Calling for Carbon Neutral dates is pretty Meaningless Gesture Politics.
Despite large demonstrations and media coverage, the general public's awareness of the seriousness of climate change had been developing only slowly.
SB
11 Jun 2019
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
EU Election Success across the UK and South East
The Lib Dems gained 15 EU election seats across the UK and achieved a high of 19.6% of the vote share across the entire UK. These are the best results for the Lib Dems in an EU election. The Lib Dems gained two seats in the South East region leaving them with three overall.
11 Jun 2019
The phones don't work at Wiltshire Council
WC admit they're experiencing what they call "issues" with people not being able to get through when calling phone lines at the council.
11 Jun 2019
Fetcham Surgery - update on petition
Many thanks to the hundreds of residents who have so far signed our petition to retain a GP surgery in Fetcham, following the Molebridge Practice's application to close its Fetcham surgery from 20 August. And particular thanks to those of you who have printed off a copy of the petition and collected signatures from friends and neighbours. If you have not yet signed you can do so here: mvld.org.uk/fetchamgp Or you can download a signature sheet for your friends and nieghbours to sign.
11 Jun 2019
Lib Dem leader Ian Thorn issues challenge for new Wiltshire leader
Ian Thorn, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Wiltshire Council has challenged the three prospective Tory candidates for Wiltshire leader on five key areas.
11 Jun 2019
Network Rail Bromham Road Bridge Public Information Event Takes Place Today
Network Rail are holding a public information event about the works they are carrying out on the Bromham Road Bridge later this month, that will last until 2020. The Network Rail event is taking place today, Tuesday 11th June, between 3pm and 7pm at The Bedford Centre Hotel on St. Mary's Street.
11 Jun 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!”
