Green Party announces vision for fairer Cardiff

The Green Party in Cardiff has today published it's manifesto for the city, outlining plans to improve the economy, transport and housing in particular. The party is also proposing participatory budgeting as a way to give local people a better say in decisions that affect them.

The manifesto comes days after the announcement that every voter in Cardiff will have a Green Party candidate to support for the first time in a Council election. In total the party is standing 37 candidates will full slates in Canton, Cathays and Riverside.

A spokesperson said:

"At a local and national level the Green Party is growing in confidence, the last few months have seen an unprecedented increase in local membership and grassroots support. The Greens are stepping up to offer a real political alternative to the major parties that have traditionally dominated the council."

"Greens believe that Cardiff should take the lead in building a green economy, we will fight to bring sustainable, high value jobs to the city. We reject the idea that cuts will help solve our economic problems and will continue to speak up in support of our valued public services."

The manifesto outlines 7 key priorities, also included are tackling fuel poverty, community policing and prioritising transport as a key issue for the city.

ENDS

The Seven main priorities are taken from the manifesto are:

● Greens believe Cardiff should take the lead in Building a Green Economy, working with local businesses and third sector organisations, we will fight to bring sustainable, high value jobs to the city.

● Greens reject the idea that cuts are the best way to rebalance our economy. We will continue to Oppose cuts & defend valuable public services.

● Greens believe that residents know how best to spend money in their local area. We would implement a Participatory Budgeting Scheme giving local people a greater say in decisions which affect them.

● Greens want a comprehensive strategy for Tackling Fuel Poverty. We will invest in a household insulation programme and ensure landlords take adequate steps to make their houses as warm as possible for tenants.

● Greens know that residents want Cleaner Streets. We would take steps to improve damaged pavements and clear up the rubbish that blights many of our communities.

● Greens believe that Communities should be at the Heart of Policing, we would encourage greater partnership working between police, the council and the voluntary sector - to deal with the causes of crime. We would also encourage the formation of new Local Action Teams giving police the opportunity to hear community concerns and act on them.

● Greens want to Build a Transport System that suits the needs of our City. We will save our Central Bus Station and maintain integration with the train station.

The full document can be found at: www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/localparties/cardiff/CardiffGreenManifesto2012.pdf

In addition, council officers served 355 notices to deal with issues of excess cold, emphasising yet again the need for improved energy efficiency in homes. In December local Green activists launched a petition to the Council to take action on fuel poverty and high energy bills.

Jack Parker and Sian Howson are co-chairs of Cardiff University Green Party and are both standing in Cathays ward in the May Council elections

Jack Parker, Green Party Candidate for Cathays in the May Council elections, explains, “Thousands of students are choosing to keep the heating off this winter as higher rent, energy and food prices squeeze on their maintenance loans. Cold homes are more than just an inconvenience – it leads to damp clothes, illnesses, reduced health and a deterioration of housing conditions due to damp walls.”

“That’s why we’re calling for more housing insulation, fair and clear directions for landlords and investigations into government schemes such as the feed-in tariffs to help reduce the costs of heating our homes. No residents should have to fear about whether they can afford to stay warm.”

The recent housing report also re-iterates the need for greater student representation on Cardiff Council. In Cathays ward, the Green Party is standing a range of current and former students who understand the issues at stake.

We will better communicate with students on the housing conditions that they should expect

Jack Parker commented “As a third year student I live with the day to day issues of living in a House of Multiple Occupancy, dealing with landlords and council services. I believe that we need to find easier and more up to date methods of communicating with students so that they know what housing conditions to expect and what they can do to solve any problems that arise.”

If you have any housing issues and aren’t sure about what to do next, don’t hesitate to contact your local Green Party activists by clicking here.

To sign our petition for greater action on fuel poverty and cold homes, click here.

One potential use of the scheme would be to make better use of a disused hall on Cathays Terrace. Over recent months Jack Parker, a Green Party candidate for Cathays, has been working with Cathays Community Centre in their long term development plans for a Bingo Hall which has been abandoned for over a decade, neighbouring their current premises. Following initial confusion regarding the ownership of the property which was reported by Green Cathays in early September, it was soon confirmed that the Council was in fact the owners of the building.

Inside the disused hall

Jack Parker commented “It’s a shame that the Council’s lack of attention to its own property has led to the disuse of this fantastic potential. As soon as you walk in to this Hall, you can imagine its potential uses for groups in the local area currently struggling to find appropriate venues.”

The new Community Asset Scheme would provide an opportunity for the Community Centre to gain control over the hall and start working towards finding funding to make the property useful and productive in the future.

Jack Parker, who is now a trustee of the Community Centre added, “It will be a challenge to transform this abandoned property into the centre for excellent community work that we all envision. However this is a challenge that I think deserves our efforts and determination. We simply can’t allow this opportunity to be wasted for another decade.”

“However, more can be done. The Council and local councillors still seem to lack enthusiasm on putting the hall to better use quickly and the current strategy could mean that an Asset Transfer will take up to 18 months to process. The Green Party would treat the Asset Transfer and search for appropriate funding of the Bingo Hall redevelopment as a priority.“

“We would also work with other local groups to see what other unused land owned by the council could be put to better use. If there’s one thing the Green Party hate, it’s waste. This scheme could enable us to make better use of all sorts of property across the city.”

For those interested in reading the full document, it can be downloaded here: Draft_CAT_Strat

It is currently undergoing a consultation process and the Green Party is urging residents to have their say, by clicking on the link below;

http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/CATSTRATEng/

A petition launched today by Green activists in Cathays calls for 3 simple steps for the Council to look into immediately. We believe that The Council should:

Greens urge action now on Energy Bills

*Develop a comprehensive strategy for tackling fuel poverty in households of greatest need, including a free insulation programme.

*Investigate raising revenue for solar roofs, giving free energy to householders and a source of income for the Council.

*Ensure landlords take steps to make their houses as warm as possible for tenants.

Jack Parker, candidate for the Green Party in Cathays, welcomed the petition. He said;

“Residents of all ages need energy to ensure a good quality of living. People need their lights on during the dark Winter months. Heating is needed not just for comfort but to dry clothes, cook and stop household problems like damp which can lead to major health problems. Poor students, families with young children, old-age pensioners  or any other resident should not have to be priced out of living a comfortable, healthy life. Even during a financial crisis, there are basic measures that our council can and should be doing now to help those most affected.”

We urge residents of all ages and all political ideology, however they are affected, to sign our petition now. It’s a quick simple action that can help increase the quality of life for residents across Cardiff.

Sign the petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/warmer-cardiff/

Caroline Lucas MP supports the strikes on November 30th

Today, the national Green Party expressed its support for the strike, emphasising that the Government’s unfair changes to pensions was the cause and that average workers were not to blame. Leader Caroline Lucas MP said “”I regret the disruption caused by industrial action, but feel confident that union leaders have resorted to a full strike only as a last resort – because public sector employees up and down the country continue to feel that the Government is simply not listening.”

Green students will support professors tomorrow

Cardiff is expected to see many public sector workers on the streets at picket lines and other demonstrations, including a ‘teach-out’ taking place outside Cardiff University Main Building, where lecturers will be explaining why the strikes are taking place to members of the public.

Sian Howson, Co-Chair of Cardiff University Green Party commented, “We call for a clamp down on tax evasion by the rich and a tax on financial transactions rather than the proposed public sector cuts and for the Government to urgently review the state pension which remains below poverty levels. We would like to see the rapid introduction of a citizen’s pension, paid at a level that allows people to meet basic needs.”

“Green students will stand alongside our lecturers tomorrow in standing up for pensions and more. We rely upon our lecturers on a day to day basis for our education and this Wednesday they should get our support in return. The government has failed students in raising fees, scrapping EMA and failing to deal with high graduate unemployment. Now they are failing our lecturers. In attacking our teachers and other staff, they are attacking us too.

“While students may feel some inconvenience tomorrow, it is only one day of the year. If we do not stand up against these and other changes, we and future students will be disadvantaged for generations. Green students support workers, not the economically illiterate cuts being implemented by the mainstream parties.”

Such a change would make it much easier for residents and external organisations to access, adapt and make better use of information already held by the Council such as by creating useful applications.

The support was declared in light of a Freedom of Information request less than two weeks ago which highlighted the fact that “Cardiff Council has not as yet considered its
position on ‘Open Data’”. Earlier this month, Monmouthshire became the first Welsh Council to adopt the ‘Open Government License’.

Making our council more transparent with 'Open Data'

Jack Parker, Green Party candidate for Cathays commented, “It’s great to see Cardiff Green Party back this movement, which has already been successfully implemented in almost a hundred councils across the UK. Although the terms involved may sound technical, the simple conclusion is that our Council will be more transparent with our data as a result of moving to Open Data’.”

Jack continued, “I originally came across the idea of Open Data through local community groups such as Connect Cathays and Cardiff Community Informatics Network and I hope that our support for a transition at Cardiff Council will help enable them and other local community groups to flourish.”

Last week the CBI, the UK’s biggest business group, said that the sudden change would force companies to cancel projects, threatening jobs across the country.

The Green Party was also quick to condemn the news. Penny Kemp, Environment Spokesperson, commented that “it makes no sense either financially or environmentally.” She pointed out that the current scheme, now being lost, “gives Councils a further incentive to help the fuel poor as well as increasing local authority revenue.”

 

Cathays Green Party activist, Sian Howson, said in response “these cuts are disastrous, the original feed in tariff attracted homeowners to actively take control and become more environmentally minded. This nearly doubles the payback period which may put people off.”

Cathays Green Party remains committed to long term solutions to environmental problems that will also help lower the burden on local residents in the short term, such as home insulation to reduce emissions and energy bills.

Campaigner Jack Parker commented “despite this disappointing news, we remain adamant that Cathays residents deserve to feel comfortable in their own homes without going bankrupt. Energy prices will remain to be a big burden on students, families and pensioners all over Cardiff. Our representatives, from Cardiff Council to Westminster, should do everything they can to reduce the burden during these harsh economic times.”

"It's ridiculously large," local Green campaigner, Jack Parker, commented. "There are still remnants of the former Bingo equipment just lying around, giving the place a really eerie feel. It's really disappointing as I know plenty of local organisations, student societies and music groups that are desperate for meeting and practice rooms. Yet for the last ten years this space has literally just been abandoned. It's a complete waste of space."

Attempts to rectify the situation have met constant problems and interruptions, with the latest investigation unveiling confusion within the Council. It is widely believed by many local residents that the abandoned hall belongs to Cardiff Council. Yet, a Freedom of Information request sent in May resulted in the Council denying ownership. Upon further questioning the Council eventually admitted, more than three months after the initial request, that the Freedom of Information Act had been breached and not complied with.

Cathays Community Centre now has plans to extend their current building to maximise their services, with additional medium term plans to re-use the old bingo hall. Yet to date ownership questions over the hall remain unanswered, which are hindering progress.

"It's time for the matter to be sorted once and for all," added local Green activist, Jack Parker. "The community centre needs the support of local councillors to get things moving yet during their time in office their involvement in the Centre has been less than satisfactory. We've heard that attendance to board meetings by local councillors has been very poor."

"We will be continuing to investigate the issue and will help look into ways in which the Community Centre can raise money to fund its future projects. One helpful scheme supported by the Green Party would be that of participatory budgeting, where the council sets aside a pot of money that residents decide how to spend- a scheme which has been popular and successful in areas with Green Party councillors. The Community Centre is a fantastic example of a project needing access to such an opportunity."

Notes.

1. FOI Request and Council reponses
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/unused_part_of_building_cathays#incoming-184896

We didn't quite make it in South Wales Central - Labour's clean sweep of constituency seats making it harder to reach the threshold of votes needed. But this campaign built the blocks to elect Councillors in Cardiff and beyond next May.  In South Wales Central we increased our vote by nearly 40% in an election where Plaid and the Lib Dems did badly.

We've been heartened by the level of goodwill in the campaign as people saw the benfits of having Greens in the Assemby and our positive message for the future of Wales. 

Our work on the ground this year we feel will allow us to be back even stronger next year and in a great position to elect Assembly Memers next time.

 Thank you

Wales Green Party have welcomed today's opinion poll result (1) for the South Wales Central National Assembly Region which puts the party on target to elect its first Assembly Member in the region comprising Cardiff, the Vale and Rhondda Valleys.

The poll also puts the party above the Lib Dems for the first time, as disillusioned supporters turn to the Greens.

The Green Party, which held its party conference last month in Cardiff, has seen a steady rise in votes, with a peak at the 2009 European elections when they received 6.4% across the Region and 8% in Cardiff. Greens will need around 7% across South Wales Central on the 5th May to make history and elect Wales Green Party leader Jake Griffiths as the first Green AM.

Having last year achieved the historic breakthrough of winning their first Westminster seat, the Greens are pushing hard for a second breakthrough this year.

Caroline Lucas, who became Britain's first Green Party MP last year, said today:

"Today's poll is more great news for the Green Party in Wales. Following my election last May as Britain's first Green MP, a breakthrough in the Welsh Assembly would be part of a chain of successes, joining Green colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the European Parliament."

Jake Griffiths, candidate for South Wales Central in May's Assembly Election, said:

"Green AMs are needed, now more than ever, to challenge the devastating cuts to public services being imposed by Westminster and to get Wales onto the path towards a low-carbon economy.

"Green policies provide a real alternative to swingeing cuts. We would argue for investment into the economy, creating thousands of local and sustainable jobs to beat the recession, address social problems and tackle climate change. These ideas must be heard in the Assembly chamber if they are to become a reality."

(1) 1019 Welsh adults were polled from 4th - 8th March 2011. For full poll see http://today.yougov.co.uk/archives

He concluded:
“Plaid try to talk ‘green’ but when in power at the Assembly or in Cardiff fail to take the green agenda seriously. “

The Green Party disagrees with Plaid on the following issues:

• Subsidy for ‘IeunAir’ airlink
• Support for a waste incinerator in Cardiff
• Demolition of Cardiff central bus station, making bus travel more difficult
• The construction of a huge road bridge through the heart of Bute Park

ENDS

For more information contact Sam Coates 0759000849 sam.coates@walesgreenparty.org.uk

Jake Griffiths, candidate for South Wales Central said:

"This is a great result for the Green Party amid a chain of successes, with the election of Caroline Lucas, Britain's first Green MP, and Green colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the European Parliament.

As Nick Clegg arrives in Cardiff, the Greens are backing protests planned against the Lib Dem leader tonight.

Jake Griffiths said:

"As the only political party offering an alternative to the cuts we strongly back those who want to protest at the Lib Dems systematic betrayal of their supporters.

"With Labour support on the rise, we would ask people considering voting Labour in May to use their second vote to support the Green Party, and register their opposition to the coalition's regressive cuts. Just 7% of the 2nd regional vote is needed to put a Green voice in the Assembly to stand up against the ruthless cuts being imposed by Westminster."

ENDS

For more information contact Sam Coates 0759 000 849 sam.coates@walesgreenparty.org.uk

Yvan Maurel, who is standing for the Green Party in the Riverside Council by election has today attacked Plaid Cymru’s record in Cardiff and said that Riverside needs a Green Councillor to protect green spaces.

Speaking ahead of the by-election vote on Thursday, he said:

"Despite their pledging to focus on green issues Plaid Cymru have pushed for and supported a number of worrying plans that would wreck our green spaces, including the building of a dangerous bridge in Bute Park and an out of town development on green land.

"Plaid Cymru have supported the building of a £1 million bridge and access road from an entrance on North Road close to the Corbett Road junction. This bridge could be dangerous to both cyclists and pedestrians because of the layout.

"Plaid have also pushed plans for a languages monument in Clare Gardens without consultation. This monument takes up too much space within a small park and doesn't reflect the diversity of Riverside's communities. Additionally they have also supported plans to build a new school on Rumney recreation ground which has been considered a lifeline for many residents of east Cardiff."

Plaid Cymru's support for for an out of town development over green land at junction 33 has angered Yvan Maurel who argued that:
"if the proposed International Business Park at Junction 33 gets the go ahead it will give the green light to developers wishing to build on the green belt to work that bit harder to get their proposals through."

He concluded: "Plaid's record in Cardiff shows they cannot be trusted to protect green spaces. If the people of Riverside elect me as Cardiff's first Green Councillor on Thursday I will ensure crucial spaces like Clare Gardens are protected."

ENDS

For more information contact Sam Coates 075 9000 8249
sam.coates@walesgreenparty.org.uk

YvanMaurel co-founded the Friends of Clare Gardens who have been working hard andsucceeding in making the gardens accessible and enjoyable by the community.

Yvan is awell-known and popular local green activist who has also been involved with CantonCarbon Cutters, the EcoHomes Centre in Riverside and Cardiff Cycling Campaign.

The GeenParty are expecting a good result in this ward following recent strong pollsfor the Welsh Assembly election which are currently showing that the Greens areon target to have their first AM elected in May.

Yvanexxplained his reason for standing: "Havingworked with a number of groups in Riverside I believe that Cardiff wouldbenefit from electing its first Green councillor to ensure that green issuesare at the forefront of the city's development and that communities arelistened to and supported.  Riverside is a great area with a lot of peoplewho think progressively so I'm confident that the Green Party will do wellhere."

JakeGriffiths, lead candidate for the Welsh Assembly Election, welcomed Yvan ascandidate: "Yvan is a tirelesscampaigner for the Green Party in Cardiff and for green issues ingeneral.  He is an asset to the Riverside community and as acouncillor will represent the interests of the people of Riverside and ensurethat the area receives the improvements that the community deserves."

He hasoutlined his priorities when elected as:

• Supporting Friends of Clare Gardens and ensuring the park's successful improvements continue
• Supporting the Alley green-gating project for security and to keep clean, green alleys
• Allotments in Pontcanna Fields - there is a very long waiting list and yet some allotments look abandoned so need to look at how to increase provision and reduce the waiting lists
• Sustainable Transport
• Reducing potholes - these are particularly dangerous for cyclists
• Eliminate illegal parking on Cowbridge Road East
• To work within the council to find ways to combat fuel poverty and improve household insulation
• Campaign against the cuts imposed by the Conservative-Lib-dem government and ensure that as cuts hit Cardiff that they are targeted at wasteful areas not essential services.

For moreinformation contact:

Sam Coates 07590008249 sam.coates@walesgreenparty.org.uk

OR

Yvan Maurel 07527539778 vivarf@hotmail.com

Welsh Green Party Leader and Welsh Assembly Candidate Jake Griffiths said

"We believe that AV is great news for a healthy democracy above all because it eliminates the ‘wasted vote' argument, and will drastically reduce tactical voting. AV will enable smaller Parties like the Green Party to build up their votes which challenges two-party duopolies and ensures that extremist political parties are kept out of parliament. AV is an opportunity to move away from our out-dated, two-sided system and could create substantial changes in British politics, including more representation for the Green Party."

"A Yes vote would bring a step in the right direction, and demonstrate an appetite for change. Greens and others who want a fair, inclusive proportional way of voting will then continue to campaign for further reform."

ENDS

For more information contact Sam Coates 075 9000 8249
sam.coates@walesgreenparty.org.uk

-      Better public transport to secure a modal shift from car to bus & train and commit to strong targets to increase cycling and walking.
-      Renewable energy on Council buildings which will generate income.
-      Deal with food waste locally and scrap incinerator plans.
-      Program of insulation on old terraced houses in poorest wards.
-       Prevent new urban ‘sprawl' housing development

Yvan Maurel, who is standing for the Green Party in the Riverside Councilby election on March 3^rd commented:

"Cardiff Council talks the talk on green issues but lacks real commitment, a good example is the new Central Library, trumpeted as the ‘most sustainable building in Cardiff', yet its ‘E' grade energy rating tells anotherstory!

"It's time to get real: energy is money and we cannot afford to keep throwing it out the windows while cutting services alongside.

"Many solutions are affordable and practical and by saving energy Cardiffcould be saving money. Council Leader Rodney Berman has congratulated himself on the Council's target to reduce emissions from its own buildings but has noplan to tackle emissions in the city as a whole."

Yvan is campaigning on to make greener options easier for city residents,by encouraging and improving public transport, walking and cycling facilities,as well as tackling fuel poverty which costs too much to householders, while unnecessarily pumping out extra carbon emissions.

Wales Green Party Leader, who is fighting to become Wales' first GreenAssembly Member in May, said:

"Just a couple of years ago the Council was advocating a new out of town development on Junction 33 of the M4 totally isolated from the city, this shows just far they still have to go before they are truly thinking sustainably. I will work in the Assembly to make it easier for Councils to implement these measures and would oppose out of town developments such as the one proposed at Junction 33. Just 7% of the regional vote in South Wales Central this May wouldsee me elected as the first Green AM."

ENDS

For more information contact SamCoates 075 9000 8249
sam.coates@walesgreenparty.org.uk

Notesfor Editors

(1)  http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2011/02/11/cardiff-s-green-dream-suffers-setback-91466-28152489/

Jake Griffiths, Leader of Wales Green Party and who is fighting to become Wales' first Green AM in May's election said:

"It was reported today that fuel poverty is causing ill-health in children and the first hand stories collected by the Children in Wales organisation are truly alarming. The fact that a quarter of children in Wales are suffering is a national disgrace and unacceptable. Sadly the number of people being affected by fuel poverty is going to increase as fuel prices and unemployment continue to rise. Public transport costs are increasing for both bus and train services and the number of services is decreasing which again is going to affect the poorest most, particularly those living in rural areas."

"The Green Party has been campaigning for two years for free insulation for all homes that need it. The Assembly Government has set up a few energy efficiency projects but we now need serious investment to ensure no one has to live in a freezing home. Simply focusing on the cost of oil and gas, as some other parties have been doing misses the point as we all know prices will only go up from now on. We need to deal with the cause of fuel poverty - cold houses, not just increasing fuel costs."

ENDS

For more information contact Sam Coates 075 9000 8249
sam.coates@walesgreenparty.org.uk

Notes for Editors

(1) http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/02/09/children-living-in-fuel-poverty-see-health-and-education-suffer-91466-28138372/

Wales is split into 5 regions for the second vote, South Wales Central includes Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Greens received 6.4% across the Region the last time an election was held using proportional representation, during the 2009 European elections with 8% across Cardiff. Based on previous results 7-8% of the vote is needed to elect the first Green AM in South Wales Central.

Jake Griffiths, Wales Green Party Leader and prospective Assembly Member, said; "This poll gives recognition to the work we have been doing locally and shows us on course to elect our first Assembly Members in May. Greens in the Welsh Assembly would be joining Caroline Lucas, who was elected as Britain's first Green MP in this years General Election, and Green colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the European Parliament."

He continued "Green AMs are needed to challenge the devastating cuts to public services being imposed by Westminster and to get Wales onto the path for a low-carbon economy. Our policies would create jobs to beat the recession as well as tackling climate change, and these ideas must be heard in the Assembly chamber if we hope for them to become reality. Caroline Lucas, our first MP has already made her place in asking difficult questions that MPs from the old parties shy away from. Green AMs would continue this tradition in truly holding the Welsh Government to account."

He concluded by appealing for those considering voting Labour to back the Green Party on the regional ballot:

"Labour have never elected a regional AM in South Wales Central since they win most constituencies, over 70,000 wasted Labour regional votes were cast in 2007, if just a small fraction of these switch to the Greens we will elect our first AMs. Electing a Green is also likely to deprive the ConDem parties of an extra Assembly Member."

ENDS

For more information contact Sam Coates 075 900 08249

References:

(1) http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Archives-Pol-ITVWales-251110.pdf