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DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO DECLARE A NATURE RESTORATION EMERGENCY, WHICH SETS OUT AN AMBITION FOR NATURE RECOVERY BY 2040, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURE RESTORATION
ACTION PLAN BILL EDGAR, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER 19:57, 25 May 2025 Darlington Borough Council has given the green light to an agenda focused on boosting green spaces and local wildlife,
despite opponents decrying the move as "woke". The authority has made a commitment to declaring a Nature Restoration Emergency, laying down a vision for nature's resurgence by
2040, which includes crafting a Nature Restoration Action Plan. Through this initiative, Darlington's diminishing wildlife will gain reinforcement from council actions, sway in
proposals, and influence in deliberations. Green Party Councillor Kate Mammolotti, who spearheaded the motion, expressed: "I wrote this motion with hope and passion. "The work
ahead of us is considerable and there is no room for idling or complacency. This is a win for nature and for all the residents who cherish her and acknowledge her fundamental value and
importance in our local community." Labour cabinet member for Economy, Chris McEwan, emphasised that the council should "lead by example", advocating for bespoke environmental
actions on municipal lands and shared spaces. Conversely, Conservative Leader Jonathan Dulston argued that the council should be prioritising enhancements to residents' lives rather
than allocating scarce resources to initiatives he believes will have limited impact. He further asserted: "We are a small council, a relatively small town, but we have lots of people
facing inequalities. The full resources of the council need to be focused on that, not pie-in-the-sky green and woke agendas." Darlington's Conservative councillor Scott Durham,
stated: "We need a council that is focused on the real issue – and that is improving the quality of people's lives. We have an out-of-touch Labour Party putting daft motions
forward. I'm concerned we are not aligned with the public anymore. Focus on the issues coming up on the doorstep because I guarantee this isn't." OUR COUNTY DURHAM LIVE
NEWSLETTER IS FREE. YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from in and around County Durham. Councillor Lorraine
Tostevin shared Durham's sentiments, explaining that although the Tories endorse safeguarding green areas and wildlife, such a strategy is already incorporated into the local
authority's climate change plan. Durham received support from a fellow Tory councillor, who argued: "All people are after are pragmatic, simple decisions that affect their
neighbourhoods. This is just virtue-signalling." Article continues below However, Labour member Mary Layton retaliated, saying: "It's not stupid and it's not woke. It
underpins everything we do for the future of our town." Matthew Snedker, leader of the Green Party in Darlington, pointed out: "This motion comes at a crucial time. We need to
strengthen the protection for wildlife and restore our precious natural environment. Right now, there is significant pressure from house builders and landowners to water down the protections
for our natural world. Labour's proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill threatens to remove many of the current protections, which encourage developers to avoid harm in the first
place."