Coronavirus Update (17th Apr 2020)
Our 17th April COVID-19 update below contains: Help us to improve these emails Lib Dem Councillors Response Update Haringey...
17 Apr 2020
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
CORONAVIRUS: Council Launches £40.4m Local Business Support Fund
A £40.4 MILLION support fund for small businesses in North Somerset has now been fully launched, with the support of the Liberal Democrat Council Group.
17 Apr 2020
Questions raised about care homes in Wiltshire
Unison has written to Wiltshire councillors asking if provisions are in place to help workers in the county's care homes. Care workers should receive full pay if they need to shield or self-isolate, and those continuing to work should have the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which they need to keep themselves and their residents safe.
WLD
16 Apr 2020
A New Normal after Lockdown
Whilst we are in 'lockdown', it is a perfect opportunity for all of us to take a calm look at our 'normal' lives.
JB
16 Apr 2020
Victory against fracking in Salford, Trafford, Warrington, Cheshire West and Chester.
It seems IGAS has finally given up on fracking in the Northwest of England, at least for the time being.
JJ
16 Apr 2020
Domestic abuse calls up 25% since lockdown
The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Domestic abuse calls up 25% and at least 16 suspected domestic abuse killings identified since the Covid-19 lock-down restrictions were imposed As we prepare for a further period of lock-down, women in violent relationships are faced with being stuck at home and exposed to their abuser for even longer periods of time and making it very difficult for them to call helplines. Campaigners have warned the restrictions could heighten domestic tensions and cut off escape routes such as the school run. BBC news 6 April 2020 reported that the charity Refuge had said the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which runs 24/7 has seen a 25% increase in calls and online requests for help since the lock-down. Both globally and in some EU countries, it has been reported that cases of domestic violence rose by a third in the week after lock-down was put in place. Added to these statistics the Guardian is reporting that at least 16 suspected domestic abus
16 Apr 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!”
