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Further to the launch of the Folkestone & Hythe District Council Discretionary Small Business Grant Scheme, they have now widened the scheme to include those that have already received a grant from the Self Employment Income Support Scheme and more types of businesses are now eligible for funding. Those eligible to apply for a grant now include:
Over 4.5 million additional people are caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic
Independent charity Warminster and District Foodbank, run solely by volunteers, doubled its efforts last month supporting those in need during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Conservative infighting is disappointing; but we'll continue to fight for you The Spelthorne Liberal Democrats are disappointed that Conservative infighting has come to a head again during a time when we are all trying to pull together. Far from the inclusive and positive effort that we have contributed and supported during this crisis, we now find ourselves in a situation that distracts from key issues. Nonetheless, as the Council moves into No Overall Control for the first time in its history, it is right that we as the Liberal Democrats, the main opposition party look to ensure stability and an optimistic outcome that puts residents first.
One of the last of Mere's community pubs , but its regulars are not giving up on its future.
Plans for all primary school years in England to return before the end of term dropped by the government. Children's commissioner: reports secondary schools may not open past September is "deeply worrying" and says look at Wales
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!”
