implementation an operation of the CC and ULEZ? (Must admit I've never really thought about that!)

Michael Ixer ● 1672d

From the independent 'healthy streets' report on Wandsworth, says it all really. https://www.healthystreetsscorecard.london/your_borough/wandsworth/"Wandsworth is one of the lower scoring Inner London Boroughs and this is as a result of inaction compared to other boroughs. Very disappointingly, it suspended seven Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) within weeks of implementing them in 2020, and the council leadership has also been openly opposing TfL cycle track in the borough. Only 14% of roads are within a LTN (compared to leader Hackney with 55%) and only 4% of roads have protected cycle track (compared to leader City of London with 21%).And only 61% of roads have controlled parking in Wandsworth, whereas there are now nine boroughs with over 87% of roads covered and five with 100% covered.In some good news, Wandsworth has introduced 20mph speed limits across 81% of borough roads, and has plans for the remaining roads. And it has introduced a number of School Streets, where traffic is restricted around schools at arrival and departure times, with 17% of schools now covered (though this is much lower than leading borough Merton at 41%).The overall picture is that much more action is needed on LTNs, cycle track, School Streets and controlled parking. The majority (54%) of households don’t have a car and the vast majority (74%) of journeys are made by public transport, walking or cycling, so there is a need, but also an opportunity and obligation for action to support healthier streets."

Matt Palmer ● 1672d

I remember reading about Jo Bamford of Ryse Hydrogen buying  Wrightbus.  Let's hope these are a success.  Buses are not cheap...https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/fuel-cell-bus-hydrogen/

Philippa Bond ● 1675d

Hi Ed, ok that's interesting, i'm taking the 45% figure based on the fact that there's a large number of hybrids which 'reduce emissions by 40%'. But you're right, real world emissions would give a much better picture rather than just a sales pitch figure.

Matt Palmer ● 1678d

"I think the overall fleet is about 45% 'green' but I agree, progress is slow."Matt last time I downloaded the TFL excel spreadsheet it was only a very small percentage. The vast majority are diesel and only just been altered to meet the Euro VI emission standards. What would be interesting is the REAL world NOx emissions of the fleet."485 Electric buses and 3,884 Hybrid buses (including 1,000 new Routemasters)"https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/bus-fleet-data-and-audits

Ed Robinson ● 1678d

You're starting to sound as frustrated as me, would you like to borrow my strawberry outfit?I think the overall fleet is about 45% 'green' but I agree, progress is slow.

Matt Palmer ● 1678d

20 hydrogen buses only another 8980 to go.

Andy Pike ● 1678d

Andy,Bailey result was quite close when you considering his own party gave up on him early.I wonder who their candidate will be next time?With national Labour's no policy policy and the Greens filling the void - Khan has really got to be proactive otherwise it may even go Green!

Ed Robinson ● 1678d

oh look, the mayor doing somethinghttps://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/69208/hydrogen-double-decker-buses-arrive-in-london

Matt Palmer ● 1678d

Interesting that the incumbent fool is somehow protected by predecessor fools. Judge him on his achievements and failures not on comparisons with those that preceded him. The man is a waste of space as mayor.

Andy Pike ● 1678d

And don't forget the money Johnson wasted on a useless, failed Garden Bridge project ...

Michael Ixer ● 1678d

What did Boris deliver?  Oh yes, Red Ken's bikes which KL had first seen in Paris and I suppose he got someone else to search for a company with a blue logo to sponsor them.  He announced the world's first ULEZ and then promptly moved on to being an MP to avoid the flack.

Philippa Bond ● 1678d

You'll be expecting for a long time. He could just about deliver a daily paper or the milk. But hey did you know his dad was a bus driver and he lived on a council estate?

Andy Pike ● 1679d

"actually acting like it's an emergency seems to be much harder for WBC"Unfortunately Matt it is the same for the Government and the national opposition.Locally I'm expecting a lot more from Khan than he delivered in his first term.

Ed Robinson ● 1679d

Declaring a climate emergency is easy, actually acting like it's an emergency seems to be much harder for WBC

Matt Palmer ● 1679d

Help for Councils declaring a Climate Emergency

Philippa Bond ● 1679d

*suited* not sited!  That's why the 2006 film was calledAn Inconvenient Truth.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inconvenient_TruthIt's a reason why people need to look at a bigger picture and not just at their own situation and comfort and why we need to elect people who we feel will do just that for all of us and our childrens' futures.

Philippa Bond ● 1706d

Yes, they've been telling us for 40 years but it hasn't sited us to know - or politicians to know because they might have to make unpopular decisions - just as they have had to do about air pollution.  Science is ever changing.https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015sqc7

Philippa Bond ● 1706d

Probably worth catching up with today's R4 Life Scientific interview with Tamsin Edwards and why all climate change models are wrong - but why that doesn't mean climate change isn't happening! Interesting insight into science and uncertainty. 

Michael Ixer ● 1707d

There are free webinars here from the Centre for Alternative Technology:www.cat.org.uk/webinarsNot Surrey actually. 

Philippa Bond ● 1707d

"This is a ridiculous concept, dreamed up by a tiny group of middle class housewives and retired schoolteachers in Surrey"A witches' cabal cooking up climate change in darkest Surrey!!

Caroline Whitehead ● 1707d

Such posts are irritating and it's tempting to ignore them but I feel one should counter such erroneous posts whether made out of ignorance or malice just to substantiate the rational view based on the scientific evidence we have. If one sits through lectures on climate change by those who have spent time, in some cases decades, researching it the evidence for climate change is overwhelming, as are the cases. Interestingly,  I have heard opposing views from people such as Piers Corby but his scientific argument these days is difficult to justify, and he has never published any research to substantiate his theories. (In my opinion Mr Corbyn isn't a denier that climate is changing it's just that he disputes the reasons and dynamics related to the changes.)

Michael Ixer ● 1707d

There is, of course, little point in trying to argue with flat-earthers like Marcus Gibson and their followers since they are rationality-free. But one point illustrates why: his statement that "Traffic produces very little particulates" is demonstrably and egregiously false:"Around a third of the PM2.5 emitted in London comes from road transport, with a large proportion also coming from construction, wood burning and commercial cooking."Air quality in London 2016 to 2020.(https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/air_quality_in_london_2016-2020_october2020final.pdf)

Richard Carter ● 1708d

I disagree with the mans views, but would not censor his right to have them.Not everyone agrees with your repetitive views on brexit but I would fight for your right to have them. As I'm sure you would our right to think brexit will, longterm, work out alright for the UK.

Andy Pike ● 1708d

Do please take your deranged imaginings elsewhere.  Thank you

Jonathan Callaway ● 1708d

Marcus. Please explain what particulates have to do with the proven increase in CO2 and other greenhouse gases that are increasing temperatures? You seem to be confusing environmental and climate issues? Or I've missed something; please explain.No one is saying climate change will end the world, it's just a question of how habitable it will be for humans, and whether it might lead to our extinction in the next century or so. 

Michael Ixer ● 1708d

Yes Marcus I agree, too many retired people with nothing better to do than annoy other people with their continual restrictions. What gets me is they have cycle lanes, but they find it more fun annoying people in cars by riding in the middle of the road.

Barbara Stevens ● 1708d

There is absolutely no 'Climate Emergency'!This is a ridiculous concept, dreamed up by a tiny group of middle class housewives and retired schoolteachers in Surrey!It has zero basis in science. No scientist, even the worst of the global warmers, has ever stated 'the end of the world is nigh'. Not even the silly ones that ritually appear on the God awful BBC.Traffic produces very little particulates. When Oxford St was clear of traffic for three days the monitors only recorded a 4% fall in particulates, which come from roadworks, Crossrail, tarmacing works - VERY LITTLE by traffic. So all of those ridiculous cycle ways - that 80% of people want removed in London - are a complete waste of £2.8bn. House prices close to new cycleways, eg Chiswick, have plummeted.

Marcus Gibson ● 1708d

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-tipping-points-for-climate-action-tickets-157390369833?aff=erelexpmlt&keep_tld=1

Philippa Bond ● 1708d

LB Wandsworth do use Groundworks Green Doctors.https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/campaigns/green-homes-grant/about-green-homes-grant/

Philippa Bond ● 1712d

to help Londoners who need help in reducing their heating bills.wwwgroundwork.org.uk

Philippa Bond ● 1726d

The Green Party seemed to make gains in London - probably mainly at the expense of Labour - but in Merton and Wandsworth the Labour share seemed to marginally increase and the Conservative share drop. (The Lib Dems also made some gains, and UKIP seem to be history: zero assembly seats and even Binface and Corbyn polled better than Gammons in the mayoral election!)

Michael Ixer ● 1728d

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/climate-hub-prepares-to-open-in-lewes-town-centre-3230902?

Philippa Bond ● 1728d

It has been around for a long time though and the scrappage scheme for vans is obviously oversubscribed at the moment.Sometimes the various car manufacturers have special trade-in or scrappage deals. Grants and deals come and go.

Philippa Bond ● 1733d

Philippa - yes that scrappage scheme will help some but it is not a universal scheme:"The ULEZ Car and motorcycle scrappage grant is available to those who live within the 32 London boroughs or the City of London and receive certain means-tested or non means-tested disability benefits"

Ed Robinson ● 1734d

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/scrappage-schemesIsn't this all the sort of info which would be good to see in a Climate Change shop?

Philippa Bond ● 1734d

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/03/high-street-shops-in-england-and-wales-repurposed-as-climate-emergency-centres?

Philippa Bond ● 1734d

Cars really aren't the be all and end all.  There are cars or electric cars that you can hire when you really need to drive.  Don't forget that with electric cars there aren't the same running costs. https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electric/cheapest-electric-car/Although the green grant was pulled apparently partly because not enough contractors were available who understood and could do the work.  The grant has I believe now been given to the Councils so that they can deal with some of the worst insulated and heated homes.  Unfortunately it didn't deal with the failed double glazing which a lot of people need to replace (but then there are a lot of homes without any double glazing anyway).  I believe the bigger energy companies can also provide help for those who can't afford to insulate their homes. Grants come and go.

Philippa Bond ● 1734d

Understanding about growing things and trees and the environment is important and a big part of the Climate Emergency.  Changing climate means changes in what can and can't be grown.  However instead of the Council concentrating so much on the growing of things with children perhaps they could work with The Putney Society and allotmenteers etc and then the Council would be able to spend more time at looking at other aspects.  I've sent the energy project for schools to Cllr Steffi Sutters but should probably trawl for other Councillors.  Have you some suggestions?

Philippa Bond ● 1734d

Recently, I saw a Honda electric car on the road.  It’s a very eye catching, small car.  I looked up the cost and it’s around £28,000 (£31,000 with finance deal).  It’s just too much money to pay for a small car. Same for the heat pumps or whatever the alternative heating is for homes.  It is all too expensive.

Martine Guy ● 1735d

As I came back from Sainsbury's yesterday I was just walking pass the entrance to the Bus garage, two men were leaning outside, one was smoking a cigarette the other one had one  of the vapor machines. I nearly choked as he blew it into my face. So I said if you turn round it will blow in your face and see how you like it. He said cross over then, walk on the other side of the road if you don't like it. I said I live on this side of the road. He looked more like one of the old mechanics. not a bus driver.

Barbara Stevens ● 1735d

What on earth has this got to do with WBC and the climate emergency?

Matt Palmer ● 1735d

The Putney Society might be good at helping with gardening initiatives.Any chance of a front gardens competition this year?

Philippa Bond ● 1735d

Thanks Matt - I thought it might be me.It doesn't look good if there are press releases of intentions but no actual information on what has actually been done.I can't help feeling that the UK position is as usual, one of distraction with very little attention to our own deforestation and replanting.

Ed Robinson ● 1746d

Good luck with that Ed.Also, a FOI request today turned up the interesting fact that when WBC says 'we chopped down X mature trees in whichever year' what they actually mean is 'we chopped down X mature *street* trees in whichever year'It would seem that trees chopped in parks don't get counted for whatever reasons.

Matt Palmer ● 1746d

I can see other local authorities report on their tree planting.Anyone know how WBC are doing?I can see the announcements but not the actual follow up numbers.

Ed Robinson ● 1746d

Apparently the jury asked to check the oath they'd sworn before reaching the verdict. They obviously felt that not guilty was the true verdict based on the evidence they'd heard and the law was irrelevant in the circumstances?

Michael Ixer ● 1746d

Yup, that's an amazing result.Shell knew 40 years ago what the result would be of them burning all that C02 and the've spent all that time since playing it down or denying it."A “CONFIDENTIAL” 1988 document titled, “The Greenhouse Effect”, details Shell’s extensive knowledge of climate change impacts and implications. It also reveals an internal Shell climate science program dating back to 1981, well before the UNIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was founded.

Matt Palmer ● 1746d

Despite being told by the judge that they had no defence in law the jury found 6 XR protesters not guilty of criminal damage to Shell's HQ.Juries certainly can be unpredictable but they don't often ignore such a clear direction from the judge.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1746d

It's a fair point actually Andy, I don't know what I was thinking about 5 years ago when we first moved here :( I guess at that point I wasn't particularly environmentally conscious.I do think you're missing the point somewhat. I've never told people they have to replace their boilers with eco ones at their own cost. The gov should be subsidising it for sure so that people don't pay more than if they were putting in a standard gas boiler.Frankly it's a travesty that the gov binned their commitment to force all new build homes to meet various green standards. Instead 'someeone' is going to have to pay to retrofit every house.

Matt Palmer ● 1747d

If I felt so strong about something I'd have probably taken all environmental factors into account before renting the property.

Andy Pike ● 1747d

Get onto Environmental Services, and tell them. If a Landlord doesn't rectify a problem they put an order on him to do it.

Barbara Stevens ● 1747d

"you were obviously hoping it would smash"well yes it was deliberate to you are correct there."Hope the Police caught who did it and make them pay"The women who did it sat down afterwards and waited for the police to arrest them. They will of course get their day in court.

Matt Palmer ● 1747d

i'm not really sure what you expect me to do here Andy, i've spoken to the landlord about it and he's not willing to pay up. I doubt we will stay where we are for more than another two years.I'm completely open to suggestions...

Matt Palmer ● 1747d

Matt, they were so sure it wouldn't smash, what about staff sitting behind the glass at their desks that's OK I suppose. That was not a peaceful demonstration. I would say they went at it hammer and tong. Perhaps there wasn't any smashed glass, but you were obviously hoping it would smash. Hope the Police caught who did it and make them pay.

Barbara Stevens ● 1747d

I suppose WBC should really look at all the gas boilers in their tenanted property , but if they follow the lead of the Putney x rebel they'll just get new ones.Maybe do a couple of hours penance banging a tin can and sitting in the middle of the road.  Saint Greta knows who you are Matt and will write your history, if she ever goes to school, that is.

Andy Pike ● 1747d

exactly. There's no broken glass on the ground.

Matt Palmer ● 1747d

One would hope that the HSBC architects used some type of toughened/laminated glass in thee building to guard against shattering? 

Michael Ixer ● 1747d

Did you see any glass going on the floor Barbara? Nope....

Matt Palmer ● 1747d

Who will clean up the shattered glass window's of the HSBC building. Clean up by themselves I suppose.

Barbara Stevens ● 1747d

Perhaps you could pass it on to WBC? Might take their focus away from addressing the climate emergency via the medium of gardening though.

Matt Palmer ● 1747d

A project for schools.

Philippa Bond ● 1747d

Thanks Matt for the XR Wandsworth demands. How about community funded PVCs on schools etc?https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/lcef_4_prospectus_2020_0.pdf https://ealingnewsextra.co.uk/latest-news/school-solar-power/Always worth lobbying the Govt for another feed-in tariff - although there are some electricity suppliers which will pay you for any electricity you feed in.  I watched a seminar earlier today in which a lovely primary school had solar panels but hadn't unfortunately had them connected and switched on properly for them to work so it is always worth making sure that everything is linked up properly!It would be really good if Councils and residents/resident businesses would allow others to see what they have done to reduce their energy use/energy bills.

Philippa Bond ● 1749d

Hi Philippa, You can read all about the four demands at this linkhttp://xrwandsworth.earth/wake-up-wandsworth-council/If you want all the detail then read this documenthttp://xrwandsworth.earth/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/4-DEMANDS-1.pdf

Matt Palmer ● 1749d

Hi Matt  Can you remind us what XR's four demands are please.I do think they have a point trying to make sure that the Council is achieving a bit more first before they expect everyone else to do more but...  time is really short and there has been enough procrastinating already.

Philippa Bond ● 1749d

Thanks Matt. That is very clear indeed.So get on with it WBC!

Caroline Whitehead ● 1750d