Green general election Green Party public Lancaster Green View meeting candidates selected February 2015 Tuesday 10th March, Current West councillor Chris City-wide edition 7.30pm, at the Friends Coates, who has been a councillor for 12 Meeting House, Lancaster. years, will be standing for the Green Party in the Lancaster and Fleetwood parliamentary All welcome. seat in May. Chris trained as a carpenter “What’s happening in Greens focus on before becoming a site and project manager Lancaster District: The good, real in the construction industry. He previously the bad and the ugly.” worked on the refurbishment of More Music’s Hothouse centre in . affordable housing Chris says, “This winter the state of our NHS is in everyone’s mind. Our current Green MP Caroline Lucas has been leading the fight to stop The MARKET Green city councillors are continuing to fight further privatisation of the NHS as this is not the answer to the NHS’s for local and national initiatives so that new Welcome to Lancaster Green View. problems.” COBBLER housing is based on common-sense and local Inside this edition we highlight Phil Chandler is the Green Party’s candidate for need. This means focussing on genuinely Morecambe and Lunesdale. Phil lives in Morecambe affordable homes - not simply the number of some of the work by Lancaster’s with his wife Kathy and their two daughters. He For Shoe Repairs, Key Cutting, houses. Green councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox 10 green city councillors and one started out as an engineer in the aerospace industry, Watch Straps & Batteries, outlines the Greens’ 5-point plan: county councillor. then worked in relief and development programmes Engraving, Shoe Care, and in Africa. He now works at , Gifts including, Leatherman, • Expand the new council house-building programme. Victorinox & Klean Kanteen. helping to run the IT systems there. Phil says “It’s time • Go further in the re-use of brownfield land. There are still big Young Greens that the UK adopts a new model of economics which opportunities for new housing in the Canal Corridor, in the area Marsh ward council fully values the contributions of everyone in society between St. Leonardgate and North Rd, on the K-Shoes site off Bulk Phil Chandler candidate and protects our environment for future generations.” Corky, The Market Cobbler Rd, and between Back Caton Road and Parliament St. Rebecca Novell 30 New Street, Lancaster, LA1 1EG. • Make new homes and existing homes as energy-efficient as possible has helped Open [email protected] so that ‘affordable’ also means reduced long term heating costs. launch the new 7 days • Get rid of the tax advantages for the buy-to-let landlord: better terms Young Greens in a week for first-time buyers. North . “The Young Greens • Introduce rent controls to prevent private rents spiralling. has been very popular here. Probably because we are the party who genuinely care most Tide is turning Dr Aggidis about my generation inheriting a fair and healthy planet.” on energy? If you would like to join the North North Lancashire Green Party recently hosted a Lancashire Young Greens, email packed public talk with Dr. George Aggidis. He [email protected]. presented the latest research for use of tidal energy Delicious hand-made bread & as a feasible source of renewable energy. For treats, using organic flours and example, during 2012, twelve large-scale prototype First Green mayor 97 Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XN locally sourced ingredients. devices were installed around the UK. for city? [email protected] 20 King Street, Lancaster, LA1 1JY. Meanwhile, Green Party members have been fighting Castle ward councillor www.filbertsbakery.com hard to prevent shale gas company, Cuadrilla from Jon Barry is in line to www.lancasterbedcompany.co.uk 01524 874382 www.facebook.com/Filbertsbakery being granted permission to frack in Lancashire. become mayor this May as after 16 years he has now reached the top of Join us on Facebook: the mayorial list. But, before Don’t lose your vote! North Lancashire Green Party becoming mayor, he has to win his seat in the new Marsh ward at the May local elections. To check if you’re registered, visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or ring 01524 582905. Follow us on Twitter: @NorthLancsGreen http://northlancs.greenparty.org.uk

Published by Andrew Brennand on behalf of North Lancashire Green Party, 49 Wingate-Saul Road, Lancaster LA1 5DW. Design by moonloft. Printed on recycled paper by Pagefast Print & Publishing Ltd, 4-6 Lansil Way, Caton Road, Lancaster LA1 3QY Working for jobs and Looking after our Getting around a vibrant city centre environment town safely Green economic strategy Councillors get their hands dirty Cycling master plan Bulk ward councillor Caroline Green councillors have been organising tidy-up Cycling safety campaigner Jackson has been thinking sessions with the support of local people: and Green party candidate in about how to 're-localise' the • Vegetation and path-clearing in Scotforth West Scotforth West, Paul Stubbins, is campaigning hard for safer economy. She says, "In the • Bulb planning on Ridge, Newton and Highfield simplest terms we can think of cycling along the A6 and pushing • Litter picking inMarsh, Castle and Bulk wards. the local economy as a leaky A society for cycling improvements to bucket that collects all we earn There will be a litter pick on Sat 21st February, healthy be included in the district’s and then leaks it out of the district. 10 am, Quay Meadow. East meets west Transport Master Plan due out for We improve our wealth by sealing off consultation on 1st April 2015. He In January, some of the holes." This would mean for example: county councillor Gina Dowding has been told that a traffic free was guest of honour at the ‘East Meets West – • creating more energy ourselves, under local path from to Lancaster, women of faith together’ event at Dallas Road over Heysham Moss and via the control – like the imminent council solar farm Boys and Girls Club, to launch a new healthy plan at Middleton – and getting local education existing cycle path at Salt Ayre, living project. Gina said, “The local East Meets providers to provide the skills to make it happen; will be included in the plan. West group is important in encouraging friendship, • using local contractors for construction projects, good neighbourliness and a sharing of beliefs and On the buses with job creation in new affordable housing, traditions.” Women of all ages and backgrounds can get involved – The newly formed local Bus User including council housing; contact Hilary on 07767 626891 or email [email protected]. Group (BUG) set up by Cllr Abi Mills councillor • boosting small business in as many ways as has had successful on Ashton Road First aid in schools Abi Mills possible. For instance harnessing the university's meetings with Stagecoach and Digital Lancaster project to provide free wi-fi in the Registered Nurse Chris Norman Lancashire County Council. The city centre; Free food for new houses will be standing for the Green Council is proposing to protect • working with local farmers to provide more of the Councillor Dave Brookes has asked city council Party in Scotforth West. Chris funding for subsidised services for food needed by the district; planners to encourage the inclusion of edible also volunteers to help the at least a year. The next meeting of Adam Appeal to prevent sudden • supporting opportunities in the creative arts planting such as fruit and nut trees, fruit bushes, the BUG is on 22nd March at 6pm cardiac death in young people. sector so that the local entertainment and visitor and herbs, as part of landscaping schemes on in Lancaster Library. He recently helped install a economys remain strong. new developments. A similar initiative has been successfully adopted in Brighton. defibrillator at Scotforth St Paul’s Chris Norman Keeping people safe at night Dave said, “I think almost everyone would agree Primary School and is in the process of supplying one to Bowerham Primary School. Caroline also volunteers as part of the Street Pastors that free food is a good thing, especially when it is team, who help in the centre of town every Saturday nearby and can be gathered fresh from the plant. Making higher education affordable night until 3am. "We carry water, flipflops, first aid Many perennials require very little maintenance, and , is helping kits and help people get home, or find lost friends, food producing plants are no less attractive than the Jack Filmore, Green councillor for University ward students in their campaign against the universities proposed fee rises money, or phones. We don’t preach. There's a big standard landscaping fare of ornamental cherry trees for international and post-graduate fees (5%) as well as the 2.5% rise team - police, doormen, CCTV, taxis, working to and spiky evergreen shrubs.” in on-campus rents. Jack says, “The university now expect students to maintain a safe and friendly atmosphere on the pay £109 per week for their accommodation even though it has cash streets of Lancaster’s night life.” Green Party contacts reserves of over £100 million. This rent increase is set to push many students into relative poverty. These rents now use around 84% of the Outdoor Market Survives Bulk ward: Tim Hamilton-Cox maintenance loan.” Lancaster’s historic outdoor charter market has 01524 34223 | [email protected] survived attempts to severely restrict where it trades. Castle ward: Dave Brookes Councillor calls for basic income Some shop representatives were calling for much | 07817966949 [email protected] A recent report from the local Citizens' Advice Bureau focussed on the of the market to be forced out of Market Square and Marsh ward: Jon Barry harshness and length of benefit sanctions and the depths of poverty Cheapside, and into Church Street. | 01524 844113 [email protected] into which some benefit claimants are pushed. Green partycouncillor However, other local shop keepers, market traders Scotforth West ward: Abi Mills Andrew Kay, who led on the introduction of the Living Wage for city Halton café and gallery owner and and, the majority of the public thought this would be 01524 389069 | [email protected] council employees says, "Nationally the Greens are calling for the green candidate, Bob Bauld, is bad for everyone. The Council’s cabinet agreed with introduction of a ‘citizen’s income’ to provide basic income security for campaigning for reduced speeding Green councillor Jon Barry’s proposal to keep the County councillor: Gina Dowding in the village. | all and to end the need for people to have to access food banks." market in Market Square. 07838 793674 [email protected]