There are various sources of information and support available at the moment, and the suituation is very fluid. Please note that the details below may change over the next few days.
At the current time politics as usual is not appropriate. The utmost priority is the safety and welfare of all Newcastle's citizens and we will work with the council and partner organisations to safeguard this. Newcastle Liberal Democrat councillors are working from home to support the community and neighbour networks that have been established in many neighbourhoods in the wards we represent. We aim to ensure that older and vulnerable constituents receive any assistance they need at this time, whilst staying aware of the need to comply with the Government's instructions on staying at home and social distancing - like the gulls in the picture! But we also recognise there is a need to ensure that journeys outside the home are minimised, and that vulnerable people are safeguarded. People should continue to exercise caution about offers of help from people you don't know, and particular caution about divulging bank details, PIN numbers etc. We are aware that the council and partner organisations are w
Mayor Dave Hodgson has recorded a video to remind everyone to Stay Home and Stay Safe and also how you can contact Bedford Borough Council if you need help or can volunteer help at this time. You can watch the video here.
Independence of Scrutiny committee confirmed
Local MP Tim Farron is lobbying the Government to provide a package of support for the almost 11,000 self-employed people in the South Lakes to help deal with the impact of Coronavirus.
The Sports Development Team at Bedford Borough Council have launched a range of live online fitness classes to keep residents moving and promote wellbeing whilst at home.
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!”
