Last week Highways England gave us a detailed briefing on the next round of work on the A14 slip road at Claydon. Their letter which includes a schedule of closures and some aerial photos is at the link below. It details how they hope to minimise the inevitable disruption while they clear out drains and the culvert in the centre of the roundabout. https://suffolklibdems.org/gippingvalley/drainage-at-a14-claydon-junction/ Councillor John Field
From Lib Dem Leader, Ed Davey
Last Thursday Telford and Wrekin's Labour Council increased council tax by 4.99%. Liberal Democrats did not support the council tax increase at last week's full council meeting.
Like many people, unfortunately last year I got the Covid-19 virus. I had to go into Intensive Care for a short time, then onto a Covid ward. While I was in hospital, it gave me a wonderful opportunity, to observe how brilliant our NHS nurses are.
A local Councillor has taken on a role supporting Cancer Research UK as Councillor Care Champion. Hinckley Councillor Michael Mullaney has taken on the role of Councillor Care Champion in Leicestershire, The role involves promoting and supporting the work of Cancer Research UK.
Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are celebrating International Women's Day, and many local groups and organisations have been marking the occasion.
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!”
