Conservative Councillors go green with low-energy light bulbs

RAINHAM North Councillors Vaughan Hewett and David Carr were so enthused by David Cameron’s efforts to make the Conservative Party and their Councils green, that they have bought all 33 Medway Conservative Councillors an energy saving light bulb so that they are the greenest group of councillors in Medway.

They gave bulbs as gifts to their colleagues at a group meeting held Monday, July 2 at the Strood Civic Centre.

Cllrs Hewett and Carr have good reason to be so keen about their energy saving light bulbs:

• The new 11 watt low-energy light bulb will save 40kg of carbon emissions each year from a home.

• In total the Conservative Group will be reducing carbon emissions from Medway by 1.3 tonnes each year!

• The bulbs will also save £11 off each councillors home fuel bill as well.

• Environmental groups estimate that if every home installed just one energy saving light bulb, the energy savings would be enough to supply all street lighting in the UK.

Cllr David Carr said: “Vaughan and I thought that David Cameron got it right when he said that everyone should ‘be the change’. As a result we thought it would be a really good idea to present each member of our council group with an energy saving light bulb. The idea is to encourage the people of Medway to do similar and buy an energy saving bulb as well.”

Geologist and keen mountain climber Cllr Vaughan Hewett added: “It is amazing how much we can all do to help make a difference and prevent climate change. The people of Medway decided to vote in Conservative Councillors who care about green issues and our environment where we live. That is exactly what we are doing by buying all of these bulbs with our own money.”

Cllr Janice Bamber, Medway Council Portfolio Holder for Customer First and Corporate Services was very pleased with her gift. As the Councillor in charge of energy efficiency in Medway she commented: “I am very impressed with David and Vaughan’s environmental efforts here – it is a good start. They are showing that we all have to make a change ourselves to be greener and practice what we preach.

“The Council has also committed itself to the Nottingham Declaration for Climate Change, which means we will be trying to reduce carbon emissions from the council buildings by 10%. We have also invested £80,000 into the blue bag recycling scheme, and we are now purchasing covers for public swimming pools so that the heat is retained in them for longer.”

From: Gillingham & Rainham Conservatives Website