Reform councillor's plan to scrap climate emergency declaration postponed - because of horror UK heatwave

Reform councillor's plan to scrap climate emergency declaration postponed - because of horror UK heatwave A debate on a Reform plan to scrap King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council's climate emergency declaration has been postponed after red and amber Met Office warnings for heat A debate on a Reform proposal to scrap a council's climate emergency declaration has been delayed - due to scorching temperatures. Cllr Austen Moore had put forward a proposal to scrap King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council's climate emergency declaration, which was scheduled to be discussed on Thursday. However, the meeting has now been called off amid predicted temperatures exceeding 30C and red and amber Met Office alerts for heat. In a Facebook statement on Tuesday, King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council announced: "Due to the current Red Heat Alert and forecast temperatures exceeding 30C this week, the Mayor has taken the decision to postpone the Full Council meeting originally scheduled for this Thursday. "The meeting will now take place on Thursday 2 July at 5pm at the Assembly Room, Town Hall. This decision has been made in the interests of the comfort, wellbeing and safety of councillors, staff and members of the public. "The Mayor also wishes to ensure that the environment is comfortable for Councillors to be able to concentrate fully and make the best possible decisions." In 2021, the then-Conservative controlled King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council voted to declare a climate emergency as hundreds of councils nationwide made comparable declarations. Cllr Austen Moore, a self-employed 'life coach', was elected as a Reform councillor for North Lynn at a by-election in June 2025. In his proposed motion, he states: "Many of the most vulnerable residents are facing rising energy bills, fuel poverty, and financial hardship linked to policies that increase the cost of heating, transport, and daily living. No local environmental strategy should make life harder for those already struggling or force people into choosing between heating and eating." King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough council is presently under no overall control. Reform-led Durham county council became the first UK local authority to rescind its climate emergency declaration in July 2025. A Met Office amber warning for 'extreme heat' remains in effect for the entire day – with temperatures predicted to hit 31C - on Thursday A red warning has been issued across much of the south, midlands, and Wales – with temperatures in London expected to reach peaks of 33C.