RESIDENTS in Penrith & the Border have lobbied their MP in a virtual meeting to discuss how the region can move towards a greener future.

The first mass ‘The Time is Now’ lobby, which was organised by the Climate Coalition, took place on Tuesday and gave people across the UK the chance to speak with their MPs about climate issues impacting them.

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith & the Border, spoke with more than 20 constituents about local concerns.

He told them: “We are in very difficult times but I think some good can come out of this crisis, and introducing new and greener ways of working, such as this format of virtual meetings, is a step in the right direction.

“The Government has been very clear, we need to think about economic recovery, but actually we need to do this in tandem with a green recovery.”

The people attending spoke about increasing investment in cycling and walking, rural transport, trade policies, and planning reform.

The Climate Coalition is made up of organisations such as the RSPB, the National Trust, and Oxfam that are taking action on climate change.

Amy Bray, the founder of a local environmental charity, said: “It was helpful to have the chance to meet Neil and good to see our MP involved in actively listening to his constituents about the climate emergency.

“Making people feel involved and listening to their opinions is vital, as this is a crisis that affects every one of us – and every one of us has the responsibility to change.”

The virtual lobby was well attended by MPs across the country.

It follows on from last year’s event which saw 12,000 people travel to Westminster to meet with their MPs.

Dr Hudson added: “This has been a fantastic event; it was great to see so many people coming together to discuss this critical issue. As we move forward from the current health crisis, we have the opportunity to build a resilient economy that benefits everyone in society with looking after our environment and tackling climate change at the forefront.”