Richmond Council has defended its green credentials after proposing to get rid of its climate change policy.

Eco-suporters branded the council “short-sighted” after it emerged the climate change strategy, aimed at minimising CO2 emissions in the borough, could soon be scrapped.

However, Councillor Virginia Morris, cabinet member for environment and planning, this week stressed Richmond Council had not turned its back on being green but had to prioritise spending because of economic restraints.

She said: “We are focusing on recycling. We are focusing on what matters to people.

“Not only are we saving the environment [by recycling] but the less we put in landfill the more money we save [in landfill tax].”

The plans were revealed in an “information only” paper received by the council’s environment and sustainability overview and scrutiny committee at the end of last month.

The document suggested the borough would limit its fight against carbon emissions to comply only with Government legislation.

Richmond and Twickenham Friends of the Earth (FoE), the borough’s Green Party branch and Richmond’s Liberal Democrats hit out against the proposals and claimed they had not been given the chance to discuss the paper.

FoE spokeswoman Vicky Phillips claimed the council appeared to be “turning its back” on climate change schemes being rolled out across the capital.

She added: “We think this is unfair and extremely short-sighted.”

Councillor Martin Elengorn, Lib Dem environment spokesman, said: “It is evident the Tories are taking a much more limited view of the council’s ability to help mitigate climate change, concentrating on home insulation.”

He added he believed their policies on transport, traffic and parking were “likely to add to carbon emissions”.

However, Coun Morris hit back and stressed the council was still keeping up the fight against carbon emissions and was working closely with schools and businesses, and promoting home insulation.

She added the council was waiting to hear the Government’s policies on climate change before a new strategy was drawn up.