A proposal to revoke a council’s climate emergency declaration has been postponed due to high temperatures. The debate on the Reform proposal, presented by Cllr Austen Moore to scrap the declaration by King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council, was supposed to take place on Thursday. However, the meeting has been canceled because temperatures are expected to exceed 30C, with red and amber heatwave alerts issued by the Met Office.
In a recent Facebook announcement, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council revealed that the Full Council meeting scheduled for Thursday has been rescheduled to July 2nd at 5 pm due to the prevailing heatwave conditions. This decision was made to prioritize the comfort, well-being, and safety of council members, staff, and the public. The Mayor emphasized the importance of providing a conducive environment for councillors to focus and make informed decisions.
In 2021, the then-Conservative-controlled King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council declared a climate emergency, aligning with numerous councils across the country. Cllr Austen Moore, a Reform councillor for North Lynn since a by-election in June 2025, highlighted concerns in his motion about the impact of environmental policies on vulnerable residents facing escalating energy costs, fuel poverty, and financial challenges related to heating and daily expenses.
Currently, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council is without overall control. Durham county council, under Reform leadership, made history as the first UK local authority to retract its climate emergency declaration in July 2025.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for ‘extreme heat’ for the entire day, with temperatures expected to reach 31C on Thursday. Additionally, a red warning has been issued for southern regions, the Midlands, and Wales, with London anticipating temperatures soaring to 33C.
