COUNCILLORS at Ringwood Town Council have voted against making a declaration of a climate emergency.

Although the authority said it had “noted that Hampshire County Council and other parish and town councils within the New Forest have declared there to be a climate emergency" and have decided to take action in response.

Members declared in a council meeting on Wednesday, October 30, that they would “build on and inform the efforts of the county council and the district council to address the issues associated with climate change”.

They also said a working party will be set up to consider climate change issues and other impacts on the environment, which will report to the town, planning and environment committee.

During the council meeting, it was proposed that they would do what they could to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and consider other environmental issues when making decisions.

The decision comes after one member of the public said in the meeting that carbon emissions in Ringwood and the New Forest were some of the highest per annum in the UK, while emissions had an impact on the food chain.

She also asked for the council’s support on planting more trees, on behalf of Ringwood's climate change action group, and urged members to follow the lead of the county council and "not fear" making this a priority.

Councillor Philip Day responded by referring to the council’s tree policy, and said that all applications for tree works are scrutinised to ensure that trees are not felled without justification.

He said the council had assisted Transition Ringwood to identify sites for wild flower planting.

A Ringwood School student urged the council to declare a climate emergency.

He said the school was involved in initiatives to help to reduce its carbon footprint, such as being involved with Ringwood Action for Climate Emergency, and running recycling and gardening clubs.

At the meeting, several councillors backed a declaration.

Cllr John Haywood said he “was pleased to see clear actionable points in the motion, but was disappointed that some elements had been removed, particularly the declaration of a climate emergency”.

Cllr Haywood proposed that members should declare a climate emergency, which was seconded by Cllr Glenys Turner, who “felt it is important that a climate emergency is declared”.

However it was voted down.

Cllr Gareth Deboos said that this “did not mean that the working party would not push to do as much as possible”.