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News Archive |
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| Greens put climate change on the agenda | |||||||||
| Green Councillor on London climate march | |||||||||
| Councillor tackles waste of energy | |||||||||
| Green Party Bids for EU Investigation of Supermarkets | |||||||||
| Greens welcome carton recycling | |||||||||
| Greens to welcome Low Carbon Lifestyle Tour | |||||||||
| Greens say energy efficient housing is essential | |||||||||
| Government Renewables Grants inadequate, say Greens | |||||||||
| Greens Highlight "An Inconvenient Truth" | |||||||||
| Dreaming of a Green Christmas | |||||||||
| Budget Proposals Leave Council Looking Inadequate, say Greens | |||||||||
| More Renewable Energy, please! | |||||||||
| Concern at rising property prices | |||||||||
| Green Councillor to chair Task Group | |||||||||
| Greens highlight concerns about empty property | |||||||||
| Greens raise concerns about waste incineration | |||||||||
| Greens in plea for hospital | |||||||||
| Greens oppose new plans for nuclear power | |||||||||
| Greens call on supermarkets to stock and label local produce | |||||||||
| Councillor urges Scarborough Residents to Save Energy | |||||||||
| Greens make breakthrough onto Scarborough Council | |||||||||
| Call for re-opening of public toilets | |||||||||
| Call for more environmental officers | |||||||||
Greens put climate change on the agenda | |||||||||
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1st January 2008 Green Party Councillor Dilys Cluer has put climate change on the agenda for Scarborough Borough Council. The climate change motion, which is on the agenda for the full council meeting on Monday 7th January, welcomes the publication of the report from the Local Government Association's Climate Change Commission. "I was so pleased to see this report," said Cllr. Cluer, "and I hope the other councillors will agree with me. We all received a summary of it in December. It shows that local councils can, and should, play a crucial part in tackling the causes of climate change. "Councils can make a difference by the way they invest in their buildings, manage waste, promote energy efficiency and renewable energy and encourage environmentally friendly methods of travel. "The report says: 'Local government has a frontline role in advocating low-carbon lifestyles.' It also says: 'Tackling climate change must be at the heart of local government's vision for our communities. It must be the priority, now and for the foreseeable future.' "I want our council to wholeheartedly take on board this report and its implications for our future policy and actions." The second part of Cllr. Cluer's motion would commit the council to signing the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change. This declaration has already been signed by over 200 councils throughout the country and commits them to actively tackling climate change, both in their own operations and by co-operating with national government and other organisations. The motion which is part of item 9 on Monday's agenda has been seconded by Cllr. Jonathan Dixon and the Green councillors are confident that others will support them. The report of the LGA Climate Change Commission can be found at http://campaigns.lga.gov.uk/climatechange/home The text of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change can be found at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/housingbuildings/localauthorities/NottinghamDeclaration/EST_NDec_cert_HR.pdf Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Green Councillor on London climate march |
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11th December 2007 Green Councillor Dilys Cluer and other local activists were among thousands of demonstrators in London who marched to a rally opposite the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square to highlight the issue of climate change. Councillor Cluer who represents Stepney Ward said: “Climate Change is the single most important issue affecting us today, if our politicians don’t act now and change the way in which we live, we will as a race continue along the well-worn grooves that will consign ourselves - and the planet - to history. The urgency of the situation demands action from everyone - individuals, local and national governments as well as an effective and binding international agreement." The protest march and rally attracted wide spread media interest and was one of many taking place across the world to mark the UN Climate talks in Bali. Speakers in London included Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas and Liberal Democrat leadership contender Chris Huhne. Councillor Cluer went on to say she was pleased to see many other concerned people at the rally who had made the journey from Scarborough and surrounding areas: “The sense that there is a mass movement is becoming more apparent. Factors such as the recent adverse weather and flooding particularly in Yorkshire have made more and more people aware of the impending perils of climate change leading them to demonstrate in this way” Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Councillor tackles waste of energy | |||||||||
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22nd November 2007 Green Party Councillor Dilys Cluer has made moves to tackle the problem of the waste of energy caused by shops and other businesses leaving their doors open. Cllr. Cluer has written to the Chamber of Trade and Commerce and to the Town Centre Manager in the hope that the problem can be tackled in a co-ordinated manner. “I did a survey on Westborough/Newborough from the station crossroads down as far as Queen St. /King St.,” said Cllr. Cluer, “and found that two-thirds of the publicly operating buildings had their doors permanently open. “Just think of the amount of heat which they are wasting! If they kept the doors closed, they would save large amounts on their heating bills. They would also be taking one small step towards addressing climate change, since all that heat is probably produced by fossil fuels and causes emissions of the global warming gas carbon dioxide. “It is obviously possible for thriving businesses to keep their doors closed, since a third of those in my survey still did so. If businesses generally agreed to keep their doors closed, they would not feel there was any unfair competition and the public would become used to doors being closed. I’m sure that anyone with a physical problem with opening a closed door would soon be helped by another member of the public. “I hope that it will be possible to initiate some co-ordinated action to address this waste. The council has a firm target for reducing its own energy use and I hope that businesses might follow this example.” The council’s updated Property Strategy and Asset Management Plan (approved by Cabinet in Sept. 2007) includes the aim to “Reduce the Council’s CO2 emissions by 25% by 2012. Enable the Council to lead by example and encourage our partners and the community to make changes to reduce carbon emissions.” Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Green Party Bids for EU Investigation of Supermarkets | |||||||||
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October 13th, 2007 Scarborough Greens have welcomed the Green Party’s call for the EU to investigate the impact of the supermarket sector on farmers, small shops, jobs, communities – and the environment. Green MEP, Dr Caroline Lucas has launched a Written Declaration – the Brussels Parliament’s equivalent of an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons – demanding the EU Commission examine whether supermarkets abuse their dominance, and propose tough new rules to protect rural economies and the environment Local Green Party spokes person Jason Mullen said “Grocery markets across the EU are now dominated by a handful of large supermarkets, which can lead to higher prices and less consumer choice. In Scarborough alone three of the largest supermarkets in the UK have outlets, in some cases more than one, and nationwide the big four supermarkets now account for nearly three-quarters of all grocery sales at supermarkets and convenience stores” “As well as that,” continued Mr. Mullen, “UK supermarkets now control almost a quarter of the clothing market between them – and this is growing rapidly, forcing smaller retailers out of business. There is increasing evidence from across the EU that suggests big supermarkets abuse their buying power to force down prices paid by farmers and suppliers – both within the EU and in the developing world – to an unsustainable level and impose unfair conditions on them. “We are concerned, with the increasing power of Supermarkets, that the smaller businesses in Scarborough will be forced into an impossible situation and won’t be able to compete with the buying power of these larger competitors which is why we welcome this timely declaration.” Written declaration is available at: www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens welcome carton recycling | |||||||||
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5th September 2007 Scarborough Green Party has welcomed the addition by the borough council of Carton collection to the town's recycling efforts. Speaking in support of the initiative Cllr. Dilys Cluer, who represents Stepney Ward, said: “Each year, UK beverage carton manufacturers produce approximately 55,000 tonnes of paper-based cartons for milk, juice, sauces and so on. This is about 2.3kg of cartons per household, all of which could be recycled instead of being thrown in the rubbish bin. We are pleased Scarborough Borough Council has now established carton collection points at key Recycling Centres for residents to take their empty cartons to be recycled. “Although cartons can still not be put into household recycling bins, the new project will mean that used cartons can at least be recycled through the new special collection bins, which you can find at Tesco and Sainsbury's in Scarborough, Burniston Road Car Park, Station Avenue Filey, and Whitby West Cliff. Once collected they can be recycled into a number of different products, ranging from plasterboard liner to high-strength paper bags and envelopes. ”It's easy for people to recycle these cartons," said Cllr. Cluer. “You just rinse them out and take them to the bins - you can leave any plastic tops on them.” The carton recycling scheme has been enabled by the UK carton industry, who since April last year have made £1.5million available to help local authorities interested in starting up carton collection schemes in their area. There are already approximately 100 district areas collecting cartons, which will result in a national network of coverage during the next 18 months. The carton industry continues to work with new paper mills to trial carton recycling, to ensure the industry can cater for this increase in carton recycling, as more areas come on board. Ends For more information on recycling in the Borough visit www.scarborough.gov.uk/recycling For more information on beverage carton recycling, visit www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk. Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens to welcome Low Carbon Lifestyle Tour | |||||||||
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Mukti Mitchell sails into town The Green party today announced it would be on hand to welcome sailor Mukti Mitchell to the town when he sails in to the harbour on Saturday July 14th. Mr Mitchell who lives in Devon is currently sailing around the British Isles in his zero emission micro yacht to promote low carbon lifestyles with a tour that includes stops at Edinburgh, Newcastle, London and now Scarborough. Green Councillors Jonathan Dixon and Dilys Cluer who represent Stepney Ward will be on hand to greet him as he arrives and in the afternoon there will be a free presentation at Scarborough Library starting at 2.30pm in which he will explain his mission and highlight the many ways people can reduce their carbon footprint. Copies of his recent guide to low carbon lifestyles will also be available to buy. As Mukti is keen to point out to people on this tour, “A lot of the best things in life are low-carbon by nature – exercise and socialising are good examples – and the really good bit is that low-carbon activities save money and make you feel good” Local Green Party spokesperson Jason Mullen, commenting on the visit, said: “We are delighted that Mukti has chosen Scarborough as one of his destinations in an ambitious and busy schedule. With global warming and the negative effects mankind can make on the planet very much on people’s minds at the moment this tour is designed to promote what we as individuals can do to reduce our own carbon footprint. Mukti Mitchell has a wide body of high profile support in this venture including HRH The Prince of Wales, David Cameron, Jonathan Dimbleby and Jonathan Porritt to name but a few. His visit to Scarborough should not be missed by anyone who cares for the future of our world.” For further information on Mukti Mitchell and his tour visit www.lowcarbonlifestyle.org Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens say energy efficient housing is essential | |||||||||
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19th February 2007 Scarborough Green Party today highlighted the need for all new houses in the borough to be built to the highest possible standards of energy efficiency but warned that the Government's reluctance to back this could jeopardize any future developments. Councillor Jonathan Dixon who represents Stepney Ward said: “With the recent increase in housing construction within the town and further potential developments in the pipeline it is more vital then ever to ensure that energy saving solar water heating and solar panels are installed in all new homes as well as schools and businesses” “While we can of course actively encourage homeowners to install such systems in existing properties we want to be in a position where every new home or school must be energy efficient from the point of construction.” “Unfortunately it isn’t helping at the moment that the Government doesn’t seem to share this vision and has been recently caught opposing binding targets for obtaining energy from renewable sources at European level. Thanks to their efforts, the EU failed to agree such targets only last week. This means it will be more difficult to achieve ‘carbon neutral’ homes in 10 years time, which they have claimed is their goal. Councillor Dixon concluded by saying , “You cannot hope to improve housing standards without binding targets for improving energy conservation and targets for obtaining renewable energy from homes and businesses. The Association for the Conservation of Energy argues that we can cut energy use in this country by half, through energy conservation. In fact, every pound spent on energy conservation is seven times more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions than each pound spent on nuclear power.” Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Government Renewables Grants inadequate, say Greens | |||||||||
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The Green Party have branded a Government grant scheme for households wanting to install micro-generation renewable energy systems as 'totally inadequate', after the latest batch of funds ran out within hours of becoming available. Funding is available through the Government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which has a monthly limit to the amount of funds it releases. But February's fund for household grants was fully allocated by midday on February 1st - less than 12 hours into the month. People wishing to apply for grants now have to wait until next month before applications can be made for the March funding. "The Government have clearly totally underestimated the potential demand for this funding," said Jonathan Dixon, Green Party Councillor for Stepney Ward in Scarborough. "When the clamour for grant funding starts resembling that for cup final tickets, it's a sign that the size of the funding is derisory. Perhaps they were hoping nobody would bother?" Climate change is a growing concern amongst the public, following the recent publication of the Stern Report. The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, published this month, gave a stark warning that action needs to be dramatically stepped up. "Householders are increasingly realising that they can take action to help prevent climate change, as well as reduce their own fuel bills, by installing wind turbines and solar panels," continued Cllr. Dixon. "We're seeing the number of applications for such systems in Scarborough gradually increasing, and major firms like B&Q are obviously now seeing the market potential. These schemes deserve encouragement through grants, but an inadequate monthly 'cap' on the funding like this can only leave people unsure of where they stand." "For funding to dry up within hours of becoming available is a farce. I only hope that it doesn't prompt thousands of householders to give up on their plans for investing in clean, renewable energy for their homes." NOTES The Low Carbon Buildings Programme is the Government's headline programme for supporting the uptake of domestic microrenewables. It was launched in April 2006, with funding expected to run out in June 2008. http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/home/ The DTI introduced a monthly allocation cap of £500,000 for householders wishing to apply for capital grants to install micro-generation in December 2006. In previous months funds have run out on 20th December and January 12th. The Low Carbon Buildings Programme promised £80m over 3 years to support the installation of renewable energy technology, but only £6.5m of this was for householder grants. This represented a cut in funding compared with the Clear Skies/Major PV Demonstration programmes, which the LCBP replaced. Clear Skies alone provided £6.6m per year to households. Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby and Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens Highlight "An Inconvenient Truth" | |||||||||
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January 17th 2007 Scarborough Green Party today urged as many people as possible to see a film about the enviromental impact of Global Warming made by former United States Vice President Al Gore, showing at the Stephen Joseph Theatre this weekend. Local Green party Press officer Jason Mullen said: “An Inconvenient Truth is a documentary film about climate change, specifically global warming, directed by Davis Guggenheim and starring former United States Vice President Al Gore. The documentary is based largely on a multimedia presentation that Gore developed over many years as part of an educational campaign on global warming.” “The Green Party believes that Global Warming is probably the biggest issue the world faces today. This film includes many segments intended to refute critics who say that it is insignificant or unproved. For example, Gore discusses the risk of the collapse of a major ice sheet in Greenland or Antarctica, either of which could raise global sea levels by approximately 20 feet (6m), causing widespread flooding to coastal areas.” “Gore also points out in the film that if appropriate action is taken soon, the effects of global warming could be successfully reversed by releasing less carbon dioxide and growing more plants or trees and calls upon viewers to learn how they can help in this initiative.” The film is being screened this Friday 19th and Saturday 20th at 7.45pm (Matinee 2.45pm Sat) Tickets available from the Box Office on 01723 370 541 For more information contact Jason Mullen on 01723 365 641 jfmullen@ukonline.co.uk Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Dreaming of a Green Christmas | |||||||||
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19th December 2006 Scarborough Green Party whilst wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas have today issued a plea to make it a Greener Christmas as well. Local Press officer Jason Mullen said, “Everyone knows that turkeys can't fly very far, so you might be surprised to learn that your Christmas dinner may have travelled a staggering 30,000 miles before it gets to your table. From European fowl and African vegetables to Australian wine and American cranberry sauce, the ingredients of the traditional yuletide meal can notch up enough air miles to circumnavigate the globe which is worrying for the growing numbers of people who want to prevent climate change.” However Mr Mullen did go on to assure people, "There is no need to turn into Scrooge in order to help save the planet at Christmas time. Just by shopping at markets and local shops, watching our waste and reining in our spending we can enjoy a very Merry Christmas without sacrificing our Happy New Year.” Offering his own suggestions Local Green Party councillor Jonathan Dixon who represents Stepney Ward said: “ With all the money being spent at this time of year, it is an ideal opportunity to take the opportunity to support your local community and help cut down on those all-important 'food miles' – for instance why buy beans from Zimbabwe when great British produce is available on our doorstep? By eating locally grown food we not only enjoy fresher, tastier food but we can spread Christmas cheer by supporting our local economies - and cutting out some of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the aviation industry”. And on the subject of Christmas waste Councillor Dixon had these final suggestions: ”When you go shopping, cut down on yet more waste by taking your own shopping bags with you. All those vegetables that go into the roast don't need to come in plastic packaging - buy loose instead and avoid unnecessary packaging. And when Christmas is over recycle your Christmas Cards, you will find some shops offer this service and by doing so you can help reduce the, 200,000 trees that are cut down each year to supply the UK's 1.7 billion Christmas card industry.” Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Budget Proposals Leave Council Looking Inadequate, say Greens | |||||||||
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Gordon Brown's announcement in his Pre-Budget Report that he wants all new houses to be 'zero-carbon' by 2016 means that Scarborough Council's own proposals are totally inadequate, according to the Green Party. Zero-carbon homes use a variety of renewable energy and energy-saving technologies to enable them to be lived in without resorting to the use of conventional gas and electricity. The Council's Core Strategy (Preferred Options) document, which has recently been the subject of public consultation, aims to set out the key elements of the Local Development Framework up to 2021. Current proposals in the document are for new developments of 10 or more dwellings to have renewable energy technologies to provide 10% of the development's requirements. The Greens had already submitted a response to the consultation saying that this was an inadequate target to meet the challenge of dealing with climate change over the next fifteen years, with higher levels of renewables needed and for regulations to apply to all developments - regardless of size. "In a generally disappointing Pre-Budget report, this is one measure which we definitely welcome, " said Jonathan Dixon, Green Councillor for Stepney Ward. "It will force Scarborough Council's hand, and ensure that tougher development rules will have to apply in future. Some Councils were already setting themselves much more ambitious targets for incorporating renewable energy in building plans, so Scarborough was once again lagging behind." The Chancellor's announcement appears to have taken other government departments, local authorities, and the building industry by surprise. Miles Attenborough, of consultants Faber Maunsell, described the prospect of having all new homes as 'zero carbon' developments within a decade as "challenging, but a challenge that has to be faced." But Councillor Dixon believes that this is just the tip of the iceberg. "Given the seriousness of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as underlined in the recent Stern Report, it's clear that the use of renewable micro-generation technologies in homes needs to play a major role in future," he said. "Incorporating these into new buildings is relatively easy. The real challenge will be to get a substantial quantity of the existing housing stock converted to be less reliant on conventional fossil fuels." Contact: Jonathan Dixon Tel: (01723) 501613 Email: Cllr.Jonathan.Dixon@scarborough.gov.uk | |||||||||
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More Renewable Energy, please! | |||||||||
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13th November 2006: Greens call for increased requirement in council’s Core Strategy The Green Party has responded to the Borough Council’s consultation on its Core Strategy - Preferred Options paper with a call for an increase in the amount of renewable energy generation in future developments. The consultation paper proposed that all new developments over a certain size should include on-site renewable energy generation for 10% of their energy requirement. "We think that this is timid compared with what other authorities have already prescribed," said local Green Party co-ordinator Dilys Cluer. "Given the fact that this is a long-term strategy and that carbon emissions will have to be reduced drastically during its lifetime, we suggest that the 10% should apply until 2010, then 20% until 2015 and then 30%. This will give local builders the chance to adapt. But given the urgency of the situation, we want this to apply to every development, no matter what its size. "All buildings built now will still be functioning at a time when our carbon emissions will need to be at least 60% less than they are now, so the highest standards need to be met as soon as possible. "Ideally we would like to emulate the policy of Chichester, which say 30% renewable generation to 2013 and 50% after that, or Kirklees, which says 20% to 2015 and 'zero emissions' thereafter, but Scarborough is starting from such a low base that we fear that this may not be possible. However we are asking the council to look at these more advanced options and see if it is possible for Scarborough to be among the leaders in the environmental field for once." The Green Party is also asking the council to identify whereabouts in the Borough wind farms (or individual turbines over a certain size) can be situated, in exactly the same way as land is earmarked as suitable for residential or industrial use. "This will enable the development of wind power without the waste of time on applications for unsuitable locations," said Ms. Cluer. "Some parts of the borough would clearly not be acceptable for the siting of large turbines, but we need to accommodate them somewhere, and the planning process should be able to deal with that." Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Concern at rising property prices | |||||||||
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November 3rd 2006 The Green Party has expressed its concern at a recent report into rising local property prices. The report, drawn up by North Yorkshire County Council officers, says that the attractiveness of Scarborough and North Yorkshire to second homeowners is pushing house prices out of the reach of local people. “As house prices are pushed beyond the reach of those first-time buyers on lower incomes, this has a negative impact on the local economy," said Jason Mullen, Scarborough Green Party Press Officer. "People who work in jobs that are the life blood of the town, such as schools, service industries and the hospital, will increasingly struggle to afford to buy property. The problem also affects the rental market." "Increased house prices lead to higher rents as landlords try to recoup the cost of their investment. If this matter is not addressed soon Scarborough will experience the problems other towns have encountered and suffer a shortage of skilled workers to fill positions in these and other sectors,” concluded Mr. Mullen. The reports come as local authorities are being handed new powers to deal with long-standing derelict properties, which the Greens believe could help to alleviate the problem if brought back into use. Scarborough Council is also reviewing its policies on the provision of affordable housing, for which it has received criticism in the past for a poor record compared to other councils in the region. Green Party Councillor Jonathan Dixon, who raised the issue of bringing derelict buildings back into use at a recent Scarborough Council meeting, said, "We need to be looking at new schemes for affordable housing for local people, including the refurbishment of empty properties that have been derelict for a number of years. Ensuring that there is an adequate supply of housing which is affordable to those on lower incomes is vital for the maintenance of a vibrant and sustainable local economy." Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Green Councillor to chair Task Group | |||||||||
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October 5th 2006 Green Party Councillor Jonathan Dixon has been asked to chair the council task group on Fairtrade and a Sustainable Procurement Policy. Councillor Dixon, who represents Stepney ward, said: “I am pleased to be the Chair of this particular group, the focus of which will be on food purchasing and trying to cut down on the unnecessary distance that produce can sometimes travel for use at the Council’s catering facilities at both the Spa and Whitby Pavilion. We are all aware of the damage this can cause to the environment in the form of increased carbon emissions when in most cases alternative products could be sourced much closer to home by supporting local suppliers. "At the same time I am also wanting to see Fairtrade refreshments introduced to those establishments as well ensuring products such as tea and coffee are sourced from growers who are guaranteed to receive a fair price in return for their produce.” Councillor Dixon concluded: "The overall aim of this task group will be to see that the Council leads by example, and extends support to Local Food and Fairtrade Support groups. I hope a proposal to this effect will be drafted by January next year." Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens highlight concerns about empty property | |||||||||
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August 31st 2006 Green Party Councillor Jonathan Dixon will use Monday's Council meeting to seek assurances from the cabinet on the future use of empty properties in Scarborough and the provision of affordable housing within the borough. Cllr Dixon, who represents Stepney Ward, is raising the issue as reports show that in the six years to 2005 house prices in the borough have risen 158% much higher then the national average. He said: “Ensuring that there is an adequate supply of housing which is affordable to those on lower incomes is vital for the maintenance of a vibrant and sustainable local economy. The report that has gone before Cabinet, and, more recently, the Projects & Partnerships Overview & Scrutiny Committee, shows that Scarborough Borough has a poor record on this issue in recent years compared with other parts of the region.” Cllr Dixon continued: "Under the provisions of the 2004 Housing act which have recently come into force local authorities now have new powers enabling them to bring empty homes into use, I will be asking the council if it has any plans to use these powers to identify derelict properties in the borough that if properly maintained could provide much needed housing" Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens raise concerns about waste incineration | |||||||||
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Green Party Councillor Jonathan Dixon will use Monday's Council meeting to seek assurances from the cabinet that there will be no rubbish incineration plant built in the Borough. Cllr Dixon, who represents Stepney Ward, is raising the issue as the council decides a long-term strategy for the disposal of non-recyclable waste. He said: "There is a danger here that we could end up committing ourselves to a lengthy contract of up to twenty- five years for the incineration of waste. Any plant built, which could be on our own doorstep, could have an adverse effect on the immediate environment. "Once built, incinerators lock councils in to supplying them with large amounts of waste that could be better recycled or composted. The monitoring regime for incinerators is inadequate: it's entirely based on self-reporting, and the range of measured pollutants is too narrow." "Instead of turning to incineration, we should focus on reducing our waste year on year. Future plans should encourage more recycling and re-use of materials, and should also provide more support to services that collect and reuse, or recycle, bulky waste such as electrical goods or furniture." Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens in plea for hospital | |||||||||
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31st July 2006 Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party has sent a letter to Minister of Health Rosie Winterton with a plea for the retention of good services at Scarborough Hospital. Members of the party are as concerned as the majority of local people about the threats to the local hospital. In the letter to the minister, Dilys Cluer, co-ordinator of Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, says, "Of particular concern has been the worry that, should some services be discontinued locally, there would not be adequate backup for a full Accident and Emergency service. When accident and emergency treatment is frequently a matter of life and death, and time is of the essence, an extra hour or more's journey is quite simply unacceptable." The letter points out that Scarborough is a special case because its isolated position means choosing another hospital is simply not an option for most people. The journey to York or further, say Greens, would be a heavy burden for sick people and impossible for regular visits from relatives and friends. During the drafting of the letter, Cllr. Jonathan Dixon also pointed out that seaside towns such as Scarborough need to be given special consideration, because their position on the coast means that by reason of simple geography they have half the potential catchment area of an inland town (the other half of the circle being sea!) The Greens also highlight the worry that forcing people to travel further for treatment would take a toll on their health as well as adding pollution to the environment. Moreover they believe that the policy is short-sighted, since world competition for dwindling supplies of fossil fuels will soon make travel a luxury and most activities, including healthcare, will have to take place close to where people live. The letter ends: "We urge you to reconsider your policy and give special consideration to hospitals and other medical services in areas such as Scarborough which are geographically isolated; and furthermore to plan services in future so as to reduce the need to travel rather than increasing it." Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens oppose new plans for nuclear power | |||||||||
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Green Party Councillor Jonathan Dixon today condemned the government's stance on nuclear power following the announcement of its energy review. Cllr Dixon who represents Stepney Ward said "By backing Nuclear power the government will divert investment from renewable forms of energy and conservation that should be the future in terms of reducing our reliance on fossil fuel and our CO2 emissions. Public opinion has constantly been shown to be opposed to nuclear power. It is both hazardous and costly requiring huge amounts of government subsidies. It's increasingly clear that local people would benefit more by utilising renewable technology, combined with a greater emphasis on energy-efficiency and localised generation. Stating Woking Borough Council in Surrey as an example Cllr Dixon concluded: "They have achieved around a 75% CO2 reduction, and saved around 20% in costs compared to the business as usual alternative - saving its Council Tax payers £700,000 per year (an average of £20 per household in the borough) on energy bills." ENDS Published and promoted by Jason Mullen on behalf of Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens call on supermarkets to stock and label local produce | |||||||||
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Green Party Councillor Jonathan Dixon has backed a campaign that calls on supermarkets to stock – and label – more local produce, in line with the wishes of more than 80 per cent of shoppers. Cllr Dixon who represents Stepney Ward expressed his support on behalf of local farmers. He said: “Supermarkets have a huge influence on the food we eat. Farmers Weekly's exclusive food miles campaign research shows that 82% of consumers would be more likely to buy locally produced food in the supermarket if it was clearly labelled as such. Over a third of consumers would prefer to buy locally produced food from their supermarket. I support Farmers Weekly's campaign which calls for all supermarkets and food retailers to promote, stock and label locally produced food in a way that supports local producers and cuts down the distance food is transported.” He went on to add: "Nationally this campaign has received widespread support from some high-profile endorsers including celebrity chef Rick Stein, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and NFU President Peter Kendall as well as Green Party MEP, Dr Caroline Lucas, a food campaigner and member of the European Parliament’s influential Environment Committee” Dr Lucas author of ‘Look to the Local’ speaking last week said: “Every day we trade vast quantities of food around the world – much of it almost identical – releasing thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as we do so. For the sake of the environment, as well as our local farmers and growers, I call on everyone to look to the local – and on the government to change the law to make it easier for shoppers, businesses and public authorities to do so.” For more details on the campaign see: http://www.fwi.co.uk/gr/foodmiles/index.html www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk: Published and promoted by Jason Mullen on behalf of Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Councillor urges Scarborough Residents to Save Energy | |||||||||
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Green Party councillor Jonathan Dixon who represents Stepney Ward today welcomed an American Bill that would legislate for all electrical devices to be labelled with information telling consumers how much energy is used when the device is in Standby mode. He said: “This American bill is a step in the right direction as it would require electronic devices to be labelled with how much energy they use while in standby, but I would like to encourage Scarborough residents now by asking them to switch off any unnecessary electrical appliances when they are not in use as an enormous amount of energy is wasted through unnecessary use of these standby devices. Cllr Dixon continued: We are all aware about the killer impact of increasing carbon emissions through flying, but domestic energy accounts for almost a third of UK carbon emissions and up to 26% of this can be as a result of standby devices! This American bill will require a label that explains how much energy the appliance uses when in standby. Although the amount of energy consumed by individual devices can be small, cumulatively it can really add up - with a heavy financial and environmental cost. ENDS Published and promoted by Jason Mullen for Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Greens make breakthrough onto Scarborough Council | |||||||||
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Historic by-election gives Greens first seat on the Borough The Green Party took its first seat on Scarborough Borough Council yesterday (11th May) with victory in the by-election for the Stepney Ward. The by-election, caused by the resignation of a Conservative Councillor, was the most heavily contested election in the recent history of the Borough, with six candidates trying to win the seat. But it was the Greens who came through with flying colours, winning 28% of the vote. Labour, who won a similar by-election in the Ward last year, were relegated to fourth place. “This is a fantastic result,” said Jonathan Dixon, the successful Green candidate. “Voters in the Stepney Ward have made history today by electing me as Scarborough’s first Green councillor. It could significantly change the political culture in the town. With the full round of Borough Council elections only a year away, today’s result sets us up well for further Green gains in the very near future.” The full result was: GREEN (Jonathan Dixon) - 341 (28%) CONSERVATIVE (Heather Phillips) - 253 (21%) LIBERAL DEMOCRAT (Margaret Pitts) - 209 (17%) LABOUR (Pat Marsburg) - 181 (15%) B.N.P. (Patricia Scott) - 154 (12%) INDEPENDENT (Neil Buglass) - 96 (8%) Turnout - 32.32% | |||||||||
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Call for re-opening of public toilets | |||||||||
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26th October 2005 Scarborough Green Party has joined the call to re-open some of the public toilets which were closed this year. Dilys Cluer, the local party's press officer, has written to council leader Eileen Bosomworth to add the Green Party voice to those asking for toilets to be re-opened. "You will have observed from correspondence in the Scarborough Evening News ," she writes, "that there are many reasons why these toilets are necessary. One is the fact that many people in the area, both residents and visitors, are elderly and so tend to need a toilet frequently. Others have medical conditions which give rise to the same requirement. If visitors have an uncomfortable or distressing experience due to a lack of public toilets, they are unlikely to return. "So toilets are necessary for our tourist economy. In this regard, those at William Street Coach Park are particularly valuable, as many people need toilets just before or after a long journey. "Moreover, they are necessary for public health, because some people will relieve themselves in public places if no toilets are available. We have already had complaints in this regard from residents living near the coach park. Insanitary public places will also deter visitors. "Toilets are also necessary in more isolated places such as Scalby. You have heard protests from the local residents who used to use them, and they must also have been of value to many walkers and cyclists. "Regarding the problem of vandalism at some toilets, it would be worth calculating whether it would be more economically viable to employ attendants, who would also act as cleaners, to deter misuse." The Green Party has a policy statement, under the heading of Public Health, saying that there should be a new statutory duty on every local authority to provide and maintain good public toilets in its area. They should be free at the point of use. They should always include hot water, hand drying and nappy changing facilities as well as access for people with disabilities. Published and promoted by Dilys Cluer for Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Call for more environmental officers | |||||||||
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18th May 2005 Greens call for local carbon reduction manager and Local Agenda 21 officer Scarborough Green Party has welcomed the appointment of David Renwick as Scarborough Council’s biodiversity officer, but says that much more needs to be done to protect the environment. In a letter to council leader Eileen Bosomworth, local Green Party press officer Dilys Cluer suggests that the borough council should follow the county council’s example and appoint a carbon reduction manager. “Doubtless significant savings could be made if someone were given the remit to manage carbon reduction,” she says. “The post would at least partly pay for itself in the saving of energy costs.” The party also reiterates its request for a replacement to be found for Daniel O’Connor, the council’s Local Agenda 21 Officer, who left the job last September. “I have tackled the council several times on this matter, with less than satisfactory results,” said Ms. Cluer. “They are trying to see if the functions of the Local Agenda 21 officer can be carried out by existing council employees, but as far as I can see, the existing employees have enough to do with their own jobs, and the kinds of things which Daniel O’Connor used to do are just not getting done. “In particular, local government needs to play its part in involving and educating thecommunity about the need to protect our world and about what ordinary people can do. Without an officer dedicated to this task, it tends to be neglected. “With experts warning that if we do not tackle the causes of climate change within ten years, we may be too late, this must be a priority at all levels of government.” Further information, interviews: Dilys Cluer (Press Officer) 01723 368475 www.greenscarborough.org.uk ENDS Published and promoted by Dilys Cluer for Scarborough Green Party, both at 69 Wykeham Street Scarborough YO12 7SA | |||||||||
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Promoted and Published by Dilys Cluer, Press Officer for Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Green
Party both at 69 Wykeham Street, Scarborough YO12 7SA.
© 2005 Scarborough, Whitby & Ryedale Green Party |
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