WOKINGHAM borough drivers will spend nearly nine months waiting in traffic jams over the course of a lifetime.
Energy supplier Save On Energy recently surveyed which local authorities in England produce the most, and the least, carbon dioxide emissions per driver per lifetime and Wokingham scored below the national average.
Ranking 64th in England, and 12th in the South East the borough is said to produce 9,137kg of carbon dioxide per vehicle.
Save On Energy said that, on average, residents will sit in delays for more than 6,300 hours throughout the years.
And when compared to neighbouring Reading, Wokingham still came out on top.
With the worst score in the South East, Reading drivers can expect to spend more than double the time – nearly 16,000 hours, and produce nearly 23,000kg in emissions.
Save On Energy said across England, the average driver spends nearly 7,250 hours in traffic, releasing 10,304 kg of carbon dioxide.
Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency, said this is “great news” for Wokingham borough.
“It is already the healthiest place to live in England and I am pleased that our residents aren’t spending as long as many of our local and national neighbours sitting in traffic delays,” he said.
“That is good news for quality of life, and good news for air quality and carbon emissions.”
However, Cllr Murray said residents should not take Wokingham’s top three ranking for granted.
“We can’t compare ourselves to other boroughs or authorities as they all have different degrees of rural, urban, industrial and resident areas,” he explained.
“Even West Berkshire or Bracknell are vastly different areas to Wokingham.
“As we continue on our path to improving air quality and reducing carbon towards net zero by 2030 we can only focus on what we need to do.”
He said Wokingham Borough Council wants to solve the root causes of why residents are driving in the first place, and is finding solutions for the daily commute.
“I am pleased by this news, and I am pleased that our residents have more time in their homes than in their cars,” the councillor added.
“The hard work of improving quality of life for all continues and I would ask all residents to think of alternatives first before they start their car.”
Cllr Sarah Kerr, Wokingham Liberal Democrat lead on climate change and air pollution, said the data should be taken “with a pinch of salt” and questions whether the borough’s emissions will continue to decline.
“[The council] believes that it can reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the borough by installing intelligent traffic systems to ease congestion,” she said.
“In fact, improving traffic flows just tempts people to use their car more often, especially for short journeys.”
Cllr Kerr said Wokingham Borough Council should focus on making alternative modes of travel more accessible in a bid to protect the environment.
“The simple truth is that we need to make fewer car journeys,” she said.
This has been echoed by Cllr Andy Croy, Labour Group leader at Wokingham Borough Council, who said the council should make walking and cycling as safe as possible.
“If we want to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, we should be looking to see how we can leave the car at home for shorter journeys or for journeys that are served by public transport,” he said.
“We have to put pedestrians and cyclists first and not compromise on safety.”
Cllr Croy said in the long term, Wokingham’s public transport needs more support.
“Where bus fares are too expensive, journeys are held up by cars and are too infrequent, the use of buses will be discouraged,” he added.
“We have seen the Conservatives cut bus route after bus route, regardless of the damage it does.
“With thousands more houses coming to the borough as a result of Conservative changes to planning laws and imposed housing targets, the congestion issues look set to get worse.”
Out of England’s 159 local authorities, the City of London ranked the worst in the entire country for carbon dioxide emissions, with the average driver producing more than 61,986kg over a lifetime.
Rutland, in the East Midlands, was highest at 2,900kg.
To read the report, visit: www.saveonenergy.com/uk/traffic-and-co2-emissions
