A REPORT on Torridge’s position with regards to the recent climate emergency being declared across the country was provided during the Holsworthy Area Advisory Group meeting on December 2.

As environmental health and community safety manager Janet Williams was unable to attend the meeting, strategic manager for resources at Torridge District Council Steve Hearse took on the responsibility of providing the area advisory with an update on climate change strategy.

Mr Hearse said: “Janet is not here but has put together a brief report with climate emergency details. The intention was to set up a working group. An electric vehicle [roadsweeper] has also been purchased.

“The end of the report is about what parishes can do. The hope is that parishes can share information which can then be taken back to the working group.”

One member of the advisory group was sceptical about the climate emergency being declared by a number of councils. He said: “I think society is walking into a trap. How many charging points do we have? What are you going to do, have cables running across the road? I don’t blame you in particular, I just don’t see how its going to work.”

Another member thought hydrogen was the way forward, a sentiment shared by a number of others present. They said: “We are looking to electric but in the long term we need to move towards hydrogen fuelled cars. They are cheaper to maintain.”

Torridge district and Holsworthy town councillor Jon Hutchings asked: “Is there any feedback on how much the new charging points you have installed are being used? I have never seen the one in town used?”

Mr Hearse said they were keeping track of its usage.