No arrangement was ever going to be better than the deal we already have as EU members but the Government's Brexit deal leaves the UK tied loosely to Europe, but with no influence and shunned by the rest of the world.
Tonight Merton Council approved building a new school in South Wimbledon, despite serious air quality concerns. Cllr Simon...
We absolutely do need to spend more on defence. You weren't expecting that were you. Defence is about more than spending on weapons of war though. Defence at its core is about ensuring that internal and external threats don't lead to the destruction of our society.
Haringey Liberal Democrats have condemned a decision by Labour-led Haringey Council to demolish two blocks on the Broadwater Farm...
Two public events are being held in November about plans for a new roundabout on the A40 northern bypass. The Innsworth Gateway Project has been proposed to facilitate the houses that will be built in Innsworth. The scheme will provide an upgrade to the Longford roundabout, which will increase its capacity to accommodate predicted future traffic flows and assist in relieving existing congestion. The events are being held on November 21 and 22 between 3.30pm and 7.30pm at Oxstalls Sports Park in Gloucester. It is an opportunity for members of the public to come and find out more and ask any questions to the project team. There is no need to register.
South Lakes MP Tim Farron is sending a health survey to 25,000 homes across his constituency to help get a better idea of local residents' experiences using local health services and how they could be improved.
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!”
