Torridge and West Devon Liberal Democrats
PeopleLiberal Democrats Representatives and Prospective Candidates at all levels of government. Adam Symons PPC
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Adam Symons NewsFor more information on any of the news items below contact Adam Symons on 01237 431498 or 07786 277470
Torridge & West Devon ‘Fuel Poverty’ Problem Worst in South-WestAlmost one in five households in fuel povertyFriday 27 February 2009 Soaring energy bills have left an estimated 8410 households in Torridge & West Devon in fuel poverty1 this winter, according to new figures highlighted by the Liberal Democrats. Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for Torridge & West Devon, Adam Symons, is demanding the Government act urgently to help people struggling to pay their fuel bills and is calling on MPs of all parties to back the Fuel Poverty Bill being introduced by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath. He said: “These new estimates from Consumer Focus are truly shocking. “Almost one in five households here in Torridge and West Devon are in fuel poverty this winter, including four out of five single pensioner households. “This is far worse than the national picture, and ranks Torridge and West Devon the worst in the South-west.2 “The problem is that over the last five years average gas and electricity bills have more than doubled. The prices being paid by energy companies for fuel on the wholesale markets are coming down, yet the companies aren’t passing on the cuts to their customers. And meanwhile they are making huge profits. This is totally unfair, and we should fight against this profiteering. “As a result growing numbers of people are struggling to afford to heat their homes. “As recession bites, here in Torridge and West Devon and across the country an increasing number of people are being faced with the dreadful choice between heating and eating. Many residents have come to me recently who are struggling to afford to heat their homes. Some have lost jobs, while some have to rent substandard homes. Both instances can lead to heating costs outstripping available income. “The Government must take urgent action to help people struggling with high fuel bills. “The Fuel Poverty Bill currently in Parliament, proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath, would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters – generally the least well-off – paying higher rates for their gas and electricity. “The Government must give it their support. “And energy companies, who have made billions in windfall profits from the European Emissions Trading Scheme, must be made to pay for the programme, as well as being told to cut bills faster for their customers.”
Notes 1. A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain a satisfactory heating regime (usually 21 degrees for the main living area, and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms). 2. Full national figures can be downloaded from Consumer Focus’s website at tinyurl.com/fuelpov. Find out more about the Fuel Poverty Bill at www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk. On Feb 12th the Liberal Democrats published Warm Homes - An Opportunity Offered, which sets out our proposals in this area, and Warm Homes – An Opportunity Missed, a critique of the Government’s failures on home energy efficiency.
Home Energy Plans Mean Cheaper Bills in TorridgeLower Fuel Bills and Fewer EmissionsTuesday 17 February 2009 Plans have been announced to massively increase the energy efficiency of all homes in Torridge, leading to big savings in energy bills. In a message to local residents, local Parliamentary Candidate, Adam Symons has backed the plans to raise the standard of home energy efficiency. “The energy efficiency standards of 99 out of every 100 homes fall well below what they should be,” said Adam Symons. “Nearly every one of us is spending money on bills to heat our homes, which end up heating up the great outdoors, because so much energy escapes from our homes.” 
Adam Symons, helping to add insulation to his home in Torridge. “We want to bring home energy efficiency up to the highest level possible. In the past year, fuel bills have gone ‘through the roof’. We don’t want our homes warmth to go ‘through the roof’ as well. Our plans will put an end to that.” The Liberal Democrats’ plans include requiring energy companies to use some of the £9 billion profit they have made from trading pollution permits to insulate the homes of the poorest residents. They will also set up a National Green Loans scheme which will pay for a complete overhaul of the energy efficiency of people’s homes. Repayments will be added to energy bills with the loan paid off from the savings in energy use. Loan repayments will not be allowed to be more than the savings. ”By cutting energy heat loss, we are also cutting the damage we do to the environment. It’s a win-win situation: lower fuel bills and fewer emissions, leading to lower greenhouse gases and greater prosperity.” “This is a great idea for helping people to cut their energy bills, save money and help us save the planet,” said Adam.
Appledore Fish Dock Boon for Local IndustryNew investments in fishing equipmentTuesday 10 February 2009 The opening of the £3.5 million Appledore Fish Dock was hailed as a ‘step forward for the local fishing industry in Torridge’, by Lib Dem Prospective MP for Torridge and West Devon, Adam Symons. The Fish Dock, developed and constructed through a partnership using money from Central Government, the Regional Development Agency, Torridge DC, the EU, and Bideford TC, was opened by Fisheries Minister, Mr Huw Irranca-Davies, MP. Attending the open ceremony, the Prospective MP said: “This is step forward for the local fishing industry in Torridge. I have spoken to a number of the fishermen here, and there is a genuine feeling of optimism. New investments in fishing equipment have been made on the back of this project, which is a very good sign.” “I am aware of the issues which face the industry in terms of quotas and fish stocks. I believe that the fishing cooperative in North Devon will do their utmost to manage fish stocks, and ensure that an industry which has been the mainstay of many communities in Torridge continues.”
Government Action on Post Office Banks Too Little Too LatePost Offices Have to be Given More ServicesTuesday 3 February 2009 A Government plan to widen the banking services offered by the Post Office has been slammed as ‘too little, too late’, by a leading Post Office campaigner. Adam Symons, PPC for Torridge and West Devon, who led a number of the ‘Save our Post Office’ campaigns, said: “Last year, when the Government carved up the Post Office system, Torridge and West Devon felt the brunt of the cuts. At the time I proposed to the Government that in order to make the network more viable, post offices had to be given more services. This included ensuring that the network was linked to a banking service. 
Adam Symons leading a ‘Don’t close our Post Office’ campaign with Post office Campaigners. “We had the Girobank for thirty years before it was privatised by the Conservative government in 1990. Especially now, during the ‘Credit Crunch’, we need a bank for the people, so I welcome the move. However, it is too little, too late! “Why did the Government not do this to save the network? Now we have a fragmented network, with no Post Office service in many communities. This is like ‘shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted’. “I definitely support the idea of enhancing the role of Post Offices as the financial hub for their communities. Only around one in eight banks and building societies had branches in rural areas, even though the countryside was home to one fifth of England's population. Less than 10% of all cash points were sited in rural areas and some 300,000 rural people didn't have a bank account. “Allowing Post Offices to act more like banks would double the number of outlets and provide banking services to communities currently without provision.” The Commission for Rural Communities believes there is also a case for Post Offices to become an outlet for local credit unions. It believes they could offer a viable alternative to mainstream financial institutions and provide local access to affordable credit and savings.
Adam Symons Calls For Commission on Rural PovertyNeed to Understand the Complex IssuesMonday 2 February 2009 The South West Lib Dems have agreed to commission a policy review to understand more of the issues of rural poverty facing people in the South-west. Speaking on behalf of Torridge and West Devon, Adam Symons helped to approve the motion at the Lib Dems regional conference in Taunton. 
Cllr Adam Symons, speaking out for Torridge & West Devon residents at the Lib Dems annual regional conference. Adam said: “Although many people are aware that rural poverty is an issue, not much work has been carried out to understand the complex issues which cause it. Successive Governments have done little to tackle the problems. We want to get out on the ground, using peoples' experiences to find solutions for individuals and the community.” “I go out knocking on doors and talking to people every weekend, and it is these people who we need to take notice of, and get our information from. The Lib Dems Rural Poverty Commission, building on the work of Matthew Taylor, will take evidence from rural residents in Torridge and other parts of the South-west. It will inform new thinking into how we help rural communities in need.” Referring to the findings of the Narey Commission on social mobility (published January 2009) Adam said, “It is shameful that 'the life-chances of children in Britain today remain heavily dependent on the circumstances of their birth’ and that ‘the children and young people most likely to experience inequalities have one core thing in common: poverty’.”
Note: The motion, Proposed by Julia Goldsworthy, MP for Falmouth and Cambourne, was carried at the Lib Dems Regional Conference in Taunton this week. |