Local MP wants to know what's stopping locals from living greener lives
Gill Furniss argues many of the Government's schemes aren't financially viable to everyone
Last updated 15th Feb 2022
A local MP wants to find out what are the main barriers to living greener lives across our communities, by asking residents to fill out a survey.
Gill Furniss, who represents Brightside and Hillsborough, argues that the schemes so far designed by the Government, in the bid to reach net zero by 2050, aren't financially available for a significant amount of people in our area.
She has criticised the Government's plug-in scheme, which provides grants of up to £1,500 for electric cars priced under £32,000 (rising to £2,500 with a price cap of £35,000 for wheelchair accessible vehicles) - stating it isn't viable to everyone.
"It's one thing if you can afford to buy a Tesla next time you change your car, and reduce one's carbon footprint, but it's very difficult for many, many people to be able to take a big step like that.
"It's fine if you've got loads of money but if you're a single mum living in Parson Cross for instance, what is the best way for you to not only reduce your footprint, but save money at the same time?
"I really think the government isn't putting anything out there that gives us any sort of inspiration or idea of how every single person in this country can do to become carbon neutral."
MP Gill Furniss also told us she's worried that the UK's net zero by 2050 ambition, set out at COP26, will fall down the list of priorities amid the current living costs crisis.
"I really feel that we've got some really rocky times ahead in terms of people's standards of living, and I don't want net zero to fall off the end of the bench. If anything, it's probably even more necessary that we do what we can do to get to where we really, really need to be.
"I think COP26 is something of a disappointment in a lot of ways, but I don't think we should let that put us off and we've got to keep moving on.
"I think it's really important that we engage with the communities to see what they're able to do, because what does bother me with my very diverse communities is the affordability of a lot of things that have been spoken about now.
"It's very important for me to know what they think about it so that I can represent them properly when I am in Parliament."
A public consultation has been launched for residents of Brightside and Hillsborough, with the goal to 'build a picture of what the biggest barriers are' to transition to net zero across our communities.
We're being told the findings from the survey will be taken to Parliament, to pressure the the Government into offering plans to enable those who cannot afford large investments to live greener lives.
More information on the public consultation can be found here.