A campaign group expressed its dismay at a Conservative MP's 'complacency' over reaching net zero targets.

Conservative MP for Witney Robert Courts spoke at a packed event organised by Witney's Eco Forum and former BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin and chaired by the Bishop of Oxford, Rt  Rev Steven Croft.

Robert Courts Watch tracks the MP's voting on various policies, including green policies. 

Spokesperson Hugo Kerr said: "Courts showed little sense of urgency, tolerating gradual progress and declaring that change could 'take a generation'.

“Robert Courts suggested that we 'wait' for free-market technological innovations rather than using direct state intervention to accelerate change.

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"He was unspecific about concrete action and fell back on 'plans' and 'road maps'. ”

Mr Kerr said that the loudest cheer of the evening came when Mr Harrabin suggested the prime minister could be using climate change as a wedge issue for electoral purposes.

Mr Courts confirmed to the Oxford Mail he "wholeheartedly" believes it is right to pursue net zero targets but supported the weakening of some of the government's green commitments.

He said: "I am proud to have stood on a manifesto in 2019, which promised to reach net zero by 2050.

"However, this must be a balanced and sensible process, with thought-out stages, that does not damage our economy. This shift must be about lowering costs, not imposing them.

"I have no hesitation in rejecting the view, as advocated by some, that the solution should involve direct state intervention to control peoples’ lives or make them more expensive.

"It is vital that, during the transition towards net zero, we take hard-working families from across the UK with us, ensuring they are not being unfairly hit.  

"We must instead focus on energy independence and use the green industry to create jobs and drive opportunity, working with the free market to provide a solution that takes everyone along with it."

Mr Courts has started a petition against the proposed Botley West Solar Farm in West Oxfordshire which, developers said, could power up to 330,000 homes, similar in output to a retiring gas or coal power station.

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Mr Courts said renewable energy projects "must have the support of the local community, be appropriate in scale and design and importantly they must not compromise vital farmland or rural character.

"The proposals for a Botley West Solar Farm, here in Oxfordshire, are a prime example of this, where local opinion has not been taken into consideration, meaning residents - including me - are opposing the proposals."

Botley West Solar Farm developer Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP) has said its second stage of community consultation will begin in autumn.