| |
How green are parties?
• TWO items in the Tribune struck me as noteworthy, partly because I thought all local political parties espouse green policies, at least to some extent.
It appears that a developer built a block of flats not entirely in accordance with the planning consent (£2m block of flats faces demolition, September 25). If he did not, he certainly should have done, but does the remedy (or punishment) have to involve demolition and reconstruction, with the horrendous extra energy and carbon footprint such a course would entail? This would fly in the face of green policies, and for what?
We are told that the developer has agreed to alter the building to resolve objections, but Councillor Paul Convery says: “We have rules and developers must stick to them.” He admits to noticing that the building was not in compliance with the plans during construction. Did he alert the planning department? Why did no one visit this site, if it is so significant, to ensure its construction complied with consents?
Danny Michelson’s letter (Speeding? At 23mph? September 25) highlighted an even greater absurdity. It is said that the optimum vehicular speed to minimise emissions is something between 30mph and 60mph, depending on particular circumstances. Whatever the figure, nobody could reasonably claim that the 20mph limits are anything but damaging in terms of emissions, so a borough-wide 20mph limit will undoubtedly damage the environment considerably, even before considering the congestion effects. The fact that this has been agreed to by the council is shameful. That it was at the behest of a Green councillor is nothing less than laughable.
Richard Lewis
Oakley Road, N1 |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
