Mayor's A Level Results Day Message to Students
Mayor Dave Hodgson has sent his best wishes to everyone receiving their A Level results today across Bedford Borough.
16 Aug 2018
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
A fond farewell to the 'Clerical Queen'
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of former Braintree and Witham, local party Chair, Gill Collings. Gill died suddenly at home on Sunday the 12th of August 2018.
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15 Aug 2018
Mayor Dave Announces Project to Build New Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge Alongside Bromham Road Bridge
Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced that Bedford Borough Council will construct a separate, dedicated cycle and pedestrian bridge alongside Bromham Road Bridge in Bedford. The Council has secured a deal with Network Rail to enable it to build the bridge over the railway, alongside the road bridge which Network Rail is replacing as part of its project to electrify the lines.
15 Aug 2018
Lib Dems call for improvements to county roads to help cyclists
Gloucestershire Lib Dems call for road improvements to encourage more to commute by bike August 15 is the UK's annual Cycle to Work day, one of the largest event in the bike calendar and sees thousands of workers ditch the car and cycle to work instead. The benefits of cycling are enormous, from promoting healthy bodies and mental wellbeing, to cutting the amount of pollution and congestion on our roads. Yet despite this, only three per cent of the UK's commuters use a bike to get to and from work - one of the lowest rates in Europe. At the other end of the scale, 43% of Dutch and 30% of Danes cycle daily. Councillor Iain Dobie, Liberal Democrats county council spokesman on cycling, said: "Our county has some of the most stunning routes to cycle, either socially or on people's commute to work. "However, people are being put off cycling because they do not feel safe on our roads, meaning both they and wider society miss out on the incalculable benefits. "Given the state of Gloucestershire's roads - most notabl
15 Aug 2018
Lib Dems Autumn Conference Agenda
Lib Dems Brighton Conference - Demand Better Saturday 15th to Tuesday 18th September 2018 - Brighton Centre
15 Aug 2018
How do Local People React to a Say on the Terms of Brexit?
"Not another one!" said Brenda of Bristol. We understand. But ultimately, a final say for the people would be accepted by the...
TW
15 Aug 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!”
