Quiz Night at Meeting Places, Darwen - Wednesday 23 March at 7pm
The local organisation is holding a quiz at Meeting Places in Darwen on Wednesday 23 March at 7pm.
22 Mar 2022
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Liberal Democrats call on Chancellor to stop unfair National Insurance rise
Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to reverse his decision to raise National Insurance ahead of the Spring Statement this week. The unfair tax rise will hit thousands of workers in Bedford Borough who are already struggling through the Conservatives' cost of living crisis, with inflation set to hit 8% later this year and the country facing its highest tax burden in 70 years.
22 Mar 2022
Mayor's Climate Change Fund: New LED Lights for Bedford Pentecostal Church
Thank you to Pastor Josh Masih for showing me around Bedford Pentecostal Church. Bedford Borough Council awarded £9,610 to the Bedford Pentecostal Church following their application to the Mayor's Climate Change Fund. This was used to install improved LED lighting to reduce the building's electricity consumption. It was fantastic to see the new lights in action and great to hear about the energy and money the church has saved since they were installed. The Mayor's Climate Change Fund can provide up to 50% match funding for projects that help to reduce carbon emission and energy costs of community buildings within Bedford Borough. Groups that can apply for the fund include voluntary and community groups, not for profit organisations, public sector organisations including schools and parish councils, registered charities and social enterprises. If you represent an eligible organisation and would like to apply for the Mayor's Climate Change Fund, you can register your interest by vi
22 Mar 2022
New Pumping Station Opened on River Great Ouse
A new pumping station, which will reduce flood risk to residents and businesses on the south side of the river, has been officially opened near the banks of the River Great Ouse at Bedford Girls School on Cardington Road.
22 Mar 2022
I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it any more
This was originally published in our members and supporters newsletter on 19 March 2022.
MG
22 Mar 2022
Childcare Prices Rise £600 in a Single Year
Childcare Prices Rise £600 in a Single Year
22 Mar 2022
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!”
