Potential delays to local government reform in Northamptonshire
More bad news from Northamptonshire. Corby Council have call for a delay to the proposed Unitary Council to give more time to reorganise public services.
9 Jan 2019
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
'Consultation' on Larkrise loss
The WC Conservative administration's decision to save money by closing Larkrise and St Nicholas special schools is now out to consultation. Please note that only representations in favour of the project will be taken any notice of. Here's the WC official release. Note that the £20m figure is what would have been spent anyway, less savings, and whilst the new facility is stated to have 'Great' teachers. It's not clear how these will be recruited, or how they differ from current staff.
9 Jan 2019
Stop KCC cutting Library Hours
The online petition site, 38 Degrees, has a new petition "Keep Libraries Open in Kent" and invites everyone to add their names. You can read more and sign the petition here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/kent-library-opening-hours-threatened?bucket=template--8_1_2019_kent_libraries_kick
9 Jan 2019
Lib Dems Fight to Keep the No. 58 Hospital Bus
Public consultation will take place on the replacement of the number 58 bus. This is currently the only bus connecting the Malling villages to Maidstone Hospital. This route is to be replaced by a more frequent service (possibly running hourly) on a shortened route to Tesco at Lunsford Park, where passengers wanting to travel to Maidstone or the Hospital are expected to change to other routes.
8 Jan 2019
Massive cop-out on local air quality action risks charges on motorists.
The statement by the three local councils (reproduced in full below) is a massive political cop-out and an abject failure of political leadership on the issue of the dangers of the air quality on our Tyneside streets.
8 Jan 2019
Minister praises MP for “excellent” work on radiotherapy campaign
Local MP Tim Farron's campaign for better access to radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients has been praised by a Government minister in Parliament.
8 Jan 2019
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!”
