6th April 2007

Ten Green Town and Parish Councillors have now been appointed uncontested in Stroud District

Philip Booth, a Green party spokesperson said: "This is good news for Greens but bad news for democracy insofar as the lack of interest in people to stand."

Two Greens stood as Independents they are Chris Harmer (Horsley PC) and Helen Royall (Cainscross PC) while the others elected are Amanda Moriarty, Val Saunders, Sheila Lister and Jes Waring (Stroud TC), former-Nailsworth Mayor John Nicholson (Nailsworth TC), Phil Blomberg (Rodborough PC), Piers Clifford (Horsley PC) and Clare Sheridan (Stonehouse TC).

Philip Booth added: "There are still seats available in places - including Rodborough, Nailsworth, Stonehouse, Cainscross and Horsley. It is very disappointing that not more people are interested - people are losing faith in politics - to some extent this is a reflection of politics in general and the lack of real powers our communities have compared to other countries."

Philip Booth continued: "Research shows we no longer know what governments are good for. The steady withdrawal of the state over the past 20 years from the public sphere, has meant corporations, not governments, increasingly define the public realm. We also witness both Conservative and Labour representatives nationally being happy to go blatantly against the clear wishes of most Britons on issues like Iraq, public ownership of the NHS and more."

Philip Booth concluded: "But things are changing - even the other parties are now recognising we need more local democracy and powers for communities - and it is also clear that without Greens in our local Councils in Stroud District we would not have seen these issues being taken seriously - Greens can and are making a difference - with more elected in the coming elections we will be hoping to make even more of a difference."

Latest on Stroud Town

In Stroud there will be elections for the Town Council - in Trinity ward four people are fighting three seats - the three Greens are hoping to retain their seats: John Marjoram, Dave Cockcroft and Gek-Bee. In Slade ward's three seats there are two Greens standing Rob Green and Sarah Lunnon plus Mike Jones (an Independent sympathetic to green objectives) plus another Independent which we know little about. In Central the three seats are being contested by two Greens Mayor Kevin Cranston and Odelia Jarman plus two others from other parties. The Greens could end up with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 11 out of the 18 seats on the Town Council.