GREEN campaigners have spoken of their disappointment after a proposal asking Allerdale Council to declare a “climate emergency” was voted down by councillors.

More than 1,200 Allerdale residents had signed a petition backing the proposal.

It would have compelled the council to transfer its services from using fossil fuels to renewable energy over the next 11 years, and to balance its carbon output by measures such as tree planting.

But the councillors instead voted for an amended motion which removed the commitment to stop using fossil fuels, and only to turn Allerdale carbon neutral by 2030 “where it does not negatively impact on our communities”.

Afterwards the protesters promised to continue the fight. Julia Robinson of Climate Emergency West Cumbria asked: “How is it that Allerdale can’t achieve this when Redcar and Cleveland council, who have oil refineries situated in their borough, have declared a climate emergency to go carbon neutral by 2030?

“Surely if they can do it, we can.”