Liberal Democrats in Calderdale 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 recently by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP.
The plans will cost £12.5bn, which would be paid for mainly by scrapping the 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 six old stations and at least eleven old train lines, including the Todmorden Curve (which is estimated to cost about £4m and has been the subject of a long-standing local campaign) and invest in signal improvements and track-doubling across the country (including a turnback facility at Todmorden allowing an extension of Rochdale trains).
- Installing energy and money saving smart meters in every home within five years which will give people the chance to monitor and reduce the amount of electricity they use
“The plans proposed by Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats will give an immediate boost to the economy here in Calderdale,” said Hilary Myers, Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Calder Valley constituency. “And by insulating people’s homes, it will help thousands of residents whose heating bills have gone through the roof in the past year.”
“I particularly welcome the fact that the Todmorden Curve has been included in these plans as this would help give a much needed boost to our local economy.”
“Whilst Labour and the Conservatives are quietly dropping serious interest in tackling climate change and damage to the environment, 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.”
