Tom Crone answers questions at first online event of the campaign ‘My first priority as Liverpool Mayor will be to meet with all the green space groups to come up with a plan to protect them,’ Councillor Tom Crone told his first online meet-the- voters event. The Green Party candidate for Liverpool Mayor spent two hours taking questions from the audience, ranging from poverty and climate change to the council’s development TOM CRONE answering questions record and how to create sustainable jobs post-pandemic. from air quality to football stadia Tom insists that ‘better is possible’ and has a long record campaigning for clean air and green spaces. As councillor Tom has devised a climate change transition budget that could steer Liverpool away from its dependence on speculative land deals and towards a clean, green city. Tom criticised the ruling Labour administration for being wedded to failed 20th century policies such as road building and for lacking a 21st century vision that puts people first. The event is the first in a series of events leading up to the poll on 6th May. Visit www.liverpool.greenparty.org.uk to stay in touch with Tom’s campaign for City Mayor. Candidates & signatures still needed for May 2021 We have almost reached a full slate of 30 candidates for May's local elections, but there are still a few gaps remaining. If you haven't already responded to our calls for non-target ward candidates and are willing to represent the Green Party on the ballot paper, please get in touch with Nicola ASAP at [email protected] We also need to find two people per ward to sign our candidates' official forms as part of the nominations process. If you are willing to be one of these people, please get in touch with Nicola at the above email address. We are particularly keen for voters from Anfield, Croxteth, Fazakerley, Warbreck and Yew Tree to step GET INVOLVED to help offer a full slate in this year’s forward. You don't need to be a Green Party member to do this – local elections any registered voter can sign a nomination form. Please let us know if you know anyone that can help out. Thank you. Greens oppose extension of café proposed in Greenbank Park Local residents are outraged at The Watering Can café’s plans to extend their building in Greenbank Park to the side and rear of the current site. If approved by the Council's Planning Service, the extension would significantly reduce the green space in the memorial walled garden. Cllr Lawrence Brown and Green Party candidate Dan Fieldsend released a joint statement objecting to the plan and confirming that they will work with local residents to save the park from DAN FIELDSEND and LAWRENCE BROWN any further development. are opposed to building in Greenbank Park “We are sure that many people will join with us to oppose this plan to build in such a sensitive area. We call upon everyone to send objections to the Planning Service objecting to this horrendous proposal,” said Lawrence and Dan. “We cannot afford to lose any further green space in this, or any other park. What's worse is that the memorial area of the park is threatened by the plans.” Objections should be emailed to [email protected] quoting reference number 21F/0301. Wheels for Wellbeing speak to Liverpool Greens More controls are needed to Isabelle Clement, director of inclusive cycling manage rogue landlords charity and campaign group Wheels for Wellbeing, spoke at the Liverpool Green Party David Morgan, candidate for Wavertree, open meeting in February. has called for residents to support limits on new HMOs. Cycling is essential for mobility and exercise for many disabled people, alongside the range Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are of different types of cycle that make it possible properties that have been subdivided into for disabled people to cycle. However, poor flats – often for student accommodation. infrastructure including a lack of cycle paths Many HMOs are poorly maintained and and pavements can force disabled people neglected by landlords. back into cars. There is lots of work that needs to be done to make cycle paths and David said: pavements accessible throughout Liverpool! “It’s great that Wavertree was included in Find out more about Wheels for Wellbeing and the Landlord Licencing scheme. Now we accessibly cycling on their website: need extra powers to control the number of wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk HMOs.” St Michaels candidate addresses poverty and food waste St Michaels council candidate Stephanie Pitchers has been out and about on her bike to break the link between food waste and poverty across the ward. Steph has been pressing supermarkets to make better use of food that is reaching its sell-by dates. She said: “Rather than see this perfectly good food thrown away, I have been collecting it and working to redistribute it to people who can use it.’ She is now working to set up new community options to prevent hunger happening while good food is going to waste. ‘This is the Green way,’ said Steph. ‘Identify the need and work with others to design the community solutions that make a real STEPHANIE PITCHERS tackles supermarket food waste difference.’ Cllr Brown compliments B4Biodiversity team B4Biodiversity, a local Liverpool business, has set up a new venture – BWTKW (Bees Wax to Key Workers). Cllr Lawrence Brown provided some council ward funding to support this exciting not-for-profit development which delivers a variety of Liverpool Bee Balms to key workers, including medics and those working in care homes and charities. LAWRENCE BROWN Cllr Brown complimented Andrea praises initiative that and her team on the initiative: support key workers ‘It's heart-warming to support a real local success story in these difficult times. I'm very thankful to those who have contributed. to the project to make this possible. Our key workers really have done us all proud throughout the pandemic and I'm very happy to see the ways that people have come together to support them.” Published by Liverpool Green Party and promoted by David Morgan on behalf of Liverpool Green Party, all c/o 5 Salisbury Terrace, Liverpool L15 4HD. Livestreams keep activism alive In recent weeks, our Everton Candidate Kevin has organised online Q&As with Ash from LGBTIGA+ Greens and with Kefentse from Greens of Colour (the BAME organisation in the Green Party). These would have been held in person much like the ‘Don’t Attack Iran’ event Kevin organised just weeks before the national Lockdown, but sadly this isn’t possible at the moment. Online events have become a vital in raising awareness of issues throughout the pandemic and Kevin hopes to continue hosting live streams in the coming weeks. Streams are hosted via Instagram Everton ‘Don’t Attack Iran’ event, held @Everton_together20 and anyone is welcome to join. shortly before the first lockdown. Local Council and City Region elections will take place on Thursday 6th May 2021. If you are worried that you may not be able to vote in person because of Covid-19 or any other reason, you can register to vote by post instead. Apply for your postal vote online at www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a- postal-vote or call 0151 233 3028 to request a postal voting form. Visit our new website Actor Gary Cargill is the Green Party candidate for Join our Facebook Group. the Liverpool Region’s Metro Mayor, but he needs your help to fund the campaign. We know times are Like our Public Facebook Page hard for many right now, but if you can afford to, please donate here: Follow us on Twitter www.crowdfunder.co.uk/greenmetromayor?tk=6338 @LiverpoolGreens and find our ward pages: 240ea2c842d6d2c450e8ccea1efc7c489e3d @WavertreeGreens @GreenbankGreens @StMGreens @EvertonGreens Tell us what you think, contribute an idea, a The government has imposed restrictions on blog or an article by emailing David at: campaigning, which means we haven’t been [email protected] knocking on doors or holding as many events; but you can still stay in touch with us via social media Find out more about the party and connect and join our online meetings. with other members by visiting the Green UPCOMING MEMBERS MEETINGS: Room and Green Spaces. MARCH 9th & APRIL 13th 2021.