Boris turns Green!

The Guest panel at the Environmental consultation with Boris Johnson on Monday 18th January 2010.


Boris was endearingly friendly with visitors .

Monday nights visit from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson was well attended. Few seat remained in the Kenneth More Theatre auditorium, but then again, the "Green" agenda seems to finally have been recognised as a global concern.

Boris was rather entertaining and jested throughout the meeting, however, most of his answers seemed rather vacant of any real substance.

A local resident complained about the use of plastic bottles with mineral water - to which he reply was to blame the contractors for the misdemeanour, whilst describing his personal use of Tap water at home. Moreover, when questioned by a Redbridge Fair Trade Officer, on the lack of Fair Trade products in his offices, he insisted they were available and promised to review the existing products.

On wider Green issues he informed us of:

• A long term plan to remove bendy buses from London. Boris intimated that plans were afoot to reintroduce double decker buses with open backs - only this time they will be of a hybrid fuel variety.
• Increased funding for cycling safety training courses and additional cycle routes.
• Better longer term investment into innovative "Green Technology"
• Potential reintroduction of a Green Energy subsidy towards Biomass Heating and Solar Panels, etc.
• An investigation into the potential for energy production via the River Thames using tidal energy.
• Intent to make GLA buildings greener
• Cross Rail implementation that would make commuting through London by train more attractive and efficient.

Boris led two polls on whether food and mobile phones should be banned from the tube after a question form the audience. Boris informed residents that mobile phones boosters could be fitted into tubes and trains soon. The majority of people in the auditorium voted against food being consumed in trains and the use of mobile phones.

I waved my hands up to ask a number of questions but with the rash of people wanting the same opportunity, unfortunately I was overlooked. Some of my queries were:

• Why is the government and our Mayor not placing more of an onus on utility companies to provide "payback" options for surplus energy generated by Green Energy Technology. I was the first businessman in Redbridge to purchase Solar Panels in Redbridge and my surpluses are absorbed by the big power giants with no recompense. In Europe those that take the risk of installing such expensive equipment, are paid for such output.
• Why do we not plant trees in the middle divide of roads, rather than ugly concrete segments within dual carriage ways (Griggs Approach)? Perhaps a similar ethos could be adopted with roundabouts?
• In Europe most major cities have a bike hire scheme - could not a similar scheme be rolled out throughout London?
• Could the variety of decorative lights (adorning bridges and buildings) in London be converted to a energy saving bulbs or LEDs?
• If grants are going to be reintroduced for solar panels could the personal dwelling scheme, be increased to make the burdensome cost more bearable? This might increase end users!

The list goes on and I wish I could have had my 1 minutes worth, however, I did not! I will be writing a list of requests to the Mayor by email and would like peoples input...?

Before I close this post let me share a rather anecdotal question that was raised at Monday's event. Boris Johnson was asked for his view on the potential demise of King George Hospital and the increased fuel consumption that would result from longer journeys to Hospital? Boris declined an answer.....?

Disappointingly, no dates or real concrete solutions were shared with us. However, the fact that such a meeting was organised, suggests that environmental impact is becoming more of a topical debate - much due to stronger evidence of climate change.