Your chance to vote Green: 4th May 2006

Enclosed below is a sample of 250 word statements on four Stroud District candidates and a longer general statement plus six reasons to vote Green.

STROUD DISTRICT GREEN PARTY: ELECTION STATEMENT 2006

BETTER POLICIES FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Greens are good for you! Our local communities that already have Green Councillors re-elect them. Greens listen and work to get your views and frustrations taken notice of at the Council.

We represent strong independent voices: free to act in the interests of local people not some party machine. It was a Green Councillor who led popular opposition to Nailsworth and Stonehouse being made part of the ‘Stroud Urban Area’ in the local plan – threatening the historic individuality of our communities and the green lungs that separate the settlements in our valleys.

Greens will continue to work to protect green fields and remain opposed to mega-development and resulting transport chaos in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Aston Down airfield between Stroud and Cirencester.

Greens have also led the way on raising the issue of climate change. We welcome that other parties are finally waking up, but we need a much greater sense of urgency. Many Councils are doing much more on energy efficiency, promoting renewable energies and saving you money. Some have also managed to recycle 50% of their domestic waste while Stroud recycled only 21% and Gloucester 11.26% (2004/5) - with a few more Green councillors we could join those lead councils in showing what can and must be done.

But Greens aren't just about protecting green fields and climate change, we also have policies for a thriving local economy, community policing, more affordable housing and ways to cut casualties on our roads. We want to see more efficient use of Council resources, like for example opposing extra cash being paid to councillors using larger cars compared to small cars or bicycles. Greens will also fight any threat, to close hospitals and we are already running a public campaign to 'Keep our NHS public' and services local.

Greens only have 4 out of 51 Stroud District councillors but we are having a huge influence on Council policy - with more Greens elected we can have better policies for a better future. Read more on our website: www.glosgreenparty.org.uk or phone our election hotline on 01453 751189.

Gwen Belcher, on behalf of Stroud District Green party

Six reasons to Vote Green in Stroud District

 
Vote Green for: 

- Candidates and councillors that live in the wards they represent and actively work to improve their communities.

- Councillors who vote for issues on their merits not in the interests of a party machine.

- Protecting our green spaces between our communities.

- Maintaining and improving our local services: post offices, shops, youth clubs, libraries, buses and local hospital services.

- Reducing casualties on our roads by more 20 mph zones and other traffic calming (without humps).

- Real Greens for real Green progress for our future and our children's future - and much more.


Gwen Belcher, on behalf of Stroud District Green party

PHILIP BOOTH: GREEN CANDIDATE for RANDWICK, RUSCOMBE AND WHITESHILL

I live in Bread Street, Ruscombe and care deeply about our local community. I started a group to end raw sewage getting into the local brook, have helped to protect the beautiful Ruscombe valley and other greenfields from development, have actively promoted the local community shop, have sought better consultation from Highways after their removal of hundreds of mature verge-side trees, helped organise campaigns to save our local post offices and much more.

My partner's granddaughter is at Randwick School and I have enjoyed giving help to their back-breaking project to make a butterfly garden. Previously I managed services for people with learning disabilities but more recently work has involved a variety of projects including researching a much-needed new approach to road safety that could be applied locally, work for an organisation promoting sustainability in Gloucestershire and helping with the Cainscross Parish Plan.

We need a better managed council. I know that by working together we can achieve results. If elected I will be a strong independent voice working to show that much more can be achieved - and not just locally.

We need a new sense of urgency to tackling climate change that is a serious threat to the future, for ourselves, our children and grandchildren. Other Councils in the country are showing what can be done: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money with energy efficiencies and better planning. I would like to see Stroud join them and be a beacon for others to follow. Please visit our website to find out more: www.glosgreenparty.org.uk or call the election hotline on 01453 751189.

SIMON LAVERACK: GREEN CANDIDATE for BISLEY

I feel really honoured to be given the opportunity to be the Green election candidate for the Bisley area. I have always held a keen interest in Green issues, both through my previous academic interests and my past involvement with organisations such as Friends of the Earth. Each day we hear the big news events relating to climate change, energy security, globalisation and more. How these relate to our own lives can sometimes seem, on the surface at least, a little remote, however the fascination for me is how we as individuals at a local level can make a real difference. And most importantly how that ‘difference’ improves the quality of our day-to-day experience.

The local Green Party is noted for its reputation for innovative and cost effective ways in which it addresses the practical and social needs of citizens and local community - and being more environmentally sensitive at the same time.

As a recent dad, I guess I am now even more concerned of what kind of world we leave to our children. Faced with so many external challenges it has never been more important that we work together at a local level to safeguard local businesses and services. To maintain and improve the well-being and safety of our people in their day-to-day activities. And furthermore to do this in a way that preserves the beauty and life within our rural environment.

We need a Green vote more than ever. Bisley once had a Green District councillor, please make it so again.


CLARE SHERIDAN: GREEN CANDIDATE for STONEHOUSE

I care about Stonehouse and it’s residents. I will work to see Stonehouse become an even more vibrant community with residents being involved in it’s development and the canal restoration becoming a part of our communities economy. I would like to see young and older people working together, in a place where people can feel safe and content and where people and the environment are cared for.

If I am elected District Councilor for Stonehouse I would listen to all residents and ensure that issues that concern them are dealt with as quickly as possible. I will work to ensure Stonehouse has its fair share of Council funds to fulfill local projects.

I would also work to reduce waste by recycling - thus cutting landfill charges and avoiding fines that could be levied on Council taxpayers. Stroud recycled 21% of domestic waste in 2004/5. We are not the leader we once were: some other Councils are managing over 50%. I want to see our Council become a leader again and show the way to others.

I will work to reduce traffic speed to make our streets safer and more pleasant and seek improvements to community policing. I am particularly interested in an exciting new traffic calming approach that doesn't involve humps, but does reduce both reduce casualties and reduce congestion. I also want to safeguard our remaining open and green spaces and see Stonehouse become a ‘ Fairtrade Town’. Please consider a Green vote this time.

Read The Mail on Sunday for full article about Claire Sheriden on 23rd April 2006


PIERS CLIFFORD: GREEN CANDIDATE for NAILSWORTH

I initially put myself forward as a potential Green Party candidate as I felt that there was already a strong green presence in Nailsworth and Horsley whose views were not being expressed. Certainly in the field of planning we were not being listened to as can be seen in the case of the massive McCarthy and Stone development in the town centre. With a such a diverse community it didn't seem right that all of our current Councillors came from the same Party.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I have lived in Horsley for about ten years with my wife who is an actor and my three children all go to local authority schools. I used to be a tree surgeon but for the last ten years have worked in education - now mainly with young, sometimes challenging people, as a counsellor. I love the work and see my skills of negotiation as an asset as a District Councillor.

If elected I would work with the Town Council to see that the vision of a defined town Square comes to fruition. I would also help Horsley residents with the planned conversion of the church into a multi-use community facility, the first of it's kind in the country and a project that reflects brilliantly the imagination and boldness of the residents and church community. Finally I would work for better Community and Social provisions for Forest Green. I am proud to live in this area and hope to offer thoughtful decision making to build on what we already have.