Green plans will boost jobs and homes in Scarborough and Whitby (Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats)

Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats <info@scarboroughandwhitbylibdems.org.uk>

Green plans will boost jobs and homes in Scarborough and Whitby

December 22, 2008 6:00 AM

Liberal Democrats in Scarborough and Whitby 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 on 18th December by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP.

The plans will cost £12.5bn, which would be paid for by scrapping the proposed 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 old railway lines and stations, opening new ones, electrifying the Great Western and Midland mainlines and beginning the Liverpool light rail network

• Installing energy and money saving smart meters in every home within five years

"The plans proposed by Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats will give an immediate boost to the economy here in Scarborough and Whitby," said Tania Exley-Moore, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate. "And by insulating people's homes, it will help thousands of residents whose heating bills have gone through the roof in the past year.

Mrs Exley-Moore welcomed plans to build more social housing, given the woeful lack of affordable homes in the borough and she also added "we would welcome investment into the railways here on the East Coast. It would certainly boost the local economy if the old Whitby to York line was re-opened, bringing more holiday makers into the town and giving Whitby people the opportunity to look for work further afield".

"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."