3 January 2021
I know that sometimes it is easier said than done. While not everyone is an eternal optimist, a positive outlook is good for your mental, emotional and physical health, so I hear!
It has been a most strange, disturbing year and absolutely devastating for some, so hopefully 2021 will bring in some much needed light and positivity.
As a local party I think, despite everything, we have done incredibly well this year and that is all to do with the massive commitment from members. A million thanks to all.
Over the last year we have continued, when it was safe, to do our regular litter picks to help residents keep areas around their homes neat and tidy and of course to keep wildlife areas free of plastic and rubbish.
With the help of the Woodland Trust’s donation of free trees, we have planted hundreds of native trees: hawthorn, guelder rose, blackthorn and elder, all berry bearing to provide food for over-wintering and migrating birds. It is still astonishing to see council employees cutting back and flailing hedges destroying this vital food source.
We have continued to leaflet. In fact, because of the fantastic support from volunteers, we have delivered thousands of leaflets communicating our green message of ‘building back better’, supporting each other, reducing isolation, helping with local food banks, promoting recycling through Roots ‘terracycle’, and supporting groups and individuals who have felt let down by the council.
Along with ‘Sustainability Matters’, we have established a ‘Green Coalition’ and collectively continue to challenge the council’s lack of ambition regarding the climate emergency, by submitting questions and attending on-line council meetings. Oddly enough, although the council passed the climate emergency motion proposed by the Green Party, the term ‘climate emergency’ has been replaced by ‘climate change’ and any sense of urgency is non-existent.
We responded to the council’s local plan and raised the urgent issues of
continued and rapid development without planning of cycle and walking routes and a thoughtful transport infrastructure; of new houses that are not energy efficient and totally reliant on fossil fuel; of continued reliance on private cars increasing congestion and poor air quality; of the continued and accelerating fragmentation of remaining green space while at the same time promoting the need for exercise and access to the natural world.
Throughout the lockdown Tony Pearce, our Borough Councillor and Emma Carter, our candidate for this year’s County Council election, have continued to work hard on behalf of residents regarding the state of our roads; the need for an integrated transport system to serve new developments and the need to reduce pollution by moving to cleaner greener energy and waste reduction. We have actively supported the plans to protect the fragile areas of Cannock Chase and the resident wildlife and will continue to do so.
We have only four months left before the election and we know we can make a difference to the quality of life of our community because we are already doing so but we could achieve much more with a Green County Councillor!
If you feel you can help, leafleting, litter-picking, tree-planting, or just want to join us, get in touch.
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