Reduced power costs for homeowners could result from Herefordshire’s agri-industry taking charge of its own destiny, according to visiting MP Nick Hurd.
Emissions would be cut as fossil fuels ran out and alternative sources came on stream. If elected, a Conservative government would speed up the process by offering incentives to local energy producers.
Mr Hurd, a member of Parliament’s Environment Audit Committee, was in Hereford on a whistle-stop tour to support Conservative parliamentary hopeful Jesse Norman.
He said: “Progress has been too slow. We have a tremendous opportunity to make the transition, reduce industry costs and help homeowners.”
Jesse Norman, himself an environmentalist and charity campaigner, said: “Everything will be made to pay its way. No source of energy, if viable, should be ruled out.
Herefordshire’s agri-industry has a vital role to play in this.”
Mr Hurd, who represents Ruislip-Northwood, is the fourth generation of his family to be an MP and is the son of former Cabinet minister Douglas Hurd.
He is Shadow Minister for charities, social enterprise and volunteering and was the prime mover behind the Sustainable Communities Act of 1997.
Mr Hurd added: “People have grown up in an atmosphere of paying an ever-increasing amount of tax to government. Now we have to engage them in how to make best use of resources.
“For example, we have lost a quarter of our rural post offices and 30,000 community shops. Is it right that older people are travelling miles to access local services?
“We are entering a different age of transparency, accountability and devolving spending powers down as far as parish council level.”
Jesse Norman added: “Herefordshire has been losing out on hundreds of millions in funding, compared with other counties, think what can be done for city centre plans with sums like this.”
