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High-speed rail should replace flights
August 5 2009
Transport Minister Lord Adonis said that the government wants most short-haul flights to be replaced by fast rail trains. He said in a newspaper interview that plans for new ultra-fast train services are being worked on. Plans include:
Electrification of railways to be expanded
July 23 2009
Transport ministers announced a huge expansion of electrification on the railway network. The Great Western route will be electrified along its whole length, whilst teh Liverpool-Manchester route will also allow more long distance routes to become all-electric. Electric trains are more reliable, smoother and comfortable, so journeys should be better for passengers.
Energy revolution to accelerate the cuts in climate change
July 16 2009
Plans and measures were announced with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by 34% in only 11 years, in the Low Carbon Transition Plan:
New coal power stations must use carbon capture
April 23 2009
Ed Miliband announced that from now on, any new coal-fired power stations will include pilot carbon capture schemes to ensure that all carbon emissions will be stored rather than emitted from smoke stacks.
New unitary authorities come into being
April 1 2009
9 new unitary authorities replace 44 councils today. Cornwall, Wiltshire, Shropshire, Northumberland and Durham all now have county level unitary authorities. Cheshire will be covered by Cheshire West and Chester & Cheshire East, and Bedfordshire by Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire.
40% less homeless youngsters in B&B
March 12 2009
The number of vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds in temporary B&B accommodation has dropped by 40% in the past year.
County rent increases halved
March 11 2009
Margaret Beckett announced today that the proposed increases in council house rents for 2009/10 will be halved, from 6.2% to 3.1%.
January 29 2009
PM says councils can build more council houses
The Prime Minister announced in a speech to the New Local Government Network that restrictions on councils building council houses would be lifted, so that more council houses can be built. The Prime Minister said that councils could build new council houses if councils “can convince us that they can deliver more quickly and cost-effectively more of the housing that Britain needs”.
It was also reported that the government was looking at ways for councils to keep more of the receipts from council house sales and from rents to build houses.
These actions are on top of measures announced by Margaret Becket that councils can keep all the rents from newly built houses, to invest in even more house building.
January 29 2009
Broadband nationwide by 2012
Minister Lord Carter presented the Digital Britain report, including the target to give every house in the UK a broadband connection by 2012.
January 26 2009
Severn tidal power scheme moves closer
The long-awaited tidal power scheme is moving closer after the government announced a shortlist of 5 schemes for generating power from the huge tidal range in the Severn Estuary. The river could produce 5% of the UK’s electricity.
The 5 schemes will go to public consultation, with a final decision in 2010. 3 schemes includes barrages or dams across the whole estuary, with the biggest including a 10 mile dam. The other two schemes involve building lagoons across parts of the estuary.
Other Pages
Sustainable Communities News 2008
Sustainable Communities News 2007
Commission Work Programme 2007
November 2006 report
August 2006 report
June 2006 report
Commission Work Programme 2006