Residents Say Environment Should be Key Priority for Government

11.02.36am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Aug 2007

The environment should be a key priority for Government according to 92% of the respondents to a survey carried about Tom Brake MP and Sarah Ludford MEP amongst thousands of Carshalton and Wallington residents.

Completed surveys - a thousand so far - have been flooding into Mr Brake's constituency office revealing also that, amongst other things, local people oppose the Government's plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. This will come as a blow to an influential Tory Policy Group which has recommended that the Conservatives embrace new nuclear power stations.

The survey covers attitudes towards green technology, global issues, energy, recycling/ reducing waste and nuclear power.

Commenting Tom said:

"Modern technology allows homes to be partially heated and powered by renewable energy generated on site, reducing green house gases. This would reduce the emission of green house gases. This survey clearly shows that there is an appetite amongst local people for access to this technology."

"We should change the planning laws to encourage solar panels, small wind turbines and solar heating panels on homes."

"Local people are telling me they have not been convinced by Labour's pro-nuclear stance. We should not build more nuclear power stations while the problem of what to do with nuclear waste remains - pure and simple. We should concentrate instead on developing renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency."