Time for Action on the Climate Crisis
Time for action!!
KM
30 Aug 2019
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Pro Democracy Protest in Tavistock
Earlier today protesters gathered outside the local office of Geoffrey Cox MP, Tavistock. Cox is the Attorney General and close colleague and legal advisor of Boris Johnson. After speeches there, the protesters went to the square, for photos and further short speeches from Labour and Lib Dem members.
KS
30 Aug 2019
An Eton mess of a Government silences Parliament - when will we hear the people sing!
A Prime Minister elected by 0.25% of the 66m British people, with no majority or mandate, resorts to 'Bullingdon Club tactics' to close down Parliament in order to trash the Country. Silencing Parliament - Will we hear the People sing? 'The Weimar Republic was a failed democracy, but ... democracies fail in different ways. We can't expect a direct re-run. But there are echoes, even if they are not yet audible to most voters. By the time we hear them, we may no longer be in a position to do anything about it'. Peter Oborne - Open Democracy April 19
30 Aug 2019
Councillor Henry Vann statement on the prorogation of parliament
henry Councillor Henry Vann, Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats in Bedford and Kempston commenting on the prorogation of parliament said "It is a complete disgrace. This Prime Minister hasn't faced the electorate and his government doesn't have a majority in the House of Commons. They claim to support democracy and want to return sovereignty to Parliament, but their actions show the opposite - they are trying to stop all scrutiny and just want to force a disastrous no-deal Brexit through. What are they scared of?"
30 Aug 2019
MP urges rail bosses to change ‘bonkers’ drivers’ contracts after Bank Holiday misery for commuters
Local MP Tim Farron has written to bosses at Northern to urgently look at changing rail contracts which are leading to commuters across being South Cumbria being stranded on Sundays.
30 Aug 2019
Army & Navy flyover in Chelmsford remains closed - public urged to make other travel plans
Anyone who uses Chelmsford's Army and Navy roundabout is being encouraged to plan ahead and switch to different forms of transport, as the flyover is set to remain closed during the back-to-school period. A full report on the structure from engineers is expected in the coming weeks. . Over the last two summers, extremely high temperatures have caused significant movement to several of the supporting columns. On both occasions, there was no alternative but to close the flyover as it would have been unsafe to leave it open. . This week, a range of councillors and local residents' representatives met again to discuss the future of the Army and Navy flyover. . The group are urgently seeing a long term solution to the Army and Navy but in the immediate term discussed a range of options which the travelling public are able to consider, including: Using Sandon Park and Ride - at the morning peak period, there are still around 450 spaces available for car users at Sandon. The cost is just £3.60 daily or £18 weekly a
30 Aug 2019
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!”
