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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
on the part of the City Council
with regard to recycling, and
called for a ‘zero-waste’
policy in place of the present
system.
Robert
Wilkins, Campaigns Officer for
Worcester Green Party, wrote to
Ian Holebrook, Waste Services
Manager, with a list of queries
about the recently-introduced
wheelie-bin system. He asked why
Worcester people could no longer
recycle aluminium foil, plastic
food punnets, textiles or card
through the doorstep collection
system, as they previously
could.
Mr
Holebrook wrote back in reply
that recycling was “driven by
the markets” and that
reprocessors are becoming more
stringent on what they will
accept. He suggested that people
with card should take it
themselves to the recycling
centre, and said that a proposed
materials recycling facility
which has yet to gain planning
approval, would mean that
aluminium and food punnets would
once again be accepted in the
doorstep scheme, if and when it
opened.
Mr
Wilkins said “I am
disappointed at Mr Holebrook’s
reply, with its mixture of
complacency and lack of
ambition. Firstly, to say that recycling
is driven by the markets is the
opposite of the truth. If it had
been left to the free market,
there would have been no
recycling at all. It has taken a
combination of fiscal measures
by the Chancellor, in the form
of the landfill tax, plus
legislation, plus political
initiative from some local
authorities, that has got us to
even this modest improvement in
waste management.
“Secondly,
his answer does nothing to help
people without cars who have
card to dispose of, and people
who have aluminium foil or food
trays will have to stockpile
them, perhaps for some months or
years, until the proposed
materials recycling facility is
open, if it gains approval.
“Thirdly,
Mr Holebrook does not explain
how Malvern Hills District
Council, which has decided
against a wheelie-bin system,
has a better recycling record
than Worcester City, despite
having a far more rural
catchment area, which one would
think would mitigate against
this. District and City Councils
are constrained by the County
Council's arrangements, yet
there is a great discrepancy
between what the various
councils do, and between their
success rates.
“Fourthly,
he goes on to talk about
Worcestershire, and compares the
county's record with other
authorities who recycle over
50%, and claims that they are
doing ‘quite well’ at just
over 30% (after throwing in
composting as well)! They are
not. Many local authorities
around the world have now
committed themselves to a
‘zero-waste’ strategy. Why
can Worcestershire not have a
bit more ambition and do the
same?”
Mr
Wilkins continued “There
are many simple steps that both
the County Council and Worcester
City Council could take to
achieve this. One simple step,
for instance, is that all homes
in Worcester should have compost
collection services for green
and organic waste, at an early
date. Worcester has a large
number of properties, in flats
and estates, for which home
composting is impractical, and
regular collections are
essential for these households
to participate in recycling such
wastes.”
The
Green Party has produced a Waste
Plan for Worcester, aimed at
making Worcester a zero-waste
city and many of the points it
contains are applicable to the
new collection scheme. Their
waste plan can be found in their
manifesto at www.worcestershiregreenparty.com
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
8th
January 2007
Worcester
Green Party calls for referendum on
proposals for 17,000 new homes
in city
The
front-page story "Boom
Town" in the Worcester
News, reporting on plans for
17,000 new homes in Worcester,
is even more alarming than the
story in June 2006 about
"10,000 homes on city's
green belt".
It is, as the
Worcester News
correctly
says,
a dramatic rise, from what was
already way too much.
The
paper's
editorial
in June said that they did
"not accept that
development on this scale is
necessary". Worcester Green
Party agreed then, and agrees
now that number has increased by
70%.
Not only
is the scale completely wrong,
but the Green Party believes
that the proposed sites are in
the wrong place entirely. The
green edges of Worcester will
be lost forever as the city
links up with Kempsey in the
south and Droitwich (and
eventually Birmingham?) in the
north. LibDem
leader Tom
Wells has got it right when he
says that there is no evidence
that this amount of housing will
benefit the local economy.
Worcester
has suffered from decades of
expansionist policies. Labour
and Tories have both tried to
constantly to make the City a
bigger centre for shopping,
yet there is still a shortage
of affordable housing for
local people. Now, as the
Worcester News reports,
this process is being driven by
the West Midlands Regional
Spatial Strategy, and extra
housing is being forced upon
locals by the Labour government.
Worcester
Green Party takes a different
approach. They
believe that planning for future
development should be based on
the knowledge and needs of local
people. Worcester is a sensitive
historic location with a road
network never intended to meet
modern demands. The city is
surrounded by rolling
countryside and inter-laced with
beautiful waterways. The Greens
recognise that these place very
real limits on the City's
expansion. Greens acknowledge
that rather than continually
pushing for economic expansion,
future development in Worcester
should focus on building a more
sustainable economy that meets
the basic needs of affordable
housing and local employment.
Worcester
Green Party is calling for a
referendum on these proposals.
That will make the
planning process democratic
and transparent, and let local
people have a real say in the
future of their city.
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
6th
September 2006
Worcester
Green Party supports local people in
opposition to phone masts
In
two separate stories this week,
the Worcester News reports on
strong local opposition to phone
masts in the city, one in
Windermere Drive, Warndon and one
on Network Rail land in Lowesmoor.
Worcester Green Party has come out
in support of local people in
their opposition to these
masts.
Chris
Lennard, Worcester Green Party
spokesman, said this week:"We
have major concerns regarding
the effects of mobile phone mast
radiation upon human health. In
accordance with the precautionary
principle, we believe these
concerns should be taken seriously
in the relevant planning
decisions."
Network Rail
has been allowed to put up their
mast without even applying for planning
permission, because, as the
Worcester News article says,
they have a "special
agreement with the
government". Under current
legislation, permission is required
only for masts above 15m in
height. The Green Party believes
that the erection of all mobile
phone masts, regardless of
height, should be subject to
full planning permission
regulations, so that local
people can object, and local
councillors can say yes or no.
Permission should also be
required to increase the power
of existing masts.
Said Mr
Lennard:"Green
Party policy is that where there
is significant local opposition
no new mast should be erected,
and local authorities and other
bodies should terminate existing
licensing contracts entered into
for the siting of masts.
"In
the light of the current
uncertainty over the dangers of
masts, contract licenses and
planning permission granted by
local authorities for the siting
of masts should be limited to
specific time-frames. No
long-term irreversible
agreements should be entered
into whilst such uncertainty
about health risks exists."
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
7th
June 2006
Worcester
Green Party calls for referendum on
proposals for 10,000 new homes
on city’s green belt
On 7th June the Worcester News ran a
front-page story "10,000 homes
on city's green belt" which
must ring alarm bells for anyone
concerned with Worcester's future, and
their editorial "a greenfield
armageddon is looming" takes
exactly the right line.
While no-one doubts the need for new homes,
especially affordable ones, the
Worcester News are right to
"not accept that development on
this scale is necessary", as
their editorial states. Not only is
the scale completely wrong, but the
Green Party believes that the
proposed sites are in the wrong
place entirely. The green edges of
Worcester will be lost forever as
the city links up with Kempsey in
the south and Droitwich (and
eventually Birmingham?) in the
north. Who on earth has come up with
these sites, rather than looking at
brownfield development?
The Green Party believes that consultation by the
local authority on housing and other
developments should be proactive, to
discover what the community needs.
New housing should be planned for on
the basis of independent housing
needs surveys. Commercial house
builders and their representatives
should not be involved in the
process of identifying potential
sites or assessing housing needs on
behalf of the local community. Yet
where did these proposals come from
- "independent"
consultants?
Worcester Green Party spokesman Chris Lennard
commented: “Worcester Green
Party wants to see a referendum on
these proposals. That will make
the planning process democratic
and transparent. No-one believes the
claim from the County Council that
"nothing has been decided
yet". Why put this list forward
if they hadn't already decided that
these were the sites they intend to
build on, or at least some of them?
“Will they play off your area against another?
Will those who shout loudest be
saved from development, while others
lose out? Which councillor is honest
enough to come out publicly and say
they are in favour of any of these
proposals? The Green Party says well
done to the Worcester News for their
tough stance”.
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 2006
Worcester
Greens celebrate 'excellent'
election results
City
Council vote shows Green Party the
growing force in local politics -
Conservatives beaten into third
place by Greens in Rainbow Hill
Worcester
Green Party were today celebrating
their best election results to date,
as they scored 11.5% of the
vote in the City Council elections,
a huge increase on their vote last
year.
The
Greens scored 2,461 votes
in total (11.5%), in an election
that saw the Greens come close
to replacing the Liberal Democrats
as the third Party in Worcester,
just 303 votes behind them. In
Rainbow Hill Ward, Green Party
candidate James Roberts scored
31.38% of the vote, up from 17.5%
last year, and beat Conservative
candidate Wasib Shah into third
place.
In
last year's County Council
elections, the Greens put up ten
candidates and saw their vote rise
by 60% on the previous year. In this
week's City Council elections, the
Greens fielded their largest number
of candidates yet, contesting all
twelve vacant seats. In all but one
seat, their vote increased,
sometimes dramatically. In Warndon,
Kate Wildish scored 18.12%, while in
St.John's, Clive Matthews got 365
votes (20.5%), the biggest vote for
the Greens in the city.
James
Roberts commented:"This
is a wonderful result, and shows
that Worcester Green Party are
the growing force in local politics.
People are tired of the
'business-as-usual' politics of the
other Parties, and are turning to us
in ever-larger numbers.
"The
Green Party is a breath of fresh air
in the stale politics of Worcester
City. We are the only Party with
real solutions to the traffic chaos,
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.
Spokesman
Chris Lennard commented:"It's
no wonder that the other Parties
have been pretending to be green
over the last few weeks. But voters
are not stupid - they know you can't
vote red, yellow, blue and get
green. There is only one Green
Party, and it's the growing force in
politics, nationally and locally.
Across the country we've continued
to win more seats on more councils,
and here in Worcester we've made
fantastic gains in votes. We're on
the verge of replacing the Liberal
Democrats as the third Party in
Worcester, and in Rainbow Hill we're
the second Party.
"The
Green Party has been represented on
neighbouring Malvern Hills District
Council since 1987, and has been a
real force in local politics there.
It is only a matter of time now
before we see Green Councillors in
the Guildhall, turning Worcester
City Council green."
Worcester Green Party results at a
glance
Battenhall Ruth
Stafford
171 (9.6%)
Bedwardine Jan
Dyer
252 (10.87%)
Cathedral Martin
Sullivan
280 (12%)
Claines Peter
Robinson
209 (6.57%)
Gorse Hill Linda
Smith
76 (5.62%)
Nunnery Alex
Gwinn 167
(7.63%)
Rainbow Hill James
Roberts
332 (31.38%)
St.John’s Clive
Matthews
365 (20.5%)
St.Peter Louise
Diamond
125 (8.6%)
Warndon Kate
Wildish
170 (18.12%)
Warndon Parish North Robert
Wilkins
163
(10.3%)
Warndon
Parish South
Olaf Twiehaus
151
(11%)
How the Greens compared to the other Parties in Worcester
Battenhall Ruth
Stafford (Green)
171
(9.6%)
Con 1015
Lab 374
LibDem
220
Bedwardine Jan
Dyer (Green)
252
(10.87%) Con 1203
Lab
547
LibDem
315
Cathedral Martin
Sullivan (Green) 280
(12%)
Con 1127
Lab
597
LibDem
329
Claines Peter
Robinson (Green)
209
(6.57%)
Con
1067
Lab
253
LibDem
1649
Gorse Hill Linda
Smith (Green)
76
(5.62%)
Con
200
Lab
594
BNP
331
Ind
149
Nunnery Alex
Gwinn (Green) 167
(7.63%)
Con
364
Lab
711
BNP
420
Ind
524
Rainbow Hill James
Roberts (Green)
332
(31.38%) Con 211
Lab
515
St.John’s Clive
Matthews (Green)
365
(20.5%)
Con
537
Lab
878
St.Peter Louise
Diamond (Green)
125
(8.6%)
Con
856
Lab 219 LibDem
251
Warndon Kate
Wildish (Green)
170
(18.12%) Con 270
Lab
498
Warndon Parish North Robert
Wilkins (Green)
163
(10.3%)
730
Lab
676
Warndon
Parish South
Olaf Twiehaus (Green)
151
(11%)
878
Lab
334
Worcester
Green Party
Press Release
10th
April 2006
Nuclear
is "not the answer",
public meeting told
Blair's
option is "dirty, dangerous and
expensive", says leading Green
on Worcester visit
Nuclear
power is not the answer to Britain's
energy needs, a packed public
meeting in Worcester was told at the
weekend. Keith Taylor, Principal
Speaker of the Green Party, said
that a combination of energy-saving
measures and investment in
renewables was the safe, clean, and
long-term solution to meeting demand
and curbing carbon dioxide
emissions.
Keith
Taylor is convenor of the Green
Party group on Brighton Unitary
Authority and was the Green Party's
candidate in Brighton Pavillion at
last year's general election. He
tripled the Green vote and missed
out on taking second place from the
Conservatives by just 1.9%. He is
widely tipped to become Britain's
first Green MP in Westminster.
Mr
Taylor was in Worcester on Friday as
part of a country-wide tour, putting
the case against nuclear power and
for energy conservation and
renewables. The tour is part of the
Green Party's ongoing campaign
"Green Energy Works".
Worcester Green Party members have
been out on the city streets over
the last two weeks asking members of
the public to take part in their
energy survey. The campaign is a
response to the government's energy
consultation, launched in January,
which the Greens say is biased
towards building new nuclear power
stations.
Around
40 people gathered at The Guesten,
in College Green, to hear Mr Taylor
tell them:"The
government is simply not taking
climate change seriously - Gordon
Brown's tax rise for 4x4s gives
tokenism a bad name. We need to
cut carbon emissions, and they are
putting their weight behind the
nuclear option, but nuclear is not
carbon-free. 2020 would be the
earliest that new nuclear power
stations would come on line, and we
need action before that. And the
government's own Sustainable
Development Commision has slammed
nuclear on cost grounds.
He
continued:"Decommissioning
costs are estimated at £70billion.
Then there are the safety aspects,
with nuclear waste travelling by
train from around the country to
Sellafield. And the cancer clusters
around nuclear plants. And the
threat of nuclear materials being
used for terrorism.
"Only
8% of our needs are met by nuclear
power, yet we could reduce our
energy use by 30% in two decades,
according to HMG Plan for Action for
Energy Efficiency. And then there
are renewables."
Mr
Taylor told the meeting that it is
estimated that 82% of our energy
needs could be met by renewables.
The UK has over half of the wave
energy of Europe, he said. And he
pointed to the achievements of Local
Authorities where Green Party
Councillors hold the balance of
power, such as Oxford, where the
council has started its own energy
recycling company.
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
7th
February 2006
Worcester
Greens launch Sustainable Communities
Campaign
Bid
to persuade City Council to sign
up to initiative
Worcester
Green Party's first campaign of 2006
has been launched, with the Local
Party trying to get Worcester City
Council to sign up to the Sustainable
Communities Bill.
Robert
Wilkins, Campaigns Officer with
Worcester Green Party, has written to
councillors to try to persuade them to
pass a resolution of support for the
Bill. The Sustainable
Communities Bill seeks to reverse the
decline of local services and
facilities which affects local
communities, and in particular the
elderly and least well-off.
The
Bill requires the government to assist
local councils and communities in
promoting 'local sustainability'. It
does not impose any new duties on
councils, but instead enables them to
influence how government uses its
resources and influence to help
councils and communities. The Greens
are also asking the council to write
to City MP Mike Foster, asking him to
support EDM (Early Day Motion) No.641
in support of the Bill. 237 MPs have
signed supportive motions in
Parliament, and the Bill has the
support of 62 national organisations
and 8,000 individual supporters across
the country.
Said
Mr Wilkins"Greens believe
that local communities and councils
are the experts on their own problems
- and the solutions to them. Not
Whitehall; not central government.
This Bill, if passed, will require the
Secretary of State to ask councils and
communities how government can help
them.
" We
believe that this Bill, if enacted,
will help to halt the decline in our
local communities - loss of local
shops, loss of local jobs, increased
traffic through increased commuting.
This campaign is also about making
democracy work again for people on
issues that they face every day when
they open their front doors - the
decline of their communities.
"This
is an important Bill for the Green
Party which goes to the heart of what
we are about - strong local economies,
better public services and more
accountability."
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 26th November
2005
Worcester
Greens call on Council to help lead
the
field on renewable energy
Green Councillor establishes
standards for new public buildings
Worcester Greens called on Worcester
City Council this week to follow in the
wake of a national trailblazing
commitment pioneered by Green Party
Councillor Andrew Cooper to include
renewable energy requirements in all new
public buildings in Kirklees which has
just been agreed by the council's
Cabinet.
Kirklees is the first council in the
country to set such a policy, which aims
to ensure that by 2011 at least 30% of
energy consumption is through renewable
sources such as solar panels, wind
turbines, and biomass boiler plants that
run off non-fossil fuel such as wood
pellets and vegetable oil.
The immediate effect of the policy is
that all new public buildings will have
their energy needs met from 10%
renewable energy sources rising by 5 per
cent a year until 2011 when the 30%
target will be met. New residential
homes and schools now under construction
or in the design stage are already
incorporating wind turbines and solar
panels.
Councillor Andrew Cooper, the council's
Cabinet member for Housing and Property,
said: "This is a groundbreaking
policy with national significance: the
first time a Council has mainstreamed
the installation of renewable energy
into all its new public buildings.
"We are effectively setting our own
version of the Building Regulations for
renewable energy in Kirklees that will
impact every residential home, every
children's centre and every school we
build. This policy ensures a new high
standard for buildings in the future and
that future is green.
Kirklees Council, in West Yorkshire, is
a shared Administration between the
Green Party and the Liberal Democrats.
The Green Party are responsible for
Housing and Property issues through
Cabinet Member Andrew Cooper.
After the vote, Chris Lennard, spokesman
for Worcester Green Party, and himself a
former Green Party Councillor on Malvern
Hills District Council, called on
Worcester City Council to follow the
lead of Kirklees. He commented:"It
is only a lack of political will that
prevents our Council from going down
this route. As conventional fuel prices
for gas and oil continue to rise, and
our emissions continue to damage our
atmosphere, we must look to more
cost-effective and ecologically friendly
energy sources. Investment in renewable
energy is not only good news for Council
taxpayers of today, but also in years to
come.
"The Green Party hopes to have 40%
of energy coming from renewable
resources by 2020, and to reduce
domestic energy demand by holding house
construction to higher standards. This
should begin in individual Councils. I
hope that other Councils such as
Worcester will follow the trend begun in
Kirklees when determining their own
building programmes.
"The ability for Kirklees to pursue
this new policy is largely due to the
practical experience they have
gained from installing solar and wind
energy on existing buildings. We should
be doing this here, too - renewable
energy is the way forward."
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 30th
August 2005
Worcester
Greens support 'Express' project
Worcester
City and County Councils applauded for
encouraging buses
Worcester
Green Party this week put their support
behind Worcester County Council’s
‘Worcester Express Project’,
describing it as “positive and
innovative”.
This
week sees the launch of the Council’s new 'W'
bus project, run by
Worcestershire County Council. The
County Council is working with the City
Council to deliver positive results for
Worcester City. The scheme includes
free travel for under-19s and over-60s,
and more frequent and reliable bus
services.
James
Roberts, Transport Spokesman for
Worcester Green Party, said this week:
“We desperately need to get Worcester
moving again. We know that more roads
simply mean more car traffic. We also
know that most journeys are local ones,
and that travelling by bus should
be convenient and cheap, and
that buses should be reliable.
“This
initiative represents a positive and
innovative attempt at easing the rush
hour gridlock on our city’s roads, and
deserves the support of
Worcester’s residents.
"The
only element of the scheme that the
Greens have doubts about is the 'Park
and Ride' plan, which may have to
be looked at again. 'Park and Ride' has
been tried elsewhere, and has been found
to be unsuccessful, concreting over
large swathes of green land, and
continuing to encourage car use.
"Apart
from this one reservation, however,
Worcester Green Party wholeheartedly
supports this far-sighted initiative
from our Council Officers for a cleaner,
greener, less-congested Worcester".
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 13th
June 2005
Worcester
Greens support Sustainable Transport
project
Worcester
City and County Councils applauded for
encouraging cycling plans
Worcester
Green Party this week put their support
behind Worcester City Council’s
‘Sustainable Travel Town Project’,
describing it as “positive and
innovative”.
This
week sees the launch of the Council’s
sustainable transport project, which is
funded by the DFT, and run by
Worcestershire County Council. The
County Council is working with the City
Council to deliver positive results for
Worcester City.
As
a first step, in conjunction with
‘National Bike Week’, the project
will be offering £5,000 in cash prizes
to the city’s schools, colleges and
companies who take active steps to
encourage their students and employees
to either bike or walk to work.
Dr.James
Roberts, Transport Spokesperson for
Worcester Green Party, said this week:
“We desperately need to get Worcester
moving again. We know that more roads
simply mean more car traffic. We also
know that most journeys are local ones,
and that walking and cycling should be a
pleasant experience that everyone can
enjoy, without having to risk life and
limb.
“This
initiative represents a positive and
innovative attempt at easing the rush
hour gridlock on our city’s roads, and
deserves the full support of
Worcester’s residents, business
community and scholars.”
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 6th
May 2005
Worcestershire
Greens celebrate
"excellent" County
Election Results
Green
vote up by more than 60% in Worcester
City
More
than 10,000 people voted Green in last
Thursday's County Council elections in
Worcestershire, the biggest vote the
Party has seen in the county.
Worcester
Green Party, which was launched in
January 2004, fielded a full-slate of
candidates and saw their vote rise by
more than 60% on their score in the
European elections last year. They
polled 3,318 votes (7.1%). In Rainbow
Hill, transport spokesman James
Roberts scored 690 votes (17.5%),
and Alex Gwinn got 550 (13.5%) in
Nunnery division.
In
Malvern Hills, the Greens scored 4,795
votes, former Town Councillor Richard
Perkins getting 1608 (30.27%) in rural
Tenbury division, and District
Councillor John Raine scoring 606
(15.25%) in Malvern Trinity. In
Evesham South, Town Councillor Norbert
Tucker had 12.24% of the vote, and the
Greens scored 3318 votes in Wyre Forest,
where they were standing for the first
time. Across the county, the Green Party averaged
8% of the vote wherever they stood.
Chris
Lennard, spokesman for Worcestershire
Green Party, said:"These
results are excellent. We're seeing
solid support for the Greens, which is
steadily increasing. We've been a
longstanding presence in Malvern Hills,
and that is reflected in our strong vote
there. But what is really marvellous is
our vote in Worcester City, where the
Local Party was only launched sixteen
months ago. We've increased our vote
massively on last June's election
result, and we'll now be campaigning on
local issues and working hard to build
still further on this.
"The
Green Party has been a distinctive
voice in Worcestershire in these
elections - the only Party committed to
a 'zero-waste' strategy for our county,
and to a modern, properly-funded public
transport system here. Our
policies for a sustainable future are
clearly striking a chord with local
people, and that's reflected in this
vote."
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 26th
April 2005
Green
Party candidate steps up campaign in
final week
Worcester
Parliamentary Candidate says voters
are tired of 'business-as-usual'
politics
Chris
Lennard, Green Party general election
candidate for Worcester, has been
meeting voters around the city as the
election campaign enters its final week.
Mr
Lennard was out on Worcester High Street
on Saturday with Worcester Green Party
County Council candidates Rosemarie Powe,
James Roberts and Peter Robinson,
talking to voters. On Monday, he spoke
to children at St.Joseph's Primary
School in Warndon, as part of the
school's mock election. And on Thursday
evening, he takes part in the hustings
organised by the churches in Worcester,
at Bishop Perowne High School.
Mr Lennard
has been campaigning on the Greens'
pledges to invest millions in
public services, to scrap the unpopular
PFI and public-private partnerships that
have become the hallmark of New Labour,
to scrap university tuition fees and
student loans, to invest in a
properly-funded modern public transport
system for Britain, including the
renationalisation of the railways, to
slash Britain's CO2 emissions through
investment in clean energy and eco-taxes
on the worst polluters, and opposition
to the continued occupation of Iraq and
any future military action in Iran or
Syria.
Speaking
on Saturday in the High Street,
Mr.Lennard said:"Voters are
sick and tired of the growing gulf
between the poorest and most well off in
Blair's Britain and the erosion of our
public services by creeping
privatisation.
"Over
a million people voted Green in last
year's European elections, and elected
Greens in the Scottish and European
parliaments, as well as those in town
halls up and down the country, have made
real progress towards a society based on
the principles of social and
environmental justice."
A
rejuvinated Worcester Green Party is
fielding a full-slate of County Council
candidates on 5th May, as well as
contesting the Parliamentary seat for
the first time in thirteen years.
Mr.Lennard
added:"Worcester voters at
last have a real choice at this
election. Many of them are tired of the
'business-as-usual' politics of the
other three main Parties. We are giving
them the chance to vote for social
justice, for sustainability, and for
security - a vote for Real
Progress."
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 12th
April 2005
Green
Party's emphatic 'No' to Worcester
Northern Bypass
Green
Response to Transport Consultation aims
for radical solutions
Worcestershire
Green Party has responded to the County
Council's Transport Plan cansultation,
with an emphatic 'no' to any Northern
Worcester bypass or other roadbuilding
schemes. The Greens favour instead
public investment in buses and railways,
and making it easier to walk or cycle.
The
Green Party response welcomes plans for
a new railway station at Norton, but
goes further in calling for the
re-opening of stations at Henwick and
Malvern Wells. They also want to see
20mph zones in residential streets
throughout the county.
Worcestershire
Green Party spokesman Chris Lennard
commented:"In the past,
County Council policy has seen spending
on car traffic to the detriment of
pedestrians, cyclists and public
transport users. This of course has led
to ever increasing levels of car
traffic, congestion and pollution.
We welcome recent County Council
initiatives such as 'Safe Routes to
Schools', but there is still not
enough joined-up thinking.
"The
old ‘predict and provide’ strategy
of building more roads to accommodate
traffic growth is now widely
discredited. The only way forward, we
would argue, is to prioritise measures
which both reduce the need to travel,
through sensible planning and economic
decisions, and promote policies for
public transport, pedestrians and
cyclists.
"Although
the other main Parties are making the
right noises, and doing some of the
right things, they still haven't made
the connections. The support of
certain Councillors for the Northern
Worcester Bypass shows how little they
have learned. We don't need more
of the same failed policies - we need a
Green Transport Strategy for the 21st
century."
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 20th
February 2005
Greens
Unveil Public Services Election Pledge
Worcester
Parliamentary Candidate launches 'Social
Justice' Campaign
The
Green Party is to fight this year's
expected general election on a platform
of massive investment in public
services, renationalising the railways,
scrapping university tuition fees and
student loans and opposition to war in
Iraq, it was revealed today.
In
answer to Labour's six election pledges
last week, Worcester Green Party's
parliamentary candidate Chris Lennard
unveiled the Greens' pledges - to invest
millions in public services, to scrap
the unpopular PFI and public-private
partnerships that have become the
hallmark of New Labour, to scrap
university tuition fees and student
loans, to invest in a properly-funded
modern public transport system for
Britain, including the renationalisation
of the railways, to slash Britain's CO2
emissions through investment in clean
energy and eco-taxes on the worst
polluters, and opposition to the
continued occupation of Iraq and any
future military action in Iran or Syria.
In
his speech at a pre-election rally in
Worcester yesterday (Saturday 19th
February), Mr.Lennard said:"Voters
are sick and tired of the growing gulf
between the poorest and most well off in
Blair's Britain and the erosion of our
public services by creeping
privatisation.
"Over
a million people voted Green in last
year's European elections, and elected
Greens in the Scottish and European
parliaments, as well as those in town
halls up and down the country, have made
real progress towards a society based on
the principles of social and
environmental justice."
The
speech marks Worcester Greens' entry
into what promises to be one of the
hardest-fought and closest elections in
recent British history.
Mr.Lennard
added:"When Blair promises
us an unremittingly 'New Labour' third
term, I shudder at the prospect of a
return to the selfish politics of the
1980s. We need a government committed to
social justice, not personal prosperity
at any price, and the Green Party is the
only Party left with such a commitment
on offer.
"Of
course Labour and the Tories will claim
that a Green vote is a wasted vote -
it's easier to rely on a skewed
electoral system than confront our
policies head-on, after all - but the
truth is the only wasted vote is a vote
for a Party you don't believe in".
Worcestershire
Green Party Press Release 12th
February 2005
Worcestershire
Green Party launches County Manifesto
Plans
to contest many more seats at County
Elections
Worcestershire
Green Party this week launched their
manifesto for the County Council
elections, and announced plans to
contest every seat in Worcester City and
the Malvern Hills District in May.
The
manifesto sets out the Greens’ plans
for a ‘Zero Waste’ strategy, for
cuts in congestion and pollution through
better public transport and cycling
facilities, and for a strong local
economy through support for local
businesses.
At
the launch in Worcester this week, their
spokesman Robert Wilkins announced their
ambitious plans to field a candidate in
every one of the ten Worcester divisions
at the elections to Worcestershire
County Council in May, and each of the
eight divisions in Malvern Hills. In
addition, Greens will be standing in
Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Evesham,
Kidderminster and Redditch. Almost
10,000 people in Worcestershire voted
Green in the European elections in June
last year, and Worcestershire Greens
hope to build on this support.
In
the wake of their European campaign,
Worcester Green Party was relaunched in
January last year, and has gained many
new members. Plans are afoot to start a
Wyre Forest Green Party in the Spring.
Mr
Wilkins commented: “This
manifesto sets out our vision for a
green Worcestershire – a vision many
voters share. All that is preventing its
fruition is a lack of political will at
County Hall.
“In
Malvern Hills, the Green Party has had
five District Councillors and five Town
Councillors, and been a strong presence
in local politics. We now have a vibrant
new Worcester Green Party, which hopes
to emulate that success.
With a voice on the County
Council, we can do still more.
This is our blueprint for real
progress on a better quality of life for
the people of Worcestershire.”
For
a copy of the manifesto, contact Chris
Lennard on 01684 563392.
Worcester
Green Party Press Release 8th
February 2005
Worcester
Green Party selects Parliamentary
Candidate
Greens
to fight seat for first time in thirteen
years
Worcester
Green Party today announced their
prospective Parliamentary Candidate to
fight the Worcester City seat at the
general election.
At
their selection meeting held on Monday
evening (7th February) at the
offices of David Hallmark Solicitors in
Sansome Place, Chris Lennard was
selected to fight the seat for the
Greens – the first time the Party has
contested the seat in thirteen years.
Mr
Lennard has been a Green Party
Councillor on Malvern Hills District
Council and Malvern Town Council. In
1995, he spearheaded the successful
campaign to close down the
highly-polluting incinerator at Hanley
Swan, near Malvern. He works in the
National Health Service, and in 2000, he
became Scheme Initiator for Malvern’s
Walking for Health scheme – a
Countryside Agency initiative – one of
the first in the country.
In
June 2004, Mr Lennard was the leading
Green Party European Parliamentary
candidate in the West Midlands. The
Green Party vote went up by 49%, with
West Midlands Greens getting getting
74,000 votes – 10,000 of them here in
Worcestershire.
Last
month, Worcester Green Party announced
plans to field a candidate in every one
of the ten Worcester divisions at the
elections to Worcestershire County
Council in May. The general election,
widely tipped to be on the same day,
will see them contest the Worcester City
parliamentary seat for the first time
since 1992.
Chris
Lennard commented: “Worcester
Green Party has gone from strength to
strength in the year since it was
relaunched. In neighbouring Malvern
Hills, the Green Party has had five
District Councillors and five Town
Councillors, and been a strong presence
in local politics. We now have a vibrant
new Worcester Green Party, which hopes
to emulate that success.
“The
Greens got 7.25% of the vote here in
Worcester in the European elections last
year. In the County elections and
general election, we hope to build on
that vote. There are many former Labour
supporters here, disaffected by the Iraq
war and the privatisation of our public
services, who see no real alternative in
the Conservatives or LibDems. Worcester
people who want to vote for
sustainability and social justice in the
local and general election now have a
real alternative – Worcester Green
Party!”
Worcester
Green
Party Press
Release 12th
January 2005
Worcester
Green Party Celebrates First Birthday
Plans
to contest seats at County Elections
Worcester
Green Party celebrated their first
birthday this week and laid plans to
contest every seat in the City in
May’s County Council elections
After
a number of years of inactivity in the
city, Worcester Green Party was
relaunched in January last year. At
their Annual General Meeting held on
Tuesday evening (11th
January) at the offices of David
Hallmark Solicitors in Sansome Place,
founder member Robert Wilkins reviewed
their activities over the past year.
Worcester
Greens contributed to Chris Lennard’s
European election campaign in June last
year, traveling with him to
Kidderminster, Redditch, Pershore,
Droitwich and Evesham, and holding their
own street stalls in Worcester High
Street, which they continued into the
autumn. They set up ‘Green Gossip’,
an e-mail bulletin board for
environmental and social justice groups
and organizations across the city. And
they have contributed to the
consultation process for the drawing up
of the County Council’s Core Strategy
for Waste.
Looking
ahead to 2005, members resolved to field
a candidate in every one of the ten
Worcester divisions at the elections to
Worcestershire County Council in May.
Almost 2,000 people in Worcester voted
Green in the European elections, and
Worcester Greens hope to build on this
support, and establish the Party in the
city.
Spokesman
Chris Lennard commented: “Worcester
has been without a Green Party for too
long. In neighbouring Malvern Hills, the
Green Party has had five District
Councillors and five Town Councillors,
and been a strong presence in local
politics. We now have a vibrant new
Worcester Green Party which hopes to
emulate that success. There are many
former Labour supporters here,
disaffected by the Iraq war, who see no
real alternative in the Conservatives or
LibDems. Worcester people who want to
vote for sustainability and social
justice now have a real alternative –
Worcester Green Party!”
Officers
elected at the meeting included Election
Agent James Roberts, Secretary Linda
Smith, Local Party Contact Robert
Wilkins, Treasurer Sally Dean, Website
Co-ordinator Martin Sullivan, Street
Stall Co-ordinator Kate Wildish, and
Press Officer Chris Lennard.
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