The ten steps that Greens have laid out are clear but easily achievable reforms. They are:

1. Settle a pay deal with the Junior Doctors that properly values their work
2. Remove the two-child benefit cap
3. Bring criminal charges against Southern Water, Northumbrian Water, South West Water, United Utilities, Thames Water, Wessex Water Anglian Water, Severn Trent and Yorkshire Water for persistent discharge of sewage into our rivers and seas
4. Make solar panels compulsory on all new suitable homes and reverse the de-facto ban on onshore wind
5. Produce a plan for local rail links that could be reopened
6. Call an emergency dentistry summit
7. Restore the right to strike to public-sector workers
8. Recognise the state of Palestine and end arms sales to all countries where there’s a serious risk of them being used in breach of international law
9. Introduce a natural history GCSE
10. End no fault evictions and strengthen renters rights, including new powers to local authorities to control rents

As co-leader and newly elected MP for Waveney Valley, Adrian Ramsay put it “these first actions will act as litmus test for the direction this government plans to travel”.

We look forward to seeing Green MPs press the government on these points!

The post 10 steps Labour must take to show they’re serious about real change appeared first on Kingston Green Party.

You can read the full article here “My life philosophy focuses on fighting for marginalized communities“.

The post Kingston Green Party candidate talks to Asian Voice appeared first on Kingston Green Party.

The Green Party firmly believes that small businesses are the lifeblood of London’s economy with over 99% of businesses employing between 0 and 49 people. Markets with their small independent traders are the heart of the community and as such are invaluable and should be supported to thrive.

Kingston Market has seen a decline in recent years with the loss of some long standing stalls and an increased emphasis on fast food outlets. The proposal from Kingston Council for changes to Kingston’s ancient market that would bring the management of the market itself, the marketplace and the sadly neglected Market House under one operator, with the aim of revitalizing the market, diversifying its offerings, encouraging more cultural events and bringing the Market House back into proper use is broadly welcomed.

However, we have some concerns which we have fed back to the council via the Kingston Let’s Talk Website consultation page:

• Will the council be considering alternatives to ceding management to a third party commercial organisation? For instance, are there plans to investigate the possibility of not-for-profit organisations taking on the role or indeed retaining responsibility within the council itself?
• What are the selection criteria upon which the operator will be chosen?
• What protections will there be for existing stallholders under the new management? The Green Party is concerned that existing traders should not be priced out through rent rises or controls over opening hours (especially with the proposed extended hours for the market).
• What are the KPI’s that the council will expect the organisation to work to – will these be made public and will there be transparency around how well the organisation is performing against them?
• It is understood that there is a capital budget for restoration of the Market House. Who will be responsible for this budget and the restoration project under this new lease arrangement?
• How will a decision on the replacement of the wooden market stalls be made?
• Many market operators talk about cashless operation. How will the council ensure that the market does not become completely cashless under the new operator?
• Who would be able to give consent for access to the market place for such events as the Kingston Carnival or Bike races which have gone through the market in the past? Could this new operator prevent access to such events?

We applaud many of the aspirations outlined for the market, particularly that it should meet local needs for varied and seasonal produce, should be a vehicle for bringing together the local community and looking for ways to minimise environmental impact, but there is a danger that they remain just that, aspirations, unless they are backed up with publicly visible, strong KPIs and measurable objectives alongside protections for the market stall holders.

Lastly, the market ultimately should be an asset for the local community, and so the emphasis should to provide for the needs of local people. The need for fresh, good quality, reasonably priced produce should be at the heart of these plans.  It should not simply turn into a tourist attraction.

The post Response to Council proposals for Kingston ancient market and marketplace appeared first on Kingston Green Party.

Overall, we feel there seems a fair amount to recommend this project, and so we are cautiously optimistic. We are encouraged by a number of the proposals such as:

• provision of new high-quality homes on a brownfield site
• the substantial reduction in the number of station parking spaces
• plans to make the station and crossing over the tracks more accessible
• provision of safe cycle routes
• increase in cycle parking and security
• installation of EV charging points
• increased biodiversity and greening
• landscaped amenity space for residents, including playspace
• preservation of the art deco station building and other local heritage assets

However, we do have some serious concerns including:

• the proportion of affordable housing in the development. We would expect the development to meet the requirement in the RBK’s Affordable Housing Planning Document for at least 50% of the housing in any large development in the borough to be affordable, the illustrations would suggest that the proportion is far lower than that
• additionally, there is no mention of genuinely affordable homes, so we assume that the plan currently does not have any.
• the height of the main (17-storey) tower block and over-development of the site
• whether the development will adhere to the principles of sustainable construction relating to design, energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable building materials, etc.
• will the development adhere to green building principles such as installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and air source or ground source heat pumps?

The post Kingston Green Party view of the proposed redevelopment of the land adjacent to Surbiton Station appeared first on Kingston Green Party.

• Stop the demolition
• Fix the roof and refurbish for around 10% of cost of the Lib Dems plans
• Deliver joined up leisure strategy with realistic budget and specifications
• Build a third pool in Tolworth or Chessington

The post Kingston Green Party’s plan to save the Kingfisher appeared first on Kingston Green Party.

When Cllr Sumner urged the committee to make a request to the relevant strategic committee to look at reducing bicycle parking charges all 11 Lib Dem councillors on the committee opposed the suggestion – one claiming the council had no money. This is despite the Lib Dem administration halving the cost of car parking at its town centre car parks costing hundreds of thousands in revenue.

Cllr Sumner commented, “This was an easy opportunity for Surbiton’s Lib Dem councillors to make a difference by encouraging people out of their cars by making it cheaper to securely park cycles. I just do not accept they don’t have the money to do it as they have subsidised drivers by halving the cost of town centre parking.

“Last year this council signed the climate emergency declaration. Sadly, they have done little to back their words with actions. Cycling and walking need to be encouraged if we are to reduce car use, pollution and emissions. I cannot understand why the simple measure to look at reducing the cost of secure cycle parking was rejected out of hand particularly given their subsidies to drivers.

“It seems to me the Lib Dem administration just pays lip service to the climate emergency and environmental protection and I feel we’re in danger of becoming a ‘Green wash’ council.”

The post Council needs to rethink on cycle parking costs appeared first on Kingston Green Party.

Kingston Green Party has raised residents’ drainage concerns after significant flooding hit the borough in late August.

Heavy rainfall and ensuing floodwaters forced road closures in the town centre with overflowing drains and deluged streets reported in neighbourhoods across Surbiton and New Malden.

Kingston’s Green Councillor, Sharron Sumner, has asked Kingston Council to clarify how its drain clearing performance is monitored and demanded action on any overdue clearances.

Sharron said: “With climate change making extreme weather events more frequent Kingston Council needs to act. Drains need to be cleared regularly and the contracts monitored properly.

Kingston Council’s website states that roadside drains on unclassified roads are cleaned once a year and on classified roads, twice a year.

Many residents believe that the floods were exacerbated by some drains not being cleaned within these timeframes, which led Sharron to take action.

Sharron said: “Once again Kingston Council is failing in its basic duty to provide local people with the service they pay handsomely for.”

The rain and flooding occurred on the 24th and 25th August as Storm Francis swept the nation and caused chaos.
The Green Party has consistently highlighted that heavy rainfall and flooding could become more frequent unless urgent action is taken on climate change. The damaging consequences of these weather conditions were evident across the Kingston community.

Transport links and businesses in the town centre were badly affected as several flooded roads had to close, including the Wood Street underpass and Kingsgate Road.

In Canbury, residents filmed high water levels in Elm Road with reports of houses being damaged near the Wych Elm pub. Floodwaters also submerged the roads around Berrylands Station.

The action demanded by Kingston Green Party will hopefully ensure that local disruption is minimised when heavy rainfall next occurs.

If you want to help us act on important local issues like flooding, then contact us at contact@kingston.greenparty.org.uk for more information about ways you can get involved.

The post Kingston Green Party calls for urgent action on flooding appeared first on Kingston Green Party.