9th Feb 2005

Mayor Bryan Keen is tomorrow (thursday 10th Feb) taking receipt of a new mayor's car - a low emission Toyota petrol/electric car instead of the planned gas guzzling BMW - following a concerted campaign by Green Cllrs last year.

See Oct 2004 press release and link to photos below.

FMI: Cllr Elise Benjamin 07751 713 974

Toyota Kidlington: 0845 850 4939

City Council Press Office: 01865 252616 Mobile: 07786 702583

-----PRESS RELEASE-----

PRESS RELEASE

Mayor reluctantly goes green

4th October 2004

The City Council's Executive Board today narrowly decided (on the casting vote of the chair) to back a Green Group motion to buy a low emission petrol/electric car (a Toyota Prius) for the Mayor instead of the originally proposed 'gas guzzling' BMW.

The decision follows a long winded battle by Green Councillors to prove that the car was both practical and suited for the use of the mayor. One issue was whether the ceremonial mace would fit. A car was loaned by to the Greens by Toyota so that they prove that it would. See www.arbib.org/mace

The Prius is also cheaper to buy and operate than the BMW saving Oxford taxpayers around £9K. It produces less than half the pollution.

The LibDems originally supported the BMW option when it was first discussed in committee but later backed the Greens.

At the Executive the vote was split 5 for (3 Lab/1 Green/1 LibDm) and 5 against (all Lab).

Says Green Cllr Craig Simmons "This is a triumph of reason over political dogma. The mayor will now be setting an example of good practice rather than bad."

The current Mayor, bryan keen, has always been a strong supporter of the BMW option.

FMI Craig 0773 980 3047