South East councils missing energy targets

Shepway's Euro MP, Sharon Bowles, has discovered that local councils across the South East, including Shepway, are struggling to bring about energy efficiency improvements in line with government targets.

Councils have to ensure that household energy efficiency levels are raised by 2% a year if they are to meet the 2010 deadline for improvement. But local councils are lagging behind, and according to new government figures the majority of local authorities across the South East are set to miss the target, with Shepway being one of the worst with just a 9.9% improvement since 1996.

The South East regional average is 13.8%, but to be on target for a 30% improvement in household energy levels, councils should now be achieving a 16% improvement from 1996, meaning Shepway still has a long way to go.

Latest figures published this month by the Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that only 19 out of the 67 councils in the South East are currently on course.

Results in the region are bad news both for local householders and for the environment, South East Euro-MP Sharon Bowles has warned.

But Sharon Bowles, Liberal Democrat MEP in the European Parliament, says that councils should be given greater financial or legal incentives to take action, which would cut fuel bills for individuals and help in the fight against global warming.

She said: "The Government should speed up the pace by offering significant financial rewards to those that meet them ahead of schedule. Increasing energy efficiency in domestic homes is one of the most effective ways of tackling climate change and reducing energy demand."

The Liberal Democrat MEP says the government's decision to ditch plans to force house builders to improve energy efficiency, using measures such as better roof insulation, is another example of lack of commitment to tackle global warming. Earlier this month the housing minister, Yvette Cooper, decided to cancel stricter energy requirements on refurbished homes and delayed standards for new homes until next year.

Sharon Bowles MEP said: "Tony Blair talks about Britain leading the fight against climate change, yet his government is rejecting essential measures urgently needed to reduce global warming gases. While part of the government is calling for action, others parts are weakening the commitment. This is not a good example of joined up thinking."

Notes

Below are the latest DEFRA energy efficiency figures for every local council in the South East.

See www.defra.gov.uk/environment/energy/heca95 for further information

Council Improvements in energy efficiency, 01/04/96 to 31/03/04 (%)

ADUR 14.0

ARUN 7.3

ASHFORD 12.7

AYLESBURY VALE 13.9

BASINGSTOKE & DEANE 8.7

BRACKNELL FOREST 26.0

BRIGHTON & HOVE 11.1

CANTERBURY 21.2

CHERWELL 11.1

CHICHESTER 9.8

CHILTERN 14.8

CRAWLEY 15.4

DARTFORD 14.7

DOVER 12.6

EAST HAMPSHIRE 15.6

EASTBOURNE 10.1

EASTLEIGH 12.3

ELMBRIDGE 4.5

EPSOM & EWELL 10.6

FAREHAM 9.1

GOSPORT 13.4

GRAVESHAM 16.3

GUILDFORD 13.0

HART 14.5

HASTINGS 10.3

HAVANT 15.0

HORSHAM 7.8

ISLE OF WIGHT 12.9

LEWES 18.0

MAIDSTONE 18.3

MEDWAY 17.5

MID SUSSEX 13.7

MILTON KEYNES 17.0

MOLE VALLEY 9.8

NEW FOREST 20.6

OXFORD 20.2

PORTSMOUTH 8.5

READING 12.9

REIGATE & BANSTEAD 3.7

ROTHER 11.1

RUNNYMEDE 26.8

RUSHMOOR 8.0

SEVENOAKS 10.5

SHEPWAY 9.9

SLOUGH 17.2

SOUTH BUCKS 15.9

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE 11.2

SOUTHAMPTON 13.0

SPELTHORNE 8.5

SURREY HEATH 17.5

SWALE 25.2

TANDRIDGE 15.5

TEST VALLEY 17.8

THANET 14.3

TONBRIDGE & MALLING 18.5

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 13.9

VALE OF WHITE HORSE 9.2

WAVERLEY 12.5

WEALDEN 14.1

WEST BERKSHIRE 9.7

WEST OXFORDSHIRE 7.4

WINCHESTER 13.3

WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD 16.5

WOKING 25.9

WOKINGHAM 10.3

WORTHING 14.5

WYCOMBE 17.3

South East Regional Average 13.8%

To be on target for a 30% improvement in household energy levels, councils should now be achieving a 16% improvement from 1996. DEFRA figures include South Bucks as being included as achieving the 16% target, despite the actual figure being 15.9%.

ENDS