Dear Ed,
The problem with discussing environmental issues is that there is a mantra that must be obeyed. As an example from one previous comment: "In most journeys in Oxfordshire, it is cheaper to drive places than take the train". The response has to be: Oxfordshire? What Train? From Where? Going To? For train also substitute "Bus"
The continual bleat that it's the fault of the car does not hold water. In my working year in pest control, I drive appro 27K miles, the majority if this is into Oxford hospitals. The rest of the time, my private mileage, is to visit an aged relative in East Sussex, (train?) or the occasional shop in the Oxford Covered Market; A great place to shop (if you can beat the traffic system) and better than any supermarket.
I can assure anyone that I prefer not to be driving - anywhere-.
Next Mantra; Buy a more environmentaly responsible vehicle:
Most of the polution of the motor car is in it's manufacture, stop making new ones and start responsibly repairing the old ones makes environmental sense. This also reduces waste disposal.
Another Mantra: It's A Crime Drive A Car!! (Usually heard from those living in central London).
When the "Greens" scream about glaciers melting, they forget that before the ice age there were no glaciers (ask the Vikings when they had their Greenland settlement destroyed in the Mini Ice Age whether they should have traveled less?) So as we move away from that era why shouldn't the glaciers melt?
If we also accept that the "Green" rules will not apply to China, the Third World as a whole and not forgetting the USA, Co2 reduction in the UK is a joke.
As an aside, good and affordable public transport would be wonderful (except in central Oxford where the buses choke you with diesel particulates), but given the nature of Oxfordshire, probably not achievable.
One last thing, heating lime to make cement creats huge quantities of Co2, perhaps we should stop concreting over the South East? This would also help Thames Water?
Oh yes, building on flood plains is also a great and novel idea - as is breathing less.
Rant Over - for now.
Mike Perks.
HearFromYourMP