Weybridge Winter Head of River Race
Jan 19 th Organised by Weybridge Rowing Club, this is a timed race from the top of Desborough Island to Walton for up to...
31 Dec 2018
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Churchfield Allotments - May 2018
In May 2018, allotment holders and residents in roads adjacent to the Churchfield Allotments were informed by the Weybri...
31 Dec 2018
Stockton Liberal Democrats Demand Better – Every Child Empowered
There is a lack of transparency and accountability in our education system. Appointed Regional School Commissioners wield the power to irreversibly remove schools from local authority oversight.
30 Dec 2018
Rubbish - Government speaks.
The government has published a 'resources and waste strategy', which it describes as ambitious. The document is a blueprint not for action, but for consultation. This means there will be plenty of opportunities for the semi-noble aspirations to be watered down. Here's a review of the document, with direct quotes in italics.
30 Dec 2018
HICKORY DICKORY DOCK, THE PM RUNS DOWN THE CLOCK
AS THE CLOCK CLICKS DOWN TO 29TH MARCH 2019...... Far from allowing Parliament a 'meaningful vote' on the deal with the EU in December, Prime Minister May ran from the inevitable defeat, wasted yet more valuable time for our already weakened economy hoping that, by postponing her next date with destiny until mid January the EU would throw her a last minute life line and the possibility of a No Deal Brexit would panic MPs into line. Stubbornly refusing to see any fault lines in her deal, she now hopes that with the divided Parliament, running the clock down will ensure that alternative options are swept off the table and MPs will be forced to support her Brexit deal in the meaningful vote in January or risk leaving the EU without a deal.
30 Dec 2018
Road Closure Crows Nest
Dear All
30 Dec 2018
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!”
