Ellee Seymour

It does seem rather incongruous that on the day we are given our most serious warning ever about the potential devastating impact of climate change, that The Times should be encouraging its readers to fly more.

In fact, its front page banner offers a flight to Europe for every reader, those who assiduously collect their airmiles. So with a daily circulation of 683,333, that’s an awful lot of extra carbon emissions if every reader took them up on their very generous offer. But I agree, it is more exciting than a free packet of sunflower seeds.

Airlines are naturally worried about the future impact on their industry and I hope they find a solution that is environmentally friendly so we ill not be made to feel as if we are committing a crime by seeking out some winter sun.

I fear that unless the world unites to tackle this issue, we will all be issued with personal carbon footprint passports restricting our air miles and car travel each year, all our journeys will be recorded and our carbon emissions calculated.

This is a desperate issue that has to be tackled globally, otherwise everyone will question why we are doing our bit here and other countries are turning a blind eye.

Maybe The Times could start by offering walking holidays to readers instead of free flights, encouraging people to reconnect with their countryside and the environment they are protecting.

Cambridgeshire’s most outspoken district councillor - if not in the whole country - is on the verge of resigning after 36 years, blaming political correctness and his denial to the right of free speech.

Free speech is the trademark for Robin Page, former presenter of One Man and His Dog, and one of life’s true eccentrics. It is as vital to him as the blood that flows through his veins.

Robin, an Independent, explains why he has now had enough:

“This Government is systematically destroying democracy at local level throughout Britain. To make the task easier, it has removed the right of free speech from councillors - absurd new regulations means those who fight back can now be hounded out of office, even though they have been democratically elected.”

Robin is referring to New Labour’s Local Government Act of 2000 which meant that council committees which gave every councillor a voice was scrapped and replaced by a Cabinet system and portfolio holder. Those holders have virtually taken ordinary councillors out of the policy-making loop.

Then a code of conduct was introduced in 2001 which further controlled free speech and debate. And Robin likes to say what he thinks, without any restrictions, after all, isn’t that why he was elected? Recently, Robin was reported for “baaing” like a sheep when Lib Dem councillors voted in unsion. It seems they can’t take a joke. But that’s how petty and over-regulated it has become. It’s not politics.

Robin reckons the regulations they have to adhere to have gone way over the top, it has resulted in members with mobile phones being told they cannot make decisions about phone masts and, astonishingly, councillors elected to campaign against massive local development have been gagged from speaking about it because they live nearby.

It will be a great loss to South Cambridgeshire when Robin steps down. He had so much passion for his political work. The final straw was Ruth Kelly’s White Paper last week which Robin believes will inevitably take power away from the communities, and he face that too.

I remember seeing Robin in action in the council chamber, he certainly livened up the debate, you knew you were going to get a good headline. He woke up many a dull meeting. He was also a keen campaigner on environmental issues long before it became fashionable - or essential - his ideas were way ahead of the time. But then most members were retired, they were just not ready, or prepared, for someone outspoken like Robin.

Robin will never be silenced, I can fully understand his frustrations, I hope that Conservatives will restore the voice to local councils and Robin will be tempted back.

We don’t want sheep running our local democracies, we want strong minded individuals who are not afraid to speak up for those they were elected to serve.