Green Shoots The newsletter of the Derbyshire Green Party

Issue l9 March 2OI5

Derbyshire Green Party gears up for the Elections which promise to be one of the most unpredictable ever!

The Green surge has been happening all across the country and Derbyshire is no exception.

Twelve months ago, membership across the county was around 150. At the time of writing it now stands at 702 and rising. In response to these new members eager to vote Green on May 7th 2015, DGP put out a call asking for people to stand as Green Party candidates. I am delighted to confirm that we are standing candidates in 10 out of Derbyshires 11 constituencies. This isnt something to be taken lightly so its fantastic to see so many people who are passionate enough about what the Green Party stands for that theyre willing to step up and give the electorate a chance to vote for something they believe in. These arent career politicians who have no other experience of life, but real people who want to see a better, fairer world for everyone.

Its worth remembering that the only time politicians pay any attention to the needs of the rest of us, the so-called 99%, is at election time. Some parties are spectacularly good at making promises but sadly not so good at keeping them. People are desperate for change, something that is manifestly clear from the phenomenal response to our crowd funding appeals. We all have a chance to make a real difference this year and Im proud to say Derbyshire Green Party is playing a key role.

I wish all our candidates the very best of luck.

Tony YouensChairman, Derbyshire Green Party

2 months to go to an election like none before!

This election promises to be like none before it will give us the opportunity to break through as a powerful force in British politics.

Its a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change British politics and that is why the Derbyshire GP is targeting wards to win! Here in Derbyshire, we are standing Green candidates in the General Elections to give people the chance to vote Green and to help the Greens raise their media profile nationally. However, we are focusing our efforts on two Borough Council seats in the county with the target of wining. These are Hope Valley in High Peak Borough Council and Belper North Ward in Amber Valley Borough Council. For over the past year, Green Party activists have been following the Green Party strategy of Target to Win in these two wards.

The Council elections will be held on the same day as the General Elections and we are asking as many people as possible to help us in our campaign for these target wards where we have a real chance of winning.

Sue MacFarlane: Parliamentary candidate for Mid Derybshire and local candidate for Amber Valley Borough Council in Belper North Ward

Sue currently works as a freelance singer/songwriter/voice coach/singing group leader/workshop leader/celebrant. She is a member of the Natural Voice Practitioners Network (NVPN), and is passionate about helping people to find their own voice and enjoy using it.

Sue says, too often in politics, people feel as if they are not heard and that politicians are not doing what is best for the majority of the people they represent. I believe that every voice should be heard, and part of what I want to do if elected is to make sure that the people in Mid Derbyshire constituency feel like someone has listened to them and is acting in their best interest.

I am standing in Mid Derbyshire to give people a chance to vote Green, to vote for policies they believe in. People are looking for a party which is committed to the common good, and I am standing as someone who is also committed to this. If elected, I will serve with integrity and to the best of my ability.

Come and help deliver newsletters and talk to people in Belper North: Saturdays March 21st and 28th, April 18th and 25th, morning or afternoon and many Monday evenings. As much or as little as you like. Our friendly team would love to meet you! Email - contact@midderbyshire.greenparty.org.uk

Derbyshire Green Partys Target to Win Wards: We can do it!

Charlotte Farrell: Parliamentary candidate for High Peak and local candidate for High Peak Borough Council in Hope Valley Ward

Charlotte trained as a nurse before re-qualifying as a solicitor. After 10 years in law she left last year to work with her partner making orthopaedic footwear and to devote more time to politics. She lives and works in the High Peak and is involved in various community activities there.

Charlotte has been running a Target to Win campaign in the Hope Valley delivering regular newsletters and holding a public meeting to highlight the risks of fracking in the area. She will be delivering specific election leaflets from late March and is planning some big days out every Saturday in April, involving a few hours canvassing or leafleting followed by a drink or two in Bamfords Community owned pub!

Charlotte says, If elected to the council I would work for better affordable and properly sustainable housing, linked to areas where people want to live and work so that the Hope Valley and the High Peak maintains its diversity. I would also want to be involved with the Peak District National Park to ensure it is managed correctly in terms of the ecology of the area and at the same time provides the support for tourism that the area needs. Above all I hope to be a Green presence within the council, pushing it to adopt policies which will help not hinder the issues about which Greens care, like the environment and climate change and of course to ensure that fracking does not come to the High Peak.

Please contact Charlotte on cnfarrell@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 07976 980639 if you are able to help or would like to know more.

One step closer to NO Foston Mega Pig Farm

As you are probably aware, the Derbyshire Green Party has put a lot of work into campaigning against the application to build a mega pig farm at Foston. The application is being closely watched by many would-be farming companies who would like to reduce their operating costs by turning meat production into an assembly line.

If this proposal goes ahead many more are likely to follow. It is therefore heartening to learn that in February of this year the Environmental Agency declined the application to build 14 pig houses with the capacity for up to 24,500 pigs. Since submitting the original permit application in March 2011 the Environment Agency has received over 100 representations from the public. Many of these were from ourselves, others were from Foston residents and others came from animal welfare and environmental groups who submitted their own independently commissioned reports.

Jim Davies, of Foston Community Forum, said, local residents, who have been almost unanimous in opposing the plan, were hugely relieved. After four years of public consultation the facts are now clear. The applicants (Midland Pig Producers) provided insufficient information and should now abandon this flawed scheme forever.

David Foster, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Derby South said, If we are to feed the world in coming years then the human race as a whole must turn to a more vegetarian diet. But if we do choose to eat meat then those animals should at least have had as natural a life as possible.

With the Environment Agency rejecting the application it seems unlikely that Derbyshire County Council will be able to approve it. Nevertheless, it is still important for us to continue to oppose the proposal vigorously until the campaign has definitely been won.

David FosterGreen Party Parliamentary Candidate for Derby South

And good prospects for Ian Wood: Parliamentary candidate for Derbyshire Dales and local candidate for Derbyshire Dales District Council in Bakewell ward

Ian is a freelance journalist, a husband and father of four. He used to be a lawyer. He supports Green policies for energy generation, planning and transport, and those which promote income equality, the integration of nations and peoples, and, ultimately, peace, all things that are consistent with the abandonment of growth as the central objective of economic policy.

He and Green Party volunteers are building a solid campaign basis and have already been very busy canvassing and hand delivering leaflets in the region.

Ian says, The world is whirling towards an economic cataclysm that will prompt widespread changes in the way we earn our living and share the proceeds of investment and labour. We will move away from debt- fuelled profit and greed. We shall focus much more on distribution of the abundant riches the world has to offer. This is the best and most optimistic time to be green in history. What an opportunity we can share with the world.

I am passionate about putting forward a truly viable, radically different and increasingly popular alternative for voters to consider. I would be a diligent and persuasive advocate for the constituency.

Please contact Ian if you would like to help with his campaign on: ianwood987@hushmail.com

Community-led vs Developer-led Housing

The Green Partys policy on housing includes an ambitious commitment to provide 500,000 social rented homes by 2020. Some will come from bringing those houses that lie empty and abandoned back into use. Others will be new built on brownfield sites. A planned minority could be built on farmland in or on the edge of villages and towns.

The second main element of Green policy on housing is that projects should be community-led not developer-led.

In the Peak District National Park much of the beautiful landscape is protected from development. Its housing policy only allows new housing for local people who are in need or for enhancement purposes. This policy also applies to parts of many shire districts but is under attack from the private sector. If the Tories win the next election they could approve more housing developments on sites that are currently protected.

In Youlgrave, a village in the Peak District a few miles south of Bakewell, the need for at least 8 more village homes was identified. An infill site was agreed by the Parish Council and funding was obtained at approximately 25% Government grant, 25% district council grant and 50% mortgage. However, the national budget was so underfunded that to secure the Governments share the village was required to prove a total community commitment. This was done by setting up a Community Land Trust which will own the site. The local housing association, PDRHA, was contracted to build and manage the

homes which are due for completion this March 2015, see: www.youlgraveclt.org.uk

A very different story is going on in Hartington, another village in the Peak District. Here there is a similar need for local housing but the PDRHA failed to find a site. Meanwhile, the large Stilton cheese factory had stood vacant until it was finally bought by a developer. To the surprise of local residents and councilors, planners encouraged the developer to aim for more open market houses than affordable houses at a ratio of 22 to 4. Fortunately, the community persuaded the Authority to refuse permission and we are now waiting to see if the developer appeals the local authoritys decision. The Parish Chairman is keen to learn about Community Led Models as a positive way forward.

Green message: follow successful community-led housing models to achieve affordable social housing.

John YouattDerbyshire Dales regional co ordinator

Get involved in a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change British politics

Derbyshire Green Party has done a fatastic job to have 10 parliamentary candidates out of Derbyshires 11 constituencies standing in Mays General Elections. This brings us above the national average and target. So, a big well done everyone for pulling out all the stops and giving people the chance to vote Green that they wouldnt otherwise have.

Now the rush of selecting parliamentary candidates is finished it is time to turn our attention to the local elections which take place on the same polling day, May 7th 2015.

It is time the Green Party starts to win elections now. With over 700 members we are no longer a small fringe party and we have the people power to begin target to win in more local council wards than just Belper North and Hope Valley wards. We need to start competing with all parties and build our support and votes to have a chance of a real a breakthrough. An important part of this is standing tactical candidates to gather baseline indications of our support to back our ambition and make alasting difference. Its a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change British politics and thats why we are asking people to get involved and stand as tactical candidates in as many seats as possible. YOU could be a tacti-cal candidate. All that is needed is your name on a ballot paper and 10 signatures from people who live in that ward supporting your nomination. This is your chance to play a part in transforming the shape of British politics forever. Please help us to gauge our support levels and give people two chances to vote green.

You will have already received an email from your local coordinator asking for nominations for local coun-cilors. Please consider this once in a lifetime opportunity and nominate yourself.

Sue LedgerElection co ordinator

7 of Derbyshires nominated parliamentary candidates

Join the Green Party today

Become a Green Party member today and youll be joining a community of people dedicated to creating social and environmental change.

The Green Party is uniquely led by its members who set Policy, control our Constitution and

participate at all levels of the party. Join today and youll benefit from four editions a year of Green World magazine, featuring news,

views and special features, access to our Members Website and our National members newsletter packed with campaign and activity updates, plus invitations to local, regional and national events and meetings. We dont get donations from big corporations and unions like other parties - we rely

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Every extra pound you can give as an additional donation over our standard membership rates will help us elect more Green voices around the country.

Green Party joining form: http://greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/green_party_joining_form.pdf

Sheep says:

Only Greens will save my fields: Greens are best baaa none.

Upcoming events:

Hustings event for Erewash Constituency Monday 9th March, 7:30pmUpstairs room, The Brewery Tap, South Street, Ilkeston, DE7 5QE. This is an opportunity to meet potential candidates.

Hustings event for Derby South and Derby North ConstituenciesWednesday 11th March, 7:15pm for 7:30pm start. The Brunswick Inn, 1 Railway Terrace, Derby DE1 2RU. This is an opportunity to meet potential candidates.

Hustings event for North East Derbyshire ConstituencyWednesday 18th March, 7:30pm The Gallery Cafe, Renishaw Hall, Renishaw, Sheffield, S21 3WB. This is an opportunity to meet potential candidates.

Hustings event for South Derbyshire ConstituencyThursday 19th March, 7:30pmThe Green Man, 1 Canal Bridge, Willington DE65 6BQ. This is an opportunity to meet potential candidates.

Science Policy Debate on the topic of Food Security Thursday 19th March, 5:30 8pm, Main debate starts at 6.30pm.The Derby Museum and Art Gallery, The Strand, Derby DE1 1BS as part of the British Science Associations Science week (13-22nd March).

Political debate event organised by All Nations for Christ Fellowship Church, Normanton, Derby.Thursday 23rd April, 7pm. Candidates will be present from the main parties.

University of Derby Student Unions Big Crime DebateFriday 13th May, 5pmUniversity of Derbys main site. Students, staff and the public all welcome.

Upcoming meetings:

Derbyshire Green Party Quarterly Meeting Saturday 11th April, 2:00-4:30 pm. The Medway Centre, Bakewell. This is a business meeting but all members are welcome to attend.

Mid Derbyshire Open MeetingMonday 16 March, 19:30-21:00. The OAP Hall, Barley Close, Little Eaton, Derby DE21 5DJ. Contact Matt McGuinness - mattmcguinness@hotmail.com

Please check the DGPs online calendar for the latest events and meetings.

Published and promoted by Charlotte Farrell 30 Brentwood Road, Bamford S33 0AG on behalf of Derbyshire Green Party.

Committee Members

Chairman/Co-ordinator: Tony Youens Campaigns Officer: Currently vacantElection Agent: Charlotte FarrellElection Campaigns Officer: Sue Ledger Electoral Returning Officer: Kim CollisFund-raising and Events Officer: Currently vacantGreenshoots Editor: Victoria MartindaleMembership Secretary: Philip TaylorNominating Officer: Charlotte FarrellPress Officer: Ian WoodLocal Party Contact: Mike ShipleySecretary: Kim CollisRegional Co-ordinators: Derby North, Derby South, Erewash and South Derbyshire: Philip HoodDerbyshire Dales: John Youatt and Christian SmithHigh Peak: Peter AllenMid Derbyshire: Julie WozniczkaNorth Derbyshire (includes Chesterfield and NE Derbyshire): Patrick RalphTreasurer: Peter Allen Webmaster: Jane ReynoldsYouth Officer: Currently vacant

For all editorial enquires please contact Victoria Martindale at victoria.martindale101@gmail.com