Environmental protesters demonstrated in Havering to call for more "action" in the borough's climate action plan.

Extinction Rebellion Havering held a protest outside the Town Hall on Tuesday evening (December 7) as councillors on Havering Council’s overview and scrutiny board discussed a motion to reconsider the plans.

A council officer defended the document at the meeting, and noted the authority had set an “ambitious” target of becoming carbon neutral by 2040, ten years before the statutory requirement.

Gina Must, a member of Extinction Rebellion, told the Recorder: “We were there to try to speak to councillors to let them know their vote matters and to make the right decision."

Romford Recorder: Extinction Rebellion along with councillors and Havering Residents Association protesting outside Havering town hall against the proposed climate action plan.Extinction Rebellion along with councillors and Havering Residents Association protesting outside Havering town hall against the proposed climate action plan. (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

She said the plan had been called in for debate at the board due to its “lack of community engagement, lack of action, lack of urgency, lack of data”.

She said proposals “need to include real and immediate action” but said Extinction Rebellion is not trying to push for particular actions or policy measures.

Rather, it wants Havering residents to have the opportunity to have their voices heard on climate issues.

Romford Recorder: Activists criticised the action plan's “lack of community engagement, lack of action, lack of urgency, lack of data”.Activists criticised the action plan's “lack of community engagement, lack of action, lack of urgency, lack of data”. (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

“Like in our borough, that would be the flooding, which has caused a lot of problems this year, so I think that would be a key issue,” she said.

“Obviously we would like to see pollution in the borough reduced; we are currently the number one car-owning borough so it would be good to find ways around these issues.”

Nick Kingham, corporate projects manager at the council, said he did not accept that the climate change action plan, adopted in November, lacked urgency.

Romford Recorder: Activists waved banners and played drums outside the town hall.Activists waved banners and played drums outside the town hall. (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

He said: “The climate change action plan is a strategic report, and as such does not, and in my view should not, go into too much detail, especially where the details are contained in other key documents of the council.”

Ultimately, councillors voted against the proposed "requisition" of the plan, meaning the end of the matter.

The debate was cut short with an eight-to-seven vote, to proceed to the main vote little more than an hour into the discussion.

Gina said she felt the meeting had failed in its scrutiny function as not all questions were heard before the debate was curtailed.

“It was very disappointing,” she said.

Romford Recorder: Munra Mangat, Mandy Mangat and Fay Davenport at the event.Munra Mangat, Mandy Mangat and Fay Davenport at the event. (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

Romford Recorder: The protest took place outside Havering town hall to coincide with an overview and scrutiny board meetingThe protest took place outside Havering town hall to coincide with an overview and scrutiny board meeting (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

Romford Recorder: Extinction Rebellion along with councillors and Havering Residents Association protesting outside Havering town hall against the proposed climate action plan.Extinction Rebellion along with councillors and Havering Residents Association protesting outside Havering town hall against the proposed climate action plan. (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

Romford Recorder: Extinction Rebellion held the protestExtinction Rebellion held the protest (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

Romford Recorder: Extinction Rebellion along with councillors and Havering Residents Association protesting outside Havering town hallExtinction Rebellion along with councillors and Havering Residents Association protesting outside Havering town hall (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)

Romford Recorder: The protest outside Havering town hallThe protest outside Havering town hall (Image: Ellie Hoskins Photographer www.elliehoskins.com ellie@elliehoskins.com)