Winchester Green Party will be standing in the May 1st local elections in the 4 wards listed below. For a statement by each candidate, please click a name and ward:
- Oliver's Battery and Badger Farm - Jim Kirkpatrick
- St. Bartholomew - Jo Woodman
- St. Michael - Alison Craig
- St. Paul - Bridget Leyden
Alison Craig
St. Michael
"I am the Hampshire Regional Liaison Officer for Caroline Lucas MEP, Principal Speaker of the Green Party. I grew up in Twyford and attended Winchester state schools and Peter Symonds College. I read English at the University of St Andrews then as a mature student studied Conservation Management. This led to jobs in nature conservation before my interest in policy gave me a long-time role in a London non-governmental organisation specialising in pesticides and their impacts on health and the environment.
"By electing a Green Councillor you would be kick-starting a process of change so imperatively needed and perhaps best described by Caroline Lucas in a recent speech:
"On climate change, not one of the three Westminster parties has the political vision, the courage, or the commitment to carry through the kind of green energy revolution that we so urgently need to see...
"So our message to the so-called 'opposition' parties is clear: If you're not up to the job, then pack your bags, move out of the way, and let us Greens get on with it."
Bridget Leyden
St. Paul
"Winchester was recently found to have the worst ecological footprint per household of any city in the UK. As a Green Councillor I would work hard to reverse this trend.
"I was born and raised in Winchester. After leaving school my interest in food production led me to Sparsholt College Hampshire, where I gained a BTEC National Diploma in Agriculture. I had always been attracted by organic, and low impact systems of agriculture, and my studies strengthened this feeling. I then spent four years in Edinburgh, where I gained a BSc (Hons) Agricultural and Environmental Science from the University of Edinburgh. I am now 27 years old and a full-time mum to my two young children."
Jo Woodman
St. Bartholomew
"I believe that Winchester needs change: it is at risk of becoming a clone town, with the same old shops as everywhere else, surrounded by anonymous housing developments on green-field sites. Winchester residents need affordable, reliable public transport both in and to the city. We need sufficient school places and high quality state education. We need a safer city, with 20mph speed limits and safe cycle routes. We need a joined-up refuse policy that minimises the amount of waste that is goes to landfill and also minimises refuse-vehicle mileage. The Green Party really can deliver on these issues.
"All these issues are really important to me. As a mother of two small boys I know the importance of safe streets where they can walk, cycle and play without fear. I have seen Winchester’s independent shops disappearing and am finding it harder to buy local, affordable and ethical food and products for the family. I worry about the damage that this generation is doing to the planet our children will inherit.
"If I am voted into the council I will campaign hard to make life better for the residents of St Bartholomew’s now and for the future. I will ensure that bus services to this area are improved and will fight for a free bus that will connect the town and the station. I will tackle the lack of places at St Bede’s school that has been a major problem for many residents.
"The other main parties talk green but do not provide real results: a study earlier this year showed Winchester produces more carbon emissions per household than any other UK city. The Greens can win seats in Winchester – polls show that there is strong support – and our experience from across the country is that once a single Green councillor is elected, confidence in the Party grows and more councillors are elected. Vote Green on May the 1st and we can start the shift to a new Green Winchester."
Jim Kirkpatrick
Oliver's Battery & Badger Farm
"I was born in Winchester 31 years ago, living for most of my life in the city or surrounding area. I studied Computer Science at Exeter University and for nearly a decade I worked writing software and websites for employers in and around Winchester. I have always been very interested in environmental issues, the effects of civilisation on the ecosystem and the long term future of our society.
"Most people see that modern society's short-termism and widespread unsustainability is very dangerous to us. We seem to have lost control of our futures to those who can only understand the world through a narrow measure of economic 'progress' - rather than real quality of life. I joined the Greens because they are the only party who actually saw what was coming and got policies in place – decades ago – for issues that other parties are only now beginning to grasp.
"As a Green Councillor I would work hard to ensure the council puts people and life first, demanding social and environmental responsibility from all. I will work hard to build a vibrant green Winchester."
Local Elections 2008:
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