Festive Christmas Trail comes to Bedford town centre
This Christmas, Bedford Borough Council in partnership with Love Bedford have set up a festive Christmas Trail across Bedford Town Centre.
2 Dec 2020
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Chair Dr Yeow Poon reporting back
CLDs held our Annual General Meeting on 22 November 2020. This has not been an easy year for the Party and the country said our Chair, Dr Yeow Poon. This was due in part to the uncertainty of Brexit and the devastating impact of Covid 19. There has been a rise in reported cases of hate crime and racism against those of Chinese, East and SE Asian (CESEA) descent and many businesses in Chinatown have also been adversely affected.
2 Dec 2020
Articles
'Mighty oaks from little acorns grow'
Surveys repeatedly show that a significant proportion of the population are concerned about climate change. Many want 'things to change'. Most have bought in to the need to recycle. But then things get tricky. An electric or hybrid car is probably on the 'I'll do that one day' list. Choosing not to buy fruit and vegetables that are transported half-way around the world, that's tricky. Insulating one's home, that looks too expensive. Looking after and wearing clothes for years, well…!
MW
2 Dec 2020
Bedford's Historic Town Bridge Turns Red to Mark World AIDS Day
Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day, and Bedford Borough Council has lit up Bedford's historic town bridge in red to mark the occasion.
1 Dec 2020
How to complain about the Eco Park
Please also contact your Spelthorne and/or Surrey councillor (see below) We are aware that many local people have been affected by the smell, noise and light pollution from the gasifier at the Eco Park in Charlton Lane.
1 Dec 2020
Public urged to report as Christmas drink/drug driving launches
People are being urged to report suspected drink or drug drivers to the police as we launch our annual Christmas awareness campaign. The national month of action, led by the National Police Chiefs Council, launches today 1st December and will run throughout December.
1 Dec 2020
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!”
