PEOPLE POWER - TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

Wind farms? Nuclear power? Tidal power?

Conservatives at Somerset County Council have secured an important debate on Energy and are asking for your views.

The move comes after the Liberal Democrats at County Hall bundled through a rushed reply to the Government consultation on how to meet the problems of climate change and energy production.

The Administration agreed its response without asking residents what they think and without any debate amongst the Members of the Council on this crucial matter.

On top of all this, the response is almost two weeks too late.

“We are surprised that the Liberal Democrats did not bother to ask Somerset residents what they think about this issue, which is probably the most important issue for us and all our children,” said Christopher Wolverson, Leader of the Conservative Group at Somerset County Council. “We think that the question of how Somerset and Britain will develop secure and sustainable energy sources is too important to be rushed through without proper debate.”

“The Government started its consultation in January, so there is no excuse for the Liberal Democrats rushing this through and worse, being late and therefore giving a bad impression of Somerset. Their response does not properly examine important opportunities such as generating power from Waste, something that the Conservatives have been suggesting for years.”

“They only seem to ask people’s views when they want an excuse to do something, like increase Council Tax for example. They involve other elected members only when it serves their purposes to do so. We cannot let that happen on this monumentally important subject.”

“In view of the fact that Somerset’s residents along with most of their elected County representatives have been ignored, we have requested a full debate about this crucial issue and would like as many people as possible to write in and let us have their opinions,” Christopher Wolverson said.

The move also links to the Conservative Party’s Energy Review, an open-minded study of the various challenges facing the shape of the UK’s energy supplies, which will report in the summer.

Please send your views

By post to:

Christopher Wolverson

Leader of the Conservative Group

Somerset County Council

County Hall

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

Or by email to

rcwolverson@somerset.gov.uk

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1. The Executive Board at Somerset County Council agreed its response to the Department for Trade and Industry Consultation Document “Our Energy Challenge: Securing Clean, Affordable Energy for the Long Term” at its meeting on 26 April 2006.

2. The Liberal Democrat Portfolio-Holder for Economic Development stated at the Executive Meeting that the response was Liberal Democrat policy and, as Somerset County Council is run by the Liberal Democrats, a debate with all Members was not necessary.

3. In a speech in January 2006, Alan Duncan MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, announced that the Conservative Party would be undertaking its own Energy Review which will report by the middle of this year.

4. For further information or comment, please contact Christopher Wolverson, Leader of the Conservative Group, Somerset County Council, 01823 356784.