by Alex Claridge

aclaridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

As the city council election looms, green campaigners have delivered a pledge to Canterbury Lib Dems demanding action over pollution in the city.

Environmentalists met Liberal Democrat leader Alex Perkins at the Guildhall on Saturday where he received their pledge.

The pledge demands that the council subscribes to measures which would reduce pollution and “address the causes and impacts of climate change”.

It also contains a demand for the council to cut traffic movements in half in the worst polluted streets in the city: Broad Street, Military Road, Upper Bridge Street, Lower Bridge Street, Sturry Road, North Lane, St Dunstan’s St., St Peter’s Place, Rheims Way and Wincheap.

The pledge was delivered by campaign group Stop Climate Chaos – a group made up of people organisations such as Greenpeace, Oxfam, the United Nations Association, Christian Aid and east Kent cycling group Spokes.

Before delivering the pledge to Cllr Perkins, the campaigners had cycled from Dover to Walmer to deliver a petition to the office of Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke.

Emily Shirley, who is standing for the Green Party in the North Nailbourne ward of Canterbury City Council, was among the cyclists.

She said: “The aim was to raise awareness to the seriousness of climate change and related air pollution problems in Canterbury.

“We returned to Canterbury passing by the air pollution hotspots and present a pledge asking the council to implement immediate measures to address climate change and air pollution.”

Cllr Perkins, who is once again standing in Wincheap, said: “We aim to put tackling climate change and local air pollution at the top of the local agenda.”

The election for the city council takes place on May 5.

See this week's Gazette for a round-up of the latest election news.