Liberal Democrats Lead the Way - Green Heat at Lower Cost!

12.00.00am GMT Sat 6th Feb 2010

Christopher Townsend in the Rose Garden at Three Rivers House

Liberal Democrat-run Three Rivers District Council has been working to protect and improve the environment ever since they took control twenty or more years ago. But Liberal Democrats are also committed to the Green Agenda as a way of cutting costs and saving money. Recently the council installed two ground source heat pumps to produce cheap, sustainable energy to heat the Three Rivers House council offices and the café and toilet block at the Aquadrome country park in Rickmansworth.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South West Hertfordshire, Christopher Townsend said, "Not only are we committed to sustainability, but also to sound financial management. Cutting costs in this way benefits the local residents. It enables Three Rivers to continue to deliver high quality services while keeping the council tax bills firmly under control."

Christopher is pictured in the Rose Garden - a memorial to Rickmansworth's war dead. The redesign of this tranquil garden provided the opportunity to install deep in the ground the pipes that bring energy to the heat pumps.

In recognition of its innovation Three Rivers District Council was short listed for an International Award last year. They then went on to host three national seminars to promote the sustainability agenda and to provide technical information on renewable energy sources to other local authorities and businesses.