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Worcester Green
Party Press Release
1st
Novem ber
2007
Worcester's "2008
Green Restaurant
Award" launched
Local
eating places to be
judged on
sustainability and
social justice
criteria
This
week sees the launch of the new "Green Restaurant Award" in
Worcester, with all restaurants in the city being appraised for their
commitment to sourcing local produce, use of fairtrade products, recycling of
packaging, and commitment to minimising energy use.
All
restaurants within the
city of Worcester are
being invited to
take part in the
survey, which will
become an annual
event. The
restaurant with the
highest score will
receive the
recognition of being
the most able to
deliver quality food
whilst maintaining the
highest environmental
and ethical standards
the discerning public
are increasingly
coming to expect.
The
award is based on each
restaurant's actual
and planned steps to
join the community in
creating and
maintaining a
sustainable Worcester.
Key areas to be
assessed will be:
organically sourced
produce, sourcing free
range products, local
sourcing, real
multiple choices for
vegetarians and vegans,
use of fair trade
products, commitment
to segregation and
recycling of waste and
packaging, and
commitment to
minimising energy use.
The
new initiative has
come from Worcester
Green Party. Their
spokesman Chris
Lennard said:
"Worcester now
has quite a number of
Fairtrade outlets, and many
eating places that cater for
vegetarians. But if you want
to go out for a meal in
an establishment that has a
low carbon footprint and
ethical standards, it's been
hard until now to compare
venues. How much of your local
restaurant's food is locally
sourced or organic, for
instance, and what is their
commitment to reducing waste
and energy use?
"This
award aims to publicise those
restaurants that are striving
for sustainability. This will
help diners to choose the
greenest eating place, whilst
focusing restauranters' minds
on how they can perhaps become
a bit greener. Forum for the
Future recently published
their list of the twenty most
sustainable cities in the UK,
and it would be nice to see
Worcester join the list next
time. This is one initiative to
help us achieve that
goal."
Printed,
published and
promoted by Chris
Lennard for Worcester
Green Party, both at
53 Gloucester Close,
Malvern, Worcs WR14
1DG
Worcester Green
Party Press Release
24th
October
2007
Worcester
Greens' survey reveals
Rainbow Hill residents' concerns
Maintaining
public spaces and tackling crime
are main issues for local people
Maintaining
parks and public spaces and
tackling crime and antisocial
behaviour come out top of the
list of concerns of residents in
Rainbow Hill ward, according to
the feedback from a survey
carried out by Worcester Green
Party.
The survey
was carried out in the summer,
and feedback given this
month, with local people
replying to a questionnaire
delivered by Green Party
members, asking them to list the
areas of most concern to them.
Litter came third on locals'
list of concerns, with dog mess
next and then recycling.
Traffic
was a concern, too. Among
residents' comments were
"speed controls are
urgently needed on Brickfields
Road" and "the
speed of the traffic is one of
my main concerns - I've seen a
few cars at 50 or 60mph".
Worcester Green Party has
promised to put the issues to
the Council.
Rainbow
Hill Green Party candidate Ruth
Stafford has been out around the
ward checking on fly tipping and
speeding cars, in response to
locals' concerns. She commented:"Of
the many people who responded to
our survey, 93% said maintaining
parks and public spaces was a
priority, with 92% saying crime
and anti-social behaviour in the
area is a major issue."
Miss
Stafford continued:" In
their
personal comments, it is clear
that many residents are worried
about excessive speeding on
local roads, a concern that I
share myself. I will be putting
these issues to the Council, and
will report back on their
reply."
The Green
Party are the fastest growing
party in Rainbow Hill. In the
County Council elections in
2005, they scored 17.5% of the
vote, and in the City Council
elections the following year
they increased their vote to
31%, beating the Conservatives
and coming second. As well as
lobbying the Council, they are
planning local events for the
new year.
Said Ruth
Stafford:"We plan
to hold screenings of films at
the Rainbow Hill centre in the
near future, and will be
advertising dates shortly. We
are grateful to all those residents
who took part in our survey. It
is clear from all the responses
that green issues are
extremely important to local
people, and Worcester Green
Party will continue to campaign
on these concerns."
Printed,
published and promoted by Chris
Lennard for Worcester
Green Party, both at 53
Gloucester Close, Malvern, Worcs
WR14 1DG
Worcester Green
Party Press Release
11th
October
2007
Green
Party general election
candidate speaks out
on anniversary of
Windscale
Ruth
Stafford:"It's time
we said 'no' to nuclear
power"
Ruth
Stafford, Green Party
general election candidate
for Worcester, spoke out
this week about the Green
Party's opposition to the
government's plans for new
nuclear reactors, on the
fiftieth anniversary of
the fire at Windscale
nuclear power station.
She
said:"In
the week of the 50th
anniversary of the
Windscale fire, we would
do well to heed the
warning from history - a
nuclear future is too
dangerous and simply
cannot be risked.
"Since
Windscale, there have
been several
serious nuclear
accidents, three of
them in the UK - at
Douneray, Chapelcross
and THORP, as well as
two in Japan - at
Monju and Tokaimura, one
in the USA - at Three
Mile Island, and of
course the world's
worst nuclear accident
at Chernobyl.
"The
Windscale anniversary
is a sobering reminder
that nuclear power
creates horrific
dangers for humanity
and the natural
environment. But
despite the inherent
dangers of this kind
of energy, the
government is still
committed to bringing
in a new round of
nuclear power
stations. Not only is
this incredibly
dangerous, it's also
hugely expensive.
Moreover, it's
entirely unnecessary.
"Instead
of nuclear, the Green
Party insists that we
need to invest in the renewable
technologies available
in the UK that are
affordable, safe and
clean and do not
threaten the planet.
With the ability to
meet our electricity
needs three times over
with the use of wind
power at sea alone in
the UK, there is
absolutely no reason
to install a new
generation of nuclear
power and risk another
tragic accident like Windscale.
"The
full effects of the
Windscale fire, or any
of the other serious
nuclear accidents over
the past 50 years, may
never be fully known -
parts of the UK are
still contaminated by
the fallout from
Chernobyl.
"But they should be
remembered when deciding
on the future of energy policy
in the UK - it's time we
said no to nuclear
power."
Printed,
published and promoted
by Chris Lennard for Worcester
Green Party, both at 53
Gloucester Close,
Malvern, Worcs WR14 1DG
Worcester Green
Party Press Release
23rd
August
2007
Worcester
Greens announce
by-election candidate
St.Clements'
hopeful opposed to new
supermarkets and
building in the
floodplain
Worcester Green Party today announced their
candidate to contest the St.Clement's ward by-election for Worcester City
Council on 20th September.
He
is Olaf Twiehaus, who
lives in St.John's. Olaf
has lived in the UK for
six years and lives and
works in Worcester. A
keen cyclist and walker,
Olaf wants to see people
put green ideas into
everyday life. He has
recently become a father
for the first time,
reinforcing his desire
to be as green as
possible, in order
to pass on a
healthy planet to future
generations. Being from
Germany, he has seen the
Green Party's influence
there grow substantially
over the last 20 years.
Olaf's
targets are promoting
renewable energy,
organic farming and
gardening, 100%
recycling and
alternative transport. He
has objected to the
proposed Sainsbury's
supermarket in St.John's,
because he believes it
will affect the vitality
and viability of the
existing shopping centre,
hitting smaller traders,
and increasing CO2
emissions. He also
wants a commitment not
to build houses in the
floodplain in Worcester,
so as not to exacerbate
the effects of future
flooding in the area.
Worcester
Green Party celebrated
some of their best
election results yet
in May, as they fielded
a full slate of
candidates and scored 10%
of the vote in the City
Council elections. The
Greens scored 2,103
votes in total, in an
election that saw the
Greens consolidate their
place in Worcester
politics. The Green
Party contested
St.Clement ward for the
first time in May, with
their general election
candidate Ruth Stafford
taking nearly 12% of the
vote there.
Olaf
Twiehaus commented:"We
want to give the voters
of St.Clements a real
choice in this
by-election - the chance
to say 'no' to more
supermarkets, more
traffic, and more
congestion. And
'no' to building more
houses in the
floodplain.
"The
Green Party is a breath
of fresh air, and the
fact that the other
parties are starting to
'green' themselves is
testament to our growing
influence. We are still
the only party with real
solutions to the traffic
chaos in Worcester, the
mounting waste problem,
and the destruction of
our local economy.
People want a cleaner,
greener city, which
promotes local
businesses, cuts energy
waste, and saves local
people money.
"Our
results in May show
that Worcester
Green Party is now
the growing force in
local politics. It
is only a matter of time before
we see Green Councillors
in the Guildhall,
turning Worcester City
Council green."
Printed,
published and promoted
by Chris Lennard for Worcester
Green Party, both at 53
Gloucester Close,
Malvern, Worcs WR14 1DG
Worcester Green
Party Press Release
3rd
June 2007
"Recycle
now to transform the
environment" urges Green
Party general election
candidate
Worcester
parliamentary hopeful appeals
to government at start of Recycle
Now Week
"The
possibility of producing an
adult fleece by recycling 25
two-litre plastic bottles, among
other recycling
‘transformations’, gives the
UK the opportunity to
dramatically enhance the
environment", Worcester
Green Party's parliamentary
candidate Ruth Stafford said
today as she encouraged everyone
to make a change in Recycle Now
Week (2nd – 9th June).
Miss
Stafford, who was selected as
Green Party general election
candidate for Worcester in
January, warned that although
there have been many improvements,
urgent progress still needs to be
made before the UK matches the
efforts of other EU member states.
Speaking
ahead of the launch of the
‘transformation’-themed
Recycle Now Week, she
commented;
“Each household in
the UK produces over 1 tonne
of rubbish every year;
that’s over 30 million
tonnes each year for the UK as
a whole. It is vital to reduce
the amount of waste being sent
to landfill or incineration.
We need to reduce consumption
and re-use where possible, but recycling
plays an important part.
“Recycle Now Week 2007 will
really inspire people to
redouble recycling efforts at
home, school and in the
office. By recycling just one
aluminum can enough energy
will be saved to run a
television set for three hours
– saving energy is essential
now that our climate is
changing rapidly.
“Compared
to the rest of Europe the UK has
been slow at implementing
European legislations aimed at
helping recycling levels and the
environment as a whole. What we
need to see now is Government
support for these opportunities
that really could
‘transform’ our future.”
Recycle
Now Week 2007: for more
information visit http://www.recyclenow.com/news/your_news/recycle_now_week.html
Printed,
published and promoted by
Chris Lennard for Worcester
Green Party, both at 53
Gloucester Close, Malvern,
Worcs WR14 1DG
Worcester Green
Party Press Release
5th
May 2007
Worcester
Greens celebrate
'excellent'
election results
City
Council vote shows
Green Party the
growing force in
local politics -
vote share
increases in five
wards
Worcester Green Party were today celebrating
some of their best election results to date, as they scored 10% of the
vote in the City Council elections.
The
Greens scored 2,103
votes in total, in an
election that saw the
Greens consolidate
their place in Worcester
politics. In their
best result, in
Cathedral Ward,
Green Party
candidate Robert
Wilkins scored
14% of the vote,
up from 12% last
year, and beat the
Liberal Democrat
candidate into fourth
place.
In last
week's City
Council elections,
the Greens once
again fielded a
full slate of
candidates,
contesting all eleven
vacant seats. In
St.Peter's Parish
ward, and in
Warndon Parish
North and South
wards, the Green
Party vote also
went up. The
Greens also
contested
St.Clement ward
for the first
time, with their
general election
candidate Ruth
Stafford taking
nearly 12% of the
vote.
Spokesman
Chris Lennard
commented:"This
is another
wonderful result,
and shows that Worcester
Green Party are
the growing force
in local politics.
Two of our three
best seats were
not up for
election this
year, yet we still
managed to
increase our vote
share again in
nearly half of the
seats. Compared
with two years
ago, we've doubled
our vote share in
Cathedral and
St.Peters, and
tripled our vote
share in Warndon
Parish.
"The
Green Party is a
breath of fresh
air, and the fact
that the other
parties are
starting to
'green' themselves
is testament to
our growing
influence. We are
still the only
party with real
solutions to the
traffic chaos in
Worcester, the
mounting waste
problem, and the
destruction of our
local economy.
People want a
cleaner, greener
city, which
promotes local
businesses, cuts
energy waste, and
saves local people
money.
"Nationally, the
Green Party has
made over twenty gains
on principal
authorities. In the West
Midlands, we've
increased our numbers of
District Councillors,
making a welcome return
to neighbouring
Herefordshire Council,
and in Worcestershire,
we've increased our
number of Councillors to
seven, with John
Raine being re-elected
to Malvern Hills
District Council, retaining Parish and
Town Council seats in
Malvern Hills, Pershore
and Evesham and winning
a seat in Bromsgrove. It
is only a matter of time
now before we see Green
Councillors in the
Guildhall as well,
turning Worcester City
Council green."
ENDS
contact:
Chris Lennard 01684
563392 or Green Party
national Press Office
020 7561 0282
Printed,
published and promoted
by Chris Lennard for Worcester
Green Party, both at
53 Gloucester Close,
Malvern, Worcs WR14
1DG
Worcester Green
Party Press Release
10th April 2007
Local Election Campaign Launched
A healthy local
environment Decent
local services A
strong local voice
Worcester Green
Party today launched
their manifesto for
the Worcester City
Council elections in
May.
Worcester Green Party Spokesman Chris Lennard chaired a
press conference at
which the party's
themes for the local
elections were
announced: A healthy
local environment,
decent local
services, and a
strong local voice.
Mr.Lennard pledged a clampdown on more new supermarkets, in
favour of supporting
local shops. He
said:"The
Green Party wants to
see vital local
services within
walking distance for
everyone - all over
the country our
councillors are
working hard to
protect schools,
libraries and other
local services from
cuts, closures and
privatisation. We
are already standing
up for the local
community, providing
proper value for
money and listening
to local people not
big business.
Electing more Greens
means voting to
protect our vital
public services.
"Greens are already
working at a local
level to make a real
difference. Three
Green Councillors on
Kirklees council
have ensured that
there are renewable
energy requirements
in all new public
buildings, with at
least 30% of energy
consumption from
renewable sources
such as solar panels
and wind turbines by
2011.
"And here in
Worcestershire, Liberal
Democrat/Green
Party-controlled
Malvern Hills
District Council is
setting new
standards in
recycling."
The Greens are fielding a full-slate of 11 candidates in
these elections.
Last year, the Green
vote was 11.5%
across the city, and
the Greens came
second in their
target seat of
Rainbow Hill. They
were only 303 votes
from replacing the
Liberal Democrats as
the third party in
Worcester.
Worcester
Green Party Press Release
19th
February 2007
Green
Party general
election candidate
welcomes plans for new
bridge
parliamentary
hopeful gives backing to
City and County Councils
Worcester
Green Party's parliamentary
candidate Ruth Stafford has
given her enthusiastic
backing to plans for a new
foot and cycle bridge in
Worcester.
The
plans, revealed in the
Worcester News on Saturday
(17th February), would see
the planned crossing linking
Diglis with Lower Wick, and
open up a circular riverside
walk below the walls of the
cathedral. Worcestershire
County Council and Worcester
City Council have tabled a
joint bid for funding from
the Sustrans Connect2
project.
Ruth
Stafford has made
transport issues one of her
top priorities. She
said:”I
am delighted that our
City and County Councils are
pursuing this bid. We
desperately need to cut the
congestion and pollution
from increasing car use. Promoting
walking and cycling is a
very important way of
achieving that.
“Traffic
has increased enormously in
recent years. Pollution in
Worcester city centre is
sometimes higher than is
safe to breathe, affecting
all who live, work, study
and shop here, in addition
to contributing to climate
change. This project, if it
goes ahead, will help tilt
the balance away from
increasing car use, and can
only be welcomed.
"I
urge everyone in Worcester
to go to the Connect2
website, and pledge their
support for this ambitious
project. Well done to the
City and County Councils -
we need to get behind them
and support them on this
one.
Printed, published and
promoted by Chris Lennard for Worcester Green Party, both at 53
Gloucester Close, Malvern, Worcs WR14 1DG
Worcester
Green Party Press Release
16th
January 2007
Worcester
Greens choose general election
candidate
transport
top priority for
parliamentary hopeful
Worcester
Green Party has chosen its
candidate to fight the next
general election here in
Worcester.
Ruth
Stafford was selected at the
party’s Annual General Meeting
on Monday (15th
January). She lives and works
in Worcester. She shops locally
and works locally; her job
involves encouraging
schoolchildren to bike or walk
to school. She is an active
member of the local Friends of
the Earth and Greenpeace groups.
Ms
Stafford was previously local
party contact and media officer
with Montgomeryshire Green
Party. She stood as Green Party
candidate for Battenhall ward in
the elections to Worcester City
Council in May 2006, gaining
9.6% of the vote.
She
succeeds Chris Lennard, who
represented the Green Party in
Worcester at the 2005 general
election, scoring 921 votes.
At
the selection meeting, Ruth
Stafford said:”I
am particularly concerned
about the effects our modern
transport and shopping habits
are having on our health,
environment and well-being.
These are the main issues I will
campaign on, both before and
during the general election.
“Green
transport policies put disabled
people and pedestrians at the
top of the hierarchy, followed
by cyclists, public transport,
access for freight and finally
cars. Thanks to high levels of
traffic, pollution in Worcester
city centre is much higher than
is safe to breathe, affecting
all who live, work, study and
shop in Worcester. And they are
a major cause of climate change.
“This
is not just a question of
transport, but also of planning.
Facilities should be accessible
to all who need them without
excessive travel. We need to
support local businesses in
Worcester and more facilities
should be provided locally, not
in distant developments using up
green fields outside
communities.”
Worcester
Green Party fielded a
‘full-slate’ of twelve
candidates at last May’s city
council elections, gaining 11.5%
across the city, and beating the
Conservatives into third place
in Rainbow Hill ward.
Said
Ms Stafford:”Judging by our
rising share of the vote here in
Worcester, more and more local
people are fed up with the other
main parties, and are turning to
us in ever larger numbers.
People now have an alternative
to the ‘business-as-usual’
policies of the other parties, a
party that has social justice
and sustainability at its heart
– the Green Party.”
Printed, published and
promoted by Chris Lennard for Worcester Green Party, both at 53
Gloucester Close, Malvern, Worcs WR14 1DG
Worcester
Green Party Press Release
10th
January 2007
Worcester
Greens call for ‘zero-waste’
Criticism
for
wheelie-bin system
Worcester
Green Party has criticized what
it calls a complacent attitude
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