COVENTRY Green Party has announced 19 candidates will be standing in Coventry’s upcoming local elections on Thursday May 6.
Their 2021 manifesto includes city wide plans to protect local green spaces from inappropriate development, new green jobs, the seeding of more wildflower meadows, a policy of more tree planting and for parks to be provided with a better network of paths and cycleways.
The party also supports wider investment in the arts, museums and heritage projects, reinstated youth groups, fully funded mother-and-toddler groups and funding reinstated for all of Coventry’s local and mobile libraries.
They also want more business ‘repair’ shops to fix, recycle and repurpose domestic white goods/electrical products and all city council offices, vehicles and services to move onto renewable energy sources.
Read the party’s full 2021 manifesto here.
At the last full local election in 2019, Greens received a total of 7,325 votes from the electorate across Coventry city – 12% of total votes cast.
Stephen Gray, the Green Party candidate for Holbrook came second, and Anne Patterson, the candidate for Whoberley was just two votes short of also coming second.
Many other candidates came in third place in other wards, including the snap election in 2020 for Upper Stoke.
The Holbrook candidate Stephen Gray, who is standing again in 2021, said: “I have lived in Coventry since 1996, joined the Green Party in 2008, and have been involved in a wide variety of community activities, from debt counselling to Coventry Motofest.
“I am particularly keen to improve road safety, deal with litter and fly tipping, and ensure that we build new housing on brownfield sites before we even consider building on our green belt.”
And in her personal manifesto Whoberley’s Green candidate Anne Patterson said: “I have lived in Coventry since 1991 and joined the Green Party in 2010.
“I work for the NHS as the manager of a community dementia team, so I am very aware of the importance of local services for disabled and vulnerable people.
“If elected as a councillor, I would promote the adoption of a Green New Deal for Coventry to focus attention on local businesses and organisations tackling the challenge of climate change and providing green
jobs for people around the city.”
The other 17 candidates across the city are: Bablake Niall Webb; Binley & Willenhall Danny Foulstone; Cheylesmore John Verdult; Earlsdon John Finlayson; Foleshill Dave Priestley; Henley Lesley Sim;
Longford Joe McAvoy; Lower Stoke Esther Reeves; Radford Jules Spriddle; Sherbourne George Teggin; St Michael’s Allan Aspinall; Upper Stoke Laura Vesty; Wainbody Becky Finlayson; Westwood Jess Marshall;
Woodlands Sudhir Sard and and two for Wyken – Chrissie Brown and Cathy Wattebot.
Further details about all 19 candidates can be found on Coventry’s Green website here
