Sutton Greens

Appropriate technology comes to Sutton & Carshalton?

2011-11-21T16:20:00.003Z

If Sutton Council really wanted their green credentials to be taken at least a wee bit more seriously, then why oh why do they perist in buying those absurd leaf blowing machines which grown men use to blow piles of leaves around from one place to another whilst using lots of energy and making lots of noise? It must rank as one of the most iconic bits of crap technology we have produced for the coming age of energy scarcity.
However, help is at hand. I can reveal a couple of inventions which will do the job better, with zero energy consumption and a noise level of below ten decibels; and i share these with the Council. One is called a broom, and the other a springbok rake. Together with a couple of bits of old plywood and a mobile bin (the sort they got rid of years ago) - hey presto job done.

Incinerator comes a step nearer as other parties play politics..

2011-11-14T14:53:00.004Z

Breaking news this week (November 9th) that the South London Waste Partnership is about to give the go-ahead for its preferred bidder, Viridor, to apply to build a waste recovery plant (Incinerator, to you and me) at Beddington Lane is bad news for the environment and for public health. However it’s no surprise as Greens have been warning about the likelihood of this for over two years now.
However, what I can't help but notice is this. Within the four boroughs covered by the South London Waste Partnership, this is how political parties measure up:

We in the Green party have consistently opposed incineration. The devastating health, environmental and financial implications have all been well documented on other blogs such as http://croydongreens.blogspot.com/search/label/incinerator or http://insidecroydon.com/2011/07/07/cancer-risks-from-1bn-croydon-incinerator-warn-greens/ Moreover large facilities like this need a constant stream of waste and lengthy contracts, resulting in the burning of recoverable/reusable/recyclable materials
CROYDON: Conservatives control the council and support the SLWP. Labour are in opposition and oppose it.
SUTTON: Liberal Democrats control the council and support the SLWP. Conservatives are in opposition and oppose it.
MERTON: No Overall Control: Labour are the biggest party and support the SLWP. Conservatives are the smaller party and oppose it.
KINGSTON UPON THAMES: Liberal Democrats control the council and support the SLWP. Conservatives are in opposition and oppose it.

Do you detect the usual lack of integrity here? The Liberal Democrats of course win the prize for the most intellectually dyslexic stance. Their national policy is allegedly against incinerators, but in the 2002 local elections the Lib Dems lost control of Sheffield council by arguing for a new incinerator, and gained control of Hull by campaigning against one! They currently support incinerator projects in Exeter, Plymouth and Barnstaple, and also in Essex, despite having proclaimed support for a zero waste strategy - which means no incineration. What a shambles!

Why do all the Parties in control support the SLWP?

Why do all the Parties in opposition oppose the SLWP?

Are all those Parties the same?

This is the text of a letter written to the local Guardian newspaper by Shasha khan, leader of the greens in Croydon, following the news this week:

"Dear Editor,

I was interested to see Councillor Whitham, the leader of the Conservative opposition group on Sutton Council comment that he had “grave concerns” about an incinerator in Beddington, something Greens have been opposing for the last three years [Croydon Guardian, Nov 9th]. He is right to be worried about its impact. Might I suggest that he write to the Conservative council leader in Croydon, Mike Fisher who is in favour of such a facility. Similarly, could I ask the Labour opposition in Croydon, also against the Beddington incinerator, to contact the Labour leader on Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, who is also in favour of the waste facility in Beddington. When principle is absent, one can only see a tangled web of hypocrisy".

Cuts in Croydon - council lobby video

2010-10-27T22:53:00.008+01:00

Demonstrators lobbied the last council meeting. Greens were there in force.
The facts are that the Council is planning to cut upto one third of its workforce and to privatise many services. As many as 2000 jobs could go as the Council tries to cut its budget by £70 million over the next few years.

Lib Dems join in the attack on our freedoms and public services

2010-10-19T20:11:00.001+01:00

With friends like the Liberal Democrats, our beleaguered public services, reeling from a miserable thirteen years under New Labour’s right wing economic agenda, need no enemies. Business secretary Vince Cable has announced plans to privatise up to 90 per cent of the Royal Mail, and has said he would happily see it bought up by foreign companies. Far from acting as a brake on the gung-ho free market capitalism of the Tories, LibDem members of the coalition are enthusiastically Con-Demming us to the further decimation of public services.
What’s interesting about the draconian cuts in the spending review, as George Monbiot points out in the Guardian (October 19th 2010) is not so much what is being axed as what isn’t. Public bodies whose purpose is to hold corporations to account are being swept away. Public bodies whose purpose is to help boost corporate profits, regardless of the consequences for people and the environment, have sailed through unharmed. Whether the LibDems are having the wool pulled over their eyes and are innocently unaware of the Tory agenda, or they are simply now revealed for the illiberal right wing party that many of us suspected they (or at least their leadership) are, we’ll have to see. But it follows a series of defeats for the leadership at their conference on the coalitions’s plans for so called ‘free schools’, which of course in no time will become semi privatised ‘academies’ with no democratic local control. This from a party that likes to tell us how keen they are on localism and accountability. Ha ha. But they were at it before the election too. Lib Dem peers Razzell and Clement Jones, back in March, ameded the lready illiberal Digital Economy Bill to allow site blocking for copyright infringement. Rushed through by the illiberal Labour Government this tawdry Act opens the door for the blocking of sites accused of copyright infringement, including sites like Youtube. Any site with user generated content could easily fall foul of provisions like this. And we all know who can afford the expensive lawsuits which attach to any conflicts, and who can’t.
Even the environment is under attack from LibDem members of the coalition: this week we have the bizarre spectacle of a Tory, Tim Yeo, chairman of parliament's cross-party energy and climate change pleading with a LibDem minister, Chris Huhne, the Climate Change Secretary, not to slim down commitments to sustainable technology. Huhne has said: "nothing was safe" in his department.
There's plenty more; it all adds up to a depressing picture of continuing whittling away of the public sphere, with the Tories set to get their way nearly everywhere supported by their junior partners, still too intoxicated by the scent of power to know how to use it properly.

Prominent trade unionist and former Labour candidate backs Greens

2010-04-26T20:48:00.001+01:00

Geoff Martin, Labour's parliamentary candidate in Sutton and Cheam in 1992 and a leading campaigner in the fight to save services at St Helier Hospital today called on local voters to back Sutton's Green Candidate Peter Hickson.

Geoff Martin, who lives in Sutton and who was expelled by the Labour Party last year, said: "Voters sick and tired of the spin and sleaze of the main Parties have a real choice in Sutton and Cheam and I would urge them to vote for the Green candidate Peter Hickson and give the political elite a real kick up the backside.

"The Greens oppose privatisation of services like the NHS and support workers rights and decent pay and pensions. I would call on all trade unionists and socialists in Sutton to make a positive decision and give Peter Hickson and the Green Party your vote. The Labour Party in this area is dead in the water and traditional Labour voters who feel badly let down by 13 years of Blair and Brown have a real alternative in Peter Hickson and the Greens. My advice is don't stay at home getting angry on May 6th - get down the polling station and vote for Peter."

On clean campaigning..

2010-04-22T16:54:00.002+01:00

We really would love to believe that Nick Clegg and the LibDems are serious about wanting to 'clean up politics'.
But we can't.
Take the sordid episodes from the Norwich by-election last year, where our candidate Dr Rupert Read, himself an ex Lib-Dem, got the full tratement from his old friends. Oner leaflet put out by LibDems had a banner headline: "Residents shocked by Green Party candidate's terror views", and went on "Little is known about Rupert Read, but one thing is certain, local people have taken against his extreme views."
Dr Read, said the flyer, believed that "Britain simply had the terrorist attacks on 7 July coming to us". One safely anonymous "local resident" was then quoted as saying: "What planet is he on?" Another, equally shy, "Norwich resident" opined: "I can't believe that anyone could think that."

The voters of Norwich would have been right not to believe it, since it was a wholesale distortion of something Dr Read had written, four years earlier, equating terrorism with acts such as the Iraq war, but very clearly condemning both and calling for an "ethic of non-violence", as practised by Martin Luther King and Gandhi.

Dr Read, a philosophy lecturer, said: "The whole Liberal Democrat campaign was sickening. I look now at Nick Clegg promising to clean up politics and I remember that he was specifically asked to criticise his party's tactics in Norwich, and he refused."
Dr Read was also the victim of bogus Green party leaflets, produced by the LibDems in Green and in Green party style, urging voters to vote LibDem!
"People were telling me on the doorstep: 'I got your leaflet telling me to vote Lib Dem, so that's what I'm doing'," says Dr Read. "Anyone who's in politics knows that the Liberal Democrats are the dirtiest in their campaigning techniques, and I'm saying that as a former Lib Dem. It's one of the reasons I left."

In York, the Tory website was hacked into and redirected to the local Lib Dem one; in Cornwall, a Lib Dem candidate distributed flyers calling his opponent a "greasy-haired tw*t"; in Liverpool, a Lib Dem councillor was caught stuffing letterboxes with leaflets supposedly from a fringe party which smeared his Labour rival as a "lap-dancer". In Liverpool they have even accused the Green Party of wanting to limit the number of children people have!

Lest we think these merely local excesses, it may be worth quoting from an official Liberal Democrat election manual, Effective Opposition, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, published by the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors in 2002 and still in use, judging by the techniques seen around the country. On page 21, it instructs Lib Dems to "be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly". Page 23 advises: "Don't be afraid to exaggerate. For example, responses to surveys and petitions are always 'massive'. If a council is doing something badly, public expressions are always of 'outrage'." Page 4 advises: "Positive campaigning will NOT be enough to win."
if this sort of stuff is clean, what is dirty?

Sutton Green local election candidates

2010-04-16T16:24:00.002+01:00

Follow this link for information about our local candidates for May 6th

Party election broadcast online

2010-04-16T16:18:00.003+01:00

Watch the Green party broadcast here

I'm Tom, fly me - to Brussels!?

2009-06-12T19:51:00.002+01:00

Another shameful sequel to the grubby LibDem Euro leaflet saga- one of our supporters was telephoned on polling day by the enthusiastic LibDem knocking up brigade: "Would you like a lift to the polls to vote for Tom Brake?"
A supreme irony that this is the party that would have us believe they are in favour, altruistically, of fair votes. When a PR election comes up, they pretend it's first past the post.
I suggest Inspector Knacker reads up the book of electoral law.

Indecent, dishonest, cynical ...and legal?!

2009-06-12T19:02:00.006+01:00

Greens (and everyone else) condemn LibDems Euro leaflet lies
Those of us used to the ludicrous graphics routinely employed by the LibDems (and imitated equally amateurishly by Labour where they exist) cannot have been that surprised by the 'two horse race' version that was trotted out prior to the recent European elctions. there's a full discussion of the tawdry tactics on local blogger Adrian Short's excellent blog (http://adrianshort.co.uk/).

Mr Short reports, quoting from Paul Burstow's leaflet first:
“It’s so close here” declares the headline. “Elections in Sutton and Cheam are always a close finish between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.” To the side is a big bar chart showing the LibDems with 47%, Conservatives on 41% and Labour with just 12%. “Here in Sutton and Cheam, elections are between the LibDems and the Conservatives”, a callout box reminds us.
What the leaflet doesn’t say is that the electoral system for the European Parliament is totally different and there’s no need for anyone to vote tactically no matter which party they support.
The leaflet from Tom Brake, LibDem MP for Carshalton and Wallington, takes the same trick to even more sordid depths.“This election is going to be a tight contest and every vote will make a difference… With Labour out of the race in Sutton, more and more people are backing the Liberal Democrats to win.”

Did you see what they did there? “Labour out of the race in Sutton”? It’s not a Sutton race, it’s a London race, and in that London race Labour are still in a stronger position than the LibDems even despite the floundering government in Westminster.

And what does it mean that “people are backing the Liberal Democrats to win”? This isn’t a winner-takes-all election like we have for Westminster. All the three big parties are likely to get at least one Euro MP out of eight in London and it’s very likely that smaller parties like the Greens and UKIP won’t come away empty-handed. The Greens get the same treatment. “The Greens have no chance of winning in Sutton”, the leaflet says. Well, in the last Euro election in 2004 the Greens picked up 8% of the London vote, giving them a single Euro MP just like the LibDems.
Bob Steel, chair of Sutton Greens, commented in the Sutton Guardian:"The LibDems’ leaflet is a shamefaced attempt to con Green voters into considering a “tactical” vote for another party even though they have no need to do so. The leaflets are deceitful and patronising. They will only further corrode trust in politicians, already at an all-time low....Lib Dems apparently have such a low view of their European performance that they devote 90 per cent of their leaflet to trying to dupe voters they are electing Tom Brake to deal with local issues like recycling. In fact, in the Euro election, every vote really does count.

Mr Short says: "I contacted the Lib Dems about my concerns shortly after writing my article on 15 May and the only response I have had was one from Sarah Ludford MEP (London region) saying that she finds no grounds for complaint. The Lib Dems have had ample opportunity to clarify, correct, withdraw or even substantially defend these leaflets but it would seem that they are entirely unwilling to discuss them seriously. While that is their right, the conclusion I draw from that is that the Lib Dems don’t want to defend their leaflets because they’re indefensible".
Mr Short reported the Lib Dems’ leaflets to the police as he suspected they may have broken electoral law. However, the police have decided not to take any action- no surprises there, they are probably too busy updating their files on Climate camp protestors and other dangerous elements.

HEATHROW: OFF THE SCALE OF INSANITY?

2009-01-19T23:35:00.001Z

There are three simple but compelling reasons why the government’s go-ahead for another runway at Heathrow is utterly insane:-
First is of course that even if you believe in ever-expanding airport capacity Heathrow is about the very last place any rational person would seek to put an airport today. The shocking road congestion and appalling noise levels for large numbers of local people who have to endure the misery of non-stop and ever increasing flights is too high a price to pay. Remember that London is the busiest by far of world, let alone EU air destinations: In 2007, a combined total of 139 million passengers used the five London airports. That compares with 88 million who used all Paris airports, London’s closest European rival.
Secondly, the government may not have noticed but we face a global catastrophe due to climate change which is happening now. Whilst Daily Telegraph leader writers, David Bellamy and other idiots who have sold their soles to the denial lobby may cry wolf, glaciers disintegrate around us and all the scientific evidence points to accelerating and irreversible change in a very short time scale. The Times recently claimed that “the jobs outweigh the climate danger”! If this is the view of supposedly intelligent commentators, then God help us.
As if this weren’t cogent enough, there is ‘Peak Oil’. The consensus in the industry is that global oil output will decline in the next decade. The Society of British Aerospace Companies concludes that there is currently no commercially available alternative to kerosene on the horizon. It also finds that liquids produced from gas or coal have CO2 emission problems, and liquids produced from biomass are a very long way off from either commercial production or a resolution of land-use issues. So even if this lunacy does go ahead, it seems likely that a third runway would be no more than a huge white elephant.

So let’s be honest about this: Heathrow is a monumentally stupid decision from a government which is increasingly bereft of any vision, courage or morality. Moreover, greenwash fudges from the Tories and LibDems who suggest that the cuddly alternative is ‘sustainable’ expansion elsewhere be it on Romney Marsh, the Thames estuary or Stansted, are almost equally bankrupt. It’s profoundly worrying that so many decision makers appear willing to close their eyes to the parlous stare we are in globally, in favour of perceived short term economic gain.

New Nation speaks to Sutton Green Stan Prokop

2008-12-09T18:34:00.003Z

Green Party supporter Paul Macey and local party member Dr Stan Prokop interviewed in New Nation.

Climate Change March 2008

2008-12-06T19:41:00.001Z

Approaching Parliament Square

Earlier in the day, reaching the end of the pre-march bike ride.

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Tags greenparty

Sympathy for the devil?

2008-12-03T00:17:00.000Z

Among all the furore about the arrest of Damian Green, I was gobsmacked that Radio 4 chose to interview, of all people, Michael Howard, one of the most intolerant Home Secretaries ever and architect of the so-called Criminal Justice Act. To hear his sanctimonious whingeing was entertaining and the thought did cross my mind that perhaps someone Machiavellian in the Beeb had brought him on to satisfy their sense of irony. Anyway if (s)he did it went right over Howard's head. Outrageous as the arrest was, and in particular the use of the notorious anti-terror cops, it's been happening to the rest of us for some time, for example the arrest of Maya Evans three years ago after reciting the names of British soldiers killed in Iraq outside the gates of Downing Street.
And then there is the Tory threat of a vote of no confidence in the speaker. Anyone with a brain might have deduced that Gorbals Mick was not fit for the office long before now. Remember that last year Martin spent £20,000 of taxpayers' money on libel firm Carter-Fuck to represent him following articles querying his conduct. Martin also exempted his wife, Mary, from security checks in the Palace of Westminster, where they live, and for trying to block details of MPs' £5m-a-year travel expenses being published under the Freedom of Information Act. It suited the Tories to back him then, so who are they kidding now when they try to present themselves as defenders of democracy??

National Climate March

2008-11-20T19:39:00.000Z

Saturday December 6th 2008

March on Parliament to demand that the government acts on climate now !
Part of a Global Day of Action - see www.globalclimatecampaign.org
- last year 70+ countries were involved !

The march this year goes to Parliament Square to demand that the government act now on climate. The march will now start at Grosvenor Square (5 mins from Speakers Corner, Hyde Park - Bond Street or Marble Arch tube. Apologies for any confusion over starting point see more here) - assemble 12 noon. Full schedule here

Speakers will include Nick Clegg (leader Liberal Democrat Party), Caroline Lucas (leader, Green party), Michael Meacher (ex-Environment Minister) and George Monbiot (Honorary President, Campaign against Climate Change).

The march will be preceeded by a climate protest bike ride starting from Lincoln's Inn Fields at 10.30 am:

see more here.

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Tags sutton, greenparty

A welcome U-turn on garden waste

2008-09-15T11:42:00.002+01:00

So the LibDem council has finally capitulated over the garden waste collection. If they weren't prepared to listen to a wide spectrum of local opinion including the Greens, they had their minds concentrated by the high-profile condemnation by their own local MPs who are keenly aware thet they are in the firing line at the next election. A bit more listening to local groups and individuals before rushing into future mistakes, and showing a bit more humiltiy, would be welcome. That said, we applaud the decision to reintroduce the collections although we hope that this will go hand in hand with vigorous attempts to encourage those who can compost to do so.

Caroline Lucas is first Green Party Leader

2008-09-10T20:40:00.003+01:00

Caroline Lucas has won the Green Party's first ever leadership election.
Lucas defeated her rival for the leadership, Ashley Gunstock, by a margin of 2559 votes to 210 - 90%.
Lucas, who is the party's candidate for the target constituency of Brighton Pavillion, said:
"I am deeply honoured to have been elected as the first leader of the Green Party.
"I am also delighted to have Adrian Ramsay elected alongside me as our party's first Deputy. His
work for the past ten years in Norwich, transforming an inactive party into the largest group of Green councillors in Britain is truly inspirational."Britain needs Green leadership now. None of the other parties has the vision or the courage to tackle the real challenges we face today - the accelerating climate crisis, and Victorian levels of inequality.
"We need a Green New Deal to tackle the impact of rising prices and increased unemployment.We need to invest the proceeds of a Windfall tax on massive energy company profits into making the homes of ordinary people warmer and fuel bills more affordable.
"As Leader I will work tirelessly to get our positive Green message across to the public, and to see more Greens elected to deliver social and environmental justice in towns and cities across the country.
"Adrian Ramsay, who supported Lucas for leader, was elected unopposed.
Councillor Ramsay, who heads the Green opposition group on Norwich Council, said:
"I'm honoured to be elected the first Deputy Leader of the Green Party. It's a crucial time for the Greens as we build towards winning our first seats at Westminster in the next General Election. At a time of rising fuel prices growing concern about the effects of climate change, Green polices offer real solutions for the country."
For more information about Caroline click here

Economics: Greens back New Green Deal plan

2008-09-10T20:39:00.002+01:00

New Green Party Leader, Caroline Lucas, took to the stage today for her first speech to the party's annual conference to call for a windfall tax on energy profits to kickstart a "Green New Deal" to help people deal with the credit crunch and rising fuel prices.Dr Lucas, who became the Greens' first ever leader in a landslide result announced on the first day of the conference, yesterday, began the calls for a windfall tax months ago; more recently, MPs, anti-poverty campaigners and environmentalists have joined the campaign.The "Green New Deal" report, authored by a panel including Dr Lucas, Co-director of Finance For The Future Colin Hines, SolarCentury boss Jeremy Leggett, Guardian Economic Editor Larry Elliot, and former Friends of the Earth chief Tony Juniper, calls for public investment in green-collar jobs in areas including renewable energy. Lucas also backed a programme of free insulation for every home in Britian to create jobs, cut fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions."Just three companies – BP, Centrica, and Shell – together made £1000 profit every second over the first 6 months of this year. "These corporations are robbing from the poor to give to the rich and they know it. And it's about time they learned that in a progressive democracy, there is no place for robber barons." Proposing a Green New Deal in response, Dr Lucas said: "When the world faced economic depression back in the early 1930s, it was President Roosevelt's New Deal that got people back to work with a massive investment in infrastructure. "Today we stand on the brink of a triple crisis – a combination of a credit-fuelled financial meltdown, accelerating climate change, and soaring energy prices."We need a Green New Deal in response."The core would be a 21st century project to make the nation's buildings truly energy efficient, with local authority bonds being issued to raise the necessary funds for a major investment in insulation, efficiency and renewables, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process."

Green Party stall at Carshalton Green Fair

2008-09-01T10:31:00.003+01:00

Thanks George for forwarding this photo taken at the Carshalton Green Fair. During a spare few seconds in between taking orders, washing up and waiting for the kettle to boil - the Sutton and Croydon Green Party gang had time to pose for this photo. Well done to everyone that helped run the stall.

What is the point of the Liberal Democrats?

2008-08-04T16:12:00.002+01:00

It would be easier to take the LibDems more seriously if they didn't insist on picking anyone they can pin a rosette on to stand for them, and actually showed soemthing approaching integrity and/or consistency just now and again. After numerous faux pas including selecting Brian 'gas guzzler' Paddick to contest the London mayoralty, despite apparently being at odds with his party's policy on all sorts of issues, now this classic from Maidstone where local LibDems have selected a road fuel protester and local road haulage magnate as their Parliamentary candidate. Links here:-
http://www.kentmessenger.co.uk/paper/default.asp?article_id=22242
http://www.kentmessenger.co.uk/paper/default.asp?article_id=20235
http://www.kentmessenger.co.uk/paper/default.asp?article_id=13722

Maybe someone who purports to understand what LibDems stand for could explain what it is about Mr Peter Carroll that makes him a Liberal Democrat? And while they're at it, why the party apparently supports congestion charging but opposes it wherever local people apear top be against such as West london and Edinburgh, has differing views on waste incineration from city to city, supports the M74 motorway, condemned by official enquiry, waited until public opinion was well against the Iraq war before coming off the fence, etc etc ad nauseam...

Shan Oakes - The real civil liberties candidate

2008-06-24T22:43:00.000+01:00

Shan Oakes has been selected as the Green Party's candidate standing against the Conservatives' David Davis for the seat of Haltemprice and Howden on July 10th 2008.

Any offers of campaigning help can be directed to Martin Dean at sokuto12 'at' sokuto12.karoo.co.uk

Read Shan's new blog at http://shanoakes.blogspot.com/

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Tags greenparty

Stop the 3rd runway!

2008-06-02T18:49:00.000+01:00

Of all the insane proposals put forward by this increasingly wretched government their plans for airport expansion must be some where near the top of the league. That’s why I was happy to be there at the weekend supporting the action against the proposed third runway which will demolish about 1200 homes as well as making lives of tens of thousands of people a misery. The new runway will increase the airport capacity by 50% from 480,000 flights a year to 720,000; and BAA also wants to end the “alternation agreement” which regulates flights at Heathrow’s existing runways: planes leaving the airport currently switch directions at 3pm in order to give the people of West London a break from the noise. If the policy changes, the airport could take a further 72,000 flights a year on top as well as condemning thousands of local people to non stop noise.

What about the wider issues- of climate change? Depending on whether you believe the government’s figures or those produced by academic researchers, by 2050 the greenhouse gases produced by the UK’s air passengers will equate to between 91% and 258% of the carbon dioxide the government says the whole economy should be producing. Its airport expansion plans, in conjunction with those of other nations, will cause runaway climate change even if we were to spend the rest of our lives shivering in the dark. So much for the economic benefits of new runways.

Don’t think that it will be any better with the Tories who are predictably just as committed to run(a)way climate change via increased air travel. The LibDems too like to sit on the fence and proclaim that we should be expanding regional airports like Lydd (as if these are somehow more cuddly and their emissions less toxic). Pathetic cop out as usual. If the position of political parties on airport expansion isn’t touchstone of their real commitment to ‘sustainability’ then I don’t know what is.

Green waste- another hastily rolled out mistake.

2008-06-02T18:46:00.001+01:00

copy of letter sent to Sutton Guardian:

Dear Editor

As chair of the Greens you’d expect me to be an enthusiastic composter and indeed I am but it only servers to reinforce my perception that if anyone in the LibDems is a gardener they can’t be very good at talking to each other, for there is so much garden waste that isn’t suitable for the compost heap. Leaving aside all the woody material which I’m not sure what to do with now, even large quantities of grass cuttings don’t rot down as correspondents to the Guardian have already pointed out. I’m all in favour of encouraging more composting- maybe the teams of smart travel people could have been recycled into compost consultants? – but the best that can be said for this fiasco is that it’s a well meaning but wrong headed approach. If Cllr Hall and his team had thought about consulting with gardeners, it seems they could have avoided looking like monkeys whilst only paying peanuts, to paraphrase recent comments by another councillor to justify another dubious decision. Bonfire anyone?

Bob Steel, Sutton Green party

GLA Results

2008-05-04T18:28:00.003+01:00

The Ken versus Boris show certainly boosted the turnout in Croydon and Sutton. Occasional CONSERVATIVE and LABOUR voters came out to back their party. This caused the LIB DEM vote to squeeze but not the GREEN PARTY'S! Our vote share actually increased to 5.17% -which meant the deposit was also saved!

Under the London-wide proportional system: again our vote held firm returning our 2 Green Assembly members (AM's). The LIB DEM's again experienced the squeeze and now only have 3 AM's!

In the Mayoral election, Sian Berry's vote also bucked the Red/Purple V Blue squeeze, resulting in the GREEN PARTY's share actually increasing.

A big thank you to all those that voted Green and contributed to the campaign. Onward and Upwards!!!

Croydon and Sutton
Steve O'Connell (C) 76,477 (44.08%, +7.30%)
Shafi Khan (Lab) 33,812 (19.49%, +1.31%)
Abigail Lock (LD) 32,335 (18.64%, -1.49%)
David Pickles (UKIP) 9,440 (5.44%, -5.25%)
Shasha Khan (Green) 8,969 (5.17%, +0.83%)
David Campanale (CPA) 6,910 (3.98%, +1.00%)
Richard Castle (Eng Dem) 4,186 (2.41%)
Zana Hussain (Left List) 1,361 (0.78%)

C maj 42,665 (24.59%)

2.53% swing Lab to C Electorate 384,162;

Turnout 173,490 (45.16%, +9.13%)

Siân and the Giant Peach

2008-04-29T21:40:00.001+01:00

Observer Backs Greens

2008-04-27T09:57:00.001+01:00

From today's Observer Editorial

There is a stronger case to be made for casting 'first preference' votes for Siân Berry, the Green candidate. The party has already used its toehold on the London Assembly to wring green concessions worth millions of pounds out of the mayoral budget. A respectable score for Ms Berry, an intelligent and articulate advocate of her cause, would send a clear signal to whoever wins the mayoralty that London cares about environmental policy.

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Tags greenparty

Green Tory Tactical Voting Tip

2008-04-19T19:10:00.000+01:00

Did you know that a vote cast for the Tory Party in the London-wide List is a wasted vote? This is because the Tory Party will inevitably win more than their fair share of constituency members, so none of their list will get elected.

This means that Tory voters can vote both Blue and Green in the same election, by voting Tory in the constituency and voting for the Green Party in the London-wide list.

Meanwhile Real Greens in Sutton should vote Green Party in the London list and for Green Party candidate Shasha Khan in the constituency vote.

London Election Broadcast

2008-04-15T23:08:00.000+01:00

National Election Broadcast

2008-04-15T21:20:00.002+01:00

Green Party Manifesto for London

2008-04-12T21:17:00.001+01:00

Key Green policies include:

* 20p off all bus and off-peak tube fares - cancel £500 million east London roadbuilding scheme and invest in public transport instead
* Free insulation available to everyone;
* Insist all employers pay a Living Wage of least £7.20 an hour
* More affordable housing with a 60% target for all new homes
* Cheap loans for renewable energy generation
* Support for small business, against big retailers, with 50% of space in new developments to be small units for local businesses, at affordable rents
* People-friendly speed limits - 20 mph everywhere except a small number of major routes
* Tube PPPs and rail services in London brought back into public control
* No airport expansion
Download the full manifesto (pdf)

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Tags sutton, greenparty

Green waste- where we stand

2008-04-12T12:13:00.001+01:00

Copy of letter sent to local media:

The level of debate on the current spat over garden waste collections has been disappointingly negative and perhaps over-simplistic.

The Green party agrees with Councillor Hall that ‘free’ waste collections are nothing of the sort, and that it’s a good idea to encourage people to take more responsibility for their own waste where possible. It might not be politically popular but global events should make it clear to us that we cannot rely on politicians to deliver everything for us- people have to take a lead too. He’s also right to remind us that throwing rubbish in landfill sites is not just wasteful but very expensive. We are producing a lot more waste these days and it makes sense to refuse excess packaging, and and re-use whatever we can, before we recycle, or put material into the waste stream. Composting is easy and makes good sense, returning organic matter to the soil system. There may be a risk of increased fly-tipping but the last time Sutton Council dabbled with home composting they made a terrible hash of it, delivering unwanted bins - most of which themselves went to waste, to everyone. The relatively small charge for green waste collections this time might encourage people to think more positively about composting.

Sutton Council haven’t made their task of selling this scheme any easier by the huge salary hikes for senior officers – that’s a policy I would not like to defend. Also as an active composter myself I do have some concerns about the woody waste from shrubs and trees which don’t compost easily. This one needs more thinking about perhaps. We do however need some more imaginative thinking on waste- and encouraging more home composting is part of that thinking.

Sutton - The Sustainable Suburb of the Future

2008-04-11T21:23:00.000+01:00

A trailblazing initiative to create the UK’s first zero-carbon sustainable suburb was launched on 25 February in Hackbridge, located in the north of Sutton borough.

“Hackbridge Week” from 25 February to 1 March comprised a series of workshops involving people who live and work in the area (including BedZED residents and BioRegional), Council Officers and Councillors, architects and developers getting together to discuss ideas on how to design the sustainable suburb of the future.

The overall objective is for Hackbridge, and ultimately Sutton, to become the UK’s first ‘sustainable suburb’ - creating a vibrant community where people want to live and work, that protects the local environment and meets the needs of local residents both now and in the future.

Hackbridge Week followed on from a "Visioning" day (held in April last year) when the initial ideas were discussed. As a resident, I attended on that day – and had been looking forward with great anticipation of what was to follow.

While it has taken 10 months for the follow-up event, I did feel that the “Hackbridge Week” events were very good. Very well structured and with a feeling of real, meaningful consultation (although this could well have been improved by local residents having been given more notice of the events).

Consultative workshops were held on several topics, including:

Planning and Design of New Build
Natural Habitats and Wildlife
Culture and Heritage
Zero Waste
Sustainable Transport
Local and Sustainable Materials
Community Planning
Local Business Involvement
Zero Carbon
Sustainable Water
Equity and Fair Trade
Increasing Civic Awareness
Health and Happiness
Local and Sustainable Food.

and ending with a feedback event on the final day

Sutton Council Leader Cllr Sean Brennan said, “People living and working in the area are true champions of the environment and it is their ideas, their energy and their enthusiasm that will help transform Hackbridge and ultimately Sutton, into the UK’s first zero-carbon sustainable suburb.”
“With the BedZed development, this area has long been a showcase for green living and Hackbridge Week is an opportunity for the community to decide how we make Hackbridge a better place for everyone. We intend to be blaze a trail of sustainable living for others to follow.”

The findings from the different events and workshops will form the basis of a Sustainable Action Plan for Hackbridge. The plan will clearly lay out:

what the goals are
who will be involved
what the short, medium and long term actions are
how One Planet Living in Hackbridge will be achieved.

The Council; say that everything in the plan will be based on what people have told them at the events – and invite more ideas by logging onto the One Planet Living website at: www.oneplanetsutton.org/login

George Dow

Paddick makes up policies as he goes along

2008-04-02T23:00:00.002+01:00

London Green Assembly members have written an open letter to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg urging him to support the Greens in the London mayoral election! Listening to some of Paddick's policy pronouncements and comparing them with supposed LibDem policy, you'd be hard to find a pair in your hand (nothing new ther ethen!?) anyway here's the letter:-

27th Mar 2008

Open letter to Nick Clegg MP

Greens urge Clegg to back Berry as Paddick rips up Lib Dem policy

Green Assembly Members Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson have delivered this letter to Liberal Democrat headquarters in Westminster.

Dear Nick,

We are writing this open letter because we are concerned that your voters are about to go into a London election with no Liberal Democrat candidate.

Although we do not always agree with the Liberal Democrats, we believe that very many people vote Lib Dem because they are concerned about the environment, and Lib Dems have clearly applied greater effort than the two larger parties to this issue in recent years. That is absolutely to your credit.

But in an entirely understandable effort to break into the top two in London, your party has chosen to nominate a celebrity candidate from outside the party, Brian Paddick. It is becoming increasingly apparent that Mr Paddick does not share the environmental concerns of your voters, and the party appears powerless to stop him tearing up years of Lib Dem policy in London in pursuit of Conservative votes.

Mr Paddick has pledged to scrap the Low Emissions Zone, a policy that was supported by Lib Dem AMs and is vital to cut the 1,000 premature deaths caused annually in London by air pollution.

He would cancel the higher-rate Congestion Charge for gas-guzzling Band G vehicles, a policy championed both by our Mayoral candidate Siân Berry and your MP Lynne Featherstone, then a London Assembly Member.

And he plans to privatise the Tube network to place management entirely in the hands of a single firm. You will remember that Lib Dem candidates appeared on the 2000 ballot paper as "Liberal Democrats: Against Tube Sell-off."

While Siân Berry is by no means a Liberal Democrat, it is clear that she represents the concerns and aspirations of Liberal Democrats far better than your increasingly estranged official candidate.

The Liberal Democrats' hard-won reputation as a party with concern for London's environment is at grave risk though the promotion of this high-profile and clearly anti-environment Mayoral candidate.

Liberal Democrat voters are practical, not tribal. In our view, the Lib Dem thing to do in this situation is to ignore the colour of the rosette, and vote for the progressive polices for London transport and the environment, many of which you have fought for over the last eight years. We therefore urge you, your party and your supporters to back instead the only candidate that now represents your hopes for our capital: Siân Berry.

Yours faithfully,

Jenny Jones AM Darren Johnson AM

Post Office letter published

2008-03-25T20:21:00.001Z

Published in the Sutton Guardian.

Airport expansion insanity

2008-03-01T12:08:00.000Z

Given the state of where we are with climate change alone, I would have thought that any plans to build another runway at any major UK airport is little short of insanity. Let alone at Heathrow with all the additional issues of noise, pollution, traffic congestion and general disruption, plus the little matter of bulldozing an ancient community. The major parties, who as proponents of Globalisation all support aviation growth in one form or another, are doing their best to appear as champions of the antis. Boris is opposed here but wants another airport East of London, God help us. Ruth Kelly trots out the usual New Labour/Tory mantra that the economy will collapse without more airport capacity, while as usual the LibDems ‘bottom fishing’ tactics to trawl up all the available votes is apparent, supporting regional airport expansion, welcoming the growth of Glasgow Airport, (the latter being a classic of LibDem doublespeak), but opposing Heathrow expansion because that’s what plays well locally. John Gummer’s recent views about airport expansion might give one a glimmer of hope that the Conservatives may have seen the writing on the wall but you’ve only got to look at the reaction amongst rank and file Tory Rottweilers to see what the mood in the party really is, which is rather depressing.
The Green vision here is simple: more and more mobility is unsustainable. This doesn’t mean doom and gloom about declining quality of life: it’s an opportunity to reject Globalisation, which is NOT inevitable, and embrace more localised economies. If we are serious about tackling Climate change (and I see little evidence that we are at the moment) we are going to have to do a good deal more than taking a few trips to the bottle bank or lobbing a few quid at dubious Carbon offset groups. Airport expansion is an obvious test of that commitment.

Lib Dem Lucky Dip

2008-03-01T10:32:00.001Z

LibDem mayoral candidate Brian Paddick is a real chip off the old block when it comes to his party’s ‘Goody bag’ policy lucky dip tradition- his broadside against the higher C-Charge for Chelsea tractors fits uneasily against the London Lib Dems’ stated support for charging. Or does it? Well it all depends on who you read, of course; Party economics spokesman Chris Huhne:
“Some say green taxes would shrink with changes in behaviour, thereby undermining tax revenues. But that is to misunderstand the economics: London's congestion charge has to be high if it is to continue to change behaviour. Taxes on fuel, cars and planes are no different. The object is to steer emissions to sustainable levels through tax incentives”
So that’s clear then isn’t it? Ah but Lynne Featherstone, that noted intellectual has also spoken out against the charge, and so have Edinburgh Lib Dems who have taken to the streets against it in defiance of the party’s written policy. Just goes to show that whatever your views on Congestion charging (or the Euro, Airport expansion, incinerators, just as with by-passes, the Trans-European Road network, M74 upgrading etc etc, there’s a LibDem for you. Isn’t that comforting?

*The references are here http://www.glalibdems.org.uk/news/000307/lib_dems_unveil_double_congestion_charge_suv_list.html

* http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/3698407.stm for edinburgh reference

* http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/feb/20/london08.climatechange

Letter to the editor

2008-02-23T19:33:00.001Z

18.02.08

Dear Editor

I read with interest the letter sent in by Nikki Owens (Bike law is for you too – Feb 7th) regarding the lady who insists on riding her bike on the pavement whilst commuting to work. When Ms Owens and her friends challenged her about riding on the pavement outside Muschamp Primary, the lady replied, “the roads are are very dangerous.”

Whilst it is clear that she is breaking the law, I have some sympathy for the lady in question. The truth is the roads are dangerous. As well as being a major cause of death and injury, the intimidation caused by speeding traffic is a key factor dissuading more Londoners from getting on their bikes. It was no surprise that when the streets of central London were closed off, 38,000 cyclists participated in London Freewheel last September.

Thankfully there are improvements being made to the make roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians. This is mainly down to the Green Assembly members who have secured £62m for walking and cycling from the Mayors budget 2008/9 – up from £21m in 2004/05.

The increase includes £2m for cycle training. In addition, the Mayor will now provide boroughs with financial incentives to implement default 20 mile an hour speed limits in all residential areas – something the Green Party has been banging on about for decades.

Maybe Ms Owens should communicate these statistics to the lady cyclist – especially the £2m for cycle training and hopefully she will take notice, enrol on a course and gain the confidence to cycle on the roads.

Yours sincerely

Shasha Khan

Sutton Green Party

GREEN CANDIDATE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN WITH PLEDGE TO INSULATE SUTTON FROM THE COLD AND THE COST

2008-02-23T17:49:00.005Z

Photocall opportunity:

Siân Berry, the Green Party's candidate for London Mayor, will visit Croydon on Friday (22nd February) to launch the London Assembly campaign of Green Party candidate for Croydon and Sutton Shasha Khan.

Sutton residents could see their fuels bills slashed under a Green Mayor with Siân Berry's plan to provide free insulation for all homes that need it.

Shasha said:

"At a time when Sutton residents are feeling their household incomes squeezed due to fuel price hikes and increased inflation it is clear to me that we need our homes properly insulated in order to save on heating bills and to cut CO2 emissions. Sutton households have one of the worst ratings for energy efficiency in London (1). Now that we are required to provide Home Information Packs when putting our houses on the market Sutton homeowners could lose out when selling their house.

"There's no excuse in a 21st century city for having widespread fuel poverty, with people having to pay huge chunks of their income just trying to keep warm. There's no excuse for winter deaths of elderly Londoners who could have been saved by something as simple as loft insulation. And there's no excuse for government failure to cut CO2 emissions, or for their willingness to blame ordinary people instead of their own inaction.

"Under our plan, every single home in London that needs insulation will get it, free of charge. This will slash fuel bills, making London living more affordable and healthier. We'll also put a real dent in our carbon footprint and help to ensure a future for our kids."

Siân said:

"As oil and gas get scarcer, we can expect to see more and more rises in
the cost of heating. Londoners have an opportunity on 1 May to insulate
themselves from the cold and the cost by voting for my plan to insulate every
home that needs it for free

"40% of London's CO2 emissions come from housing, and more than 1 in 20
Londoners have to spend over 10 per cent of their income trying to keep warm.
Fuel poverty like that belongs in Dickens' London, not ours. That's why, as
Mayor, I would provide free insulation to every London home that needs it.

"Shasha will make a fantastic Assembly Member, and I know he will
tenaciously will push for important measures like this whether I win in May or
not. Green AMs have already used their power in City Hall to deliver free
insulation to some, but we need more Greens like Shasha to carry on and get free
insulation for all."

Londoners on benefits qualify for free insulation under measures introduced by the Green Assembly Members as a condition of their support for the Mayor's budget. Siân's scheme will remove this means testing, as well as introducing a comprehensive outreach programme to encourage take-up.

The Green AMs have also secured funding to pilot detailed help with paperwork for householders in Lewisham who wish to insulate their homes and generate their own power; Siân will extend this service city-wide, and make low-cost loans available to pay for small-scale renewable energy generation on homes and businesses.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Energy efficiency ratings for private housing in London are listed in the table below. Houses are rated on a scale of 0 – 120, with higher numbers being more efficient. Most new homes receive a score between 75 and 100. Table source: www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.

Original version of Green C4 Political Slot

2008-02-23T16:42:00.001Z

Broadcast by Channel 4 Thursday 21st February, this original version contains details of important gains the Greens have made on fair wages in London, which was edited out of the broadcast by Channel 4.

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Tags Channel 4, greenparty

The next Sutton Meeting

2008-01-20T15:37:00.000Z

The next Sutton meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 12th February at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives (aka ecolocal) Carshalton, map here.

Please come along.
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Tags sutton, greenparty

CARSHALTON ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR

2007-08-22T20:40:00.000+01:00

Sutton & Croydon Green Party will be there. Come and say hello!

Carshalton Conservation Area- Green response to the Consultation

2007-07-16T22:00:00.000+01:00

Sutton Greens welcome the Council’s Draft Character Appraisal of Carshalton Conservation Area,

insofar as it once again sets down some of the reasons why this area was designated a Conservation Area some 40 years ago.

We note however that in the time that Carshalton Central has been a Conservation area (CA) there appears to have been relatively little in terms of ‘value added’ to show for it, and as the document itself acknowledges the CA has deteriorated in several aspects. Examples of this are:

· The poor quality of additions to St Philomena’s school, adjacent to a very significant listed building

· Poor quality shop fronts on the High Street

· UPVC windows and other unsympathetic treatments which have gone on continually all over the CA but particularly of course in residential areas such as the Mill Lane area. The terrace north from Rochester Road is an outstandingly ugly example.

Of particular concern is the fact that powers that the Council already possesses in terms of building control both inside and outside CAs do not appear to have been applied in the past. We recall that in the mid 1990s Sutton Green Party submitted a planning brief for the Mill Lane area prior to redevelopment drawing attention to the Conservation opportunities in terms of both open space and the built environment offered by the BP site; but this was wholly ignored in favour of the unsympathetic housing development that is now criticised.

Apart from (i) the sloppy drafting of the document with several typographical errors and less than satisfactory phraseology, and (ii) the apparent prejudices of the appraisers against buildings of particular styles and ages, we do not find the draft document per se very controversial. Without the determination to apply a set of appropriate policies to prevent further loss of character, and to encourage the upgrading of the CA, however, this document will be worth little.

On the specific point regarding the poor and deteriorating (to use the phrase from the document) [visual] quality of some of the housing within the CA, we note that several local Authorities (for example, Southend-on-Sea; Derby; Worthing) offer Conservation Area grants to encourage residents to reinstate or conserve features which add to the overall character of the CA- sash windows in particular. Will Sutton follow this lead and put some money towards enhancing the borough’s Conservation Areas?

We note the fact that the impact of traffic, particularly in the High Street and in West Street, continues to be very severe. We would further add that the proliferation of street furniture, including a sharp increase in signs, particularly around the ponds, detracts from the visual quality of the environment, and little attempt seems to have been made to minimise this. It is not even referred to in the document.

We give credit to Sutton Council for barring parking from in front of the Grove offices. We think that something more positive could now be done to the former driveway from the Coach & Horses entrance to the Grove alongside East Pond, and we regret that the chance was not taken to improve the High Street environment by removing some parking spaces immediately fronting the High Street when the car park was considerably extended. Will there be any commitment to prevent further loss of front gardens to car parking within the CA?

Summary: We await the evidence that Sutton Council is prepared to take the enhancement of its Conservation Areas more seriously by determined implementation of the exiting planning powers alongside any future management plan for the Carshalton CA which might arise from this document.

Annexe: proposed changes to the criteria for designation of Locally listed buildings

We welcome the proposed addition of a criterion of ‘groups’ of buildings contributing to the street scene in the CA, and also the inclusion of building materials and techniques. The use of local listing might be appropriate to apply to more humble buildings which taken together enhance the character of the CA, as in the Mill Lane area and West St Lane. We consider that the Sun public house is an obvious candidate for local listing in view of its prominent contribution to townscape and the patterned brickwork.

For Sutton Green Party, Bob Steel, chair.

A HISTORIC DAY IN IRELAND

2007-07-03T21:19:00.000+01:00

You know those questions which start with “Where were you when (such and such famous event occurred)?”

Well……I came across one of those occasions on a working visit to Dublin during June.

Wednesday the 13th of June 2007 will be remembered as the day when the Green Party in Ireland took the historic decision to enter Government.

On the previous evening there had been several media interviews with members of Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fail party and the Irish Green Party to try to discover whether the Greens were likely to vote to enter a new coalition-led Government.

Current Green politicians had voted to do so – but the final say was left with those party members who attended a convention in the Mansion House in Dublin.

I was lucky enough to be in a bar directly opposite the Mansion House when the members filed in past TV and radio crews. And also past several demonstrators with placards referring to, amongst other issues, the dangers of a Government continuing to allow US troop-carrying military planes to stop over at Shannon Airport and against a new motorway near the Hill of Tara.

The result of the vote was acceptance of the coalition proposal by 441 votes to 67 out of the 510 attending members. This well exceeded the two thirds majority required by the Green constitution.

Party Leader Trevor Sargent received lots of respect by honouring his earlier promise that, if the Greens decided to enter Government, he would resign as leader. It was however Trevor's hard bargaining with Bertie Ahern which enabled the deal to be signed and he was reported as saying that the vote “marks the proudest day of my life”.

What this means for the Greens in terms of positive commitments is:

- 2 full junior ministerial Cabinet posts (now confirmed as Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources)
- A carbon tax and targets for the reduction of 3% a year in greenhouse gas emissions
- The establishment of a climate change commission
- Setting up a commission on taxation
- New building standards to reduce the energy demands of houses
- Accelerate growth in renewable energy sources
- Reform of local government with a directly elected mayor for Dublin by 2011
- Establishment of an independent electoral reform commission which will examine the financing of the political system.

Objectives not achieved were:

- An end to the use of Shannon Airport by US military
- The abandonment of plans to build the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara
- A ban on corporate donations
- An end to the plan to build co-located private hospitals on public land.

The coalition will also be supported by at least 3 Independents who agreed their own separate deals with Fianna Fail.

The mood amongst many of the Irish people (as far as I can gather from watching TV, reading newspapers and listening to Dublin taxi drivers!) is that this could be a really positive move for the country.

There were of course several Party members who, when interviewed, felt that the party had sold out on its fundamental principles (a la Germany in the ’80’s), but the resoundingly overall view was that this was indeed a historic day when Greens can start to have a lasting influence on Government policy.

George Dow

How to Save the World

2007-06-13T19:27:00.000+01:00

HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD:
GREEN ACTIVISM FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW

A public meeting hosted by the Sutton & Croydon Green Party

Admission: FREE!

The core values of the green movement are people, planet and peace. With global poverty, environmental degradation and war seemingly ever increasing, what can individuals, business and government do to save the world?

Speaking at the event will be special guest Dr Derek Wall, Principal Speaker of the Green Party.

Monday 25th June 2007

8pm-10pm

The Club Room,
The Spreadeagle 39, High St, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1QD –
020 8781 1134

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Tags sutton, greenparty

Croydon Meeting

2007-05-26T12:47:00.001+01:00

Monday May 28th at the Spreadeagle 39, High St, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1QD - map.

The meetings will start at 8.00pm, upstairs in the function room at the back which faces the Town Hall.

This is a Sutton & Croydon Green Party meeting.

HACKBRIDGE – THE UK’S FIRST SUSTAINABLE SUBURB? - Observations by George Dow

2007-04-28T20:34:00.000+01:00

Back in October last year I noticed on a poster at my local railway station – Hackbridge – that Sutton Council had published a Planning Document on “Hackbridge – towards a Sustainable Suburb?” – an Issues Paper – and invited local residents to submit their views on the issues and draft proposals covered in the document.

Hackbridge is in the north of Sutton borough – with the River Wandle running along its western edge, the railway line along the east, Mitcham Common to the north and Beddington Park to the south. It has excellent road, rail, bus and tram links to the City (London Bridge) and West End (Victoria), Sutton, Croydon and Wimbledon. Employment and health are among the top third in England, income just in the top half – but the quality of housing, access to services and education outcomes are among the bottom half in England. It’s historically been a pretty neglected part of the Borough. BedZED is located in Hackbridge.

Having provided detailed feedback on the issues document, I was invited to a one-day workshop held at BedZED on 19 April – jointly hosted by:

- the Council Planning Department

- the BioRegional Development Group and

- the Future Hackbridge Group.

Sutton Council is embarking on a new way of planning for the future of communities. The traditional land use planning system is changing with a new style of local development plans which will go beyond traditional land use planning and embrace the requirements for Community Plans. The overall strategic requirements will be set by the London Plan and other planning documents prepared by the Mayor of London and individual Boroughs’ strategies will be set by the wider Community Strategy and the core development plan provisions of the Local Development Framework.

I know, this sounds, like an awful lot of words (!) – but the upshot is that this new style of planning gives considerable scope at the local level – and local residents and other stakeholders can really influence how their local community develops and ensure that it does so in as sustainable a way as possible.

Hackbridge has been identified as the first area in the Borough under the new style planning framework.

BioRegional (www.bioregional.com) is an independent environmental organisation which develops practical solutions for sustainable living. Key within that is their concept of “One Planet Living”, designed jointly with the World Wildlife Fund and which provides a model for measuring ecological footprints – showing how our lifestyles impact not only on the planet, but also on other people. It calculates how much productive land, freshwater and sea is needed to feed us and provide all the energy, water and materials we use in our daily lives. It also calculates the emissions generated from the oil, coal and gas we burn and determines how much land is required to absorb our waste. A One Planet lifestyle means having a footprint of less than 1.8 hectares per person – Sutton’s is 5.38 hectares per person, which is apparently 65% higher than our ecological budget (and just under the UK’s figure).

The Future Hackbridge Group comprises keen and skilled residents and business people and includes Bill Dunster – Hackbridge-based architect of BedZED. The Group have drawn up a paper with a view to Hackbridge becoming the UK’s (not just Sutton’s!) first sustainable suburb. It covers plans for the economic, social and environmental future of the area, with a SWOT analysis, vision and values statements, specific aims and objectives and a suggested set of phased action plans.

The concept of a sustainable suburb covers a number of themes, eg:

- reinforcing the role of retail and leisure within local centres

- protecting and promoting local environment

- promoting sustainable development patterns (with appropriate mix of housing types and employment)

- reducing car dependency

- improving the existing housing stock

- improving environmental sustainability (to include a number of "green community initiatives")

- improving the quality of design.

In total around 80 people attended the workshop and attendees included representatives from:

- the 3 host organisations

- Transport for London

- London Development Agency

- Local schools (and also pupils)

- Developer

- BedZED

- EcoLocal.

Local Councillors and the local MP (Tom Brake) were also present.

The day included presentations from, amongst others, the 3 host organisations, group work, involving site visits around the area and discussions / feedback presentations when we could offer our own ideas.

I believe this was a terrific example of true consultation, with real commitment shown from everyone involved and a shared enthusiasm to take this whole thing forward. The next step is for the hosts to put firm up on an integrated strategy and action plans – and to share these with local residents and ensure that everyone in the local community is asked for their ideas and kept fully aware.

I was there as a local resident – not representing the Green Party – and spoke at the end with the Chair of the Future Hackbridge Group (Simon Courage – a BedZED resident), explaining that I would like to be involved in all this in some way. I’ll keep you all informed of developments.

One final thought - I guess that Croydon Council may have similar plans for a particular area and, if so, it may be a good opportunity for a Green Party member to get involved.

If you would like any more information on what happened at the Hackbridge workshop, do please let me know.

George

George Dow

020 8773 4100

g.dow@tiscali.co.uk

Next Meeting

2007-04-28T14:17:00.001+01:00

Monday April 30th at the Spreadeagle 39, High St, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1QD - map.

The meetings will start at 7.30pm, upstairs in the function room at the back which faces the Town Hall.

This is a Sutton & Croydon Green Party joint business meeting, and one of the main topics of discussion will be election candidates.

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Tags sutton, green party

Next Meeting - Tuesday 10th April

2007-04-04T21:51:00.001+01:00

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 10th April at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives (aka ecolocal) Carshalton, map here.

Please come along.
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Tags sutton, greenparty

Sutton Green Drinks

2007-03-19T18:08:00.000Z

from http://www.thecei.org.uk/SuttonGreenDrinks/default.htm

Sutton Green Drinks

6:30 'til late, Wednesday 7th March 2006

And then, the first Wednesday of every month.

In the Swan Bar (first bar on the left) as you enter THE GREYHOUND PUB, directly opposite the Ponds at Carshalton on the A232 (SM5 3PE).
How Do I Get There?

Walk, cycle, bus (127, 157, 407, X26, S3), train (Carshalton).

Sutton Green Drinks is for anyone working on environmental issues or studying them.

The idea is to meet for fun, contacts alcohol (& non-alcoholic drinks), info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure.

If you are new, just go up to someone and say "are you green?" and you'll be made welcome.

Letter to Sutton Press

2007-03-16T20:25:00.000Z

Dear editor,

I was dismayed but hardly surprised to note this week that Carshalton High Street is soon to be blessed with another estate agent, which I think makes seven in our small local shopping parade, which also boasts several fast food joints. Now, I cannot believe that one single inhabitant of the area thinks that what Carshalton needs is another estate agent. It was over twenty years ago that the Green party first made the issue of sustainable local shops a key plank of our local manifestos, calling for local authorities to be given the power to set a sliding scale of business rates to favour community-friendly retailers; the need for something of this kind is even more urgent today with the serial decline of post offices, local food retailers, and other 'proper' neighbourhood facilities. The Sustainable Communities Bill, promoted by a range of green groups including the Green party but with cross party support, is making its way through Parliament as a private members' Bill. It will if passed give local councils the sort of powers we have long been calling for. Readers can find more information by logging on to www.localworks.org

Sincerely

Bob Steel

Sutton Green party

March Meeting - Carshalton

2007-03-09T20:58:00.000Z

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 13th March at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

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Tags sutton,croydon, greenparty

No Trident - Demonstrate Saturday 24th February 2007

2007-02-13T23:41:00.000Z

Assemble 12 noon, Speakers' Corner. Rally in Trafalgar Square.

Details of where the Sutton & Croydon groups will meet up will follow.

CND Chair Kate Hudson talks about why you should attend the demonstration.

From CND

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Tags sutton, greenparty, trident, CND

Press Release: Green Xmas

2006-12-14T16:02:00.000Z

Press Release (immediate)

How to have Green Christmas

Local Green Party campaigners have put together a list of suggestions in order to have a Merry Christmas which doesn’t cost the earth. Many environmentalists are becoming much more wary of how their actions contribute to global warming.

Christmas Dinner:
Turkeys can’t fly very far but some have travelled a staggering 30,000 miles to get to dinner tables in this country! Shasha Khan commented, “It is important that shoppers look at labels on the food they purchase and choose the local option. European fowl and African vegetables can be forsaken for home farmed produce. Also try and support local shopkeepers.”

Presents:
UK households already owe £1 trillion in debt. Thousands of people risk pushing themselves even deeper into the red. Bob Steel said, “Why not try purchasing gifts from a charity shop or giving Secret Santa presents. If you do end up with unwanted presents why not sell or pass them on using web sites or second hand shops.”

Cards and wrapping paper:
Each year, 200,000 trees are cut down to supply the UK’s 1.7 billion Christmas Cards and enough wrapping paper is used to wrap the whole of the London Borough of Sutton. In view of such massive quantities, it important that as much as possible is recycled or reused.

Christmas tree:
Each year over 6 million trees end up in land fill sites. It is possible to save money and resources by using a tree with roots that can be reused. Shasha Khan added, “You can enjoy watching it grow all year round.”

Ends

Letter sent to local paper

2006-12-11T17:11:00.000Z

11.12.06

Dear Editor

There are a several things that one can associate with the season of goodwill and the dawn of a new year: Christmas trees, the exchanging of presents, the queens speech, the NYE party and the inflation busting rail fare increase (Train fares leaping ahead of inflation rate yet again, December 06). Commuters using trains operated by Southern will continue to pay through the nose to travel like sardines. Some may be priced off the railways altogether. At a time when the governments Stern Report predicts catastrophic consequences if urgent action is not taken to reduce carbon emissions; greater use of budget airlines and higher levels of congestion on the roads will only increase pollution.
It is painfully obvious that a railway system that is privately owned is a tragedy for the commuter and the climate.

Yours sincerely

Shasha Khan
Sutton and Croydon Green Party

December Meeting

2006-12-05T21:29:00.000Z

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 12th December at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.
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Tags sutton, greenparty

Borough’s on an emission mission

2006-11-16T19:45:00.000Z

Link

Local press coverage

2006-11-15T11:17:00.000Z

Letter to Sutton Guardian- Apple festival in Carshalton

2006-11-12T23:50:00.000Z

Dear Editor

How much I agree with Mrs Nash who wrote in to praise the English Apple festival at Country Harvest greengrocers, Carshalton in lasts week’s issue. It’s such a refreshing change to have genuine local produce, variety, taste and difference in our midst, as well as supporting the beleaguered English apple grower. This initiative trumps the farmers’ markets where sadly much of the food on offer isn’t really all that local.

Although some supermarkets are slowly responding to consumer demand for variety, the fact is that supermarkets have stitched up food producers over many years with unreasonable demands on size, appearance and cost, and are largely responsible for the dismal situation today where nearly all our apples are the same two or three types, and almost all imported. This is the economics of the madhouse of course, and is replicated across pretty much the whole food industry. So let’s strike a blow for tasty local produce free of a massive food miles footprint by supporting the remaining independent shops like Country Harvest.

Sincerely

Bob Steel

Chair, Sutton & Croydon Green Party

November Meeting

2006-11-09T18:59:00.000Z

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 14th November at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

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Tags sutton,croydon, greenparty

Press release climate change march

2006-11-08T13:36:00.000Z

Press Release – Climate Change March.

Members of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party joined thousands of others in the biggest climate change rally in the UK on 4th November. Local Greens joined other campaigners outside the US Embassy to listen to speakers, including Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucus. She commented that: “Failure to act to tackle climate change is costing lives – and threatens the
very future of human civilisation as we know it”.

Campaigners carrying banners and placards then marched from the US Embassy to Trafalgar Square, where they joined thousands of others who had congregated for more speeches and a concert. Performers included Razorlight and KT Tunstall.
Local spokesperson Shasha Khan said, “The Stern report has made it clearer than ever that we need urgent global action if we are to prevent the worst impacts of devastating climate change. All around the world national governments are spending too much time highlighting the failings of other national governments in combating global warming. What we need is governments, national and local, to become part of the solution and not part of the problem.” Ends.

Climate Change March

2006-11-06T10:34:00.000Z

Brussels visit

2006-11-05T21:33:00.000Z

link

Brussels trip for Green party man
The treasurer of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party, Shasha Khan, visited Brussels to meet with London's Green MEP Jean Lambert.

The meeting earlier this month tackled issues such as air quality and the use of household chemicals.

Mr Khan said: "Despite being based in Brussels and Strasbourg, London's Green MEP has been at the forefront of defending the rights and welfare of the people of Sutton."

continued...
Ms Lambert recently opposed a European Parliament report that sought to loosen restrictions on EU air quality standards.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) calculates that air pollution reduces the life of the average European by 8.6 months.

EU plans to cut pollution by 2010 should on average save 2.3 months of life for each European.

On the use of household chemicals, Ms Lambert pushed forward the REACH directive, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals, which was adopted this October.

The REACH directive gives consumers increased access to information about the ingredients of household products as well as ensuring that the most toxic chemicals are replaced with safer alternatives.

Safety testing involving animal experiments have also been scrapped.

Carbon emissions

2006-11-02T17:30:00.000Z

Comment made to Sutton Guardian in response to the Liberal Democrats claim that on carbon emissions, only they have "put forward firm plans to help is change our behaviour".

"For the Liberal Democrats to claim that they are the only party to "put forward firm plans" is laughable.

Sir Nicholas Stern's report, commissioned by The Chancellor of The Exchequer, reveals the apocalyptic cost of global warming if the issue is not tackled within a decade.

Since it's formation in 1973, when it was called the Ecology Party, the Green Party has continuously offered policy solutions to this impending global catastrophe, through its Manifesto for a Sustainable Society. The other parties, including the Liberal Democrats, are living in cloud cuckoo land if they think taxation is the only way to combat climate change. Yes, taxation is useful tool in tackling climate change but it must be used alongside regulation, legislation and public investment.

In the last General Election the Green Party's policy was, and still is, to abolish VAT and replace it with less environmentally damaging green taxes. VAT is a regressive tax which does not take into account the environmental impact of goods and services. However, taxation alone cannot reduce the UK's ecological footprint - legislation must be used, too. In Germany, the government has passed a law which guarantees a higher rate for commercial and domestic suppliers of renewable power. The result has been a boom in wind and solar power in that country. "

Green Party Party

2006-10-30T19:02:00.000Z

Fundraiser for the Sutton and Croydon Green Party

Green Party Party

2006-10-14T17:13:00.000+01:00

28th October 8pm – 2am

Please come along to our Green Party fundraiser at The Cartoon, 179/183 London Road, Croydon. Entry £7 on the door. Bands taking part are

Alex Lato - currently on course for £1.5 million record deal www.alexlato.com

Unloaded - Lead singer formerly an artist on Poodle Records www.unloaded.info

Deb Espace with David - X Factor contestant and has also appeared on Trisha.
www.myspace.com/debespace

Tim Eveleigh - Well known local artist and promoter www.evinsol.co.uk
Simon Chauke and friends - African music style. Played last years gig. www.myspace.com/timbamusic

Simon & Keith - Played their debut gig at last years Green Party Party. Now with a band.

Plush Baby - welcome return - played last years gig http://www.myspace.com/pwushbaby

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Tags croydon, greenparty

October Meeting

2006-10-02T13:58:00.000+01:00

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 10th October at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

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Tags sutton,croydon, greenparty

Environmental Fair Report

2006-09-21T21:27:00.000+01:00

The day was a bit windy and occasionally very wet, but in the end went very well, with around twice the funds raised from last year, a large number of signatures collected against nuclear power, and all the fun of the Rhinocycle.

Environmental Fair

2006-08-23T20:55:00.000+01:00

Please come and support our Green Party stall at this year's Environmental Fair, on Monday 28 August in Carshalton Park, Ruskin Road, Carshalton.

We need people to help man our stall throughout the day – just an hour if you can? Please bring any small items suitable for sale (books, films, music, whatever)
and ideally some home-made cake for our Fair Trade tea & coffee stall.

August Meeting

2006-08-09T21:40:00.000+01:00

Our next meeting will be in Croydon.

Upstairs at the Green Dragon Pub.

Thursday 17th August at 7.30pm.

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Tags Sutton, greenparty

NATIONAL EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION

2006-08-03T21:53:00.000+01:00

On Saturday 5 August there will be a national emergency demonstration in London calling for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, the end of Israel's attacks and the end of Tony Blair's support for George Bush's wars. Dozens of coaches have already been booked to bring protestors to London. Everyone who is outraged by the barbarism we are witnessing in Lebanon and Gaza should support this demonstration.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
END ISRAEL'S WAR ON LEBANON AND GAZA
SATURDAY 5 AUGUST: ASSEMBLE 12 NOON
SPEAKERS CORNER, HYDE PARK
(Nearest tube Marble Arch)
MARCH TO PALIAMENT SQUARE FOR RALLY

Darren Johnson will be the Green Party speaker on the platform.

The Green Party meeting point details are as follows.

Meet from 11.30 inside Hyde Park, Park Lane side, roughly where it says
'Brook Gate' on this map:

further info
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Tags war, greenparty

Hiroshima day event

2006-07-30T10:35:00.000+01:00

Karen & Ashok (they of the Barn in festival walk, Carshalton) are hosting a Hiroshima day remembrance event on August 6th on Carshalton pond.

This is similar to previous events – meet at the Barn at 3.30 for 4pm launch on the pond (opposite Greyhound pub)

All Greens warmly invited.

Rob

The Next Meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party

2006-07-04T20:04:00.000+01:00

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 11th July at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

Police should prevent crime, instead of picking on cyclists

2006-07-01T09:09:00.000+01:00

Responding to yesterday’s High Court victory by bicycle protestors over the police, Jenny Jones, member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and Green Party member of the London Assembly, said:

“This decision is a victory for common sense. Critical Mass is a lively, but peaceful get-together of cyclists which has been going on for over a decade without any major incidents. Arresting these cyclists would have been like arresting a group of passengers for gathering at Westminster tube station during the rush hour. The police should stick to catching criminals instead of picking on cyclists. Tomorrow, shall be asking the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police not to appeal the decision.”

The Judgement

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Tags criticalmass, greenparty, cycling, police

"Thousands of voters were 'swindled' in local elections"

2006-06-15T21:59:00.000+01:00

Thousands of voters were 'swindled' in local elections, says watchdog By Andy McSmith Published: 15 June 2006

Hundreds of thousands of voters who turned out at last month's council elections were "swindled" by a system that put control of a dozen councils in the hands of the "wrong" party because of a mismatch between votes cast and who got elected.

That was the claim made yesterday by the Electoral Reform Society, which published a 110-page booklet called "The Great Local Vote Swindle" , analysing the election results. Its analysis shows that the Conservatives " won" the contest in Kingston upon Thames, with 41 per cent of the vote, but it left them with only 21 council seats.

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A big loser was the Green Party, which won more than one fifth of all the votes cast in Hackney, but ended up with only one councillor out of a total of 57.

The Great Local Vote Swindle

The Society's full report on the 2006 local elections is out now.

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Tags sutton, greenparty, electoralreform, votes, democracy

Next Meeting

2006-06-04T10:29:00.000+01:00

The Next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on the 13th June at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

Environmental Fair

2006-05-21T13:42:00.000+01:00

Please come and support our Green Party stall at this year's Environmental Fair, on Monday 28 August in Carshalton Park, Ruskin Road, Carshalton.

We need helpers, items to sell to fundraise, and any ideas to make the stall more fun (and profitable!). As last year, we hope to be selling Fair Trade tea and coffee, organic cakes, etc. It's always a great day out.

Election Success

2006-05-13T10:02:00.000+01:00

Sutton Green Party pushed Labour into fourth place or joint third in the council seats fought in Sutton.

Results here.