Bristol Liberal Democrats have long advocated for a franchised bus system in Bristol, to make bus companies accountable to the people of our city.
The costs of the Fargate Container Park have gone through the roof, with Sheffield Liberal Democrats voicing shock at the runaway expenses. From £300k in February to nearly half a million pounds now, something obviously went wrong!
At a Full Herts County Council meeting (20th December) Hertfordshire Conservatives refused to back an opposition Liberal Democrat motion demanding fair funding to support special needs education after it was revealed that Herts County Council received £14.1m less than other County Councils.
The Conservative Administration of Runnymede Borough Council, with the support of an Ottershaw Independent Councillor, pushed through an unbudgeted spend of £170K to recruit a second Assistant Chief Executive at the December Corporate Management committee, held on 15th December. This is at a time when the Council's budget is under severe pressure.
A488 Bridge Street, Clun. Start Date: 11th January 2023. End Date: 25th January 2023. Purpose: Bridge Repair works to include:- Take down & Rebuild noted 1.2m long x 0.85m high section of parapet at upstream left. Reset 3.5m length of displaced copings above left arch upstream side. Works Promoter: Shropshire Council. Works Promoter Ref: UJ216BR-586546. Enforcement pattern for A488 Bridge Street, Clun: Monday - Friday 09:30 - 16:00. You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here: https://one.network/?tm=131708954 Should you have any queries regarding this closure, please call Customer Services on 0345 6789006, or contact the Street Works Team on streetworks@shropshire.gov.uk. A488 Bishop's Castle to Shrewsbury at Edgebold Roundabout A5 To Hanwood 30 Mph Limit, Shrewsbury. Date: 9th January 2023. Overnight 20:00pm - 06:00 am. Purpose: Road Closure - Severn Trent Water, replace defective manhole frame and cover in carriageway. Road to be closed between 20:00 - 06:00 only. Works Promoter: Seve
Bishop's Castle Medical Practice - Christmas and New Year opening times are as follows:
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!”
