Ah, ha, a photograph of East Hampshire District Council Leader Richard Millard standing around with his hands in his pockets (Post, March 3, ‘EHDC budget is Best Yet’)!

Yes, it’s a stock photo due to Covid restrictions, but is there a better depiction of a council so astonishingly casual to the approaching climate crisis?

Though surely we the residents hold all the aces ?

In an effort to increase the pace of initiatives to address the crisis, there are national and international movements gathering pace to withhold taxes – the simplest would be council tax.

And I for one do not believe the district council has, or is, spending my hard earned pound wisely.

Instead, for example, since around 2013 it has invested millions of pounds in property.

Yet despite being told as recently as late 2018 these purchases were to stave off council tax rises, this year it rose!

Yes, the properties generate net income of about £3 million, but they have also cost the council money, such as £380,000 plus losses from the Liphook Services fiasco.

Has there ever been an apology for such colossal mistakes?

Instead it appears the hope is that after a grumble, we will all shrug our shoulders and forget about it.

This year’s council budget also earmarks a further £250,000 for environmental initiatives, this is in addition to the £50,000 allocated last year the same purpose.

But what was the £50,000 spent on, and are these just more numbers meant to convince us they are taking this climate business seriously?

And the appointment of Lib Dem councillor Elaine Woodard as council Climate Champion seems deliberate.

Surely the hands of the ‘champion’ will always be tied by the Conservative majority?

Who, if things don’t go according to plan, can now place the blame elsewhere.

On his first day in office US President Joe Biden pulled the permit for the giant Keystone oil pipeline.

This must have angered a lot of very important people (including party donors), but he did it anyway.

In stark contrast, how long must we ask for a full cycle infrastructure and 20mph speed limits around our town so residents of all ages can walk or cycle wherever they want to?

Various schemes have been ready for years, and yet we have nothing on the ground to show for it.

Other more progressive councils have implemented such ideas; taking the lead, shouldering complaints and overcoming obstacles with diplomacy.

Their residents are already adjusting to, and enjoying, the changes; quieter streets, cleaner air and a far healthier lifestyle.

Recently TV gardener Monty Don called time on the British obsession with a tidy lawn.

He argued that fossil fuel powered (petrol and electric) mowing is noisy and “about the most injurious thing you can do to wildlife”.

Not quite so Monty!

Across Hampshire, verges, parks and recreation grounds weeds are still being sprayed with a weed killer containing Glyphosate – a pesticide that kills pollinators like bees.

Imagine a town where every verge was a tiny wildflower meadow!

The conservation charity Plantlife calculates that one square metre of lawn left to flower creates enough nectar to sustain on average 3.8 bees every day.

Imagine a town where cars, with a few exceptions, stayed on the periphery?

Where shops and cafes would spill out on to the streets attracting visitors and enhancing the lives of our residents?

Y’know a bit like Chichester or even Europe (one for regular Post correspondents Makin and Burstall there – don’t let me down guys!)

The district council also seem very keen to suggest they are responsible for local initiatives when they are not.

Would a spokesperson be able to confirm how they were involved in the recent local fruit tree distribution for example (Post, February 17, ‘A Climate Strategy we can all understand.’)?

Extraordinary people are leading schemes and charities to benefit our communities from Free Shop Friday at Petersfield station to the newly formed Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN).

Although council support will always be welcomed, it’s imperative people understand where the drive for these organisations come from.

This is so they know who to contact to join in!

Being able to participate, to add ones voice, skills and energy is more important than ever before.

So come on EHDC, take your hands out of your pockets, hold them up and admit that you don’t know where to start.

We, the tax paying residents can see through the green-washing, photo opportunities and woolly rhetoric

We are becoming restless. Use the allocated funds to employ an expert or two in the relevant fields.

Do what needs to be done. Use some imagination to excite and inspire us.

Show us some awe and wonder leadership.