COUNCIL leader Keith Prince has updated residents on the issues raised at a recent environmental debate with green experts and London mayor Boris Johnson.

Mayor Johnson joined Cllr Prince, television 'green guru' Lucy Siegel, the mayor's environmental advisor Isabel Dedring, and Jenny Bates from Friends of the Earth at the Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford, for a Question Time-style panel on environmental issues on January 18.

Cllr Prince said: “Judging from the questions from the audience, hot button environmental issues are recycling, increased flights to London City Airport, and reducing the risk of the Roding flooding people’s homes.

“We are currently recycling around a third of our refuse, but that has to increase and I understand residents are particularly keen on cardboard recycling. We are working on it!

“We are also pressing Thames Water to install the necessary hardware that would enable floodwater to flow safely away without threatening homes.

“I get the message loud and clear about the City airport expansion, and understand that there will be a review of flight paths shortly. I will be making sure that the council is on the case to represent residents’ views on this issue.”

Cllr Prince also said he was pleased that Redbridge had been designated a 'Biking Borough' and would receive funding to help it improve cycling facilities.

A member of the audience suggested that if everyone became a vegetarian one day a week then that would also have a positive impact on carbon emissions. Cllr Prince said that – even as a vegetarian himself – he, along with everyone else, could probably do more in this area.