Weekly Coronavirus Figures for Bedford Borough Published
The latest weekly coronavirus statistics for Bedford Borough have been published. The figures show that in the seven days up to January 24th:
30 Jan 2021
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Last chance for Christmas Support Grants for Wet Led Pubs
Sunday 31 January is the deadline for pubs to apply for a Christmas Support Grant.
30 Jan 2021
Covid vaccination scam warning
Dales resident receives convincing scam 'NHS' email. A Dales resident and Lib Dem member reports being sent an impressively authentic looking email inviting her to book her coronavirus vaccination appointment.
PD
29 Jan 2021
Disappointment at Green Bill delay
Local Liberal Democrats have joined their national Party colleagues in expressing disappointment at the six-month delay in the Government's Environment Bill.
TM
29 Jan 2021
Dacorum Local Plan consultation - not only extended, but made real
Things have finally been moving for local residents, on Dacorum's Local Plan - the "Emerging Strategy for Growth", after Lib Dem calls for non-digital outreach gained traction and public attendance at online Council meetings spiked for the second time of asking. The "regulation 18" consultation has been extended until 28th February, after pressure from residents and a Written Question by Cllr Sally Symington meant that the issue could not be ignored. Lib Dem Councillors continue to call for further extension until after the current Covid restrictions, with all 1-4 vulnerable groups obviously still on lockdown until March. Following more controversy and argument on 13th, the consultation information has also now been summarised in a 20 page hard-copy guide, delivered door to door to all households in the Borough - have you seen yours? Bringing the Motion on more Social Housing, Lib Dem Cllr Adrian England asked: "With 8,000 people currently on the Dacorum Housing Register, and the draft Dacorum Local Plan con
29 Jan 2021
Dacorum Local Plan consultation - not only extended, but made real
Things have finally been moving for local residents, on Dacorum's Local Plan - the "Emerging Strategy for Growth", after Lib Dem calls for non-digital outreach gained traction and public attendance at online Council meetings spiked for the second time of asking. The "regulation 18" consultation has been extended until 28th February, after pressure from residents and a Written Question by Cllr Sally Symington meant that the issue could not be ignored. Lib Dem Councillors continue to call for further extension until after the current Covid restrictions, with all 1-4 vulnerable groups obviously still on lockdown until March. Following more controversy and argument on 13th, the consultation information has also now been summarised in a 20 page hard-copy guide, delivered door to door to all households in the Borough - have you seen yours? Bringing the Motion on more Social Housing, Lib Dem Cllr Adrian England asked: "With 8,000 people currently on the Dacorum Housing Register, and the draft Dacorum Local Plan con
29 Jan 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!”
