A PROPOSED £1.25 million fund should be set up to tackle the climate emergency in West Berkshire, according to Green councillors.

This would go towards improving public transport across the district, in a bid to cut carbon emissions. The money would come from the reserves of West Berkshire Council, and not council tax payers.

Councillor David Marsh (Green, Wash Common) said: “Diesel and petrol vehicles are the biggest source of carbon emissions, so we have to find ways to make alternatives — cycling, walking and public transport — more attractive and convenient for people.”

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The climate emergency fund would include:

  • £100,000 on extra peak-time buses between Thatcham and Newbury
  • £100,000 on cycle lanes at the Robin Hood roundabout in Newbury
  • £100,000 on improving Newbury bus station
  • Replacing the council’s minibus fleet with ultra-low emission vehicles

The proposals come ahead of the budget being set at a meeting of the full council on March 3.

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Part of that budget includes £1.2 million on planting trees and regenerating wetland over the next three years, to capture carbon from the atmosphere and reduce emissions.

The Tory-controlled council is also planning to spend £3.5 million over the next three years on building two solar panel farms, to generate its own clean, renewable energy.

But Cllr Marsh said not enough money is focused on encouraging public transport.

In West Berkshire, most carbon dioxide emissions come from road transport, much more than industry and domestic energy use, according to the latest available government data.