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Council plans to prioritise protecting and restoring green spaces and wildlife have been approved despite being labelled "woke" by furious political rivals. Darlington Borough
Council 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. It means the
borough's depleted wildlife will receive extra protection through council considerations, proposals and decisions. Green Party councillor Kate Mammolotti, who tabled the plea, said:
"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." Chris McEwan, Labour cabinet member for Economy, added that the council should "lead by
example" by including targeted and site-appropriate measures on council owned land and communal areas. However, Conservative Leader Jonathan Dulston said the local authority should
prioritise improving people's lives and criticised the council for focusing its stretched resources on "areas that will make very little difference." He added: "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. "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." He was supported by Cllr
Lorraine Tostevin, who said that although Conservative members support protecting green spaces and wildlife, the policy is already embedded in the council's climate change plan. Scott
Durham, Tory councillor for Brinkburn and Faverdale, added: "All people are after are pragmatic, simple decisions that affect their neighbourhoods. This is just virtue-signalling."
But Labour's Mary Layton hit back at the criticism, 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 Darlington's Green Party, said: "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." FOR BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR AREA DIRECT TO YOUR
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