MEMBERS of the public can join eco group Transition Stourbridge when it stages an early morning vigil on Stourbridge ring road tomorrow (Friday).

The group will be waving banners and placards from 7am to 9am and will meet at the junction of Foster Street East and the ring road on the day when young campaigners across the world stage a global climate strike.

Anyone is welcome to attend – for however long they are able to before heading to work or school.

The event has been organised to coincide with an international day of action calling for an end to fossil fuels and Catherine Maguire, from Transition Stourbridge, has written to all primary and secondary schools in Stourbridge - asking if they will be marking the day.

Councillor Shakespeare, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said the local authority has not been made aware that any Dudley schools will be staging strikes but she stressed the council was taking its responsibility to cut carbon emissions seriously.

She said: “While we’re not undertaking any specific activity to mark world day for climate action, we recognise the importance of acknowledging the impact of climate change and as part of this we are already implementing an energy and carbon reduction strategy.

“This has included energy efficient lighting in residential streets which is additionally controlled via a Central Management System which allows us to control energy use by dimming then when they’re not needed, we’ve reduced electricity consumption through a number of LED lighting projects, including a major investment in Pool Road multi-storey car park, and put covers on pools at Dudley and Halesowen leisure centres to minimise the amount of heat lost overnight.

“We’ve already reduced emissions from the council’s fleet of vehicles and we’re working with Transport West Midlands on the roll out of hybrid buses across the region which will reduce polluting emissions by 30 per cent in comparison with conventional diesel fuelled vehicles and we will continue to look at ways in which we can reduce our carbon emissions and help to make the borough a cleaner, greener place.”

Will you be joining in the vigil or taking part in the international day of action in any way?