The “green bank” is the centre-piece of a package of job-creation measures contained in the Budget and will be set up with £1bn from the Treasury, funded by the sale of government assets, and £1bn of private funding.

 Mr Todd said:

“It is thought that 400,000 ‘green jobs’ can be created over the next five years. The green bank is a partnership between the public and private sectors that will unlock this potential. I welcome the launch of a new hydropower turbine, designed by Kendal-based Inter Hydro Technology, at Heron Corn Mill in Beetham over Easter weekend and I hope that the green bank will encourage other local entrepreneurs to make full use of the new opportunities on offer to develop similar initiatives and expand their businesses.”

Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling said:

“This equity will unlock another billion pounds in finance from the private sector. The fund will focus first on investing in green transport and sustainable energy where Britain is already the world leader. It will help the UK secure new inward investment deals, and support thousands of extra jobs in these sectors.”

Chancellor Alistair Darling has said Cumbria will be given £2.3 million from a £100 million fund to repair roads damaged by the snow, ice and plummeting temperatures in recent months.

 Mr Todd said:

“Potholes are an issue which many local people raise with me. This welcome news illustrates the responsiveness of the Labour government to the needs of Cumbria. I hope this money is fairly used throughout the county and that Westmorland and Lonsdale gets the share that we need.”

The funding will allow local authorities to pay for the most urgent immediate repairs.

Local resident Lois Sparling said:

“As someone who frequently cycles and also drives on local roads, I am very much aware of the damage which the past winter has inflicted upon them. This extra help to deal with potholes is very timely.”

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said:

“The Chancellor announced an extra £100 million for local authorities to repair pothole damage as a result of this winter’s severe weather. I intend to allocate this to councils as soon as possible, so that they can immediately get their maintenance staff filling potholes and making our roads as safe as possible for drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists. We have trebled funding to local authorities over the last 10 years for road maintenance. This pothole fund further demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our roads are in the best possible condition.”

To help local people access allotments, a national community land bank will be set up to connect land-holders with community groups who want to establish “grown your own” schemes, as well as to provide advice to those involved.

Both public and privately owned land could be turned into fragrant herb gardens, vegetable and flower gardens, including unused land which is owned by councils, NHS and private developers. “Meanwhile leases” will be available to make sure local groups have access to areas whilst development decisions are taking place.

 Mr Todd said:

“This is a great initiative which I encourage groups in Westmorland and Lonsdale to participate in. Many of us can think of areas which are currently unused and with a bit of gardening could be brightened. The Lib Dem controlled SLDC has struggled to turn these areas over to allotments but this initiative will help us go further and faster in meeting local demand for allotments. The site on School Knott in Windermere seems a prime candidate for a “meanwhile lease” and I am keen that this option be taken forward.”  

Local resident Penny Henderson said:

“As a local resident of Windermere I am hoping that I can eventually get an allotment. I belong to local group who are campaigning for land to be released but it is a long and slow process – not months but years! I would welcome any action from the Government to help make this process easier and quicker so that as many people as possible can make a start to grow their own produce.”

 Hilary Benn, Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:

“Community food growing is a great way for people to get involved in the joys and trials of food production – and we’re pleased that we can help more people grow their own and take it home.”

John Denham, Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government said:

“From guerrilla gardeners to community growers there is a real keenness to combine 40′s style frugality and 70′s style good life ethics to meet 21st century demands for healthy living, cheaper meals and locally sourced food. More and more people want to grow their own but their efforts can be held up by a shortage of suitable land.

“We also want to support local councils in meeting their duty to provide allotments and new guidance provides practical advice to local councils on how to get the best out of their allotments.”

Mr. Todd said:

“Local community groups are doing great things to rise to the climate change challenge, but they are being let down by SLDC’s failure to provide real local leadership and to sign up to the 10:10 campaign.”

 South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC) – Towards Transition is holding an open meeting at 7:15pm this evening at the Shakespeare Centre, Kendal. After an Introduction to the Transition Movement, which works with communities to reduce their reliance on carbon, there will be a discussion on reducing South Lakeland’s carbon footprint.  

Mr. Todd wants SLDC to match the ambition of SLACC Towards Transition by joining him in signing up to the 10:10 campaign, which aims to achieve a 10 percent cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010.

 Mr. Todd also wants SLDC to track progress on reducing South Lakeland’s carbon footprint by publishing annually its size and composition. He believes this information will be a catalyst to people coming together to live greener lives.

Mr. Todd explained this by saying:

“As a country, we are committed to reducing carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020. Why don’t we work together to achieve a 10 percent cut this year? I’ve signed up to the campaign, as have 140 councils. SLDC should catch up.

“Information often inspires change. For example, if the size and composition of South Lakeland’s carbon footprint were published annually, this would be a great help to community groups like SLACC Towards Transition. It would allow them to focus their activities in ways that will quantifiably have greatest impact and to measure our success against other district councils.

“Something akin to this is already happening in Casterton, near Kirkby Lonsdale. I congratulate this community on competing in the British Gas green streets community energy challenge to be recognised as Britain’s most innovative green community.

“I want the whole of South Lakeland to follow the exciting example of Casterton and work together to live greener lives, but this will be far more likely to happen if SLDC provides South Lakeland with a better understanding of our carbon footprint.”

Mr. Todd has written to Cllr Brendan Jameson, Leader of SLDC, and SLACC Towards Transition to make these points.

10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010.

 10:10 was conceived by the team behind climate blockbuster The Age of Stupid and is run by a small independent team, supported by an army of volunteers and a dream team of partner organisations including ActionAid, Comic Relief, the Energy Saving Trust, the Carbon Trust, the Public Interest Research Centre and many more.

 It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by bringing individual actions together under one banner, 10:10 enables everyone to make a meaningful difference. Launched in September 2009, the campaign has, to date, garnered the support of over 60,000 individuals and 2,000 businesses, including household names such as Sony, Adidas and Starbucks, and celebrities ranging from Delia Smith to Mark Ronson. 10:10 has been making waves in both central and local Government, counting many MP’s and Government departments in its ranks as well as one in three UK councils.

Each month 10:10 will focus on different ways to reduce your carbon emissions, offering expert advice on everything from insulation to recycling.

For further information:

http://www.1010uk.org/