Councillors have expressed concerns over the impact that the delay in announcing councils’ public health funding allocation could have on vital services such as sexual health, outbreak control and drug and alcohol treatment, warning that this may lead to service interruptions and cuts.
2021 - GLD Chair`s Report In the interests of developing synergy, I thought I would write an article for the Green Liberal Democrat website that would also function as my Chair`s Report to the GLD AGM to be held on Saturday 29th January. So, it would be good to see as many of you there as we can manage to get along.
On the floor of the House of Commons this week, South Lakes MP Tim Farron urged the President of COP26 Alok Sharma to finally axe plans for a controversial new coal mine in Cumbria.
As part of the Budget announcement that has already set aside funding for climate change projects, green space investment and improvements to the road network, Mayor Dave Hodgson has also announced a project to enhance the Embankment area. Commenting on the proposals Mayor Dave said "The Embankment is a beautiful space that people across the Borough enjoy. During the day residents can enjoy walking along the river, past the many trees and flower displays that line the area. In the evening, the lighting that stretches the length of the Embankment makes it a unique place to visit. Over the last 2 years I'm sure we have all appreciated the importance of outdoor spaces, so I am very pleased we are investing in this area."
Milton Keynes Council's Progressive Alliance has today announced funding plans to repair and replace road and street name signs across the city.
On Wednesday Councillors at MBC’s Policy and Resources committee reconsidered December's decision to refuse additional pandemic support for Park and Ride Services, following Call-in by Lib Dem Councillors Derek Mortimer, Cynthia Robertson and Brian Clark. That decision, proposed by Maidstone Conservatives against officer advice, led to Arriva's confirmation that Park and Ride services at Mote Park and Allington will cease in February.
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!”
