Greenest Government Ever invests pension money in roads and energy-intensive industry while slashing low carbon solar subsidies.
With crucial talks on climate change currently taking place in South Africa,
George Osborne's plans to boost the
economy by investing in roads and helping energy-intensive industries is as outrageous as it is short-sighted (Osborne's
£5bn gamble to stave off recession, 28 November, The Guardian). The self-styled "greenest
government ever" should be building a low-carbon economy, not making us
more dependent on gas, coal and oil. Tens of thousands of jobs in the solar
industry are under threat from plans to slash solar subsidies. Just a fraction of the
billions available to Osborne would safeguard this thriving industry - and help households generate their own energy.
And the UK's cash-strapped green investment bank is in desperate need
of a financial boost too. It's ironic that much of the money to fund the chancellor's carbon-intensive investment drive
will apparently come from commercial pension funds. Surely this money should be used to safeguard people's
long-term wellbeing, not to build a riskier and more expensive future for us all.
Andy Atkins, Executive director, Friends of the Earth (in letter to The Guardian 1st December 2011)
Stockport Friends of the Earth were delighted to hear confirmation from Councillor Iain Roberts, Executive Councillor (Transportation), that the Marple Dale Bridge will happen early in 2012. Fearful that significant funding from Sustrans could be lost, Stockport Friends of the Earth collected well over one hundred signatures from concerned local residents on a petition to urge our Council to get a move on. Cllr Roberts was attending our October meeting to discuss a variety of local transport issues with local Stockport group members.
Work has started at the site of Stockport's first community owned hydro electricity plant. Louise Fowler, one of the scheme's directors, said "It's really great news. As a local resident it's exciting to think that in a few months Stockport will be generating its own renewable energy."
Free Insulation. Stockport Council, in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust and British Gas, via the Get Me Toasty campaign, are offering FREE cavity wall and loft insulation to ALL owner occupiers and privately renting residents in Stockport regardless of age or income. For loft top ups there will be a charge of £60.
Contact Stockport Council via the freephone number 0800 512012 or by visiting www.getmetoasty.com
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