There was sustained applause tonight (Monday February 17)when Radstock Town Council unanimously declared a Climate Emergency.

Following some powerful opening statements from many members of the public, the council took a vote - and also agreed to formulate a plan of action.

In a long and busy evening, the council heard impassioned statements from many on the public seats.

The first speaker told councillors that declaring a Climate Emergency: " Is more than symbolic. It is a starting point. With two storms recently the crisis is not about somewhere else, it is going to effect everywhere and that means Radstock."

He also read from a letter of another campaigner who is part of the School Climate Network in B&NES: " This has been a long time coming, for over forty years there have been issues about putting C02 and carbon into the atmosphere. We need to have pro-active roles in this."

The meeting heard that Radstock has a great geographical advantage in how it might be able to harness the use of green energy, with windy hills and south facing slopes and lots of water. But councillors were also told that they could do more to combat pollution, not least by encouraging local employers to employee local people, instead of forcing them to commute into Bath for work.

A second speaker said " The Climate Emergency is huge, its scary and its daunting. We are all in this together."

The Council Meeting then heard from a local renewable energy company, Bath and West Community Energy which told them of all the possibilities on offer, which could include harnessing energy from some of Radstock's flooded mines. A report from BWCE coming tomorrow (Tuesday) on Radstock Nub News.

In spite of Radstock Town Council previously expressing doubt that declaring a Climate Emergency would be productive, they were urged by Cllr Gary Dando, to make a decision and not just procrastinate any longer.

He told them : "Let's see what opportunities there are are for community energy. We need to get on board with this and establish a relationship and take things forward. We need to get together everyone who has something to say and work together on this."

Councillors then voted unanimously to make the formal declaration and the room erupted with applause.

The next Radstock Town Council meeting will be on March 13.