Green Party local election candidates were joined by Green Baroness Natalie Bennett at Newquay Orchard today to launch their campaign to get Greens elected at every level across Cornwall on 1 May.
Natalie Bennett said:
“It’s wonderful to be back in Cornwall, and especially at this beautiful community orchard, where fruit trees beginning to come into blossom – a perfect symbol of real hope and real change.
“And it’s been great to hear about the amazing work Green councillors are doing all around Cornwall. Wherever Greens are elected, they’re real champions for their communities.
“Here in Newquay, Green Mayor Drew Creek and his team of Green town councillors have ended the use of toxic glyphosate on local streets, and secured funding to expand Newquay’s world-class skate park and create the first children’s play park in the town centre. They’re also doing great work to match young people with employers who can offer real career opportunities.
“And, by cutting back on wasteful spending, they’ve done all this without increasing the council tax budget for this coming year. Drew will make a superb Cornwall councillor.
“In Wadebridge, former Green Mayor and Cornwall Council candidate Amanda Pennington led a successful campaign to save vital leisure and sports services by taking them into community ownership.
“In Truro, Cornwall Council candidate Karen La Borde and the large group of Green city councillors have been working hard to make sure that new housing developments don’t damage the natural environment and that developers actually deliver on their affordable housing commitments. The trust that local people put in them was underlined this week when it was announced that five Greens will be unopposed at the upcoming elections, including Devon Claxton, who at 18 will be probably the youngest councillor in Cornwall.
“It was Green town councillor Dean Evans, now standing for Cornwall Council in Penryn, who led the campaign for 20mph speed limits to make residential roads in Cornwall safer for children, pedestrians and cyclists – something that’s been hugely popular with local residents.
“And in Falmouth, Green candidate Jackie Walkden has been supporting local people in their successful campaign to stop Cornwall Council destroying much-loved mature trees, as happened so disgracefully in Sheffield and Plymouth.”
“Despite its great natural beauty, Cornwall has some of the starkest inequality in the UK – not least in terms of housing, with many local families simply unable to find anywhere affordable to either buy or rent. It’s also suffered more than its share of sewage pollution at the hands of the privatised water industry.
“I know that elected Green councillors will always fight for a better deal for local people, and to protect the natural environment that makes Cornwall so special. And I look forward to seeing more Green community champions elected to Cornwall Council on 1 May!”
Find out more about these and other Green Party candidates on 1 May here.
