Vote Green - Get Green

Greens step up campaign for local elections on eve of poll and warn of failure of other parties on green issues

On the eve of the important May 1st elections, the Green Party is working hard to secure more councillors across Eastern Region. The Greens are standing 170* candidates in the 6 counties that make up Eastern Region, including full slates in Norwich, Colchester, Cambridge, North Herts, Watford, St. Albans and Waveney. The Greens are standing candidates in over 40% of the seats being contested - a record for the region.

In Norwich the Greens may be on the verge of an historic breakthrough to become the largest opposition party on the council - the first time the Greens will have achieved this in the UK. There are also good prospects for gains in Waveney, Colchester and Cambridge and strong results expected in Watford, Mid-Beds, St. Albans, Welwyn Hatfield and Peterborough.

The Greens are campaigning positively and concentrating on local issues and are also highlighting the failure of other parties on green policy.

Labour's record on climate change, transport and local services is woeful. Since 1997, UK emissions of the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, have not fallen and plans to treble the size of Stansted airport, build ever more roads and unleash more urban sprawl are set to ensure that Labour continues to fail to tackle the threat of dangerous climate change in Eastern Region - an area particularly vulnerable to flooding.

A major issue on the doorstep is the decline of local services. Labour has allowed, and in some cases encouraged, the rapid decline of post offices, small shops, bus services in rural areas, village pubs and service stations and many more important parts of the fabric of sustainable communities. And Labour continues to preside over the creeping privatisation of the NHS.

The Tories are again using their "Vote Blue Go Green" slogan, yet have very little credibility on green issues. Tory Councillors across Eastern Region are often the most ardent supporters of building more roads through the countryside and in counties such as Essex have repeatedly frustrated proposals from Green Councillors to install renewable energy in building projects. In Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, Tory County Councils are promoting waste incinerators, which will pump million of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere over their lifetimes.

Cllr Rupert Read, Norwich City Councillor and Lead candidate for the 2009 European Elections said

"A vote for the Green Party is a vote for real Green policies. When voters elect Greens, they know they are getting the genuine article - hard working local representatives who will carry out the policies they were elected on.

I have enjoyed campaigning during this election in Norwich, Welwyn Garden City, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridge and other areas. Wherever I go, what I am hearing is that more people are turning to the Green Party, because we are a party that they trust, and not a party of spin or empty promises. I believe the Greens will do very well in Eastern Region at these elections, and that is a good thing for voters today and the voters of generations to come."

Green Councillors across the region are active in:

• Opposing Post Office closures and supporting new branches;
• Campaigning for higher levels of recycling and opposing Tory plans for waste incineration;
• Supporting proposals for renewable energy to help combat dangerous climate change;
• Opposing airport expansion at Stansted, Norwich and Luton;
• Lobbying for improved public transport and safe routes for cycling and walking;
• Calling for reductions in Labour Government imposed development targets;
• Ensuring that new development is truly sustainable, not "false eco-towns";
• Supporting genuinely affordable housing for need;
• Opposing all major new road building, but instead investing in the railways and road safety;
• Supporting campaigns to save the NHS from privatisation;
• Supporting the retention and development of local non-acute community hospitals.

Notes:

*Including 3 co-incident by-elections.

Eastern Region is rapidly becoming a major growth area for the Greens, who have expanded their number of principal authority councillors from just 2 in May 1999 to over 20 in May 2007. This year elections are held on May 1st and the party is expecting further gains, with Norwich being tipped to see the Green Group of Councillors become the largest opposition party - the first time on any principal local authority in Britain. Greens are also campaigning hard to make gains on other authorities such as Waveney as well as win their first seats on authorities such as Colchester and Cambridge.

The Greens are also gearing up for the County Council and European Elections in 2009, with Cllr. Dr. Rupert Read being tipped to become the region's first Green MEP.