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Press Release

Councils respond to high court ruling on solar panel cuts

21 December 2011

Responding to this afternoon's High Court ruling that the Government's plans to cut subsidies for solar panels are legally flawed, Cllr David Parsons, Chairman of the LGA Environment Board, said:

“By rushing through cuts to subsidies at such short notice, government caused the cancellation of thousands of solar panel installations and undermined confidence in its green agenda.

“Councils were left with little choice but to let down thousands of tenants who were counting on them for help, while losing tens of thousands of pounds tied up in deposits with contractors.

“While some of the damage caused by the clumsy handling of this cut cannot be undone, we now urge government to rethink subsidy cuts which in their current form would mean those in social housing receive a lower rate of subsidy.

“It is simply not right that those most in need of help paying for the installation of solar panels are entitled to the least support.

“Families in council and housing association homes have to pay, through their electricity bills, to subsidise the installation of solar panels for others. It is only right that they - along with community groups - are entitled to a fair share of that money too.

“Government now needs to rethink its proposals and develop a system of subsidy which is workable, affordable and fair.”



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