An independent scientific audit of the UK's climate change policies predicts that the government will fall well below its target of a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 - which means that the country will not reach its 2020 milestone until 2050. The report says government forecasts on emissions are "very optimistic" and projects that the true reduction will be 12 - 17%, making little difference to current CO2 emission levels.
Liberal Democrats at county hall have today (6 March) taken steps to try and stop street lights being switched off. The Conservative decision to permanently switch off street lights across Essex, will be based on a pilot scheme due to run in Uttlesford, that the Lib Dems say is flawed.
David Kendall and Brentwood and Ongar Liberal Democrats are celebrating winning the Pilgrims Hatch by-election to Brentwood Borough Council on 1 March, taking the seat from the Conservatives.
Springvale Liberal Democrat Cllr Richard Whitehouse took to Full Council a motion calling for an end to the planned closures of the Area Housing Offices. However the ruling Labour party amended the motion so as to make it meaningless and to get their own members off the hook. This meant Labour failed to support Lib Dem moves to stop the closures which will now go ahead.
After being contacting by many local residents, Morehall Lib Dem Action Team Darren Briddock and Tom McNeice are conducting a residents survey in Morehall Avenue and Chart Road about the regular traffic problems there.
Shepway Liberal Democrats were represented in force at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Harrogate. Folkestone and Hythe Parliamentary Spokesman Toby Philpott and many other local members including Maureen Speller, Paul Kincaid, Tom McNeice, Darren Briddock, Season Prater, Tim Prater and Shaun Roberts all made the journey for the traditional launch to May's election campaign.
