Taunton climate change hustings at Richard Huish College

Five candidates from across the political spectrum gathered at Richard Huish College on Monday evening (April 1) for hustings focussed on climate change and the environment.

Current councillors Dave Mansell (Green), Federica Smith (Liberal Democrats) and leader John Williams (Conservative) were joined by Bob Rawle (Labour/ Co-operative) and John Hunt (Independent), who also sits on the county council.

The event, jointly organised by Taunton Green Parents and Taunton Transition Town, was a largely pleasant and civilised affair, with only a few blatant instances of political point-scoring.

Here are nine things we learned from the hustings, which may change how you vote on May 2:

1. Verges could be cut less to encourage wild flowers and pollinators

Anita Roy from Transition Town Wellington asked about making Taunton pesticide-free and how they would encourage bees, wasps and other pollinators.

Mr Hunt said he would reduce grass and verge cutting by up to 25 per cent – though he admitted such policies “were not terribly sexy in terms of an electoral viewpoint”.

Ms Smith said the council should plant more fruit trees and change the way it maintains green spaces near its social housing.

Mr Williams promised the new country park at Yallands Hill would eventually be home to 14,000 trees.

Mr Rawle pointed to ongoing efforts to develop a wild-flower meadow near the Longrun Meadow public space.

Mr Mansell said he wanted to stop using synthetic pesticides and see Somerset move towards “sustainable and more localised farming.”

2. Somerset’s councils will work together to tackle climate change

The council declared a climate emergency on February 21, pledging to take action against climate change and make the district carbon neutral by 2030.

Adrian Tate from Transition Athelney asked what action the panel intended to take, and how “courageous” they felt they could speak about an “increase in refugee numbers” that climate change could cause.

Mr Williams said: “We need consensus across Somerset to see how we can do it”, and cited the work being done by the Somerset Waste Partnership with its Recycle More scheme, which will be rolled out from 2020.

Mr Rawle criticised Britain’s involvement in the Middle East, arguing: “We need to phase out Middle East oil and the arms trade, and both of those will ease global warming and the refugee disaster.”

Mr Mansell – who put forward the climate emergency motion – added: “The more climate change we allow, the more people will be displaced.”

Mr Hunt said: “If one thing is unpopular with the electorate, it is excessive immigration. Politicians need to lead from the front and act now.”

Ms Smith, who founded Refugee Aid From Taunton (RAFT), said climate change went beyond local issues, stating: “We can’t just stick our heads in the sand and not help the people affected.”

3. There is little appetite for charging people to park at their workplaces

Brian Tumey asked whether the candidates would implement “work-based parking charges”, with the money generated being invested in new green technology.

Mr Mansell said it would be more effective to roll out more electric vehicle charging points, arguing: “We have too many cars on the road at peak times and not enough reasonable alternatives.”

Mr Hunt said charges were “a non-starter” because it would penalise smaller businesses, arguing more should be done to promote Taunton’s park and ride.

Ms Smith said more investment was needed to “stop the vicious circle of high charges and low use” in public transport.

Mr Rawle said public transport in Taunton had to be sustainable, to prevent such charges being “a tax on people who are struggling in the first place.”

Mr Williams added: “I think it is one [policy] we should have in our armoury, but it would not necessarily be top priority.”

4. All the parties want to encourage more cycling in Taunton

Ian Bright from the Taunton Area Cycling Club asked whether the panel would support a bid of up to £10M from central government to make it easier for people to cycle in and around the town.

Ms Smith said this was a key commitment in the Lib Dems’ manifesto, arguing money from housing developers could be used to “lever in funds from elsewhere.”

Mr Rawle said Labour was “committed to safe cycling and walking”, and said cycle routes should be put in place before major developments were begun.

Mr Mansell said it was “frustrating” that existing cycle routes were not properly connected, adding: “The car still has top priority and car use is still being encouraged.”

Mr Williams said he was “fully supportive” of the club’s Turn The Network Blue campaign and the council had already committed £1.5M towards this work.

Mr Hunt said he was already working with other county councillors on ways to improve cycling facilities on Station Road.

5. Buses need to be cheaper and run more often

Catherine Keener asked what the candidates would do to bus travel more affordable for 16- to 19-year-olds.

Ms Smith said the Lib Dems would trial a free bus pass for people in education, and argued in favour of electric buses in Taunton.

Mr Mansell said he wanted free public transport for all under-18s, and would change planning policies to give public transport “real priority in the design and layout of our towns.”

Mr Hunt was sceptical of whether free bus passes would be completely viable, but said some form of subsidy could ensure buses “run later and are cheaper”.

But Mr Williams warned “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”, with subsidies having to be funded by higher taxation elsewhere.

Mr Rawle said money from the government’s vehicle excise fund should be committed to local authorities to fund public transport.

6. Visions for Taunton’s future differ

Alan Debenham (who is standing for the Green Party) asked the panel what three changes they would make to Taunton to distinguish it for visitors.

Mr Hunt’s response was light-hearted, suggesting a ‘Welcome to Taunton’ sign made entirely of plants, large green verges and a band playing ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’ at the town’s entrance.

Mr Williams said he wanted “improved qualities of homes”, along with well-laid out new developments and better links to the garden town’s ‘green wedges’.

Mr Mansell argued the vacant Firepool site “needs a rethink” to keep entertainment in the town centre, and made the case for on-shore wind turbines near the M5.

Mr Rawle said Taunton should have “an integrated transport hub, which is easy to find, easy to use and affordable”, and cited Bow Wharf in Langport as a high standard of housing to which the council should aspire.

Ms Smith cited Cranbrook in Devon as a standard for high-quality housing, and argued the pedestrianisation of the town centre should be pushed forward.

7. More solar panels could be installed on homes

Ann Sparks from Transition Town Wellington asked the panel whether they would insist on solar panels being built on all new homes built in Taunton.

Mr Hunt said he was “a full supporter” of this and would push for it if he become a member of the new council’s planning committee.

Mr Mansell criticised the coalition government for moving away from solar power, saying: “We need to stop burning fossil fuels as soon as possible.”

Mr Williams said builders currently had a choice to either install solar panels or make new homes greener by other means, such as additional insulation.

Mr Smith responded: “Solar panels should be the standard. We shouldn’t let developers pick and choose and still make the profits that they do.”

Mr Rawle described battery storage energy facilities (such as one owned by South Somerset District Council near Taunton) as “the holy grail”.

8. Energy consumption has to fall

Jefferson Horsley (currently a Lib Dem councillor) asked the panel about how they would reduce energy consumption to combat climate change.

Mr Rawle said upgrading housing (e.g. by providing better insulation) was “expensive but necessary”.

Ms Roberts added: “We live in a very consumerist economy because most of us can afford to. We need to change as a society.”

Mr Williams said Britain needed to go back to a “make do and mend” culture, citing his previous experience of working in Nigeria.

Mr Mansell argued: “We have got to stop pursuing endless economic growth as a prime policy objective. The main parties still have that as a prime objective – and there is a way to move away from that.”

Mr Hunt said he had been impressed by young people protesting during school hours, saying consumption “without question” had to be cut.

9. Public open spaces will be protected – despite the Galmington decision

Habib Farbahi (another Lib Dem councillor) asked whether the council would prevent building on open spaces – citing the decision on Wednesday (March 27) to build a cancer support centre on part of the Galmington Playing Fields.

Mr Hunt said the decision “wasn’t a great advert for the council” and claimed the planning committee had “made their minds up before they started”.

Ms Roberts said the council should have a policy in place to ensure public green spaces wasn’t sold to housing developers.

Mr Mansell said the council needed “dedicated officers with a high level of expertise” to protect green spaces.

Mr Williams said he was trying to persuade the new council’s chief executive to fund more environmental health officers.

Mr Rawle added: “We shouldn’t be building on green spaces in Taunton when we have brownfield sites available.”

A separate hustings on the future of Taunton will be held at the college at 6pm on Wednesday evening (April 3).