The rapid spread of the new Covid-19 variant is deeply worrying. More infections, as we can see from our ejection from Tier 1 into Tier 4 within days; and also affecting children much more than before. It's time to take action. How? Every IoW resident can help. Here's how:
Following the Secretary of State of Education's u-turn on primary school openings in London. Mayor Dave Hodgson has called for the decision for Bedford Borough to reviewed urgently and allow our primary schools to remain closed for the time being, with the exception for children of key workers and those that need to attend school, for the safety of pupils, teachers and support staff.
In a debate on the leaving legislation in the House of Lords, John Lord Shipley, former Leader of Newcastle City Council, said :...
Public Health England and Wiltshire Council are working with managers at Lyons Seafoods in Warminster. after a number of positive coronavirus cases have been linked to Lyons Seafood in Warminster. Staff members have been identified as close contacts of the positive cases and have already been contacted and told to self-isolate by health teams. Contacts of a confirmed case have been urged to get tested if they go on to develop symptoms. Even if people test negative, they have still been told to self-isolate for 10 days.
Lambeth Liberal Democrats
2020 has been difficult for many, but the challenges we faced showed the strength of our local community. From giving up time to help the most vulnerable, to efforts to plant trees that will benefit Sevenoaks for generations to come, we can be proud of what our community has done this year.
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!”
