Free School Meal vouchers for Half Term
Bedford Borough children from families that receive income-related free school meals are again eligible for a £15 each, for next week's half term school holiday.
29 May 2021
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Call for Brickworks Site Owners to Improve Security Following Fires
Following another fire on the site of the former brickworks in Stewartby, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Elstow and Stewartby Ward Tim Hill has called for urgent action by the site owners to improve security.
29 May 2021
We need a safer crossing at the A10 BP roundabout now
There is no doubt that last year’s changes to the layout of the BP roundabout on the A10 at Ely have made the junction even more dangerous for pedestr...
MI
29 May 2021
Cut to vital service is condemned
Wiltshire Council has cut its funding and only offering it to Swindon residents in a year that domestic violence has increased with the pandemic and the succession of lockdowns taking their toll, according to Brian Mathew, Lib Dem candidate for Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner, speaking about the council's decision to cut the 24/7 domestic abuse helpline for victims.
28 May 2021
Lib Dem statement on review of the Guildford Local Plan
As a review of the Local Plan evidence base moves forward Guildford Liberal Democrats are pledging honesty, realism and transparency throughout the review process. Explaining what is happening with the Local Plan, and the next steps, Lib Dem Cllr Jan Harwood, Lead Member for Climate Change and Strategic Planning, said:
28 May 2021
Surge Testing Extended - Details
With Cases of COVID-19 in the Borough continuing to rise, surge testing to identify positive cases of the virus will continue in three areas of Bedford Borough.
28 May 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!”
