10th May 2007

As a Gloucestershire Green party councillor my attention has just been drawn to your Conservative-led Borough and County councils' enthusiastic championing of a 'relief road'. This will slice through some of the most beautiful countryside in Shropshire, including many Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

We know only too well that roadbuilding creates more traffic (SACTRA report) and that economic growth and traffic growth are not mutually dependent (White Paper and Transport Trends). Can we really believe the Conservatives' 'Vote Blue, Go Green'?

Indeed nationally we see both Tories and Labour supporting more road building, doubling airports, Trident, the war in Iraq and nuclear power and even blocking EU Environmental legislation. Scottish Friends of the Earth last month said Tories have the least firm commitment to environmental policies and that only Greens have policies to address the issues.

When Greens are elected, as here in Stroud where we have 5 district councillors, we have seen real moves by the other parties to develop green policies. Indeed the District's Tory administration are to be given enormous credit for the new Environment strategy which they consulted over in an exemplar fashion and took on board Green party recommendations.

This start is hugely welcomed and democracy at its best. However without Greens on the Council it would not be the policy it is now. Let us hope that it wont be too long before Shrewsbury and all Councils elect Greens.

Cllr. Philip Booth (pictured) , Stroud District Green Party.