Green plans will boost jobs and homes in Winchester

11.44.00pm GMT Thu 18th Dec 2008

Martin Tod. "Britain needs a new greener path."

Liberal Democrats in Winchester have given their backing to plans for investment in green schemes that will make homes warmer, cut energy bills and improve public transport. The plans, called Green Road out of Recession, were announced on 18th December by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP.

The plans will cost £12.5bn, which would be paid for by scrapping the proposed VAT cut. The vast majority of that money will be spent immediately, making a real impact on the economy and people's lives right away.

Green Road out of the Recession proposals include:

• A five-year programme to insulate every school and hospital, with 20% completed in the first year

• Funding insulation and energy efficiency for a million homes, with a £1,000 subsidy for a million more

• Building 40,000 extra zero-carbon social houses

• Buying 700 new train carriages

• Open at least 11 old train lines and two new ones, six old stations and one new one, and invest in signal improvements and track-doubling across the country (£2bn)

• Installing energy and money saving smart meters in every home within five years

"Our plans will give an immediate boost to the economy here in Winchester, Hampshire and the South East," said Martin Tod, Parliamentary Candidate for Winchester. "And by insulating people's homes, it will help thousands of residents whose heating bills have gone through the roof in the past year.

"We need a new path. Liberal Democrats believe that moving forward with green action on homes and transport will create jobs, cut energy bills, put money back into people's pockets and protect the environment."

Related Link:

Nick Clegg launches the Green Road out of the Recession.