"I am seeking election to Portsmouth City Council as I believe the Green Party offers a new approach to local government, which many people will welcome.

Full statement

Sustainability is an increasingly important factor in decisions made by local and national government, but is continually side-stepped in favour of short-term financial issues, putting problems off for a few years. We must take sustainability into account when we make decisions now, for example requiring all large developments and all public buildings to generate at least 10% of their own energy on site and constructing all seafront properties to withstand current and future levels of flooding.
Portsmouth is an island naturally suited for cycling, yet it is one of the most dangerous places in the country to do so. We have one of the worst rates of childhood obesity, areas of the city that continually fail air quality standards, and terrible traffic and parking problems. Making the City safer and more attractive for cyclists represents an instant win on all these fronts, yet the council continues to pay no more than lip service to the idea.

We are seeing the last of the Island's green spaces increasingly sought by developers to build houses, while we have far too many empty properties and underutilized brownfield sites. We have to stop building dormitory developments for people who commute to jobs elsewhere, and start developing more affordable properties for small businesses and start-ups, with particular support for co-operatives and social enterprises. Our local shopping areas are dying, with shops closing and new businesses unable to find the money for high rents and business rates.

Labour, the LibDems and the Conservatives are all committed to increasing the privatization of public services in the name of "leaner" government. As a Green, I believe in investment in real jobs, supporting local businesses instead of minimum wage-paying chains based in tax havens. I believe in local accountability for schools, not academies set up by anyone who has the money to establish a curriculum that suits their own agenda. I believe in public management of essential services not driven by corporate greed.

The City Council must support the arts and tourism, and capitalize on our current economic strengths. The arts and tourism are important to Portsmouth and should be encouraged, not cut.

I have been out and about on Green clean ups in the Central Southsea area where there is a significant problem with litter. I will work to take action against the landlords that allow their properties to become litter problems for their neighbours. I am currently talking to the University to discourage students bringing extra cars to the City and also pushing for a joined up citywide strategy for parking.