Jet-set councillors and their officials take five flights a day

Published on Thursday 26 June 2008 10:40

COUNCILLORS and officials are taking an average of five flights a day on city council business, it was revealed today.

And two-thirds of the total 1875 individual flights taken last year were for journeys within the UK.

It is understood the flights were mainly for officials and councillors attending conferences or meetings with other local authorities across the country.

Air travel is one of the fastest-growing sources of carbon emissions, a big contributor to global warming.

The city council has its own carbon reduction targets of 20 per cent less emissions by 2015, 30 per cent by 2025, and a zero-carbon economy by 2050.

Opposition politicians and environmental groups today hit out at the flights and called on city leaders to lead by example in reducing their carbon footprint.

Mark Sydenham, spokesman for Friends of the Earth Edinburgh, said: "For journeys in the UK, taking the train should be the default option, with people only being allowed to take a flight in exceptional circumstances. The council should lead by example if it wants city residents to change their travelling patterns."

Earlier this month the Evening News revealed that Alex Salmond took a plane and a chauffeur-driven car to Manchester when he went to watch Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final.

Environmentalists hit out after the First Minister flew down for the match but had already sent a government limo ahead to pick up the tickets and drive him back afterwards. The story broke days after it emerged that Mr Salmond had twice taken a chauffeur-driven car the short distance from Bute House to George Street.

Councillor Steve Burgess, the city's Green Party environment spokesman, added: "Nearly 2000 flights seems an awful lot, particularly when you consider that over half are for travel in the UK.

"I will be asking what the council's policy is on flying and why so many officials are being allowed to fly on business."

In May last year, the council signed up to a programme to reduce its levels of carbon emissions. It was

the 14th Scottish council to agree to a plan to deliver improved energy management to reduce emissions.

The Local Authorities Carbon Management programme is designed to reduce emissions in areas under local council control, such as buildings, vehicles, street lights and landfill sites.

A council spokeswoman would not elaborate on the figures, revealed in a written answer to a question due to be debated. She said: "Answers to members' questions are made public in the appropriate and agreed forum, namely at meetings of the council. This allows for supplementary questions and for discussion to take place. Therefore it would be inappropriate to comment on any written answer prior to the council meeting itself."