Bedford Borough Council Wins £188k Funding for English Language Classes
Bedford Borough Council has been successful in winning funding to help adults with their English language skills.
20 Jul 2020
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Update from Cllr Victor Abbott
Last fortnight at South Hams In the South Hams, the main reaction to Covid-19 has been the public pulling together, and the self-help groups set up in the Parishes and Towns. There is clear gratitude from all Councillors for the support given to others. In the Council, staff were re-deployed to give local support, to act as a point of contact, and to channel taxes back from central government into the South Hams. Now, over the last 2 weeks, the District Council held 5 workshops, with ideas to help the South Hams, "Build Back Better", and especially for using the Green Economy. These are also steps towards a revised budget. Liberal Democrat Councillors contributed to these discussions, presenting arguments to support business, the environment, and residents. Keith Baldry, Executive Member and Liberal Democrat Councillor (for Newton and Yealmpton), led the discussion on Recovery and Redesign. It is interesting that 330,000 miles have been saved as a consequence of working over the Internet. At least som
20 Jul 2020
New Podcast - Learning in Lockdown
In part one we find out how some local parents summoned their inner teacher after the country's schools were locked down. Our guests share their stories of veering off-syllabus with DIY science experiments and conference-call mishaps, to the vast differences in support provided by different schools. A huge thanks to Karen, Heidi, Jacqui, Amanda and Claire for sharing their home-schooling wins, a newfound appreciation for teachers and concerns for the future.
20 Jul 2020
MP tables motion in Parliament urging Government to catch up with cancer to save thousands of lives
South Lakes MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy Tim Farron has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament urging the Government to boost cancer services to save lives being lost because of delays to treatment caused by COVID-19.
20 Jul 2020
Decolonising the Guildford Collection
The murder of George Floyd last month at the hands of the US justice system sent visible shockwaves around the world. The act itself was not the only act of its kind, but it highlighted the many deaths and mass injuries suffered by black people in America. It has also acted as a call to action for the injustice suffered by black people in the UK as well. The resulting protests have shone a light not only on the murder of George Floyd but also the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on the BAME community and the deep-rooted inequality and injustice towards the BAME community that is consciously and unconsciously built into our society.
CJS
20 Jul 2020
Plan for west Chelmsford development referred back for sustainable transport assessment
The plan for 800+ houses on Warren Farm, Writtle (West Chelmsford) has been referred back for the transport elements to be reassessed on sustainability grounds.
20 Jul 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!”
