News UK September 2007

*Government propose changes to Yorkshire and Humber housing figures, and is inviting expression of interests for Eco-town schemes. September 28 Communities and Local Government, September 28 place
*£13.2 million to be spent on repairs and improvements to navigational sites and structures along Environment Agency-managed rivers over winter 2007-2008, September 26Environment Agency, September 26 topic
*New Local Area Agreements (LAAs) to go "further by giving local government more freedom to put greater energy, focus and funding on the issues that matter most to their communities." September 18 Communities and Local Government, September 18 Negotiation of new LAAs will take place from autumn 2007 to spring 2008 in all areas. They will last 3 years and be reviewed, or where necessary revised, annually. According to the government during the first round of LAAs, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, and Thurrock have made it a priority to cut their area's carbon footprint, and Bath and North East Somerset have enlisted the public in everything from protecting the area's biodiversity to designing playgrounds.
*Government failing fully to involve the British people in the fight to tackle Climate Change, say MPs. September 13 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, September 13 topic, topic
*Greenpeace calls on Medway Council to ditch plans for a controversial new coal power station in Kent, September 12 
Greenpeace, September 12 2007 topic
*Personal Carbon Trading feasible by 2013, says RSA CarbonLimited, September 10 RSA CarbonLimited, September 10 topic
* Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, WWF-UK, CND and the Green Alliance pull out of nuclear consultation, September 7 Friends of the Earth, September 7 topic
* Green Party calls for an end to the Renewables Obligation - the Government's main policy measure to encourage the development of electricity generation using renewable energy sources in the UK, calling instead for renewable energy feed-in tariffs. September 6 The Green Party, September 6 topic
* BBC abandons plan to run Planet Relief, a TV special on climate change. Friends of the Earth, September 5 Friends of the Earth's Tony Juniper: "This is a very disappointing decision considering the huge potential for the BBC in helping us more quickly make the shift toward a low carbon society. The science of climate change is very clear and if approached in the right way taking up this very serious issue would not compromise the BBC's impartiality. After all, the corporation has worked in a similar manner to that intended for Planet Relief on child welfare, international development and wildlife protection. We urge the BBC to press ahead with a major feature on climate change and to think through how best it can serve its public interest purpose by encouraging greener behaviour". September 5. topic
References
09