Wiltshire Council accused of delaying screen wash pledge

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 05:59 · Archive

Wiltshire Council has not written to retailers as promised nearly a year ago about stocking concentrated screen wash alternatives.

A former Wiltshire Council leader has accused Wiltshire Council of 'virtue signalling' on climate change after the authority failed to act on a motion passed nearly a year ago. Councillor Philip Whitehead said the council has still not written to major retailers asking them to stock concentrated screen wash alternatives, as it had been asked to do in October 2025.

Cllr Whitehead and fellow Conservative Cllr Christopher Williams brought the original motion, arguing that ready-mixed screen wash represented unnecessary environmental impact. A five-litre container of ready-mixed product effectively involves transporting four litres of water around the country when consumers could instead buy concentrated products and dilute them at home using their own water supply.

The original motion called for Wiltshire Council's leader or relevant cabinet member to write to major retailers requesting they sell concentrated screen wash, publish a list of supportive responses and inform other councils of the initiative. However, Cllr Whitehead told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that this letter has still not been sent.

Cllr Whitehead expressed disappointment that the issue was referred from full council to a select committee rather than being debated more widely. He said: 'Of course, although this is relatively simple to achieve, this has not happened. Sadly, I see a lot of virtue signalling with regard to climate change with little action.'

How it is being reported

• Council accused of ‘virtue signalling’ after screen wash pledge stallsA former Wiltshire Council leader has accused the authority of “virtue signalling” after it failed to take action over the sale of ready-mixed screen wash.Gazette & Herald · 13 Oct, 05:00
• Council accused of ‘virtue signalling’ after screen wash pledge stallsA former Wiltshire Council leader has accused the authority of “virtue signalling” after it failed to take action over the sale of ready-mixed screen wash.Swindon Advertiser · 13 Oct, 05:00
• Council accused of ‘virtue signalling’ after screen wash pledge stallsA former Wiltshire Council leader has accused the authority of “virtue signalling” after it failed to take action over the sale of ready-mixed screen wash.Wiltshire Times · 13 Oct, 05:00
• Wiltshire councillor attacks council delay over concentrated screen wash letterFormer Wiltshire Council leader Philip Whitehead accuses the authority of “virtue signalling” over delayed action on concentrated screen wash.Salisbury Journal · 12 Oct, 17:30

In this story: Philip Whitehead · Christopher Williams · Wiltshire Council · Wiltshire

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