Public Health England to investigate
Mayor Dave Hodgson had previously raised the issue of Bedford Borough's number of positive Coronavirus cases with Public Health England and had asked for more detailed data.
20 Jun 2020
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Men’s Health Week 2020 – Take Action on Covid-19
This week is Mental Health Week 2020, and the theme this year is 'Take Action on Covid-19'. With figures showing that men are more likely to die from Covid-19, it is critical that men get the message loud and clear about how to help keep themselves safe through this difficult period.
20 Jun 2020
East Coast Main Line Upgrades Works to Continue at Kings Cross This Weekend June 20th and 21st)
You are being urged not to travel on the East Coast Main Line on Thameslink services via Finsbury Park or to or from London King's Cross this weekend (June 20th & 21st).
19 Jun 2020
East Coast Main Line Upgrades Works to Continue at Kings Cross This Weekend June 20th and 21st)
You are being urged not to travel on the East Coast Main Line on Thameslink services via Finsbury Park or to or from London King's Cross this weekend (June 20th & 21st).
19 Jun 2020
Westbury Gassification Action Group need your help!
The proposed changes by Hills Waste in planning permissions at the Westbury Gassification plant in #Westbury to change the permissions for the plant to conventional incineration has united groups in South West Wiltshire. The move would significantly increase heavy traffic through Westbury, causing increased emissions and pollution not to mention traffic congestion. Local Lib Dem Councillors, Westbury Town Councillors, local residents and SW Wiltshire's MP have said this intention by Hills Waste to alter planning permissions is completely unacceptable. The Westbury Gassification Action Group have had concerns about the planning application and process and were concerned that this might have been one of the possible plans. It is possible that Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd have used Britain leaving the European Union as an opportunity to side step the EU rules that would have precluded it. Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd have stated they intend to submit planning permission in July/August 2020.
EN
19 Jun 2020
COVID-19 update from your LibDem College Ward councillors - 19 June 2020
Welcome to our latest update, using developments since our last update on Friday 5th June.
19 Jun 2020
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!”
