Council scraps 'net stupid zero' policies in 'reversal of green madness' - 'Fatally expensive and unsustainable!'

The new Reform leader of Essex County Council has scrapped the authority's net-zero policies, branding them "stupid".

Peter Harris claimed the legislation makes people living in the area poorer and vowed to remove any future planned strategies.

Reform UK overthrew the Conservatives at Essex County Council in last month's local elections, which is Kemi Badenoch’s local authority.

The Tories had held the region for 25 years and had implemented 2030 carbon reduction targets.

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Now, opposition Conservative councillor Lee Scott warned the newcomers to be "open-minded" about climate change.

The UK's net-zero policy agenda has faced major pushback, coinciding with Reform UK's surge in the polls.

Andrew Montford, Director at Net Zero Watch, welcomed the change in policy.

He told GB News: "Eco-zealotry has been the ruin of the economy."

Mr Montford added: "It's therefore very welcome to see that Essex is changing direction.

"We can only hope this is the first of many such reversals for the green madness."

In the council's first meeting on Thursday, Mr Harris said: "It's nuts, the whole net zero thing is net stupid zero, and I just don't agree with it."

Deputy leader Russell Quirk supported the move, branding net zero a "ridiculous endeavour" that was "as pointless as it is foolish".

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He said: "The quest for net zero is fatally expensive and ironically unsustainable."

Mr Quirk acknowledged other countries were increasing their industrial activity and argued the local councils' efforts to combat global temperatures would be a "literal drop in the proverbial ocean".

Instead, the new Reform UK council want to address a "pothole emergency" in the local area and battle extensive delays and soaring costs on major infrastructure and road expansion projects.

Conservatives plan to introduce Library reservation charges, which were brought in this April, were also scrapped.

Scott responded to the new plans: "Yes, there needs to be modifications to net zero and what we do and what we don't do.

"It has to be viable, but we also have to recognise that certain things will save our residents money."

Speaking to the BBC during a meeting break, Council leader Mr Harris added: "What we're not going to do is go on this crusade, this net zero religion that it's become.

"Climate change happens, it's been happening for millions of years. Is it man-made? Is it just a routine of the world? A natural event? I'm not a scientist, I don't know that. But what I do know is I represent 1.6 million people. I have duties to them, and I'm not going to put policies into place that will make them poorer."

GB News has reached out to Reform UK and Essex Council for comment.

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