Introducing... Clive Amos for Roydon
Clive spent the whole of his career in NHS management as well as serving as a magistrate for nearly 25 years which included sitting on related national bodies.
27 Apr 2019
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Nature and the GLD Conference in Nottingham in June
Focusing on Nature - the 2019 Green Lib Dem Conference Planning for the 2019 Green Liberal Democrat conference in Nottingham on 15th June is now hotting up and will take off rapidly once the Local elections are done and dusted. I have just finalised my leaflet for the last week of my campaign and sent it off to the printers and, although I am planning a canvassing trip later, I have found a few minutes to update you on how the conference is coming along. My leaflet (this will not surprise you!) concentrates on the Climate Change emergency and our response to the XR activity over the last couple of weeks - I will let you all know how it works out in next week`s vote.
KM
27 Apr 2019
Debenhams Store Closure - a blow for Chatham Town Centre
The news that Debenhams has confirmed plans to shut its store in Chatham High Street has delivered a devastating blow to the Town Centre. Chatham has been named as one of the department stores the chain plans to shut next year closing 22 outlets across the country, putting 1,200 jobs at risk. Debenhams was the centrepiece of the High Street and its closure will have a huge impact on the look of Chatham Town Centre. John Castle, Liberal Democrat Candidate for River Ward states - "This is hugely disappointing news and a real blow for Chatham Town Centre. Debenhams has been a great addition to the High Street and it is sad to hear that we are going to lose it - particularly for the staff ".
AW
27 Apr 2019
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RH
26 Apr 2019
Losses like Debenhams could be halted
Speaking today after the announcement that Debenhams in Stockton High Street is among the stores earmarked for closure, David Minchella, Stockton Liberal Democrat campaigner, is extremely concerned about the news that the store is closing in 2020.
26 Apr 2019
Lawns Nursery Funding Threat
Nursery schools, such as the outstanding Lawns Nursery in Imperial Road, are fearful for their futures as the Conservative government plans to cut their funding.
AT
26 Apr 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!”
