Reading Liberal Democrats

Reading’s Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps, joined hundreds of Reading residents in London for Saturday’s [5 December] Stop Climate Chaos demonstration called ‘The Wave’ – but not before doing his bit locally.

Gareth joined Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP, shadow Secretary of State Simon Hughes MP and Reading MEP Catherine Bearder on the march. Before Gareth caught the train for London he helped plant dozens of trees on Longbarn Lane Rec in his Katesgrove ward. This formed part of the BBC ‘Breathing Spaces’ initiative – an attempt to break the world record for the number of trees planted in one hour. Dozens of residents and local schoolchildren took part on the Rec which is being upgraded after pressure from Cllr Epps and local residents.

Gareth says:

‘The Copenhagen talks are probably the most significant political event this decade. The science is clear beyond reasonable doubt that climate change is man-made, and that radical action is needed to stop it. No mainstream voices believe the spin of the climate change deniers.

‘It’s absolutely right that politicians should take the strongest possible lead in this. That’s why I was out with Nick Clegg and other leading Liberal Democrats as part of “The Wave”.

‘And that’s why I played my part locally in helping to make Katesgrove green. There were dozens of people in Longbarn Lane Rec on Saturday morning planting trees, young and old. It was a really great piece of community action to see and I was proud to be part of it.’