Colchester Green Party
For the Common Good
Our Manifesto
Colchester Green Party reflects the values, principles and policies of the national Green Party of England and Wales.
The Green Party will work for:
● An economy that gives everyone their fair share
● A society capable of supporting everyone’s needs
● A planet protected from the threat of climate change
● A more democratic political system
The Green Party is the only Party that offers a genuine alternative to the other Parties to develop the local economy, to protect the local environment and to create a new kind of democratic politics.
1. Local economy
1.1 We will work to ensure that the growth of our town is matched by appropriate investment in infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and public transport links.
1.2 We will prioritize and reimagine a more inclusive, greener and prosperous development of the city centre to meet Colchester’s existing and emerging needs, in line with ambitious local government climate roadmap promoted by the UNFCCC.
1.3We will support local businesses, encouraging schemes which keep money circulating within the local economy, instead of letting it be siphoned away by multinational corporations.
1.4 We will explore ways of reducing the overheads of small businesses in the town centre.
1.5 We will seek to attract businesses to Colchester that focus on recycling, generating renewable energy, energy saving and home insulation. This would bring investment and new jobs to the area.
1.6 We will promote the building and upkeep of greener homes, favouring design and build with low carbon materials and methods.
1.7 We actively support our local food banks for as long as people are in need of them but our policy is:-
-No-one who is working should be paid less than a living wage. The National Living Wage is discriminatory in that it excludes under 25s. This section of the population is the most prone to insecure zero-hours contracts. We will push for employers in the Borough to pay their staff at least the National Living Wage regardless of age.
1.8 We will encourage and support fairer alternative credit services such as Colchester Credit Union.
2. Our environment
The Green Party has long recognised that climate change is the worst environmental hazard facing us.
2.1 We call for more stringent targets for reduction of global, national and local greenhouse gas emissions and for the establishment of effective enforcement mechanisms. Our local policies in areas such as transport and planning reflect this commitment.
2.2 We will set up a Community Health and Environmental Council (CHEC) with professional staff and with elected representatives, which will be responsible for interpreting environmental impact and improvement assessments in local planning. It will define the operating conditions for local commercial and industrial enterprises, including agriculture, and make appropriate recommendations to the local and regional authority.
2.3. We are opposed to Essex County Council’s use of glyphosate herbicides on our pavements.
2.4 We will work with the Council, Natural England, Essex Wildlife Trust and Buglife to promote bio-diversity and address serious decline in numbers of our native bees and pollinators.
2.5 We believe that Colchester Council needs an in-house ecologist to advise on ecological aspects of policy.
2.6 We will work with community groups to introduce more community wildlife gardens.
2.7 We will improve the cleaning up of litter by identifying litter ‘hot spots’ for more regular cleaning and by ensuring that all streets are thoroughly cleaned up every two weeks.
2.8 Air quality is one of our top priorities-
i. City Council monitoring shows that air quality is now poor and at illegal levels in many areas of the town. The central corridor, which runs from Mersea Road down to North Station, has some of the worst quality air in the City.
ii. Our own monitoring in Spring 2018 revealed very high levels of pollution in several Castle Ward streets including North Station Road and East Hill.
2.9 We will use local council powers to tackle air pollution by:-
-enforcing the law on engine idling
-aiming to reduce traffic flow at key points
-providing better alternatives to driving for local journeys such as exploring shuttle bus schemes
-curbing speeds by introducing a default 20mph speed limit in residential areas to decrease the release of air pollutants and to reduce traffic accidents
-working with bus companies to run cleaner and more reliable vehicles in Colchester
-provide more cycling infrastructure.
2.10 We recognise that overdevelopment is of major concern to Colchester residents and will protect green spaces from development and utilise brownfield sites.
2.11 We will work to prevent unstoppable speculative development.
2.12 We will strive to protect Salary Brook Valley and Middlewick Ranges from development and continue to oppose plans for a huge ‘West Tey’ new town site on green fields. We will lobby the MOD to end the plan to sell off Middlewick Ranges for housing and campaign for the site to become a nature reserve.
2.13 We will strive to minimise the negative environmental impact of the Tendring Garden Community planned for near to Wivenhoe, which we opposed.
2.14 Waste and Plastics:
2.14.1 Respecting the earth’s ecological limits, we promote a just transition from “unsustainable and resource extraction based” industrial and overconsumption system to one based on local circular economy where, for example landfill and incineration will shift to reuse, repair and high-value recycling.
2.14.2 We will explore the introduction of heritage-based water fountains in central Colchester to reduce the consumption of bottled water. We will seek to involve local artists in this.
2.14.3 We will work with local retailers to explore ways to reduce plastic food packaging and lobby companies to use environmentally friendly packaging to reduce waste.
2.14.4 We will make sure residents know about recycling options and about methods to reduce household waste and we will also ensure that people living in flats have equal opportunity to recycle.
2.14.5 We will use existing legislation to put pressure on fast-food outlets and coffee chains to reduce litter.
3. The NHS
3.1 Our NHS is the most effective public service ever created in the UK. We are the only Party to consistently oppose cuts to local council services and the NHS.
At Local Level:
3.2. We will rigorously campaign to persuade national government to match growth in local population sizes with greater NHS investment.
3.3 We will lobby to establish Community Health Centres that will provide community-based services.
3.4 We will lobby national government to ensure that mental healthcare has parity with physical healthcare.
3.5 We will lobby East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation to ensure affordable homes and safe travel to and from work for Key Workers, including free parking for hospital staff.
3.6 We will support organisations and services aimed at reaching out to vulnerable groups, including women, men under 45, LGBTIQA+ people and BAME individuals.
3.7 We will encourage Colchester City Council to appoint a Mental Health Champion, to advocate on behalf of people with mental health issues concerning housing provision, employment and education access and other local services
At National Level:
3.8 The Green Party will lobby national government to end the creeping process of privatisation that is eroding it. We believe the NHS should remain a unified public service and we oppose Private Finance Initiatives.
3.9 We advocate full public ownership over our health services: funded by, run by and accountable by local and national government and devoid of all privatization, whether privatized administrations, healthcare administration, healthcare provision, support services or capital ownership.
3.10 We will rigorously campaign to persuade national government to match increasing health and care demands based on characteristics of our population with increased funding to scientific research, patience care and greater investment to the NHS.
3.11 We will fight to ensure there are sufficient numbers of qualified staff through ensuring a fair and supportive work environment for all NHS and social care staff and promote scholarships and grants programs for aspiring social care and NHS staff As a party, we are against increasing NHS staff via “overseas poaching” of medical staff.
3.12 We can reduce the cost of healthcare by providing trainings to meet changing needs and reducing the amount of pressure on NHS by creating healthier society and addressing several environmental and social circumstances including building tackling air pollution, reducing the stress and stigma of unemployment, reducing inequality and overcrowded housing and ensuring that everyone can have access to healthy, affordable food.
4. Housing
4.1 We all want warm, safe and secure homes. The current government have presided over the worst housing crisis in living memory. At present house building is to meet market demand, not local need. Social housing is essential to address this crisis.
4.2 Colchester Green Party will work to build and refurbish homes to meet everyone’s need for secure and comfortable housing. Council and co-operative housing will be prioritised for funding, housing associations democratised and protections for private tenants improved.
4.3 We will lobby central government to fund the provision of new council housing and for an end to blocking local councils from increasing their stock.
4.4 We will work to ensure all new developments in Colchester are BREEAM very good or better.
4.5 We will introduce land value taxation to create incentives to utilize brownfield sites for new housing rather than our countryside and ensure that such sites are developed into properties and projects which address the real local need.
4.6 We would give wildlife-rich brownfield land greater protection following the mitigation approach with the hierarchy of ‘avoid, mitigate and compensate’, and require local and regional authorities to review their local plans to remove high-value sites.
4.7 Housing and developments’ impact on other natural habitats should be avoided wherever possible and where damage cannot be avoided it should be mitigated and any unavoidable residual loss of replaceable habitat should be compensated through offsetting to ensure no net loss for biodiversity in and around the location of the development.
4.8 We will work to ensure that private landlords maintain their properties to a very good standard.
4.9 We will push for Colchester’s derelict buildings and shops to be brought back into use, including those above shops.
4.10 We will promote the building and upkeep of greener homes, favouring design and build with low carbon materials and methods.
5. Leisure and tourism
Colchester has a rich heritage and we fully recognise the importance of this both educationally and economically.
5.1 We will work to ensure that there is more publicity Colchester rich history and use historic tourism for generating income and addressing restoration of physical deterioration of historic buildings and artifacts, including Roman sites such as Butt Road Church and the Roman Circus Museum.
5.2 We will work to restore and make our heritage sites more accessible and improve their advertising and sign-posting.
5.3 We will explore ways of promoting Colchester’s medieval heritage such as improving the St John’s Abbey and St Botolphs Priory sites with better signage and visitor facilities, and liase with heritage groups to organize local history themed public events.
5.5 We will work to support the development of our community and creative spaces including creation of a Youth Zone in Colchester.
5.6 We will protect our Library from the further selling-off of resources and the conversion of whole floors as offices. We believe that the library should remain a library rather than Council offices by another name.
6. Local democracy
6.1 Time and again decisions affecting Colchester are made by Essex County Council with no understanding of what Colchester really needs.
6.2 Localism is central to Green Party politics. We would campaign for more powers to be devolved from County Council level to the City, particularly roads.
6.3 We believe that council meetings should be as open and transparent as possible and more accessible to those most affected by decisions made in those meetings.
6.4 We will work to increase the involvement of residents and residents’ groups in council decision-making processes by holding consultations at an early stage, before decisions are made by officers and encouraging their members to attend Have Your Say at Committee, Cabinet and Full Council meeting.
6.5 The National Green Party is campaigning for a change to a proportional representation electoral system, replacing the undemocratic and unfair ‘first past the post’ system. We would campaign for Colchester to pilot proportional representation systems for local elections.
7. Transport
Through measures below we would cut congestion, pollution and reduce road casualties.
7.1 We will campaign to bring the railways back into public ownership, saving money and improving services, a policy supported by 66% of the population.
7.2 We will campaign to return control of our roads to the City.
7.3 We will work to end the traffic problems in the town centre with a combination of affordable and efficient public transport, improved cycle routes and by encouraging more walking and car sharing.
7.4 We will work with local bus companies and provide financial incentives to facilitate cleaner, less polluting buses.
7.5 We will lobby for more affordable fares and a proper bus station.
7.6 We will lobby for free bus travel for people under 25.
7.7 We will push for a default 20mph speed limit on residential streets.
7.8 GP councillors will push for safe and properly planned cycle routes and the increased availability of cycle parking and storage facilities.
8. Community safety
8.1 We will investigate why Colchester has a higher crime rate per person than inner city Birmingham and Liverpool. Solutions are complex but include many things that the Council can influence such as licensing, design of public spaces and youth and leisure facilities.
8.2 We will apply our national “Reducing the Threat of Crime” policy, ensuring universal access to high quality youth facilities and open spaces, and develop it further through actively engaging with different authorities and community groups.
8.3 We will apply a 2-fold Crime Prevention Strategy (CPS) based on reduction and effective responding. Reducing half will include:
i. Understanding root causes of crime by working with relevant public authorities and charities,
ii. Address broader range of social policies aimed at reducing social pressures such as poverty, inequality, drug addiction.
iii. Work with stakeholders to ensure education in safety and consent.
8.4 Respond part of CPS will have restorative justice approach where tried and tested incompatible considerations of crime prevention and general deterrence will be replaced with a holistic approach where:
i. Potential offenders will receive persuading assistance, rehabilitation and support to enable them move away from surrounding negative factors contributing their current state of mind,
ii. Support community groups to make counseling and advice services accessible to all victims, ensuring that they receive necessary support to help them with feeling safe and enjoying social life.
iii. Encourage specialist sexual violence and abuse training and awareness for frontline staff within local authorities, organisations and institutions with a sphere of influence.
iv. Demonstrate offenders and community that, with enhance holistic approach and support available, committing crime is unacceptable.
8.5 We will explore ways of achieving change in the culture of domestic violence and sexual violence, and ensure that there is more publicity and improved resources, training and support. We will liaise closely with partnerships and organisations providing rape and sexual abuse support services across Essex.
8.6 We will work to halt cuts to police numbers and insist that any new development has a corresponding increase in policies aimed at reducing the threat of crime, policing resources, in the fire department and in ambulance services.
9. Defence
9. Colchester is a garrison city. We would work to help veterans train and find work and provide support for those suffering from physical and psychological trauma.
10. No nuclear at Bradwell
10.1 We are strongly opposed to the proposed new nuclear power station at Bradwell on proximity, safety, environmental and economic grounds.
10.2 The site is low-lying and liable to flooding, storm surges and other coastal processes which will result from climate change. It lies on a fragile and shallow estuary with Marine Conservation Zone designation.
10.3 Bradwell is already a nuclear waste site for radioactive waste from other power stations. New nuclear development would increase the amount of waste.
10.4 Since 1952 there have been more than 17 major accidents at nuclear power stations throughout the world, and over a 14-year period Bradwell experienced fire and radioactive leaks into the ground.
10.5 A new nuclear power station would take 6 times as much cooling water from the estuary as the old one, seriously damaging the ecology of the estuary and the world-famous oyster industry.
10.6 We advocate a tidal lagoon system which releases water at high tide, allowing water to flow out through turbines at low tide, generating electricity. Grid infrastructure formerly used at Bradwell nuclear power station could be utilised for this.
10.7 We will continue to work with BANNG and other community groups to express concerns about increasing dependence on nuclear power instead of sustainable and renewable power sources.
11. Education
11.1 We will lobby central government to abolish fees in Further Education as well as writing off currently outstanding debts and replace loans with grants.
11.2 We will promote a comprehensive system of local schools and lobby national government to bring Academies and Free Schools under Local Authority control.
11.3 We will campaign for increased education spending. Funding cuts and privatisation are seriously affecting Sixth Form Colleges and adult education. Colchester has a large and successful Sixth Form College.
11.4 We will work to ensure that every child can attend their local school with full confidence over the quality of education and student support provided.
11.5 We will work to return control of school allocations to Colchester City Council, devolved from Essex County Council.
12. Animal Welfare
12.1 The Green Party has long recognised the need to treat animals well. Nationally the Green Party fully supports the ban on hunting with hounds.
12.2 We will ensure that all Council run catering services provide healthy nutritious food including offering vegetarian, vegan, religious and other medically required dietary options.
12.3 We will promote creation of Animal Rights Officer with adequate staff within Council to oversee animal warden schemes and to liase with animal welfare organisations, law enforcement agencies and Animal Welfare Department of the Environment Commission to ensure that reported animal abuse is investigated thoroughly.
COLCHESTER GREEN PARTY
For the Common Good
