IN response to 'climate change effect to be here for century' (Craven Herald letters, October 14), one of the most dramatic changes to have taken place in Craven over recent years has been the sheer number of new properties that have been constructed, many of them on large estates of very expensive four and five bedroom houses.

Over the first nine years of the local plan 1,420 properties have been built and planning permission had been granted for a further 1,425, most of them on greenfield sites.

It would have been cheap and simple for planners to have insisted that the vast majority of those 2,845 homes were fitted with solar panels, heat exchange units and electric vehicle charging points. Instead, almost none of them have taken advantage of this obvious opportunity to cut bills, reduce our reliance on gas and remove a significant source of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.

It is of course true that other countries such as China, Russia, the USA and Australia could do much more to help tackle climate change, not least because these countries are already experiencing severe problems as a result of their failure to act early enough. We are, however, a long way from being powerless to take significant action locally.

Whilst there remains such a huge gap between what is possible and what can be done environmental activists will continue to campaign for measures such as a massive improvement in insulation for existing homes. It remains important for them to do so in ways that cause the least possible disruption to others, but we would be failing the next generation if we decided not to do as much as we possibly can as rapidly as possible.

That is why campaigners will be back out in Skipton on November 5 at 9am – trying to do our part to remind politicians from all countries who are gathering in Glasgow that we don’t want a bonfire night for the planet! I for one will be happy to join them in responsible local action.

Cllr Andy Brown

Green Party

Cononley