Cumbrian mine - an ecological response

The arguments for the opening of a new mine in Cumbria revolve around the quality of the coal that is to be mined and many other benefits are proposed.

The stated assumptions are that it will produce high-quality coking coal vital for steel making, not to be confused with fossil fuel to be used for heating and general energy production. Therefore the "reduce fossil-fuel" argument for NOT mining in Cumbria is not scientifically sound according to the pro-mine faction. However, this argument falls at a number of hurdles.

At a Full meeting of Rugby Borough Council on 2 February 2021, Liberal Democrat Councillors put forward an amendment to the Draft Housing Revenue Account Capital and Revenue Budgets 2021/22 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2021-25 to look at improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock and plant more trees on Council land.

Since October 2020, Bedford Borough Council have been working alongside their partners, Sustrans, to increase the number of active travel initiatives in the Borough and the amount of people who are taking part in them.

To help achieve this, the Council are now working with schools and businesses in Bedford Borough to support them to get accredited through Modeshift STARS, a scheme recognising organisations that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable and active travel.

In 2010, Newcastle was the greenest city in the UK, focusing on the city's bee strategy. (1) We need to reclaim that, Cllr Robin Ashby will tell Newcastle City Council tonight.

75% of crops rely on bees and other pollinators for fertilisation - on farms and orchards, our back gardens, balconies and allotments. Maintaining bee populations is crucial.

Ed Davey welcomes the decision to review the planning permission of a new coal mine in Cumbria

Soy, Brazil, the EU & the Amazon

The European Union is taking a tough line with Brazil about the deforestation of the Amazon. European Parliament deputy Pascal Canfin, who is president of the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety says, "Brazil can't figure on the international scene as the country that doesn't want to cooperate. It would be a terrible economic decision".

Louise Harris seeks Party Position...

Louise Harris has been a GLD member from the start of the group (and a member of the Liberal Ecology Group before that!). She has been a Vice Chair of the group and has won awards as an environmentalist campaigning Councillor

GLD members wish her the best of luck in her new campaign....

Money to fight the climate emergency in the South Hams could be almost doubled if the District Council agrees to a recommendation from opposition councillors to add another £324,000 to the Climate Change and Ecological Emergency budget.

Yesterday's Overview and Scrutiny Committee at South Hams District Council voted to recommend the additional spending.

Councillor Carole Mulroney, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: "This is an exciting action plan which provides extensive details on previous, ongoing and future work carried out by the council to help us reach our aim of becoming a Green City...CLICK HERE TO READ MORE