Talk Of International Electricity Cable From Iceland Is "Fig Leaf" To Cover Lack Of UK Energy Strategy

THE collapse of the Horizon nuclear consortium has left the government's energy strategy in tatters so inter-connector is fig leaf to cover up that the Government is scrambling around trying to find some way of filling the energy gap says GMB.  GMB, the union for energy workers, commented on media reports that Charles Hendry, the Tory energy minister is to visit Iceland in May to discuss connecting the UK to its geothermal energy via a possible 1,000km to 1,500km long 700MW international electricity cable.  Gary Smith, GMB National Secretary for Energy, said:- "Talk of an inter-connector across the ocean from Iceland is an interesting idea. At the moment it is little more than that. It would be a massive engineering undertaking and it won't happen for many years if at all. To build it would require nearly 1 million tonnes of copper for example.  The collapse of the Horizon nuclear consortium due to the decision of RWE and Eon to withdraw from nuclear new build has left the government's energy strategy in tatters. So announcements on inter-connectors are nothing more than fig leafs to try and cover up the fact that the Government is desperately scrambling around trying to resurrect the Horizon nuclear project or find some way of filling the energy gap.  The Lib Dem part of the coalition are also clearly embarrassed that their green credentials have been blown away with the way the solar industry was devastated when feed in tariffs were cut and the lack of progress on the green deal.  The reality is the bedrock of UK energy policy has to be nuclear and gas. The government has no strategy for either. The Tories and the Lib Dems need to get a grip and face the fact that the private energy sector is unable to make the decisions needed to keep the lights on. We can see where reliance on the private sector utilities gets us as we have a hosepipe ban impacting on 20 million consumers in a nation with abundant supplies of water less than 150 miles from where the supply is needed. One obvious way forward is for Government to re-task the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and re-name it as the Nuclear Development Authority and that this body take over the Horizon project and bring on stream 6 nuclear power stations. That would be action rather than windy talk."

CLA backs Church’s opposition to increased VAT on heritage alterations

THE CLA are backing the Church of England’s decision to campaign against increased VAT on alterations to listed buildings. The Association praised the Anglican bishops’ opposition to the 5% tax hike which is set to hit privately owned heritage even more than churches. CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said:- "The Government’s shocking new raid on owners of listed buildings will take an extra £125million in tax from Britain’s heritage. By scrapping the zero rate of VAT on alterations to listed buildings and refusing to reduce the 20 percent rate for repairs, the Chancellor has removed the only remaining advantage of having a building listed. The majority of buildings affected are in private hands and private owners will not even benefit from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport grant scheme which will replace the Church’s losses from the increase in VAT up to a figure of £5million. The impact of privately owning a listed building in future will be almost entirely negative, further jeopardising owner support for the listing system and reducing the stock of rural housing created by altering the use of redundant buildings."