'Woke' council plans approved to prioritise wildlife and green spaces - 'This is just virtue-signalling!'

The declaration, which sets out an ambition for nature recovery by 2040, was passed amid a heated political debate.

Conservative members criticised the motion as "virtue-signalling" and argued the council should focus its limited resources elsewhere, while Labour and Green Party councillors defended the plan as essential for the borough's future environmental health.

The plan includes the development of a Nature Restoration Action Plan, which will ensure the borough's depleted wildlife receives extra protection through council considerations, proposals and decisions.

The declaration means environmental concerns will be integrated into the council's decision-making processes.

The initiative aims to address declining biodiversity in the area by implementing targeted conservation measures on council-owned land and communal areas throughout Darlington.

Green Party councillor Kate Mammolotti, who tabled the motion, expressed her enthusiasm: "I wrote this motion with hope and passion. The work ahead of us is considerable and there is no room for idling or complacency. This is a win for nature and for all the residents who cherish her."

Labour cabinet member for Economy, Chris McEwan, added his support, stating that the council should "lead by example" by implementing targeted and site-appropriate measures on council-owned land and communal areas.

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Conservative Leader Jonathan Dulston strongly opposed the declaration, arguing the council should prioritise improving people's lives rather than environmental initiatives.

"We are a small council, a relatively small town, but we have lots of people facing inequalities. The full resources of the council need to be focused on that, not pie-in-the-sky green and woke agendas," Dulston said.

He added: "We need a council that is focused on the real issue - and that is improving the quality of people's lives."

Conservative councillor Scott Durham echoed this sentiment, describing the declaration as "just virtue-signalling" and arguing that residents want "pragmatic, simple decisions that affect their neighbourhoods."

Councillor Lorraine Tostevin also expressed reservations, stating that while Conservative members support protecting green spaces and wildlife, such policies are already embedded in the council's existing climate change plan, suggesting the new declaration was unnecessary duplication.

Dulston further criticised Labour for "putting daft motions forward" and expressed concern that the council was "not aligned with the public anymore."

Labour councillor Mary Layton defended the motion against Conservative criticism, stating: "It's not stupid and it's not woke. It underpins everything we do for the future of our town."

Matthew Snedker, leader of Darlington's Green Party, emphasised the timing of the initiative: "This motion comes at a crucial time. We need to strengthen the protection for wildlife and restore our precious natural environment."

He warned that "significant pressure from house builders and landowners" threatens to weaken environmental protections, adding that Labour's proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill could remove existing safeguards.