The Hertfordshire Waste Partnership is reminding residents to take extra care with the waste they put in their green waste recycling bins. (more…)

Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats were dismayed to find the County’s Conservative administration was not concerned it had missed the target for reducing carbon emissions, despite the Council having signed up to the 10:10 pledge.

Instead of reducing emissions from Council activities (including schools, Council offices and Highways) by 10%, as the 10:10 green campaign – which unites individuals, businesses and public bodies in trying to reduce their carbon footprint – requires Hertfordshire County Council to do, the overall figures for the county reveal an increase of 0.5% for 2010/11.

Malcolm Cowan, the Lib Dem spokesperson on policy, resources and performance, commented:

‘At a recent meeting, I asked the Conservative administration that we note our concern that the target was missed. But I and my colleagues were out-voted: clearly, the Conservatives were not concerned.’

Chris Brazier, who leads for Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats on the Environment, said:

‘I am appalled that the supposedly “vote blue-go green” Conservatives have not only managed to miss the 10:10 target, but then couldn’t even bring themselves to note their concern at having done so. We managed to cut our emissions by over 10% last year – why couldn’t we do the same again, as the pledge asks us to?’

Chris White, councillor for Clarence Ward, has called on the county and district councils to resurface the Alban Way.

Chris said: ‘I raised this issue at Thursday’s scrutiny committee, looking at green transport. It is quite clear that the surface is unsuitable for cycles – in contrast to the section in Welwyn Hatfield which has been properly mettled.

‘If we want people to be able to cycle both within and between districts then it has to have some money spent on it.’

Chris was assured by officials that the county council would be interested if the district was.

He commented: ‘The ball seems now to be in the district council’s court – I would like to see early action on this long-standing problem.’

If you’ve got unwanted IT equipment around the house, bring it along to the IT Takeback event between 10am and 3pm on Sunday 11 September at the Enterprise Depot, Sandridge Gate Business Centre, Ronson Way, St Albans, AL4 9XR (this is next to the Household Waste Recycling Centre).

We accept:-

· Computers

· Monitors

· Printers

· Video players

· Games consoles

· Freeview boxes

· Televisions

· MP3 players

This event, which is hosted by the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership and EcoSystems I.T. Ltd, aims to reduce the impact of IT waste on the environment, while helping people clear their homes and businesses of unwanted clutter, free of charge.

Businesses would normally be required to pay a fee to dispose of IT and other electrical items.

None of the equipment will go to landfill. 85 percent will be refurbished and reused and the remainder taken apart and recycled. All computer hard drives donated will be erased.

What is the district council doing about the mess we all have to put up with each time we go up London Road?

These pallets have been accumulating for weeks.

The Liberal Democrats at County Hall have expressed concerns over the way in which the county council is rolling out its plans to switch off street lights at night.

Lib Dem Leader Chris White, who raised the issue at this week’s full council meeting, said: ‘The goal of switching off street lights at night is a good one. But the way in which the county council is approaching it has thrown up a number of problems:

‘1. Why is midnight chosen as the cut off time? it is not unusual for people working in London or going out to the theatre to return home after midnight. They will not thank you for being obliged to carry a torch on the off chance.

‘2. What is the county council going to do to repair pavements on well-walked routes so that they don’t start getting a huge increase in compensation claims from residents who have turned their ankle.

‘3. Why is the county council refusing to consult directly with parish councils and district councillors? The maps we have so far seen throw up all sorts of anomalies which will bring the policy into disrepute.

‘4. What say will the public have in all this? What information will they be given once decisions have been made to switch lights off?

‘If they go on like this they will raise public outcry and thus effectively torpedo their own policy.’

Click here to take survey

After a recent meeting at county hall, the Liberal Democrats have investigated the county’s carbon emissions targets.

Figures show that the much publicised attempts by the Conservative Administration at County Hall to cut emissions have produced negligible savings, indicating that they are paying lip service to the environment.

Resources Spokesperson Malcolm Cowan said: ‘In 2010-2011, County transport is showing a pathetic 1% reduction in emissions and street-lighting a 2% reduction.

‘It looks as though county council property will have managed a 4% reduction.

‘These figures are pitiful. We suggested in the budget that the Conservatives consider getting rid of county hall which has plenty of energy-inefficient buildings but the Tories would not hear if it.

‘They are not even off first base when it comes to the environment.’