London South West, UK - An open letter sent to manifesto writers of the Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP political parties with regard to the forthcoming UK elections.

Dear Environment Policymaker

The UK reclaimed building materials sector reduces the UK's carbon footprint more than any other resource sector with no subsidy or help from the government. Its dealers are unsung environmental heroes.

In the 1980s encouraging reuse of reclaimed building materials was written into the environmental policy of Margaret Thatcher's government after discussions I had with my MP and then Environment Minister, Chris Patten, and her understanding of science and the Rio Accord. Although Labour had no policy on reclaimed building materials, in the 1990s, after talks with the ODPM, John Prescott informally derogated from the EU Construction Products Directive which facilitated the reuse of reclaimed materials which would otherwise have been banned by the CPD. The Green Party incorporated clauses encouraging reuse of reclaimed materials as a result of consultations with Salvo.

Commercial salvage yards and dealers in reclaimed building materials and architectural salvage in the UK have saved three million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year since 1990 without any help or subsidy, paying substantial taxes and employing tens of thousands in skilled and semi-skilled jobs, many in inner city areas and rural areas of high unemployment.

Right now the EU is once again proposing to outlaw reclaimed building materials in the Construction Products Regulations.

Please could you tell me if encouraging reuse of reclaimed building materials is in your party election manifesto this year?

Yours faithfully
Thornton Kay