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Green plans will boost jobs and homes in Bath and North East Somerset - Liberal Democrats
December 22, 2008 11:31 AM
Liberal Democrats in Bath and North East Somerset have given their backing to plans for investment in green schemes that will make homes warmer, cut energy bills and improve public transport. The plans, called Green Road out of Recession, were announced on 18th December by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP.
Bath MP Don Foster and Cllr Roger Symonds discuss the Lib Dem plans which would see improvements to local train services
The plans will cost £12.5bn, which would be paid for by scrapping the proposed VAT cut. The vast majority of that money will be spent immediately, making a real impact on the economy and people's lives right away.
Green Road out of the Recession proposals include:
-A five-year programme to insulate every school and hospital, with 20% completed in the first year
-Funding insulation and energy efficiency for a million homes, with a £1,000 subsidy for a million more
-Building 40,000 extra zero-carbon social houses
-Buying 700 new train carriages
-Reopening Corsham station and electrifying the Great Western mainline
-Installing energy and money saving smart meters in every home within five years
Bath MP Don Foster commented:
"These Liberal Democrat plans will really help people here in Bath. Opening up more local trains services and providing more carriages will be a vital boost to local public transport, and electrifying the London - Bristol line will cut 20% of CO2 emissions per vehicle km.
"And by insulating people's homes, it will help thousands of residents whose heating bills have gone through the roof in the past year.
"Liberal Democrats believe that moving forward with green action on homes and transport will create jobs, cut energy bills, put money back into people's pockets and protect the environment."
Councillor Roger Symonds (Liberal Democrat, Combe Down) added, "Only the Liberal Democrats see the opportunity offered to really expand 'green' investment. Sadly, investment in sustainability is still being affected by Government inertia. They will bail out unsustainable manufacturers while leaving companies involved in this area to go to the wall. The Conservatives of course will do nothing."
Councillor Paul Crossley (Liberal Democrat, Southdown) said, "As Conservatives and Labour dither in these difficult times the Liberal Democrats are showing a clear path to get through this nightmare. We need new social housing. We need improved transport infrastructure. These would create tangible benefits for our community and workers in contrast to the Darling approach of banker bonus and a trifle of VAT."
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