Road improvement scheme at Prince William Road/ Ballymacash Road junction, Lisburn
A major road improvement scheme at the Prince William Road/ Ballymacash Road junction in Lisburn will commence on Monday 17 July 2023.
It is failure to act on climate crisis which is truly “dangerous and irresponsible” say Greens
6 July 2023
Reacting to comments made by the boss of Shell in a BBC interview [1], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:
“Without even the vaguest hint of irony, the boss of Shell, which recently vowed to scale back on its climate change pledges [2], says it would be “dangerous and irresponsible” to cut oil and gas production, blaming the slow pace of the transition towards renewables.
“This is fossil fuel spin at its worst. The truly dangerous and irresponsible thing to do is to continue with business as usual at a time when temperature records are tumbling on a daily basis [3] and the International Energy Agency has said there must be no new investments in oil, gas and coal [4].
“It is companies like Shell that stand in the way of a rapid move towards renewables, aided and abetted by a Conservative government that continues to grant licences for more oil and gas exploration.”
Notes
Greens call for rail ticket offices to be kept open to support travellers
5 July 2023
Responding to a consultation on the closure of ticketing offices at all rail stations, Green Party Transport spokesperson Matt Edwards said:
“Any decision to close station ticket offices would be another short-sighted decision by a government that does not care about people who use public transport to get around.”
Edwards, who is also Leader of the Green Party Group on Bradford Council, added:
“Anyone who uses the train will know that the machines at our stations are not reliable and they don’t always make it clear which ticket is the cheapest ticket to buy. This will also make it more difficult for people who need to pay for tickets with cash.
“Being able to speak to someone is vital for many passengers and plans to close ticketing offices will make travelling by train more different for thousands of passengers – especially passengers with disabilities, those with limited mobility and parents travelling with children.
“Instead of another needless fight with unions and passengers, the government should be focusing on getting services running on time, dealing with overcrowding and making travelling by rail more convenient and affordable. Closing ticket offices will achieve none of that.”
Happy 75th birthday to our NHS
On its 75th birthday the NHS remains as important as ever to all of us.
Our fantastic NHS staff treat more than a million people a day, dispense almost a billion prescriptions a year, and kept us safe throughout the Covid pandemic by administering more than 150 million vaccines.
I count myself amongst the majority of people who say the NHS makes them proud to be British.
But sadly, despite this, every area of the NHS is under strain and it is in such a state that many fear for its survival.
People are struggling to get an appointment with their GP, loved ones wait in pain for hours for an ambulance, and those that cannot afford it are now often forced to turn to DIY dentistry.
Let’s be clear though, this isn’t due to strikes or inefficiency as the Conservatives might want us to believe, or a fundamental issue with the NHS’s founding principles, but the symptoms of years of mismanagement and incompetence from this Conservative Government.
They have overseen the NHS almost with a lack of interest, and even when they do kick into gear, they bring forward short-term sticking plasters or schemes that are either too late or completely ineffectual.
High-quality healthcare, free at the point of use, is essential for individual freedom and good health gives people the freedom to live the lives they choose. And that’s why as Liberals we have always championed the NHS.
We were there at its founding, and helped forge this national institution on the proposals set out in the Beveridge report in 1942.
And we’re here now still fighting for those values across the country.
The next election will give us a real chance to show the country what the Conservative’s dereliction of duty means for their health, and what our plans are to do something about it.
The Liberal Democrats are proud to be champions of the NHS and we will always fight to ensure that the care everyone receives is based on their need, not their ability to pay.
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Green Party urges government to block Gatwick expansion bid
3 July 2023
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer urged the government to deny Gatwick Airport a Development Consent Order, which it says it is applying for [1] and would allow the airport to create a second runway in a major expansion of its capacity.
Carla said:
“This is an immediate test for the government, coming just days after its own Climate Change Committee said there could be no more airport expansions, if it was to stand any chance of hitting its net zero goals [2].
“A second runway at Gatwick would be a disaster for the climate and could result in an extra 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emitted each year [3], at a time when the government’s own advisers say it is struggling to meet existing greenhouse gas reduction targets.
“The government could save everyone a lot of time, effort and worry by refusing this application outright.
“In recent months it has given the green light to new oil and gas fields, and a new coal mine.
“Yet the climate danger signal is flashing red. The government must make it clear that it will listen to its own advisers and ensure there is no new airport expansion at Gatwick or elsewhere.”
Councillor Jonathan Essex, Green Group leader on Surrey County Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough council, said:
“It is time for our Government to declare a moratorium on airport expansion and start taking its climate responsibilities seriously.
“Gatwick Airport’s expansion is not only unacceptable on climate grounds but it will also make noise, air pollution and traffic worse locally.
“Instead of falling for Gatwick’s inflated promises the Government should commit to creating the new jobs needed to deliver a zero carbon future across the surrounding area – a Green New Deal for Gatwick.” [4]
ENDS
NOTES
1
2
https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2023-progress-report-to-parliament/
3
This is calculated by applying the increase in carbon emissions set out by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) for 2016 up to 2028 for the proposed second runway using Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) figures.
4
A Green New Deal for Gatwick Airport: https://www.greennewdealuk.org/updates/a-green-new-deal-for-gatwick/