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Thursday 31 October 2013

District Council: asking for wildlife volunteers and advertising for a winter tree identification walk...................... on the Community Notice Board..............

Something interesting has appeared today 
- on the Community Notice Board on Old Fore St in Sidmouth:
















































As has been noted by a commentator:
SOS & EDA support both the above initiatives but asks
1. Is this the same EDDC that refused planning  permission for this Community Board?
2. Is this the same EDDC that intends to build on the best of Knowle Gardens and on AONBs throughout the district?

See also:
STC objects to new notice board in Old Fore Street. | Save Our Sidmouth
It’s a ‘danger’ - it’s a....notice board - News - Sidmouth Herald
Sidmouth’s Community Notice Board, Old Fore Street. | Save Our Sidmouth
Streetlife | Notice Board at Pure Indulgence | Page 1
Streetlife | Notice Boards - Advertising.............. | Page 1
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Stowford Lodge Health Centre: the plans

At the meeting held today to consider the Sid Valley Practice's proposals
Futures Forum: Stowford Lodge Health Centre: the proposals............... meeting Wednesday 30th October

the plans of the surgery were on view:





































as were the elevations:




































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Civic Voice: and Neighbourhood Plans

Over a year ago, Futures Forum held a meeting to consider putting together a Neighbourhood Plan:
Futures Forum: Neighbourhood Plans
Vision Group for Sidmouth - Neighbourhood Plan sustainable development

This followed on from several years of the Vision Group working on proposals for a Town Plan...

A report was compiled by the VGS in 2006:
Vision Group for Sidmouth - Original Vision Group Report

This was condensed into a set of proposals for a Town Plan and in 2009 the Vision Group met up with Town Councillors to consider these:
Sidmouth town plan talks - News - Sidmouth Herald

However, the Town Council felt by 2010 that these proposals were out-of-date:
10:04/11 VISION GROUP – TOWN PLAN 
The Working Party appointed by the Town Council consisting of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Council, Chairman and Vice Chairman of Planning and Chairman and Vice Chairman of Tourism met to consider the Vision Group’s amended version of the Town Plan for Sidmouth. 
 The Working Party’s recommendation to Council was as follows:- 
The Town Council is unable to endorse the Vision Group’s 2006 (amended) Town Plan, but commend the Group for the effort and work undertaken in the production of this document. It should be acknowledged that many of the objectives identified have already been achieved by others. Events have superseded this document with regard to many issues. 
The Town Council acknowledge that two main issues are still relevant e.g. Port Royal Development and the threat to Salcombe Cliffs.  
RESOLVED: That this be noted and agreed.
www.sidmouth.gov.uk/PDFs/STC Minutes 2009-10/stcapr122010.pdf

The issue of a Town Plan has been brought up regularly at the Annual Town Assembly:
The possibility of Sidmouth having its own town plan was also discussed.
The Vision Group for Sidmouth has long pressed for an integrated plan, with particular concern about the flood risk to the eastern end of town.
Councillor Sullivan said that he’d be glad to discuss this issue, and a general disaster emergency plan, after the introduction of the new Localism Bill, with its promised new freedom for local government bodies. Once this bill has been passed, he said: “East Devon District Council would have to discuss Sidmouth’s future development plans with the town council, so we (the town) can decide what we want.”
View From Online - News from West Dorset, East Devon & South Somerset
www.sidmouth.gov.uk/PDFs/Annual Reports/2011TownMeetingAgenda.pdf

The current framework under the Localism Bill is for a Neighbourhood Plan...

The county's oldest civic group, the SVA, would like to be involved in neighbourhood planning:
We are taking advantage of the new ‘Localism Bill’ to encourage The Town Council to promote a ‘Neighbourhood Plan’ for The Sid Valley. We are doing this in conjunction with other groups in the community. 
Sid Vale Association - Conservation and Planning

The Save Our Sidmouth campaign would like to be proactive:
We also wish, in the longer term, to encourage and assist Sidmouth Town Council (STC) to prepare a “Neighbourhood Plan”.
Our Campaign | Save Our Sidmouth

The Town Council has shown interest in neighbourhood planning:
11:09/19 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANS 
At a recent meeting of the Town Council’s Planning Committee it was suggested that the Council might wish to produce a Neighbourhood Plan at some time in the future. 
www.sidmouth.gov.uk/PDFs/STC Minutes 2011/STC-SEP5.pdf
The Local Plan and continuing debate over the relocation of East Devon District Council and working with other groups and organisations on looking at a Neighbourhood Plan for the town will feature in 2013.
Chairman of Sidmouth Town Council, Cllr Stuart Hughes | Exeter Express and Echo

The District Council has recently looked at an application by Broadclyst 
- although it has sought to limit the remit of the Neighbourhood Area:
www.eastdevon.gov.uk/cabinet_agenda_170713_-_public_version.pdf

Finally, the Deputy CEO addressed the Town Council in March 2012 on several issues - including neighbourhood planning - but placed question marks on the viability of the project:

c) Neighbourhood Plans in East Devon. 
 Government is advising Parishes and Towns that they can draw up plans but it will cost between £30,000 - £40,000 There is no funding available from EDDC. 
 Neighbourhood plans had to conform to Local Plans. There would be a requirement to wait until the East Devon Local Plan had been agreed before starting a project. 
 Resources needed for drawing up of plans were substantial. 

Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement. 
"We speak up for civic societies and local communities across England." 
Futures Forum: Civic Voice
It has been working with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies - and the question of community involvement in neighbourhood planning.
This is a press release from 29th October: 


Press Release: Are some local authorities obstructing planning policy?


Show us the evidence that local authorities are deliberately obstructing the implementation of neighbourhood planning policy in their local areas. This was the call made during a debate of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies at Portcullis House on 29th October
Laura Sandys MP said “Where civic groups and others know of authorities that are obstructing the neighbourhood planning process, they should inform Civic Voice so that they can inform me. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies and and Civic Voice are regularly in touch with the Planning Minister and while I understand some areas have difficulties with resources, I am not aware of places where real deliberate obstruction is taking place. If there is, we want to know”
During the meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies, questions were posed to the Department for Communities and Local Government and Roberta Blackman-Woods MP (Shadow Planning Minister) about community involvement in planning with issues covered neighbourhood planning, permitted development and the community infrastructure levy.
Freddie Gick, the newly elected Chair of Civic Voice said “I accept that some authorities may be under resourced or lack the necessary skills to support neighbourhood planning. If this is the case, the Government should be offering more support. However, if local councils are trying to obstruct neighbourhood planning, I would encourage groups to feedback to us with examples. We can then share this with the Minister.”
Civic Voice | News | Press Release: Are some local authorities obstructing planning policy?

With thanks to: Civic Society asks: Are some local authorities deliberately obstructing neighbourhood planning? | Sidmouth Independent News
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"Building new homes is as much about communities as it is about housing."

Again, a reference to London with resonance for Sidmouth:

Building new homes is not just about constructing houses, it’s about creating places. It’s about creating communities that people can and want to live in – now and in the future. It’s about sustainable communities – something that we in the Cabe team regularly address during the Design Review process. To create sustainable communities we need to ensure that the various stakeholders involved in this construction boom, from developers to local authorities, approach the challenge with a shared set of standards, criteria, and values. We need to make sure that everyone agrees on what is valuable, and what is viable.
The first challenge to agreeing on what is viable is to understand what this means, in terms of motivations and finances, to each key stakeholder.  For example, the local authority may be largely concerned with creating a set number of affordable housing, while a developer is interested in balancing their budget and delivering a profit. The combined realities might mean that we end up rapidly constructing cheap housing in poorly designed neighbourhoods that will age quickly and have to be rebuilt in a short space of time. One way to mitigate against this risk and to meet the needs of all stakeholders is to redefine the criteria altogether. We need to redefine the meaning of viability and make it work for everyone involved in building... new homes.
London’s 2020 vision for new homes is not just about quantity | Design Council Blog
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Transience, with no allegiance to the town...

A comment from a regular contributor:

An interesting article on unaffordable London, which reminds me a little of the situation in Sidmouth.
In concluding the writer see below refers to transience as a threat to allegiance. Is transience sustainable I wonder?

Now it is beginning to feel that the next phase of London's history will be one of transience, with no allegiance to the city. I wonder whether those just parking their money here by buying real estate will ever be able to provide the communal sensibility to help the city survive the inevitable shocks it will experience in years to come.

Future of London: the New York Times on the foreign rich buying up property | UK news | The Observer
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Protecting trees: A new tree warden for Sidmouth

Congratulations to Diana East who has become an official tree warden for the Sid Valley:


Diana is valley's first tree warden

Friday, October 25, 2013

A 'tree of knowledge' on all things arboricultural has been chosen as the Sid Valley's first tree warden...

Delighted Diana East, who has played a pifotal role in making Sidmouth the world's first  civic arboretum, was the unanimous choice of town councillors.

A wardn keeps an eye on protected trees, rasises awareness of the value of trees in the community and encourages people to look after them properly.

The y also get involved with planting, surveys, walks  involving school-children and encouraging farmers to protect hedgerow trees or saplings. Councillors discussed the appointment at a meeting earlier this month.

'Mrs East has been a wonderful powerhouise behind the [Sidmouth] arboretum project,' said Councillor Simon Pollentine.

'I can think of no one better, she has the knowledge and enthusiasm,' said Councillor Mary Jolly.

Cllr Graham Liverton added: 'She is a tree of knowledge. It is a no-brainer to do this.'

The District Council provides professional arboricultural expertise as part of its service.


At the monthly session of the Sidmouth Town Council on 7th October, Diana East of the Sidmouth Arboretum was formally made a Tree Warden for Sidmouth.
www.sidmouth.gov.uk/PDFs/stc agendas 2013/Agenda STC-071013.pdf

The agenda item included a report on the work of Tree Wardens in East Devon, referred to in the Herald article: 
East Devon District Council - Tree Wardens
www.eastdevon.gov.uk/volunteer_booklet.pdf





East Devon

  • Coordinator: Ghislaine Silvers 
  • Information and Admin Officer
    Countryside Team
  • Telephone: 01395 517557 
  • Email: GSilvers@eastdevon.gov.uk 
Every parish in East Devon has a tree warden (or a vacant position for one!) and some have several. The parish tree warden is there to keep an eye on protected trees, to raise awareness of the value of trees in the local community and to encourage people to look after trees carefully. They often do this in conjunction with the parish council.
Some tree wardens also:
- Comment on planning applications relating to trees
- Get involved in planting trees in the parish or encouraging others to do so
- Survey trees or hedgerows in their parish
- Take local people on tree walks
- Involve school children in tree planting or growing trees from seed
- Encourage farmers to protect hedgerow trees or saplings
- Encourage sustainable management of orchards
A tree warden can do as much or as little as they like, depending on the workload in the parish and their own interests and available time. Tree wardens are encouraged to maintain close links with the District Council Tree Officers who can provide information about tree management, law and protection and data about which trees are protected within an individual parish.


Ghislaine Silvers
Information and Admin Officer
Countryside Team
East Devon District Council, Knowle, Sidmouth EX10 8HL

Tel: 01395 517557
East Devon | The Tree Council

Meanwhile, there is quite a team of people engaged in protecting trees in the Valley:

In fact, there are other Tree Wardens in the Valley: Chris Virgo of the SVA is also a tree warden: 
www.eastdevon.gov.uk/tree_conference_26_october.pdf

Kate Tobin, who was the Great Trees project co-ordinator for the District Council, continues to be active in matters arboricultural:
East Devon District Council - Great Trees of East Devon 

The SVA has its own officer on 'tree watch':
Sid Vale Association - Tree Watch

Town Councillors Simon Pollentine and Dawn Manley are on the committee of the Sidmouth Arboretum:
Sidmouth Arboretum - Newsletter October 2012

And of course there are the District Council Tree Officers - and clear procedures to follow with regard to trees in the District, as set out by the Council:

If you have any queries regarding tree related issues, please contact the Council’s Tree Officer David Colman on 01395 516551 or e-mail: trees@eastdevon.gov.uk 
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Wednesday 30 October 2013

Knowle: relocation project............................................... Protest at secrecy surrounding 'briefing': latest report

Fresh off the press: a report on today's protest at Knowle:
Confidential briefing for Councillors regarding Knowle relocation | Save Our Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Knowle: relocation... costs of borrowing......................? Another presentation to be given to 'stakeholders'................. And another ‘confidential briefing for councillors’


East Devon campaigners stage surprise protest against closed council office move meeting

By Exeter Express and Echo  |  Posted: October 30, 2013
 Comments (0)
Campaigners against the relocation of East Devon District Council’s headquarters from its historic Sidmouth base, surprised councillors this afternoon with a demonstration against a private meeting to discuss the move.
Around two dozen members of the East Devon Alliance and Save Our Sidmouth turned-up at the council chamber at Knowle ahead of the full council meeting, brandishing placards bearing slogans such as “Save Knowle Park” and “EDDC - Open? Transparent? What a joke” and chanting “no more secret meetings”.
Organisers said they were protesting against the “secrecy” they believe surrounds the issue of the council’s planned move from Knowle.
But a council spokesperson said that the matter was discussed in private because it contained some “commercially sensitive” information and the council has organised an open meeting with key stakeholders next Friday, November 8, at 11.30am at the East Devon Business Centre, Honiton.
The spokesperson said that it was usual for councillors to be briefed in confidence before matters are made public so they are “properly informed” and able to answer their constituents questions.
One campaigner, Tony Green, said: “The way the council operates is scandalous, it’s usual method of operation is secrecy, and this meeting is an example of that. The whole Knowle move project has been shrouded in secrecy with decisions being made by a small group of people. Within both campaign groups there is a wealth of professional competence including statisticians, engineers, barristers and planners who believe the data the council is using to justify the move is flawed.”
The campaign groups recently voiced concerns that the council’s proposed sell-off of its aging offices would not be as cost-neutral as the authority hopes.
But on the back of various surveys and assessments, deputy chief executive Richard Cohen said the council would save tens of thousands of pounds a year if its offices moved from the premises into a newer building. Following the unanimous agreement by the council’s cabinet for the authority to relocate, Mr Cohen is exploring potential sites in Honiton and Cranbrook.
But campaigners have said it’s “common sense” that moving is less financially viable than down sizing and doing-up its current premises and have accused the council of being “secretive” over the whole matter.
A council spokesperson, said: “Following a decision in July by Council to relocate, a group of Members and Officers have been considering and weighing up all the site options that have come forward. Having carefully checked all the potential sites against the selection criteria, we now have a shortlist of four potentially viable options to be considered by Cabinet on November 27, and later by Full Council. In line with EDDC’s pledge to keep the public informed, there will be a second stakeholder briefing on Friday, November 8, when details of the shortlisted sites will be made available, followed by a Press Release. To ensure that elected members of the Council are updated on progress before before site locations are made generally available, a briefing session has been arranged for this afternoon (Wednesday 30 October). This briefing will contain some confidential information which is commercially sensitive. It is routine practice for elected Members to be briefed about important matters before information is made public, so that Members are properly informed and able to answer any questions they may be asked by their constituents. EDDC remains committed to sharing as much information as possible with the public at each stage of the process.”





























































East Devon campaigners stage surprise protest against closed council office move meeting | Exeter Express and Echo

East Devon District Council - Moving and Improving
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"Levies, Damned Levies, and Statistics": Green levies and energy bills: What are the figures and what do people think?

The Mail on Sunday commissioned a survey on how people see the issues of 'green' levies and energy bills.

But how exactly are these statistics spun?

Britain says 'no' to green levies: More than half of voters object to paying eco taxes



Nearly two-thirds of voters oppose planned hikes in green taxes – and back David Cameron in his battle with Nick Clegg  to ‘roll back’ the levies.
A total of 60 per cent of voters object to the charges, which will hit households with an extra £270 per year on their energy bills by 2020. Just 18 per cent support the taxes.
The findings, in a Survation poll, come after a week in which double-digit hikes by the energy companies dominated debate at Westminster. 
The row over heating bills was galvanised last month when Ed Miliband pledged to freeze bills for two years after the next Election if he becomes Prime Minister. 
But our survey reveals Mr Cameron’s promise last week to cut the levies is backed by more people (40 per cent) than Mr Miliband’s freeze (33 per cent). And only seven per cent back Mr Clegg.
The public seem sceptical about whether Mr Miliband’s freeze is workable: a majority, 54 per cent, think the energy companies will just hike their prices before or after the freeze to compensate for lost revenues.
The Mail on Sunday poll shows 61 per cent support for Mr Cameron’s move, against just 11 per cent who want to keep the taxes in place. 
The energy firms say the compulsory levies –  such as the £33 which the typical family pays each year in subsidies for wind farms and solar parks – have contributed to their price rises.
Last week ex-Prime Minister Sir John Major warned surging bills meant that millions of people would face a choice between ‘heating and eating’ this winter.
A total of 38 per cent of those asked by Survation said they have already had to cut back on essential purchases such as food to afford their heating bills.
This rises to 56 per cent of those in the poorest social groups. If extrapolated to the nation at large, it would mean 19 million people have had to choose between ‘heating and eating’.
It is clear from the poll who voters blame for the hikes: 59 per cent cite the firms while just 15 per cent blame the Government. 
The same proportion blames the last Labour Government.
The poll has Labour on 35 per cent, the Tories 29, the Lib Dems on 12 and UKIP 17.
Survation interviewed 1,000 people on Friday.


Here's a response from the CEO of NPower:
And from the CEO of E.ON:

But there is still considerable criticism from the Mail directed towards the energy providers:


And yet, whilst these green levies are being blamed for higher energy bills, it seems that they are still widely supported:

Survey Shows Massive Public Support For British Green Taxes, But What Do The Public Really Want?


A poll conducted on behalf of The Mail On Sunday by Survation has found that the public supports the idea of green levies, no matter that those same levies are being blamed for higher energy bills. The survey, released on Sunday, covered a wide ranging list of issues being faced by the UK population, of which questions pertaining to ‘green taxes’ was only a small part.
When asked whether they support or oppose ‘green taxes’ in order to help investment in green energy, nearly 40% of respondents either strongly- or somewhat- supported the taxes, with only 29.3% opposing the taxes to any appreciable degree. 30.9 either didn’t know or neither supported or opposed the taxes, a somewhat disturbing number but one that isn’t overly surprising.
Competing with their support of the taxes is the public’s overpowering belief that the energy companies are using green taxes as a means to artificially hike energy prices. When asked whether respondents believed “energy companies when they say that taxes are the reason for steeper bills,” only 15.3% replied in the affirmative, with over 75% claiming that the energy companies were lying.
The public’s response to balancing between energy development and environmental stewardship was as self-serving as expected, with room for die-hard proponents on both sides. When asked, 22.9% favoured cheaper energy bills over environmental protection, 20.4% favoured the reverse, while 48.4% were all for keeping things just as they are. Asked whether green taxes were a waste of money or not, 38.1% thought they were and 44.6% disagreed, while 45.9% blamed the existence of the green taxes on the previous Labour government, and only 33.1% feeling it was the current coalition government’s fault.



But still the statistics reveal more information:

"75% of people don’t believe the energy companies when they say that ‘green taxes’ are the reason for steeper bills whilst less than 30% oppose the existence of ‘green taxes’ to help investment in renewable energy." 

"Nearly half of the people questioned also thought that current balance of cost of energy and environment impact should stay the same with an additional 20% thought that energy bills could be increased further to implement more environmentally friendly technology; together this account for more than two-thirds of the population."

"Out of an average household energy bill... around 9% of the overall bill. Of this, over [half] goes towards energy saving measures for low-income homes and a warm home discount for pensioners."

"The environmental and renewable energy factors to the average bill add up to... just over 4%." 

Levies, Damned Levies, and Statistics

Well that was about the most one sided PMQs you are ever likely to see.
Whoever was doing the prep work for David Cameron needs to be giving a good kick because that was comfortably the worst performance he has put in since becoming the Leader of the Conservative Party. You knew what was going to come up, energy and Sir John Major, yet he was so grossly underprepared it was pretty staggering. In saying that Ed Miliband gave arguably his best performance to date; he counter attacked, never let Cameron settle and his quip that ‘John Major was a Conservative Prime Minister who won a majority’ clearly rattled the PM who resorted to calling Miliband a ‘con man’ who was ‘living in a Marxist universe’ with neither remark landing any sort of blow. It was not quite a Tony Blair/John Major ‘weak, weak, weak’ moment, but ironically it was Major that helped tee Cameron up for the biggest trouncing he has had so far. The usually slippery DC has now been ruffled, is looking incredibly vulnerable and, worryingly for him, Miliband and Labour know it.
This has all stemmed from Ed Miliband’s speech at the Labour Party Conference 6 weeks ago. Like a hit number one, his proposal to freeze energy bills was both popular and has been played almost nonstop on the radio since. Some may call it a gimmick, others may call it unworkable but one thing is for sure it is a vote winner, a policy which addresses living standards and firmly draws attention to the criminal situation in this country where fuel poverty has meant that thousands of people will face the choice between heating and eating this winter. It will provide some respite to all, but especially those most desperate in our society who have seen their benefits capped or cut entirely, been taxed if they have been deemed to be living with the luxury of an additional room or simply been demonised and labelled as a scrounger if they are in the terrible situation of being unemployed.
Since Miliband’s game changing speech Cameron has been scratching around trying to find a riposte, searching for a policy idea that will match, never mind trump, Labour’s for effect and popularity. Labour has successfully shifted the debate to living standards and in particular fuel poverty, issues to the Tories are simply unequipped to deal with and it has shown. It really is quite something to see the Opposition, rather than the sitting Government, setting the agenda and indeed, future policy.
Cameron’s solution to cut green levies yesterday was as predictable as it was politically and practically clumsy to say the least. This is not so much as a U-turn as it is Cameron continually circling a roundabout, desperately looking for the right exit, before turning off in desperation and finding that he is heading off in a completely different direction to the one he intended. That’s if he really knew where he was heading at all.
If he thinks that this will be a more popular policy than Miliband’s price freeze then he is wrong; 75% of people don’t believe the energy companies when they say that ‘green taxes’ are the reason for steeper bills whilst less than 30% oppose the existence of ‘green taxes’ to help investment in renewable energy. Nearly half of the people questioned also thought that current balance of cost of energy and environment impact should stay the same with an additional 20% thought that energy bills could be increased further to implement more environmentally friendly technology; together this account for more than two-thirds of the population. Clearly then, popular opinion does not run parallel with David Cameron and his party so the cut in green levies is not designed to be a vote winner but a dramatic overhaul of energy strategy, surely?
Perhaps not; out of an average household energy bill of £1,267, green levies make up about £112 which works out around 9% of the overall bill. Of this, over 50% (£58) goes towards energy saving measures for low-income homes and a warm home discount for pensioners. These are the people most at risk from fuel poverty and it is not an exaggeration to suggest that thousands of peoples’ lives will be put at risk each and every winter if these support mechanisms are taken away.
Now underlying to all this is the presumption that many associate the green levies with renewable energy which is of course undeniably evil when compared to frackingand nuclear power stations (how dare us hippies promote an energy source that is stable, sustainable, clean, green and basically free once installed). The problem with this presumption is that 1).the vast majority of people support renewable energy and 2). the environmental and renewable energy factors to the average bill add up to £53 out of £1,255, just over 4%. Therefore, if these green levies were scrapped the saving would be a drop in the ocean when compared to the wholesale prices of energy and the margins and benefits the energy companies are enjoying from an oligopoly. Sure we may see a small drop in energy bills now but as long as we remain dependant on non-renewable resources, the majority of which are now sourced from abroad, then we will remain in a situation where an uncompetitive marketplace can dictate and enforce energy price rises of 10% or more. It is also thought that without these green measures, the average bill in 2020 would also stand £166 higher than it would have been otherwise. It is time to stop acting with such a narrow, short term view and look at the bigger, long term picture.
Green levies will help us build an industry in this country which will reduce a dependence on existing wholesale energy market by localising the supply of energy and providing a resource which is not so extremely susceptible to the effects of demand and supply. Increased competitiveness in the market will bring prices down and the interests of the consumer will come first with the introduction of more co-operative and community owned energy companies; it goes without saying that jobs and growth will follow. This is not a fanciful ideal but an ideas that are being put into practice despite this Government’s best efforts. Like any industry however, it needs room and support in order to blossom and not to be chocked off as a knee jerk reaction when the going gets tough.
I am not advocating higher energy bills, I am advocating people to look at the numbers. I am advocating people to look at our dependence on a finite resource, on the profits energy companies are making in an oligopolistic market place and the severity of the alternative options. I am advocating a stable, sustainable, clean, green future, a more competitive energy market with greater consumer input and ownership, with lower bills for all. I am advocating people look at who said to“vote blue, go green”, who promised the “greenest government ever” and who supported the introduction of green levies and increased them by 50% as Prime Minister. I am advocating that you also look at the person who oversaw thereduction of energy prices whilst Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, who has promised 1 million green jobs and has vowed to implement a price freeze.
I am advocating a better future.
Figures were sourced from the BBC and the Guardian which were in turn sourced from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
Levies, Damned Levies, and Statistics | Second Hand News
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