New Forest protestors join millions in global 'climate strike'

CHILDREN and adults took to the streets of Lymington today (Friday) to join the estimated millions of protestors around the world calling for action in a "climate strike".

Beginning their stand at the town hall in Lymington, the crowd marched down the high street with signs and banners, receiving cheers and waves from passers-by.

Pupils came from schools including Priestlands, Lymington Junior, William Gilpin, and Brockenhurst and Sway primary schools.

The protests were inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who first went on strike from class to stand outside her country’s parliament carrying a “school strike for climate change” sign.

Families joined the Lymington action, including motivational speaker Manly Hopkinson who was there to support his daughter, Priestlands pupil Bella (14), taking part in the protest.

Bella said: “I have always cared about the environment and it feels really good to see that so many others do as well. I feel like we are really getting somewhere and hope that the politicians will listen.”

Mr Hopkinson added: “The protest is all about the children future. I am the older generation and they themselves are the future. What we are handing over is pretty spoilt and if we don’t act quickly it is going to be a disaster.

“It is great to see so many children and adults being conscious and active about climate change and shouting about it what we need to do. Everyone needs to join in because we really are running out of time.”

Bella’s friend, Maddy (14), added: “We have come out of school for a few lessons because we feel like people in the government aren’t doing enough to help with the climate and we don’t have much time to stop what is happening.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Jack Davies also attended the protest and praised the number of people who came out in support.

He said: “I came here to show my support for the children because it is their future we are putting at stake if we do not tackle climate change.

“At the moment we have people in power at the moment who don’t seem to take it seriously. They know there is a problem, but they don’t know how to solve it. I think it is important the today we show them that we can get together and actually make a difference.”

'Climate emergency'

Climate change was on the agenda yesterday too when New Forest District Council was told it “lacks leadership” after a committee refused to support declaring a “climate emergency” called for by the Lib Dems.

Despite the government and hundreds of councils making the declaration, NFDC’s environment overview and scrutiny panel refused to push for the same.

The decision prompted gasps from climate change activists who attended the meeting and prompted Lib Dem Cllr Malcolm Wade to criticise the authority’s leadership on the issue.

But members on the Conservative-controlled panel defended their stance with chair Cllr Steve Rippon-Swaine describing the issue as one of “science and not politics”.

Cllr Alison Hoare, NFDC’s cabinet member for environment and regulatory services, said the council was “taking action” with plans and in doing so was better than celebrities and royals who flew around the world lecturing about climate change.

Instead the committee adopted an action plan, which sets out that it wants to achieve zero emissions by 2050, plus other policies it can adopt to help reduce impact locally.

The council is currently preparing a trial of electric vehicle charging points at a car park in Fordingbridge.