GREENWICH Council is one of the worst polluters in the borough, says a campaigning environmental group. Greenwich Action to Stop Pollution (GASP), has revealed the council's fleet of 625 vehicles travelled more than five million miles last year, producing tonnes of poisonous fumes.

Costing £633,000, the mileage is equivalent to 10 trips to the moon and back, and the group is calling on the council to practise what it preaches by reducing travel by at least 10 per cent. It has recommended council officers make good their green policies and get cycling around the borough with the use of a bike pool. Spokesman Philip Connolly said: "The car travel has a catastrophic environmental impact. According to studies, the council's mileage is responsible for 1,479 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas which causes global warming.

"It also accounts for unacceptable levels of poisons: 18 tonnes of volatile organic compounds, 17 tonnes of nitrogen oxides, 90 tonnes of carbon monoxide. The council prides itself on being green which is not surprising when people expect them to lead the way, but it is just a pretext that they are doing something. The reality is a million miles away - it may have introduced one or two machines which are good at cutting emissions down but this does not tackle the whole problem."

A council spokesman insisted the new vehicles were a step in the right direction and the council was doing all it could to be environmentally friendly. Our service vehicles are gradually moving over to eminox exhaust systems which reduce efficiently emissions, and we are ensuring our vehicles are as environmentally friendly as possible

"Our measures include mapping the movements of vehicles for efficiency, such as Meals On Wheels, gritting and rubbish collection, which also cuts down on the amount of travel involved. We also offer staff loans for travel passes to encourage them to use public transport. Greenwich is constantly striving to be environmentally friendly and we feel that if there are alternatives then they should be used."

GASP admits Greenwich is no worse than any other council, but recommends it follows the example of Nottingham and Sutton where councils have made a commitment to a reduction.

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