Ed Davey Writes: A Clean Energy Revolution
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 by aldcadmin

At the launch of the new Draft Bill on energy, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, writes:

Over the next decade, around a fifth of existing power plants are due to close, against a background of increased energy demand and increasing prices. We need new investment simply to keep the lights on.

But more than that, we need a clean energy revolution to meet our ambitious climate change goals and make this the greenest government ever.

That’s why I am bringing forward a new Energy Bill today.

You can read more about our clean energy revolution here.

We also need to transform our energy market to reduce the risk and cost of low carbon technologies.

That’s what our Bill does.

The UK is fast becoming a world leader in renewable energy, especially in off shore wind. I want us to lead the world in Carbon Capture and Storage too.

And we are also tackling rising energy bills. Without reforming the energy market bills will rise by around £200 in the coming years. Our reforms will mean bills are around 4% lower than they otherwise would have been.

Going green is good for the economy, good for Britain and good for you.

Yours,


Ed Davey MP

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

(Image licensed under Creative Commons from DECC)
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Posted May 22, 2012 * Comments(0)

Lighting plaque ready for installation.

Work is well underway for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. This week work men began installing a lighting plaque onto the front of the Guildhall in Andover’s High Street. I was in the town when the plaque was being put in place & lucky enough to have a sneak preview of what it looks like.  The plaque has been organized by the Andover town Council & will be lit up in a ceremony on Sunday 27th May at 12.30 pm. Hope to see you there.

The plaque is similar to the one put put onto the Guildhall in 1953 for the Queen’s coronation.

Work has also been going on in refurbishing the Jubilee lamp in the Guildhall forecourt, it currently has scaffolding around it so that work can be done to repaint it etc. This Jubilee lamp was first erected for the 1887 for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee & it was restored in 1977 for the silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

New mayor for Testvalley
Posted May 17, 2012 * Comments(0)

The new mayor, Dorothy Baverstock with Cllr Nigel Long

At the Annual Council meeting yesterday Dorothy  Baverstock was sworn in as Mayor of Test Valley for the following year. Dorothy is a former school teacher & has  been a Cllr for Cupernham ward for the last nine year’s. Wendy Morrish was named as the mayor’s consort. Dorothy has promised to use her year as Mayor to promote the work of volunteers, saying that they are the lifeblood of the Borough & that she is determined to get more teenagers involved. Without them the quality of life would be much reduced.

Congratulation’s to Dorothy in her new role of Mayor of Testvalley, i feel that she is an excellent choice for  Mayor & wish her every success in the coming year with the local groups that she is supporting.

Lib Dem Pupil Premium – A Message from Nick Clegg
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 by aldcadmin
For me, nothing better illustrates the Liberal Democrat mission to make Britain a fairer place than our Pupil Premium: extra money for the most disadvantaged children in our schools.

We are letting schools decide the best way to spend this money.  I want to strike a deal with our schools and teachers: we’ll give you the cash, the freedom, and we’ll reward and celebrate your success.  But in return, we want you to redouble your efforts to close the gap between your poorer pupils and everyone else.  We won’t be telling you what to do; but we will be watching what you achieve.

(Click picture to play video)

It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.

The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto.  And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.

Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.

The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.

The Queen’s speech
Posted May 9, 2012 * Comments(0)

Earlier today, and following the Queen’s Speech, the Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg emailed Liberal Democrat Party Members – outlining the Coalitions Government’s key plans for the next term of Parliament.

A copy of the email is below:

Dear Nigel,

The queen's speech in Parliment today.

Today’s Queen’s Speech has again shown that the Liberal Democrats are punching way above their weight – and we can be proud of that.

It included many of the long-term reforms we’ve campaigned for, such as reform of the banks. These will help build a sustainable future for our country.

In 2010, we took the decision together to enter into a Coalition Government so we could do the right thing for the country at a time of economic crisis. Today we’ve focused on helping families and supporting growth and jobs.

Vince Cable will regulate the banks so they can no longer be in a position to hold the country to ransom when their financial gambles don’t pay off. And Ed Davey will establish the world’s first Green Investment Bank and introduce electricity market reform to protect consumers, support  low-carbon energy and invest in renewables.

We’re also helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Steve Webb will help pensioners by introducing a flat-rate pension. We’ll propose a way to modernise adult care and support, finally ensuring dignity in old age.

Today also clearly set out our collective determination to reform the House of Lords, an historic commitment of our party.

There’s so much more I could highlight: Sarah Teather’s work on improving support for children with special educational needs, our support for flexible working and shared parental leave and our proposals to strengthen the hand of farmers and other suppliers of supermarkets through an independent adjudicator.

You can read about all of this and more on the Liberal Democrats’ website.

This Queen’s Speech has a firm Liberal Democrat stamp on it, delivering on what we’ve passed at Conference and pounded the pavements and knocked on doors for.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

Be Clear on Cancer – National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 by aldcadmin

This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.

One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/

With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/tag/be-clear-on-cancer/

Vigo recreation ground car park
Posted May 9, 2012 * Comments(0)

Vigo Recreation ground car park befor the work

The car park in Vigo Road Recreation ground is in need of maintenance to prevent further deterioration of the surface, which is full of ruts & potholes. The good news is that the funding is in place for this work. The car park is due to be resurfaced & the work will commence on the 23rd May & should be complected by the 1st June. The works will include resurfacing the adjacent footpath within the recreation ground. In order to carry out the scheme the car park will be closed for duration of the works.  Local residents have been notified about the works.

Affordable Housing Compleations 2011/2012
Posted May 6, 2012 * Comments(0)

The total number of new & additional affordable homes for the last year is 220 homes. Which exceeds TVBC target of 200 homes per year. Of these, 29 were built in villages through the Hampshire Alliance For Rural Affordable Housing (HARAH) partnership which again exceeds  the target of 15 rural homes per year.

Of the 220 homes, 10 have been built to a standard, that makes life easier for disabled/ wheelchair accesses. There has also been a large rise in the amount of family homes as opposed to flats in comparison to last year. Overall, 79% of the new homes were for general needs rent. The other 21% for shared ownership, part buy part rent.

Almost 50% of this new affordable  housing last year was built in St Mary’s Ward of Andover; 15 at Monks Close, 82 at Picket twenty (phase 1a) &  at Bloors development,  also at Picket Twenty 9 more homes.  Across the all of Test Valley, there were 388 homes completed (2010/11). Of which 369 in the North of Test Valley, Andover & surrounding villages. I feel that it is time that the south of the Borough takes more of its share of the new housing stock in future.

Reward for small business
Posted May 3, 2012 * Comments(0)

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting up with Mr Stephen May who after leaving the army has decided to start up his own business. The new venture is called sjm cleaning which offers a service to property rental, housing associations, pubs & catering establishments. Specializing in  chemically cleaning their ovens.

The business incentive grant from Test Valley Borough Council, is a scheme which people can apply for to help in setting up a business in Test Valley. Mr May, has been in his new venture for just over eight months now. When i met Stephen to present the incentive grant to him, he told me that his work is increasing so much that he is considering taking on staff to help meet the demand in the near future . I wish him well in this new business venture & that it go’s  from strength to strength.

Council Leader finds a new seat!
Posted April 29, 2012 * Comments(0)

At the last Test Valley Council meeting, Leader, Ian Carr was asked whether he thought being Leader of the Council for 13 years was about 10 years too long. The question was posed by his Liberal Democrat opposite number, Mark Cooper.

“Cllr Carr is exhibiting behaviour which suggests he is increasingly detached from his Council colleagues,” says Cllr Cooper. “A recent excellent piece of work done by a Councillor Panel on improving Test Valley’s recycling rates was summarily dismissed by Cllr Carr at a recent Cabinet meeting; he has recently granted himself significant extra powers without reference to either Cabinet or Councillor colleagues and now he’s equipped his office in Test Valley’s Andover Headquarters with luxury armchairs.”

“The furniture, I’m told, is ‘not bog-standard furniture procurement’ but is second-hand, and re-conditioned by a local supplier. It cost £1,400 which came from the Council’s Estates Services budget.”

“I can’t see why Cllr Carr would want to fill is office with a number of Chesterfield leather settees and armchairs, unless he’s going to entertain his political cronies,” he says. “If that is the case, he should buy the chairs out of his Leader’s allowance rather than use Council taxpayers money to buy them.”

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