Bedford Borough Council Lib Dem Group wins Environmental Award

Just in time for its 3rd birthday, the pioneering Mayors Climate Change Fund has won the Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group an award for the Liberal Democrat 'Green Council Group of the Year'.

The Fund is a grants scheme which helps groups pay for the installation of carbon-cutting technologies at community facilities; in the last three years, the Mayors Climate Change Fund has invested over a quarter of a million pounds in a wide range of projects at a variety of community buildings.

These projects have included the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of a Gurdwara, efficient lighting systems for numerous local schools and an air source heat pump system for a community theatre.

Community organisations including schools, charities, places of worship and parish councils are eligible to bid for up to £20,000 to fund up to 50% of the cost of a project, which can be shown to make a real difference in cutting carbon and cutting energy bills.

The Climate Change Fund sits alongside a range of radical action being pursued by Bedford Borough Council, including its investment programme to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by March 2015, while establishing an annual saving of over £1 million.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said "I am delighted that the work of the Bedford Lib Dems in tackling green issues has been recognised by this award, and through the Climate Change Fund we will continue to help local groups to save energy and money."