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Westminster among worst in country on green energy
Figures reveal borough is failing to meet its conservation targets
WESTMINSTER is failing to hit green energy targets.
Figures from the Association for the Conservation of Energy released this week show Westminster Council is worryingly behind schedule in its attempts to reduce energy waste.
They should have achieved a 20 per cent reduction by 2008 but have recorded only seven per cent – one of the worst in the country.
Karen Buck, Labour MP for Regent’s Park and Kensington North, has written to the environment department to ask the secretary of state to impose sanctions on the council unless it improves.
In Parliament this week she blasted Westminster Council and asked Hazel Blears if the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs would “consider step-in powers, which are available to the government, to ensure that local authorities that are not raising their game on residential home efficiency do so.”
Ms Blears said Westminster would be “pressed” by central government to meet targets.
Ahead of the commons debate, Ms Buck said: “Westminster Council talks the green talk, but has a long way to go in practice, as both these figures and the latest information on recycling rates makes clear.
“The council needs to raise its game dramatically, not least by raising awareness of the assistance available to help low income Londoners.”
Councillor Angela Harvey, cabinet member for housing, said: “Westminster Council’s social housing management arm CityWest Homes has been assessed as the most energy-efficient social housing provider in the country.
“We are about officially to open a new £7 million combined heat and power station in Pimlico which will supply thousands of residents with heat and hot water and at off-peak times the excess energy will be supplied to the national grid.
“We have also been investing heavily in initiatives to improve energy efficiency in private sector housing. The council spent £139,000 in 2006 to 2007 on energy grants targeted at low-income households to replace inefficient heating systems and we will continue to look at new ways to reduce energy output in the City.” |
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