In comments to the survey when posted to local social media groups Councillor Paul Baker, the Lib Dem cabinet member responsible for allotments, commented 

“Such twoddle (sic),, as the Cabinet Member responsible for our allotments I have NO intention of selling off allotments, in fact we are investing in them and working hard to make unused plots available to our waiting list. More scaremongering from the author I’m afraid.”

Cllr Ashleigh Davies, Green Party Council Group Leader, said:

“These assurances fall short of the firm commitment residents are seeking. Councils act as custodians of community assets—they do not own them outright, and vague statements about current intentions do not guarantee long-term protection.

The council is already scaling back the community benefits promised for the Golden Valley Development, amid massive losses from other speculative ventures, notably the Minster Square Exchange, which incurred a £4.7 million overspend.”

Cllr Dr Ian Cameron, Green Party County Councillor,  said: 

“Our survey shows that Cheltenham residents are deeply concerned about losing these irreplaceable green spaces, which provide essential benefits for health, community, and the environment. The Liberal Democrats must go beyond saying ‘no plans yet’ and declare unequivocally that they will protect our allotments and green spaces from development. 

They can go further and commit to open up unused land such as Cakebridge Place for community food growing and that new housing projects such as Elm’s Park will have green spaces for recreation, wildlife, and allotments. 

After another extremely hot and dry summer, we must anticipate the changes of the climate emergency and start to create a cool green oasis for every community to enjoy.

I call on Councillor Paul Baker and the council to make this commitment now, reassuring the public that community assets will be safeguarded for future generations—not sold off when budgets tighten.”

This urgent demand follows a local survey revealing widespread public anxiety over the perceived threat to these vital assets, exacerbated by recent national policy signals from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and the council’s history of disposing of community resources.

In Cheltenham, these national concerns are amplified by the Liberal Democrat council’s track record of selling off community assets. Notable examples include:

• The controversial sale of Idsall Drive car park in Prestbury in 2024, despite a petition signed by over 1,000 residents opposing the move. The site was sold for £282,500 and is now back on the market for more than double the price with planning permission for housing.
• The ongoing sale of the Grade II-listed Municipal Offices, marketed since September 2024, with a buyer expected to be announced soon.
• The joint sale of Gloucestershire Airport in 2025 for over £25 million to Horizon Aero Group Ltd, as the councils sought to offload the asset requiring significant investment.
• The closure of the Swindon Road household recycling centre, which requires £1 million in upgrades and faces an uncertain future amid county council proposals.

To gauge local sentiment, the Cheltenham Green Party conducted a survey of Cheltenham residents, posted across various local social media  groups. The results, gathered from dozens of responses, paint a clear picture of alarm:

• A majority of respondents expressed being “very worried” about the threat to allotments, citing fears that the council will target community assets to raise funds amid financial pressures.
• Key concerns included the council’s past actions, with many referencing sales like Idsall Drive car park as evidence of a pattern.
• Respondents highlighted the multifaceted value of allotments, including benefits for mental health and wellbeing, food security through growing fresh produce, community connections, biodiversity, and access to green spaces for those without gardens.
• There was strong willingness to take action, with most indicating they would sign petitions, contact local councillors, attend council meetings, join peaceful demonstrations, share campaign messages on social media, and volunteer for protection efforts.

The post Cheltenham Green Party Calls For Council Protection Commitment for Allotments  appeared first on South West Green Party.

Huw Thomas, Green Party candidate for Bideford East, said:

“South West Water holds the record as the worst performing water company, releasing sewage into our rivers and seas for a breathtaking 544,429 hours in 2024. Meanwhile, the company’s owner, Pennon Group, issued £24.5 million in dividends to shareholders. This is reward for failure and people have had their fill. 

“The Green Party has long called for water companies to be taken into public ownership so they work for people and the environment, not for private profit. South West Water, with its disgusting record on sewage spills and eye-watering bills should be front of the queue for nationalisation.” 

Councillor Any Ketchin, Green Party candidate for St David’s and Haven Banks in Exeter, added:

“For decades, money that should have been invested in improved infrastructure has been siphoned off to water company executives and shareholders. It’s time to flush this failed experiment with privatisation down the drain and for a service as vital as water and sewage to be run for the public good.” 

“Our rivers and waterways should be havens for wildlife and biodiversity and healthy places for people to enjoy. In too many cases they more closely resemble open sewers. It is clear, the answer is to take back control of water. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is by far the best performing water company. It operates as a not-for-profit organisation with no shareholders and is run for public benefit.”

The post South West Water should ‘be front of the queue’ for nationalisation, say Green Party candidates appeared first on South West Green Party.

Despite having decided on a temporary car park, the Labour-run Council is planning a further online consultation on the idea as part of wider consultation on the city centre strategy. Exeter Green Party is calling for a more in-depth consultation with core city centre stakeholders.   

Green Councillor Lynn Wetenhall said:

“It appears only Exeter Labour wants a car park on this site, but as a result of pressure from Green councillors they are now going to consult on its future. The city centre has plenty of parking spaces available already and building more goes against the Council’s own policies of encouraging active travel, public transport and reducing air pollution. InExeter, the organisation that represents city centre businesses, is also against a temporary car park on this site [3]. They are calling for a more ‘nuanced’ and meaningful consultation with city centre organisations of all kinds.”

Thomas Richardson, the Green County Council Candidate for the area, added:

“This is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a prime city centre site into something the people of Exeter actually want. Our own survey shows residents in Exeter have a wide range of creative ideas for the site including a market square or commercial space to showcase local businesses, a city park or plaza, a children’s play park and an arts or performance space.”

The post Green light for city centre car park “only Exeter Labour wants” appeared first on South West Green Party.

FAO News Editors, Political Editors

Saturday 29th March 2025

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

[STARTS] Decline in Bus Services Across Bath and North East Somerset Exposed by Government Report

The UK government’s latest official bus statistics report has revealed a concerning decline in bus services across Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES). Despite claims of bus ridership growth, B&NES continues to fall behind national and regional averages for bus service frequency and passenger journeys.

The data shows a sharp drop in bus journeys per head across the South West during 2020-2021, with B&NES (represented by the red line) remaining below both national and regional averages. The region has struggled to recover to pre-pandemic ridership levels and continues to lag behind.

While public funding for buses increased post-2020, bus ridership in B&NES has not kept pace, raising concerns about the effectiveness of this funding. The reported increase in local bus journeys (from 8 million in 2021-2022 to 9 million in 2022-2023) contradicts the decline in service frequency, suggesting overcrowding or unmet demand. This trend is evident across the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) region, with South Gloucestershire and Bristol also facing funding shortfalls. This reflects the impact of the Best Value notice, which has hindered the growth and potential of public transport in recent years.

It’s important to note that large cities, including London, continue to heavily subsidise bus services, skewing national data. Rural areas like Wiltshire are also forced to subsidise routes to ensure they exist at all. This disparity further highlights the challenges faced by smaller areas like B&NES, where public transport remains underfunded.

A report from Friends of the Earth further underscores the severity of the issue, revealing a 48% decline in urban bus services and a 52% drop in rural services since 2008. In B&NES, bus service frequency has dropped by 61.4% since 2010, with similar reductions seen across the WECA region:

• B&NES: Down by 61.4% since 2010
• North Somerset: Down by 65.8%
• South Gloucestershire: Down by 47.9%
• Bristol: Down by 40.4%

These reductions have significantly impacted local communities, particularly in rural areas. The Green Group is calling for urgent action to restore and expand bus services across the region. With ridership still lagging, it’s crucial that both the government and local authorities prioritise investment in service frequency and reliability.

Without meaningful improvements in public transport, communities in B&NES will continue to face poor connectivity, undermining the local economy and climate goals.

The post Decline in Bus Services Across Bath and North East Somerset Exposed by Government Report appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green Party councillor, Diana Moore, said:

“There are 3,584 applicants on Exeter’s Housing waiting list [1] and there was an average of 16 people new to sleeping rough each month last year [2]. Yet the Labour-run council has a dismal record on taking control of empty homes to put them to good use. 

“In Exeter, there are estimated to be over 500 long term empty homes [3]. But the Council has investigated just 35 potentially empty properties in the last five years. There have been no compulsory purchases or Empty Dwelling Management Orders issued or enforced sales – all powers available to the Council. 

“When I raised this matter at a scrutiny meeting I was told that action would be taken in due course. With the huge number of homeless people in Exeter, including people sleeping rough, ‘in due course’ is just not good enough. We need urgent action and Labour must use the powers available to them to put empty homes to good use to help address our housing crisis.”  

As National Empty Homes week concludes [4], Councillor James Banyard added:

“There are over a quarter of a million long-term empty homes in the UK. This is a scandal when there are so many people in desperate need of housing. We cannot afford to waste such properties and councils have powers to act on empty dwellings and they should do so, to make sure these homes house those in need [5].

“Creating homes from empty properties also makes environmental sense. It reduces the amount of land needed for housing developments and saves substantial amounts of material compared to building new homes.  While most empty homes don’t need much work to bring them back into use, they offer an opportunity for retrofit, to make them highly energy efficient to reduce bills for future residents. The Labour government must provide funding to councils so they can retrofit empty homes to the highest standard as part of a nationwide programme of upgrading our housing stock.” 

The post Greens slam Labour’s ‘dismal’ record on tackling empty homes in Exeter appeared first on South West Green Party.

Key Points of the Motion:

• Rent Controls: Call for government powers to introduce rent controls in B&NES to keep housing affordable.
• Capping Short-Term Lets: Propose limits on short-term holiday rentals in high-demand areas and stronger planning rules for properties rented over 90 days a year.
• End Right to Buy: Urge an end to the Right to Buy scheme to protect social housing stock and enable councils to build more homes.
• Reclaiming Empty Homes: Explore incentives for refurbishing empty properties and expand Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) to bring unused homes back into use.

Councillor Joanna Wright, Leader of the Green Group, commented:

“Our city’s tourism generates nearly half a billion pounds each year, but local people are struggling with rising housing costs. House prices in B&NES have jumped over 72% in the last decade, and rents rose by 5.2% in the past year alone. Families are being pushed out of their own neighbourhoods. This must change.

“Affordable housing is important, but social housing is vital for those most in need. We need a balanced approach that supports everyone—from young families to older residents seeking security.”

Councillor Saskia Heijltjes added: 

“Short-term holiday lets are contributing to the housing squeeze, with over 1,000 properties listed in Bath alone. Rent controls and caps on these lets are essential to keep the city liveable for residents.

“We must also end Right to Buy, which has reduced social housing stock for too long. Empty homes shouldn’t sit unused while people need homes. Let’s take action now to ensure our community remains vibrant and inclusive.”

The Green Group’s motion seeks immediate steps to prioritise residents’ needs, balance the benefits of tourism, and make Bath and North East Somerset a place where people can thrive.

The motion received 40 votes against, 4 for and 4 abstentions.

[ENDS]

Anna Mounteney – Green Group Political Support Officer 

Telephone: 07539746656

Email: anna_mounteney@bathnes.gov.uk

The post B&NES Greens Demand Urgent Action to Tackle Housing Crisis appeared first on South West Green Party.

Despite expectations that Vision Zero would be on the agenda for last Thursday’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel, it was instead subsumed within a Cabinet Member update – an approach the Green Group describes as inadequate for such an important issue. Without a dedicated agenda item, the public wasn’t properly informed and was denied the opportunity to contribute, obstructing meaningful scrutiny.

The situation worsened when Green Councillor Saskia Heijltjes, a Panel member, was requested to submit her statement in full in advance of the meeting. The BathNES Green Group challenged this request. This forced Saskia’s to submit the statement’s title to Democratic Services and speak as a member of the public.

Councillor Joanna Wright stepped in and substituted for Saskia. This highlights wider issues with how Policy Development and Scrutiny Panels are run at B&NES, including poor preparation, restricted time for questions, and weak scrutiny.

Green Councillor Saskia Heijltjes, who proposed the motion, said:
“We are disappointed by the lack of transparency and engagement around Vision Zero. The motion was passed a year ago, and it stated that the administration would be reporting back to the relevant scrutiny panel in 12 months. Public safety is at stake, and we need to be sure that real action is being taken.”

Recent serious incidents, including a teenager taken to hospital after being hit by a driver on Newbridge Road and a woman seriously injured in a collision on Mount Road, underscore the urgency of Vision Zero. These collisions highlight the need for up-to-date data to inform highway projects. The Green Group is calling for better access to up-to-date information on fatalities and serious injuries to guide future decisions.

The motion outlined several key steps to reduce casualties, including:

• Enforcing 20mph zones and safer driving practices in partnership with the police.
• Identifying the 10 most dangerous locations for targeted improvements.
• Expanding school streets and promoting cycling by council officers.

However, the Green Group has raised concerns about the removal of key cycling infrastructure in new projects and the lack of adherence to best practice guidelines, such as LTN 1/20, in recent consultations.

Councillor Heijltjes added:
“To achieve Vision Zero, we need to follow best practices and take bold, evidence-based action. We need clear, consistent policies that prioritise safety above all else.”

The Green Group is now calling for a dedicated Vision Zero update at the next meeting in January or March 2025, to ensure the issue receives the attention it deserves.

Green leader, Councillor Joanna Wright, concluded:
“Vision Zero is not just a bold goal, it’s a necessary one. Every day of delay puts more lives at risk. We need immediate, decisive action to make our streets safer for all.”

The post Greens Demand Action on Vision Zero to End Road Deaths in B&NES appeared first on South West Green Party.

Heather said:

‘We’ve seen in recent elections that there is a real appetite for green solutions in the West Country. I hope to add to our Green wins across the region this year and offer a vision of real hope and real change.

‘Building on this success, Greens are offering a positive alternative to Labour’s failed regional leadership. The Regional Authority offers us a fantastic opportunity to invest in our regional transport network and to build a green economy by creating good-quality jobs across our region.

‘We have been a consistently poorly performing authority, largely due to the lack of a serious commitment to public transport and vocational skills.  As WECA leader, I would have the courage to use the powers and funding that go with the role to deliver the mass transit and sustained economic success our region needs.’

Heather now lives in Bristol and as a councillor has represented an under-served urban ward since 2021. However, she grew up in a council estate in rural Devon so she understands farming communities and the problem of rural deprivation. Before becoming elected, Heather worked for Oxfam and on sustainable food systems, which is particularly relevant for rural economic development within the region. 

For more information about Heather please contact press@bristolgreenparty.org.uk

The post heather mack to be green candidate for weca mayor appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green Party Councillor Diana Moore said,

“Two years ago I formally requested that the Local Plan undergo proper scrutiny, as it does in other councils. That request was approved by the Council a number of times, but councillors have only ever received process reports about the Plan’s development. So, at this crucial final stage, we are still in the dark. 

“The Local Plan will direct where at least 12,840 new homes will be built, what sort of housing this will be and how much of it will be affordable; it will detail how the Council expects to address climate change, restore our green spaces and protect local heritage; how it will prevent flooding provide local infrastructure such as schools and healthcare; and set out transport plans which prevent gridlock and keep our city moving.” 

“Labour’s dash for development means we have no idea if the Plan will do these things or which representations from communities or councillors on behalf of their communities have been included in the final draft. It is an absolute failure of the Council’s governance to  examine the Plan which will seal Exeter’s development for two decades.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Mitchell said,

“The new Labour Government has introduced higher housing targets, expected to come into force in June 2025 [2]. Now Exeter’s Labour-led council is rushing this plan through, choosing to ignore the scrutiny process and hoping to avoid having to meet those targets. This is risky as the Plan could be rejected by the Planning Inspector as it doesn’t meet the new Government targets. 

“Over the past two years the Progressive Group have welcomed the public consultation process but now Labour need to be accountable for what they have chosen to include in – and leave out of – the Local Plan. So, I proposed a sensible motion at last Thursday’s scrutiny meeting for an additional session ahead of 3rd December to allow councillors an opportunity to scrutinise the plan. But this was voted down by 6 Labour Councillors, who have completely disrespected the role and status of scrutiny and the future of our city.”  

The post “Most important decision Exeter City Council will make” being pushed through without scrutiny in “dash for development”, warns Progressive Group appeared first on South West Green Party.

Bridget told David Garmston that the finances of North Somerset Council were in a sad state because of lacking of funding and support from national government.

She also explained the problems with incinerating our waste, a policy that the Green Party has always opposed. Responding to the news that putting household rubbish in giant incinerators to make electricity is now the dirtiest way the UK generates power (BBC), Green Party Peer Baroness Jenny Jones said, 

“Unless we have a complete moratorium on new incinerators and start to close down existing ones, we will not meet either of the government’s big targets. You can’t burn oil in the form of plastic and meet the target of Net Zero emissions in 2050; nor can you sign up local authorities to 20 year contracts to burn waste and expect them to recycle 65% of waste by 2030. The last government was finally waking up to the direct contradiction between environment and incineration, I hope this government will say no more incineration and put this big mistake into reverse.”

“I highlighted the issue of incineration stopping councils from recycling back in 2010 when I was on the London Assembly. This became a national issue about 10 years ago when local authorities across the country started to treat waste as a fuel, rather than a valuable source that could be reused or recycled.

The post End damaging incineration of waste appeared first on South West Green Party.