Sefton Misses Out on Decade Worth of Green Funding

Sefton Council came under fire at this week’s Council Meeting for its lacklustre approach to the Green Agenda. In response to question from councillors it was revealed that Sefton had a poor recycling record, an unwillingness to provide charging points for electric vehicles and no plans to pressure builders to fit solar panels to new houses. Sefton did though agree to go for a share of the funding obtained by the City Region for electric car charging infrastructure.

“ It’s a case of too little too late”, according to Birkdale councillor Iain Brodie-Browne.”There has been money available for the best part of 10 years that Sefton hadn’t bothered to apply for “.

 Questions from Cllr. Pugh (Dukes Ward) established that the Sefton recycling rate at 33% was almost half that of Stockport’s at 59%.Sefton though beats Liverpool whose recycling rate is a pathetic 17 %. 

“Sadly," commented Cllr Pugh, “no -one seems to have set any measurable target for improvements." 

The same is the case for solar panels -a matter raised by newly elected Cllr. Sammon. The uptake in the Sefton area is poor. Not even the building company owned by the Council, Sandway Homes, insist on them and Sefton don’t put enough pressure on private builders in the planning process. "It’s far more expensive to retro fit solar on existing houses,” says Cllr Sammon. "We are missing an opportunity here”.

All three Liberal Democrat councillors are agreed that the Sefton Green Agenda lacks drive and energy. “ There’s nothing wrong with the Council’s aspirations,” says Cllr. Pugh, “but currently there’s too much hot air and not enough real energy and commitment."