TWO members of Transition Town Wellington questioned candidates for the new Somerset West and Taunton Council about environmental issues at an election hustings in Taunton.

Anita Roy asked about pesticides and pollinators, and Ann Sparks about solar panels at the hustings at Richard Huish College focused on climate change and the environment.

The panel was made up of current councillors Dave Mansell (Green), Federica Smith (Liberal Democrats) and leader John Williams (Conservative) plus Bob Rawle (Labour/Co-operative) and John Hunt (Independent), who also sits on the county council.

Anita asked the candidates about making Taunton pesticide-free and how they would encourage bees, wasps and other pollinators.

Mr Hunt said he would reduce grass and verge cutting by up to 25 per cent – though he admitted such policies ‘were not terribly sexy in terms of an electoral viewpoint’.

Ms Smith said the council should plant more fruit trees and change the way it maintains green spaces near its social housing.

Mr Williams promised a new country park at Yallands Hill would eventually be home to 14,000 trees.

Mr Rawle pointed to ongoing efforts to develop a wildflower meadow near the Longrun Meadow public space.

Mr Mansell said he wanted to stop using synthetic pesticides and see Somerset move towards ‘sustainable and more localised farming’.

Ann asked the panel whether they would insist on solar panels being built on all new homes built in Taunton.

Mr Hunt said he was ‘a full supporter’ of this and would push for it if he become a member of the new council’s planning committee.

Mr Mansell criticised the coalition government for moving away from solar power, saying: “We need to stop burning fossil fuels as soon as possible.”

Mr Williams said builders currently had a choice to either install solar panels or make new homes greener by other means, such as additional insulation.

Mr Smith responded: “Solar panels should be the standard. We shouldn’t let developers pick and choose and still make the profits they do.”

Mr Rawle described battery storage energy facilities – such as one owned by South Somerset District Council near Taunton – as ‘the holy grail’.

The event was jointly organised by Taunton Green Parents and Taunton Transition Town. The elections will be held on Thursday, May 2.

DANIEL MUMBY

Local democracy reporter