Council boycotts Esso

UCKFIELD Town Council has joined Green pressure groups in boycotting Esso in protest against the oil giant s record on environmental issues.

Councillors agreed 'not to do business with the world s largest oil company and voted to bar the use of Esso fuel in the council s vehicles.

The council voiced concern about lobbying by Esso s parent company, Exxon, against the Kyoto agreement on global warming. Members believe this has relevance to Uckfield given the town s problem with flooding.

Members also said they 'deplored Esso s parent company Exxon s plans to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

The council s action followed a boycott of the oil giants from Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, who claimed that the company is sabotaging attempts to prevent climate change with its opposition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

A decision was taken to not use Esso fuel in the council s vehicles, which include a truck and a tractor. Council workers petrol-driven mowers would also not use Esso fuel, it was agreed.