Reg Shore
For those of you who knew Reg Shore l hope that l can give him the epitaph that he so richly deserves. For those who didn't know him, a footnote for your memory of an outstanding human being and Liberal Democrat.
24 Jul 2021
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Flooding Update, Flood Warden Training
Following the floods last Christmas, Liberal Democrats on MK Council have been working with residents to understand what can be done to prevent future flooding, including what caused the local flooding over Christmas 2020. Two Groups were set up, one to find out about preventing flooding, the other to help with emergency situations.
24 Jul 2021
THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
The climate emergency represents an existential threat to people and communities all over the world. One of the fiercest and growing consequences of this crisis is the mass displacement of people as a result of both the direct and indirect impacts of global warming. Whilst this affects us all, vulnerable people face the largest burden as a result of the worsening crisis:
24 Jul 2021
Summer holiday activities for children on free school meals
Bedford Borough Council has pulled together a wide-ranging holiday club programme during the summer holidays for eligible children who receive income-related free school meals.
24 Jul 2021
Police and Crime Commissioner election candidates
The previous Police and Crime Commissioner election took place on 6 May 2021 but, as the elected Conservative candidate was unable to take office due to a previous driving conviction. The Electoral Commission guidance says PCC candidates cannot stand for election if they have been convicted of an offence punishable with a prison sentence, the election now has to be re-held.
23 Jul 2021
Humberstone and Hamilton By-Election result. Bicram Athwal increases share of the vote for the Liberal Democrats
Bicram Athwal, the Liberal Democrats candidate in the Humberstone and Hamilton by-election received 262 votes (11%) in yesterday's poll. The Liberal Democrats share of the vote increased by 1.2% in the ward. Bicram was placed 3rd once the votes were counted, behind the Conservative candidate who won and Labour.
LLD
23 Jul 2021
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, called on the government to provide incentives for energy providers to develop solar power in the UK.
Mrs Hobhouse slammed the government for falling behind on meeting the UK’s renewable targets for solar energy capacity. The government plans to deploy 70 GW of solar power across the country by 2035. However, as of 2022, the UK had only installed 14.3 GW of solar pv.
Following a visit to a rooftop solar system installed by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) at Beechen Cliff School last year, Wera Hobhouse is keen to encourage the development of similar solar projects across Bath. The solar system is predicted to significantly cut the school’s fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 52 tonnes a year.
In the House of Commons on the 27th February, the Bath MP noted that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the world in renewable energy investment, she urged the government to offer incentives to energy providers to improve solar capacity.
However, Andrew Bowie, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, ignored Hobhouse’s proposals, failing to describe the ways in which the government could incentivise solar energy. Instead, Bowie said that the government’s Solar Taskforce would publish recommendations for solar power and reiterated the government’s target to deploy 70 GW by 2035.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, commented:
“The Conservatives are falling dangerously behind on meeting our targets for renewable energy production. It is no good the government setting an ambitious 70 GW solar target if they are nowhere near reaching it.
“It is clear that they have no plan to get us back on track to reach Net Zero. Evidently, they are more than happy to dismiss perfectly good proposals like incentivising solar power. That is why I am so proud that Bath is home to many community energy projects like the solar system at Beechen Cliff School, so that we can lead the way in renewables.”
“It is not just our climate targets harmed by the Conservatives’ delay. Families in Bath and across the country are struggling to pay soaring energy bills which investment in renewables could curb. That is why we Liberal Democrats would build significantly more renewable energy, aiming to generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030.”
Peter Capener, Managing Director of Bath & West Community Energy said:
“Our work with schools is really demonstrating the value of community energy in both addressing the climate crisis and reducing fuel bills. Rooftop solar installed last year has already saved local schools a combined total of £134,209 and has reduced carbon emissions by 224.3 tonnes, which is equivalent to 12,173 journeys from Bath to Edinburgh by train!”
