Councillor, Diana Moore, one of the Green Party councillors representing St David’s, the ward in which the development is proposed, said:

“Greens strongly support brownfield developments – and there is a real need for council and truly affordable homes in the city centre. However, Labour’s endless obsession with co-living is creating a city full of bland developments containing hundreds of unaffordable bedsits that fail to meet nationally set minimum space requirements. 

“Labour wrote the brief for this dire development completely ignoring the Council’s own housing needs research which sees little role for co-living housing [1]. So there is no proper evidence of demand in Exeter for this over-priced accommodation. Few single workers in Exeter can afford the eye-wateringly high rents. 

Councillor Tess Read, another Green councillor in St David’s, added:

“The proposed landscaping for this development is totally inadequate and there are with no plans to improve local amenities in the area, such as nearby St Bartholomew’s Cemetery. Indeed, the proposals would significantly reduce the green infrastructure in the city centre by removing 10 trees and there are no serious plans for replanting trees elsewhere. 

“Housing plans in the city centre must incorporate and increase biodiversity, recognise the local presence of protected species and be adaptable to climate change.

“We also want to see proposals to make it safer for walking and cycling. The area close to the proposed development has one of the highest collision records in the city centre [2].”

The post Greens raise objections to Mary Arches co-living proposals in exeter appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green Councillor Carol Bennett said:

“Not only has Steve Race refused to join his colleagues in opposing this cruel legislation, he joined around 40 Labour MPs in signing a letter in support [1]. 

“People in Exeter with disabilities have the right to live with dignity and respect. PIP payments are essential for many to live independently and to participate in work, education and society. Removing it will deepen hardship and cost more in the long run. 

“These cuts are a short-sighted attempt to balance the books on the backs of people with disabilities. They come just as the government announces billions more for boosting the UKs nuclear arsenal. Labour is now the party of warfare not welfare.

“Greens have long called for fairer taxes on the super-rich that could raise billions and prevent cuts to the support for the most vulnerable. Wealth taxes could also help fund our crumbling health service and broken care system.” 

The post Exeter Greens slam local MP for backing cuts to disability payments appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green councillor Lynn Wetenhall said:

“This is classic greenwash. Labour is looking to use a city centre car park – which will encourage more driving to the city centre, more congestion, more air pollution and emissions – to fund climate action. It makes no sense at all and is against the Council’s own climate policies. Other possible sources of funding for the Council’s net zero work have not even been investigated despite there being a good number of other options.”

At the full council meeting where the car park decision was announced, Green councillor Tess Read described funding net zero work from the building of a car park “beyond parody”. She also highlighted a failure to consider alternative uses for the site:  

“There has been absolutely no attempt to consider any alternative uses for this site that might deliver as much, or more, money and deliver better economic, social and environmental value. Labour are putting the brakes on ideas and interests in the site and plan to build a car park where Exeter should be boasting a modern covered market, green space or a play park.”

Exeter Green Party recently ran a public survey on what people wanted to see on the site, with 400 suggestions received. A market, green space and play area were the most popular suggestions. 

The post ‘Greenwash’ – Greens denounce plans for new city centre car park to fund net zero work  appeared first on South West Green Party.

The closure of the pool was included in Labour’s February budget [1]. The Progressive Group – made up of both Green and Liberal Democrat councillors – proposed an amendment in their Alternative Budget proposals to “undertake a leisure services review to protect leisure services from closure [2].”

In particular, Greens have highlighted the impacts of the decision to close the pool on school children. Five schools currently use the pool for swimming lessons and in 2016 Labour pledged free lessons for children in Exeter [3]. 

Green Councillor for Heavitree ward, Cllr Carol Bennett, said:

“Labour finds itself in deep water over its announcement to close Northbrook pool.  They didn’t say what they were proposing in advance of the budget meeting where the closure was announced, and certainly didn’t seem to think about the consequences for the community.  

“Northbrook is especially suited to schools and children with Special Educational Needs. Labour have not been able to offer swimming teachers or timetable space at St Sidwells Point. In 2016 Exeter Labour committed to free swimming lessons for children, now they are planning to close a pool where lots of local children learn to swim.”

A petition signed by more than 2,200 residents has triggered a Full Council debate on 10th  June, ahead of the final decision expected at Executive on 24th June. 

Green councillor for Newtown and St Leonard’s, Lynn Wetenhall, said:

“We’ve been listening to the community to hear about the  impacts of closing Northbrook pool. It’s an ill thought-through decision. Labour have presented partial and inaccurate operational and financial information to the community and councillors. [4]  Nor has there been any serious attempt to look at other options for how the pool might be run. 

“Hearing what residents have to say, it is clear there are plenty of improvements that could make this community resource more financially viable and these need to be considered before making any decision on closure .”

Green councillors will be raising questions about the planned closure of Northbrook pool at the City Council Scrutiny Committee on Thursday.

The post Greens call on Labour to work with community to find a way to protect exeter swimming pool  appeared first on South West Green Party.

Newly elected Green councillor on Devon County Council, Andy Ketchin, said:

“Nigel Farage has pledged to impose an Elon Musk style purge of Council jobs [1]. Thankfully, Reform didn’t win a majority on Devon County Council, but this threat is a useful reminder that our hard-working Council staff need to ‘Reform proof’ their jobs by joining a union, if they haven’t already done so. Union leaders have made a similar plea and have pledged to defend staff and uphold employment laws.”

Councillor Diana Moore, the leader of the Green group on Exeter City Council added: 

“Reform’s ideological Council jobs purge  is dangerous. With many Councils facing financial crisis, there’s really nothing left to cut. Years of austerity have left council services and infrastructure stretched to the limits or axed altogether. Councils desperately need increased funding from the government not more cuts. 

“People are feeling let down and disillusioned where local services can’t function properly for them. The government must urgently increase funding for council services, especially social care, SEND, public transport and housing, to help individuals and support our communities.”

The post Join a union to ‘Reform proof’ your job, urge Green Party appeared first on South West Green Party.

Greens say they are hopeful of winning their first seats in Exeter, retaining councillors in East and South Devon and winning new seats in North Devon, Torridge and Mid Devon. 

Local Green parties in Devon will this weekend welcome Zack Polanski, the deputy leader of the Green Party. He will visit Exeter on Sunday afternoon to help with last minute canvassing efforts by Green candidates and campaigners.

Andy Ketchin is Green city councillor in Newtown and St Leonard’s and is hoping to take the County seat from Labour in St David’s and Haven Banks. He said:

“We’ve knocked on thousands of doors across Exeter and the message is clear. The Conservatives are toast and support for Labour is in meltdown. As the tired old parties melt away, people are looking for alternatives. The seven Green city councillors in Exeter have a track record of hard work and holding the Labour administration to account – a positive antidote to the negative, divisive and populist rhetoric of Reform. 

“In many divisions in the city, which four years ago saw Labour candidates win with large majorities, support has evaporated. People feel let down by Labour’s attacks on the most vulnerable: welfare cuts for the disabled and removing winter fuel allowances for the elderly.

“It’s now a close race between Labour and Greens across many divisions in the city and we know from conversations on the doorstep that people are turning to the Green Party.”   

Jack Eade is in a close race with Labour in Heavitree and Whipton Barton. He pointed to Labour’s record of failure in the division:

“Community groups in Heavitree & Whipton Barton – including volunteer groups which help maintain the park and support health centre patients as well as a food bank – have missed out on £14,600 in grants because the Labour councillor here has been AWOL and didn’t sign off funding agreements (1). Local residents deserve so much better. They need a councillor who is embedded in the local community and working hard for them. That is what they will get if they elect me as their councillor on Thursday. 

“I am determined to ensure there is good community engagement before new projects begin in the area; I believe people should be genuinely involved in decisions that affect their lives.”  

Thomas Richardson, Green candidate in St Sidwell’s and St James added:

“The mood in the Green Party is buoyant. After these elections we expect to have more Devon County councillors than ever before and more than Labour. We are delighted to welcome the deputy leader of the Green Party to Exeter on Sunday to experience for himself the positive reception we are getting on the doorstep.”

The post Greens on course to win more seats than Labour in Devon appeared first on South West Green Party.

Green Party candidate for St Sidwell’s and St James, Thomas Richardson, said:

“We welcome improvements to city services funded by the BSIP, though it is disappointing that it will only apply to some routes. 

“On routes where there is no BSIP funding, Stagecoach seems to have gone into reverse gear, withdrawing morning and evening services on some routes and reducing frequencies on others. 

“It is high time we had a franchise model where a transport authority will set the routes, decent frequencies and reasonable fares, in consultation with bus users. Then private-for-profit companies like Stagecoach have a stark choice – operate a decent service under the terms of the franchise, or drive out of town.”

Greens are also calling for improvements to bus priority. Exeter Green councillor, Andy Ketchin, said:

“The number one complaint from bus users is reliability – buses that don’t turn up when they are meant to. The main cause of unreliable services is buses caught up in traffic congestion. 

“We need Devon County Council to be bold and implement more enforced bus lanes across the city. This will require taking space away from other traffic, but when people see buses traveling quicker and experience a more reliable service, they are more likely to use them. This in turn reduces congestion and a virtuous circle is achieved.” 

The post Changes to Exeter bus services: Greens welcome funding for improvements but accuse Stagecoach of going into ‘reverse gear’  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.

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.

Green Councillor Catherine Rees, who will propose the motion at Tuesday’s full Exeter City Council meeting, said:

“School Streets put children first. They give both parents and children the confidence to know they will be safe when they walk, scoot or cycle to school. These schemes are hugely popular. They can improve the safety and travel experience for school pupils, staff, visitors, and neighbours at peak school arrival and departure times. 

“Given the support for School Streets shown by the Labour government and new national guidance which will ensure these schemes are properly enforced and monitored, we trust that Labour city councillors will give this motion their full backing. This will help put pressure on Devon County Council to support and encourage schools to implement School Streets.”

Green Councillor James Banyard will second the motion. He added:

“School Streets deliver a range of benefits for children. They provide opportunities to improve both physical and mental health by increasing levels of walking, wheeling and cycling to school and provide more opportunities for children to chat with their friends on the journey. They increase pupil independence and develop healthy travel habits that can be carried into later life. 

“Let’s get School Streets in motion in Exeter so they can play their part in creating safer, healthier and cleaner neighbourhoods.”

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