Colchester Green Party's Local Manifesto : Where We Stand

1) Housing and Planning
We will seek to retain the town’s historic character, preserve greenbelt 
areas and end urban sprawl. Housing should be affordable and built on 
brownfield, not greenfield sites, with fewer huge developments. Retail 
developments should include nearby housing. We would cap rents and abolish 
the ‘bedroom tax’.


2) Health and Wellbeing
Centralised funding should be diverted to community health centres offering 
self-help solutions for preventing illness and promoting health. The health 
benefits of natural environments are well documented. We would thus ensure 
that all children and young people have access to outdoor play and learning.


3) Transport
The new bus station must be expanded. We oppose rail fare price hikes that 
disadvantage commuters. We support 20mph default speed limits and programmes 
to encourage car sharing, walking and cycling.


4) Community Safety
Our approach to crime reduction focuses on the social causes of crime. We 
oppose the proliferation of nightclubs in the St Botolph's area of town, and 
propose revoking the licences of any venues linked to incidents of violent 
crime.


5) Energy
All Council-owned facilities would be audited and given energy reduction 
targets. We would generate locally sourced, affordable renewable energy to 
tackle fuel poverty. Solar arrays in suitable locations can be combined with 
‘green gas’ produced from food waste. We would make it easier for residents 
across town to obtain replacement green bins and garden waste bags.


6) Business
We favour socially responsible companies that respect the environment and 
pay a living wage to their employees.