MUCH has rightly been made of the need to do more to protect the environment and to make choices which are more sustainable.

But two stories in today's paper show that it is not always easy to be green.

Sam Ashton is one of many people living on the Herefordshire side of Offa's Dyke who have been told they are no longer welcome to use the recycling centre in Abergavenny.

So Mr Ashton, and many others living in border villages, now have to add extra miles to any journey when safely depositing waste at Rotherwas in Hereford.

Meanwhile, rail passengers using stations in both Ledbury and Hereford are encountering a similar problem in terms of car parking.

Those who need to drive to catch the train in the city are finding it increasingly difficult to park now that the car park off Station Approach has closed while proposed parking charges are making people in Ledbury think it might just be easier to stay in the car and drive to their final location.

The two stories arrive at a time when councils across the country rush to sign up to recognise the climate emergency.

But signing bits of paper and making speeches applauding the youngsters protesting in the streets is easy.

Actually formulating policies that ensure people can do their bit for the planet is the hard part – as today's examples show.