The Green Party will promise to give local communities the first
say on how land in their area is used as it launches its biggest
ever local election campaign today.
, co-leader of the Green Party,
will pledge to give communities the first chance to buy local
land that comes up for sale by extending Scotland’s Community
Right to Buy policy [1] to England and Wales.
She is expected to say Greens “believe local decisions should be
made by the communities that know them best” and that Community
Right to Buy would “help bring land back into use where it is
being neglected and hoarded by people who are hanging on for
profits”.
The Green Party will also pledge to give communities and councils
the power to stop landowners sitting on or neglecting land by
following Scotland’s lead and introducing Compulsory Sale Orders
[2], enabling abandoned land to be brought back into community
ownership.
Berry will make the promises at the launch of the Green Party’s
local election campaign in Trafford [3], where Greens have helped
the local community save playing fields from being turned into
unaffordable housing that wouldn’t meet the community's needs.
The Green Party is this year fighting its biggest, strongest
local election campaign ever with 2595 candidates standing for
election across the country, as the party works towards its
ambition to have a Green on every council.
Last year the Green Party elected a record number of councillors
onto a record number of councils [4]. Since then it has added to
its numbers further with a total of 178 Green councillors now
elected across England and Wales.
, co-leader of the Green
Party, is expected to say:
“The Government has failed local communities. While Westminster
crumbles and the political establishment tears itself apart,
ordinary people are paying the price. Local services have been
decimated and the most vulnerable worst affected.
“Up and down England and Wales local Greens are filling the gap.
While Conservative and Labour candidates are getting doors
slammed on them, more and more people are seeing that Green
councillors work in and with communities to win the change they
need.
“This will be our biggest ever local election campaign - and I’ve
never seen Greens this ready to win and take us one step closer
to having a Green on every council.”
, co-leader of the Green Party,
is expected to say:
“Across the country local Green councillors are empowering local
communities, like here in Altrincham where Greens and the
community saved children’s playing fields from being turned into
unaffordable housing.
“The Green Party believes local decisions should always be made
by the communities who know their needs best, and that
communities should get first say on how local land is used.
That’s why today we promise to give communities the right to buy
any land up for sale, as well as the power to force landowners to
sell neglected brownfield land.
“Green councillors will always help bring land back into use
where it is being neglected and hoarded by people who are hanging
on for profits - and in the hands of community groups, and parish
and town councils who will use them for the common good.”
Michael Welton, Green Party candidate for Altrincham, said ahead
of the launch:
“Local action to protect our green spaces is at the core of Green
Party values. Our councillors will always support groups like the
one here at Cow Field. We are fighting to save a place where
people of all ages come together to play games, walk the dog or
just take time out to relax in nature.
“Green space brings communities closer together and we will work
to ensure that the community in Altrincham can have their say on
how local land is used.”
ENDS.
Notes:
1.
https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Rural/rural-land/right-to-buy/Community
2.
https://landcommission.gov.scot/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CSO-Proposal-final.pdf
3. Green Party co-leaders and will launch the Green
Party’s local election campaign at 11am, Tuesday 9 April 2019, in
Oldfield Brow Recreation Ground, Stokoe Avenue, Altrincham,
Trafford, WA14 4L.
4.
https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2018/05/04/green-co-leader-wins-lambeth-council-seat-in-record-breaking-elections/
