B&NES endorses Transition movement

3.27.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Sep 2009

A Councillor led motion supporting the principles and ethos of the Transition movement has been unanimously endorsed by B&NES Council.

The motion, tabled by Councillor Ian Gilchrist (B&NES Member Champion for Energy and Climate Change and Liberal Democrat Councillor for Widcombe), sought to set up a principle whereby Transition teams in B&NES can take their suggestions and requests to the Council and get a sympathetic hearing. The motion does not set up a budget which the Transition teams can use but does at least open a door to enable ideas for funding to be heard.

Councillor Gilchrist said, "I was delighted at the level of support for my motion, and absolutely thrilled that it received the unanimous support of Council.

"By adopting this I think it shows that B&NES is ready to face the environmental challenges which the coming years will throw at us."

Representatives of Transition Keynsham, Transition Bath and Transition Bathford spoke at the meeting to welcome the motion.

Peter Andrews, Chair of Transition Bath, said, "We are enormously pleased by BANES' adoption of the LibDem motion that the council recognises Transition principles. It shows that at last our elected representatives are taking both Climate Change and Peak Oil seriously. We at Transition Bath can now continue to create positive futures for our city heartened that we have the support of the Council."