TOWN Hall bosses are putting their foot down over CO2 emissions. They want to reduce their own carbon footprint in London’s East End—after struggling for two years at the very bottom of Britain’s local authority recycling league table

By Else Kvist

TOWN Hall bosses are putting their foot down over CO2 emissions.

They want to reduce their own carbon footprint in London’s East End—after struggling for two years at the very bottom of Britain’s local authority recycling league table.

So now Tower Hamlets council is hoping to set an example to householders by reducing CO2 emissions at the Town Hall itself and at other public buildings like schools and libraries by 60 per cent over the next 12 years.

The council’s cabinet has agreed to sign up to the Carbon Management Plan for local authorities.

Its own target is to reduce its CO2 leaks’ by a quarter by 2012—the year East London hosts the greenest Olympics on record.’

The authority could save �10 million reducing CO2 levels by 25,000 tonnes by 2020. That’s a 60 per cent fall.

“It’s time we put our own house in order,” admitted Cllr Joshua Peck. “These savings can be achieved.”

The pledge means strict energy saving and investing in renewable’ technologies for schools, libraries, leisure centres and other public buildings, as well as street lighting and council vehicles.