DEAR MADAM - A big THANK YOU to those who got up early to come to the climate vigil around the ring road last Friday morning. It was a great success and we got a lot of positive hoots from motorists.

There were about 70-80 people there at any one time, with more popping in for a short while.

Thank you too, to all the members of political parties who respected our request not to bring party banners and placards, the issue of climate change is bigger and more important than any partisan rivalries.

Sadly, there was one exception, and this small group caused a dangerous situation when they briefly walked into the road.

I’d like to stress that they did not represent us, nor did they represent XR.(Extinction Rebellion).

There is no XR group in Stourbridge at the moment, (though there are some in Wolverhampton), and this small group of men did not follow the safe methods used by XR to block traffic.

This global strike was not called by XR, but by School Strike for Climate. This has been led by young people and this time they asked for adults to join them. Individual XR members joined in support up and down the country, but it was not their event.

Transition Stourbridge is a non partisan organisation and welcomes people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Please don’t be put off from joining in future events with us!

Catherine Maguire

(Vigil co-ordinator for Transition Stourbridge)