CHAIRMAN of Stroud District Council Cllr Norman Kay has written to parish and town councils in the district to urge them to move their pension funds away from investments associated with the fossil fuel industry.

A motion passed by the council in October states that it is committed to reducing the effects of climate change as part of the council’s environmental policy by reducing the use of fossil fuels and finding alternative sources of energy.

As a consequence, the motion concluded that investments in the fossil fuel industry represent a substantial financial risk.

Cllr Kay said: “Make no mistake about it; it is an issue that affects our very lives.

“Unless we act to curtail fossil fuel use, we shall be dead”.

Cllr Kay’s letter coincides with a proposal for Gloucestershire’s pension fund to be pooled with those of other local government funds in the South West and the Environment Agency within the Brunel Pension Partnership.

His letter asks for parish and town councils to review their pension investment policies following the district council’s decision last year.