WARRINGTON Borough Council will not be declaring a climate emergency – despite calls from both of the town’s MPs.

Warrington South MP Faisal Rashid urged the authority to declare an environment and climate emergency last month.

The politician wrote to leader Cllr Russ Bowden to advocate ‘urgent and concerted action’ to tackle the ‘escalating international ecological crisis’.

It followed a plea from Warrington North MP Helen Jones, who asked Town Hall chiefs to declare an emergency in line with a number of authorities across the country.

She highlighted that such a declaration would commit it to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, while ensuring it would work with other bodies and residents to ‘drive down’ the town’s carbon footprint.

The council has responded to the pair.

A spokesman said: “While we are not currently taking steps to declare a climate emergency, we are making the reduction of our carbon footprint a priority in many of the things we do.

“These include using greener vehicles, solar projects, promoting public transport and active travel and simply switching off unnecessary lighting in council buildings.

“We are also a member of UK100 Cities, which focuses on improving air quality and reducing pollution.

“The council’s sustainable energy executive board task group is tasked with bringing forward a comprehensive range of sustainable energy projects and we will continue to take firm action in the move towards becoming carbon neutral.”

Warrington and Halton Green Party leader Steph Davies also weighed in on the debate.

The former Warrington South parliamentary candidate believes the authority would need to backtrack on a number of key proposals and introduce ‘some serious anti-pollution measures’ in order to be able to say it ‘truly cares’ about climate change.

She added: “Schemes such as the Western Link and the local plan will increase pollution and reduce green space – and by definition reduce the town’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

“The local transport plan has no creative measures in it to genuinely reduce car usage or improve public transport.”