Green Christmas coverage!

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Beulah Hill development latest

The proposed development on Beulah Hill is now in the hands of the Planning Inspectorate. We have submitted our arguments again. As soon as we hear anything, we will post up on the blog.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Apples and supermarkets

In response to I M Ball's letter (November 23). I'm afraid that sadly I am correct about the role of supermarkets in reducing variety and failing to support British growers.
It's an important issue since it affects the future of UK agriculture, and rather than being simply an armchair critic' I have taken a very active personal and academic interest in this over a long period.
The latest Friends of the Earth survey of UK apples in 181 supermarkets (2005, well-referenced and available online, Mr Ball) found the average number of apple varieties in supermarkets was 3.6, of which over half were foreign imports.
It's true that the percentage sourced from the UK is increasing in response to consumer demand, but sadly the damage has already been done: in 1970 MAFF recorded 62,200 hectares of orchards in the UK. This declined to 22,400 hectares in 1997. This is a 64 per cent decline in 27 years, and the loss continues, with a further 13 per cent loss in the two years 2000-2002 for example (DEFRA figures).
A 2004 Guardian report found "At least 60 per cent of all orchards were lost in the past 30 years largely because supermarkets preferred to buy just one or two varieties in bulk from France, the US and New Zealand."
In turn the supermarkets' demands on appearance and price have forced farmers out of business. Supermarkets reject significant amounts of fruit for cosmetic reasons, cancel orders at the last minute and have squeezed profit margins to almost zero for producers.
Small farmers will not replant orchards unless there is security of supply and the prospect of a return; supermarkets offer neither of these, since the grower has all the risk and the retailer takes most of the profit.
Mr Ball is right in one respect, that supermarkets are competitive on price: but that's also part of the problem, and why dairy, fruit and arable farmers are going out of business in larger numbers: the consumer's obsession with cheap food, fuelled by supermarket policies of sourcing from abroad, has driven the small UK farmer to the verge of extinction.
This is well documented and I'm surprised to be accused of getting this wrong. Only this week at the report on the drastic decline in the number of Welsh dairy farmers, blamed almost entirely on the inability of farmers to get a fair price for their milk from supermarkets.
We should be paying a fair price for our food and supporting British farmers in their stewardship of the countryside. Farmers have no security from big supermarket buyers who call all the shots and have no loyalty to their suppliers.
I invite your correspondent to look more closely at this issue- small farmers and small retailers need all the friends they can get.
Bob Steel
Chair
Sutton and Croydon Green Party

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Press Release: A green Xmas

Press Release (immediate)

How to have a Green Christmas

Local Green Party campaigners have put together a list of suggestions in order to have a Merry Christmas which doesn’t cost the earth. Many environmentalists are becoming much more wary of how their actions contribute to global warming.

Christmas Dinner:
Turkeys can’t fly very far but some have travelled a staggering 30,000 miles to get to dinner tables in this country! Shasha Khan commented, “It is important that shoppers look at labels on the food they purchase and choose the local option. European fowl and African vegetables can be forsaken for home farmed produce. Also try and support local shopkeepers.”

Presents:
UK households already owe £1 trillion in debt. Thousands of people risk pushing themselves even deeper into the red. Bernice Golberg said, “Why not try purchasing gifts from a charity shop or giving Secret Santa presents. If you do end up with unwanted presents why not sell or pass them on using web sites or second hand shops.”

Cards and wrapping paper:
Each year, 200,000 trees are cut down to supply the UK’s 1.7 billion Christmas Cards and enough wrapping paper is used to wrap the whole of the London Borough of Sutton. In view of such massive quantities, it important that as much as possible is recycled or reused.

Christmas tree:
Each year over 6 million trees end up in land fill sites. It is possible to save money and resources by using a tree with roots that can be reused. Shasha Khan added, “You can enjoy watching it grow all year round.”

Ends

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Letter to the editor

11.12.06

Dear Editor

There are a several things that one can associate with the season of goodwill and the dawn of a new year: Christmas trees, the exchanging of presents, the queens speech, the NYE party and the inflation busting rail fare increase (Train fares leaping ahead of inflation rate yet again, December 06). Commuters using trains operated by Southern will continue to pay through the nose to travel like sardines. Some may be priced off the railways altogether. At a time when the governments Stern Report predicts catastrophic consequences if urgent action is not taken to reduce carbon emissions; greater use of budget airlines and higher levels of congestion on the roads will only increase pollution.
It is painfully obvious that a railway system that is privately owned is a tragedy for the commuter and the climate.

Yours sincerely

Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party


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Tags croydon, greenparty

December Meeting

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 12th December at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Local newspaper coverage

Response to BNP actions letter


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Tags croydon, greenparty

Air quality letter sent to Croydon Guardian

24.11.06

Dear Editor,

I have long been concerned about the levels of air pollution along Croydon’s arterial roads caused by volumes of traffic. Sadly, the situation is only going to get worse. According to DEFRA, the number of cars on the roads is set to increase by 50 per cent over the next 20 years. Therefore, I welcome Croydon Council’s new air quality text service (Air pollution warnings could save lives, November 15). This will undoubtedly help those that suffer from asthma, bronchitis and heart disease.
It’s a shame that the airTEXT service was not up and running in time for bonfire night. On that weekend, the London Air Quality Network recorded ‘very high’ level of air pollutants at its monitoring station in Thornton Heath. Only eight areas in the whole of London recorded a ‘very high’ reading. A combination of atmospheric conditions, common causes of air pollution and harmful materials being thrown on to a bonfire can trigger such a reading.
It is clear that reactive measures such as airTEXT are only part of the solution. Croydon Council needs to put in place proactive strategies to cut down the volumes of noisy, polluting and frustration causing levels of traffic in the borough.

Yours sincerely


Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Response to BNP message on wreath

Link to article in local paper

Croydon Green Party have co-signed the letter below which is being circulated amongst community leaders and politcal groups.

Dear Editor

The undersigned represent a broad collective of Croydon and London community representatives who wish to express their complete rejection of the actions of the BNP in Croydon at Addington Church on Remembrance Sunday.

The message attached to their poppy wreath which read:

‘To those who fell for our race and nation to keep Britain British we will never forget them. Croydon BNP’

along with the comments of their Press Officer who said:

‘that anyone who thought the wreath was offensive, wants Britain to be invaded’ and ‘The message does not mention the race of people fighting, but it is not a bad thing to want to keep Britain white’

only serves to demonstrate that despite their wish to give the illusion of being a genuine political party, they are no better than Hitler and his fascists, against whom soldiers from many nations around the world fought and died to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

We believe in hope not hate. The BNP believe in hate. We are united in condemning the views and actions of the BNP, both in Croydon and throughout the country which have no place in a democratic society, such as Britain, which respects the contributions made by people of every race, nationality, colour, sexuality and religion.

Yours,


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Tags croydon, greenparty

November Meeting

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 14th November at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

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Tags sutton,croydon, greenparty

An Inconvenient Truth - Croydon showings

An Inconvenient Truth is coming to Croydon Clocktower for the next few days

Screenings

Fri 10 November 2006 - 17:55
Sat 11 November 2006 - 18:05
Mon 13 November 2006 - 12:55, 20:15
Tue 14 November 2006 - 18:05
Wed 15 November 2006 - 15:45
Thu 16 November 2006 - 20:15

Full details from the Clocktower web site and the film web site

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Tags croydon, An Inconvenient Truth, film, cinema

Press release on Climate Change March

Press Release – Climate Change March.

Members of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party joined thousands of others in the biggest climate change rally in the UK on 4th November. Local Greens joined other campaigners outside the US Embassy to listen to speakers, including Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucus. She commented that: “Failure to act to tackle climate change is costing lives – and threatens the
very future of human civilisation as we know it”.

Campaigners carrying banners and placards then marched from the US Embassy to Trafalgar Square, where they joined thousands of others who had congregated for more speeches and a concert. Performers included Razorlight and KT Tunstall.
Local spokesperson Shasha Khan said, “The Stern report has made it clearer than ever that we need urgent global action if we are to prevent the worst impacts of devastating climate change. All around the world national governments are spending too much time highlighting the failings of other national governments in combating global warming. What we need is governments, national and local, to become part of the solution and not part of the problem.”

Ends.


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Tags croydon, greenparty

Climate Change March

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Greens in Croydon Guardian

Watch footage of the Green Party Party (click here!)

Poverty is Key to Crime and Living














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Tags croydon, greenparty

Carbon emissions

Comment made to Sutton Guardian in response to the Liberal Democrats claim that on carbon emissions, only they have "put forward firm plans to help is change our behaviour".

"For the Liberal Democrats to claim that they are the only party to "put forward firm plans" is laughable.

Sir Nicholas Stern's report, commissioned by The Chancellor of The Exchequer, reveals the apocalyptic cost of global warming if the issue is not tackled within a decade.

Since it's formation in 1973, when it was called the Ecology Party, the Green Party has continuously offered policy solutions to this impending global catastrophe, through its Manifesto for a Sustainable Society. The other parties, including the Liberal Democrats, are living in cloud cuckoo land if they think taxation is the only way to combat climate change. Yes, taxation is useful tool in tackling climate change but it must be used alongside regulation, legislation and public investment.

In the last General Election the Green Party's policy was, and still is, to abolish VAT and replace it with less environmentally damaging green taxes. VAT is a regressive tax which does not take into account the environmental impact of goods and services. However, taxation alone cannot reduce the UK's ecological footprint - legislation must be used, too. In Germany, the government has passed a law which guarantees a higher rate for commercial and domestic suppliers of renewable power. The result has been a boom in wind and solar power in that country. "
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Green Party Party

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Life expectancy letter sent to the Advertiser

19.10.06

Dear Sir,

Figures recently released by the government* show a shocking variation of life expectancy within our borough. The residents of poorer wards like Waddon, New Addington, Broad Green and, my home ward, Selhurst are likely to die 6 years earlier than those in affluent wards to the South of the borough.
These remarkable disparities persist despite years of initiatives by successive governments supposedly aimed at the urban disadvantaged.
Educational opportunity is rightly seen as a way out of poverty, yet the evidence is that it has been the richer social groups who have taken advantage of the expansion in educational facilities since the 1980s**; hardly surprising as so much in education, for young and old alike has been effectively privatised and sold as a market commodity.
More than almost any developed country those born poor in the UK stay poor.***
Labour and Conservative governments have created a society in which those that ‘have’ live longer - and those that haven’t don’t.
When will our elected leaders adopt ‘joined up thinking’ policies that have knock on positive effects on other social problems? Areas with pockets of poverty and deprivation are synonymous with those with crime. Take people out of poverty and you can reduce crime as well as increase life expectancy.

Yours sincerely
Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party
Windmill Road
Croydon

* From your article last week.

** Research published by the Department for Work and Pensions indicates educational achievement is a huge factor in helping those in poor backgrounds escape poverty in later life.

***London School of Economics have found that the expansion of higher education since the 1980’s, a key requisite for improving ones propensity to earn a greater income, have so far disproportionately benefited those from more affluent families. The poorest 20 per cent of society barely obtained more degrees, whereas the wealthiest 20 per cent more than doubled the number of degrees they obtained. Family income during childhood is linked with educational outcomes and this in turn affects social mobility. The findings placed the UK bottom of a social mobility league alongside the US

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Tags croydon, greenparty, life expectancy

Brussels visit coverage -18.10.06 Croydon Guardian

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Croydon Green visits European Parliament

Press Release – Shasha Khan visits Brussels


Shasha Khan visited Brussels last week in order to meet with London’s Green MEP, Jean Lambert.

After their meeting, Shasha Khan commented, “Despite being based in Brussels and Strasbourg, Jean has been at the fore in defending the rights of the people of Croydon.”

Amongst the issues that she has recently been active on are: air quality, older people and household chemicals.

With regard to air quality, she opposed an European Parliament report which sought to water down EU air quality standards. There are over 350,000 premature deaths from air pollution across the EU every year. The revised Air Quality Directive means that people of California, for example, enjoy pollution limits twice as strict, as those that are in Croydon.

On the issue of Older People, Jean has been instrumental in facilitating dialogue between policy makers and European non governmental organisations representing older people. She has called for a higher state pension and an end to pensioners’ poverty. Last month she hosted the London Mayor's reception in Brussels to launch his Strategy for Older People.

And on household chemicals, The REACH directive – which stands for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals – was adopted last week with MEP’s agreeing with the Green group. Essentially, the directive gives customers access to information about the ingredients of household products. It ensures that the most toxic cancer-causing and gender-bending chemicals on the planet must be replaced with safer alternatives, and that safety tests involving animal experiments should be scrapped.

Shasha Khan continued, “Electing Greens at all levels of government is the only way to protect the health, welfare and rights of the people of Croydon"

Ends

Notes: http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/


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Tags croydon, greenparty, European Parliament

Green Party Party

28th October 8pm – 2am

Please come along to our Green Party fundraiser at The Cartoon, 179/183 London Road, Croydon. Entry £7 on the door. Bands taking part are

Alex Lato - currently on course for £1.5 million record deal www.alexlato.com

Unloaded - Lead singer formerly an artist on Poodle Records www.unloaded.info

Deb Espace with David - X Factor contestant and has also appeared on Trisha.
www.myspace.com/debespace

Tim Eveleigh - Well known local artist and promoter www.evinsol.co.uk
Simon Chauke and friends - African music style. Played last years gig. www.myspace.com/timbamusic

Simon & Keith - Played their debut gig at last years Green Party Party. Now with a band.

Plush Baby - welcome return - played last years gig http://www.myspace.com/pwushbaby



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Tags croydon, greenparty

Can one person make a difference?

Becca Thackray was elected Green Party Councillor for Herne Hill Ward in Lambeth (our neighbouring borough) in this year's local elections in May. Here she exclusively tells us more about her work since she was elected.
"As Lambeth's first and only Green Party Councillor my personal profile has risen dramatically in the Borough, because I represent something very different to the other three main political parties.
Raising awareness of the Green Party with a variety of very different groups in Lambeth is important. So I have attended meetings with local business forums, transport and neighbourhood groups and liased with organisations like the Metropolitan Police. As well as this I have been getting involved with a variety of different campaigns to stop cuts in mental health services, adult education and the proposed privatisation of Lambeth's council housing stock.
I have also been tackling other core Green Party issues: this includes joining Lambeth's first Climate Change Scrutiny Committee and lobbying for better recycling facilities in the Borough.
A very important part of my work and one I really enjoy is holding weekly surgeries so that the residents of Herne Hill can meet me and get help and advice. As a Councillor I can sort out things like getting house repairs organised on people's council housing to putting people who are in debt in touch with agencies who can help them.
Its been tremendously exciting and busy and yes one person can make a very big difference indeed."
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Rhinocycle goes to Critical Mass by Andy Lindsay

September's Critical Mass wasn't as big as August's - around 450 riders as opposed to nearly 800 last month and sadly there was no hypnotic 'jungle' music to bop to, but none of that seemed to matter because we were riding the RHINOCYCLE!

We were one person short - she actually seats four - but dedicated and determined fellow cyclists, Mike Armstrong and Jeremy Rickard helped power Bridget the Rhinocycle from her base in Coulsdon to Waterloo Bridge in record time.

After a heavy downpour passing through Croydon the weather turned warm and humid for the rest of the evening and we soaked up loads of positive support from bystanders all the way. Bridget stole the show and as we passed swarms of tourists along RegentStreet, Oxford Street and Oxford Circus she not only pushed the message of the need for Green Alternative Transport but also got people thinking about Conservation of Endangered Species and threatened environments.

Around 8.30 pm we peeled off from the main bunch as they headed northalong Park Lane but we still had a long journey home and were getting quite tired. All in all it was a very positive and successful outing. I would recommend joining Critical Mass (last Friday of every month) to anyone for the sheer buzz and thrill of zooming through all those red lights surrounded by like-minded pushbiking mates. It really is the best way to see London! Thanks again to Mike and Jeremy for a tremendous effort.

Andy Lindsay Director: Rhinocycle2007

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Tags croydon, greenparty, Rhinocycle, Critical Mass

October Meeting

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 10th October at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

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Tags sutton,croydon, greenparty

Signatures collected for campaign

Jim Duffy from Carshalton joined Croydon Greens yesterday in the town centre. Jim is coordinator of the Stop Hinkley campaign (www.stophinkley.org). The nuclear power station at Hinkley Point (near Bristol) is one being considered by the government for expansion. The purpose of the stall was to inform shoppers of the issues covering nuclear power and to collect signatures for Million Against Nuclear.

Jim made submissions to the infamous 'energy review ' and has written articles for The Guardian newspaper on the dangers of nuclear power (http://www.stophinkley.org/News%20Pages/news060705Grd.htm). He advised Croydonians that the government's committee that recommended deep geological disposal as the UK's method for dealing with nuclear waste, did so knowing that it would break UK and European laws!

He also advised locals that stainless steel containing early nuclear waste at Harwell, has almost completely disintegrated after just 45 years.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Continued Beulah Hill demo coverage

More coverage in the Croydon Post - Wednesday, September 27, 2006
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Letter on sports teams being left out in the cold.

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/display.var.918644.0.sport_teams_left_in_the_cold_by_60m_school.php

Dear Editor,

I read with dismay your piece on ‘community sports clubs and societies being left out in the cold’, since the opening of Ashburton Learning Village. We are regularly reminded in the media that our children need exercise and to participate in sports. A la Jamie Oliver, former Crystal Palace striker Ian Wright is using factual TV entertainment to expose the issues surrounding the fitness and health of our kids.

However, in your example, it appears the local community is being excluded by a lack of facilities and a hike in charges.

The Addiscombe Corinthians football team, a local netball team and a dance school say they have been forced out since the school was taken over by Jarvis PLC.
It is obvious that Jarvis PLC is required to provide a dividend to their shareholders. Therefore, in order to prevent the local community being priced out, councillors should have sought assurances from Jarvis before signing a £60 million contract with them.

Using Private Finance Initiative projects, and similar schemes, to fund community facilities is not the answer to decades of underinvestment. It would be better if community facilities, such as this site on Shirley Road, were publicly owned in order to guarantee the level of service required by the local community.

Hopefully the users of this facility have reached an agreement with Jarvis or at least found a suitable alternative.

Yours sincerely

Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party


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Tags croydon, greenparty

Mobile phone mast protest.

Steve Harris (left)


Shasha Khan joined Green Party candidate for Croham ward Steve Harris, to protest against the installation of a 3G mobile phone mast on top of South Croydon Sports Club.

Steve has been working hard to keep the local residents informed of the developments and yesterdays turnout is testament to his efforts.

There has not been nearly enough research into the health implications of masts. Phone masts should not be put up in residential areas, near schools or hospitals until conclusive research has been carried out to prove that they are safe. Moreover the "international guidelines" on EMF levels - which the UK subscribes to - are very misleading. In fact acceptable levels vary wildly between each country: Switzerland's levels are 100 times lower than the UK's levels.

The whole area of mobile phones has developed too fast. International guidelines have been hastily assembled without sufficient research being done. Of course there are many economic and social benefits to the modern telecommunications systems, but these must be balanced by the guaranteed health and safety of local people.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Green Party Conference

Megan and I went down to Hove on Friday for the Autumn National Green Party Conference. It's always a good opportunity to catch up with colleagues.

For me, the highlight of the conference was a presentation given by James Humphreys on, 'The Greens and Labour'. James
James Humphreys was a strategy adviser in No 10 Downing Street from 1997 to 2003 and a former DEFRA official. He is now a full and active member of the Islington Greens and has stood as a candidate for The Green Party. His presentation illustrated the failings of the New Labour project with respect to the environment and identified how the the Labour Party had lost touch with it's more traditional voters.

Megan found the ‘The future of public services’ discussion chaired by Jean Lambert MEP very informing. Essentially, we were told that the European Commission will meet in the winter to issue a new directive which says that the public services demand for EU citizens should be met by the internal market. What is worrying is that people already see schools or hospitals being financed with private money. However, the actual EU directive for these measures is yet to come!



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Tags croydon, greenparty

Mobile Phone Mast Protest

Local Residents will be holding a protest rally on Sunday 24th September at 11am, Beech Copse, Birdhurst Rise, South Croydon to protest against a mobile phone mast on top of South Croydon Sports Club. Many residents are angry at not being consulted or advised.

For more details of the location of the mast, visit their web site
No Beech Copse Mast.

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Tags croydon, phone mast, croham

More newspaper coverage for the victory!

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.922042.0.victory_for_protesters_against_new_home_plans.php
Victory for protesters against new home plans
Upper Norwood residents were celebrating last week when Croydon Council's planning committee rejected a proposal to develop 30 new homes on a site in Beulah Hill.
Last month, residents took to the streets of Upper Norwood to protest about over-development in the area, wielding banners demanding "Save Beulah Hill" and "No more traffic".
And at Thursday night's meeting around 50 residents who sat in the public gallery to hear the decision cheered as councillors on the planning committee rejected the plans.
continued...

Committee member councillor Vidhi Mohan said: "It seems to me that this development is still completely out of character with the other buildings in the area."
It also emerged at the meeting that only 40 per cent of the proposed development would be dedicated to affordable housing.
A spokesman for developer Barnfield Homes said: "The development is only 30 units so we don't actually have to provide 100 per cent affordable housing, in fact we don't have to provide any at all."
But despite his argument - and following representations from Upper Norwood councillor Pat Ryan and residents - the committee voted to reject plans for developing the site for a third time.
Speaking about the decision, Green Party member Shasha Khan, who has been supporting residents in their campaign, said: "I pay tribute to the resilience of those who declined to be bulldozed by those in favour of the proposal."
However, he also warned that future plans would be submitted: "It is clear that the planning committee has very limited grounds on which they can consider such developments and these need to be expanded considerably."
3:45pm Friday 15th September 2006

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Tags croydon, greenparty, Upper Norwood, Beulah Hill,

Newspaper coverage on Beulah Hill

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.922042.0.victory_for_protesters_against_new_home_plans.php

Victory for protesters against new home plans
Upper Norwood residents were celebrating last week when Croydon Council's planning committee rejected a proposal to develop 30 new homes on a site in Beulah Hill.
Last month, residents took to the streets of Upper Norwood to protest about over-development in the area, wielding banners demanding "Save Beulah Hill" and "No more traffic".
And at Thursday night's meeting around 50 residents who sat in the public gallery to hear the decision cheered as councillors on the planning committee rejected the plans.
continued...

Committee member councillor Vidhi Mohan said: "It seems to me that this development is still completely out of character with the other buildings in the area."
It also emerged at the meeting that only 40 per cent of the proposed development would be dedicated to affordable housing.
A spokesman for developer Barnfield Homes said: "The development is only 30 units so we don't actually have to provide 100 per cent affordable housing, in fact we don't have to provide any at all."
But despite his argument - and following representations from Upper Norwood councillor Pat Ryan and residents - the committee voted to reject plans for developing the site for a third time.
Speaking about the decision, Green Party member Shasha Khan, who has been supporting residents in their campaign, said: "I pay tribute to the resilience of those who declined to be bulldozed by those in favour of the proposal."
However, he also warned that future plans would be submitted: "It is clear that the planning committee has very limited grounds on which they can consider such developments and these need to be expanded considerably."
3:45pm Friday 15th September 2006
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Tags croydon, greenparty, Upper Norwood, Beulah Hill

Green Party Photographic Success!

Link to newspaper article

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/display.var.919610.0.eye_for_history.php

Eye for history
By Kim Theobald
Old and new: Shasha Khan's winning image of George Street
Shasha Khan is well known within his local community as treasurer of the Croydon Green Party and is regarded as a local campaigner.
He has stood in general, local and London Assembly elections.
Shasha, 34, can now add winning photographer to his list of accomplishments. He said: "I am thrilled to have won and to have my photograph displayed.
"I'll have to take a photo of my photo while it's displayed in Allders window."
continued...

Shasha, of Windmill Road, Croydon, moved to the borough when he was 11-years-old and has lived here ever since.
Shasha is very proud of Croydon and its history and it was this that influenced his choice of shot.
"Within the borough there is great diversity of cultures which should be celebrated. Hidden among the hustle and bustle, modernity and homogeneity there are some pockets of peace, heritage and even counterculture.
"I also live within walking distance from a massive shopping centre, which at times I take for granted.
"There is a popular misconception about the people of Croydon, especially its young people. Not all of them are chavs'.
“I’ll have to take a photo of my photo while it’s displayed in Allders window.”
Shasha Khan continued,
"People do recognise that there is a need for an additional set of values to be properly recognised and it's not just about the latest car, mobile or trainers."
Danny Brierley, assistant editor of the Croydon Guardian, explained why the committee chose the picture.
"Sasha's image was one of several that immediately caught our eye. It had an interesting juxtaposition of the old and the new, the famous Almshouses and a busy shopping street.
"This clever contrast was the reason the committee felt it should be our winner."
Shasha's winning entry is being prepared so that it can be displayed in Allders window. It will also feature in a Croydon Champions 2006 souvenir magazine.
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Tags croydon, greenparty

VICTORY FOR THE LOCAL RESIDENTS

PRESS RELEASE

8th September 2006


VICTORY FOR THE LOCAL RESIDENTS


There were scenes of jubilation in the public gallery of Croydon Council Chamber when councillors on the Planning Committee sided with objectors on the proposed development at 66-70 Beulah Hill.

Croydon Greens had joined forces with local residents to stop any further developments on the road without a comprehensive traffic and environmental assessment (1). In addition, Croydon Green Party had called for a holistic approach to all new developments in the borough, taking into account the optimum population size for each ward.

Shasha Khan of the Croydon Green Party commented, “This is a triumph for the local people. I pay tribute to resilience of the local residents who declined to be bulldozed by those in favour of the proposal.

However, it is very clear that the Planning Committee has very limited grounds on which they can consider such developments and these need to be expanded considerably. Planning applications must be considered from a holistic perspective – for example, in terms of their impact on traffic levels and local infrastructure and in light of other proposed developments in the area.”

Ends

(1) Demonstration on 24th August covered by your newspaper


Tags croydon, greenparty, Upper Norwood, Beulah Hill

STOP PRESS: Councillors vote NO! to new development!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just returned from the Planning Committee Meeting. There were scenes of jubilation in the public gallery when the councillors on the committee voted against the development at 66-70 Beulah Hill.


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Tags croydon, greenparty

Beulah Hill is an accident hotspot!

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Water Fountains letter published in local paper

Online version of letter

Water fountains at all-time low
Sep 1 2006

Your story regarding the withdrawal of drinking fountains at Westcroft Sports centre in Carshalton comes at a time when the availability of public water fountains must be at an all-time low since they were introduced.
Why Sutton Council couldn't simply take steps to ensure that the water in the fountains wasn't too warm is not revealed in your story, but the bigger story is the steady switch to expensive, environmentally damaging plastic bottles of pretty much identical water, as several studies have revealed.
I suspect many others of my generation share my aversion to shelling out a lot of money for a packaged version of what was until recently available freely as a public service.
This is one Victorian value that Sutton Water company and Sutton Council might do well to embrace.What about a campaign to bring back our drinking fountains to our parks and High Streets?

Bob Steel
Sutton and Croydon Green Party

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Newspaper coverage

http://iccroydon.icnetwork.co.uk/advertiser/headlines/tm_objectid=17688104%26method=full%26siteid=53340%26headline=neighbourhood%2dat%2d%2dbreaking%2dpoint%2d-name_page.html


Croydon Advertiser Online Article

Coverage in the Croydon Guardian & Croydon Advertiser
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Tags croydon, greenparty

De Zoysa family on shortlist

I read in the local paper that Green Party Supporters/Activists, the De Zoysa family have been nominated for the prestigious Green Champion Awards. If you've ever met them, you'll never forget them! There house is as eco-friendly as you can get for a residential part of Norbury. However, it's their love of cycling that captures everyones attention, because when the De Zoysa family go out on their bikes you just can't miss them. It's the most fantastic convoy you will see in Croydon!

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/greenguardian/greenawards/

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Beulah Hill Demo

A great turnout with 25 local residents attending!
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Carshalton Environmental Fair

Please come and support our Green Party stall at this year's Environmental Fair, on Monday 28 August in Carshalton Park, Ruskin Road, Carshalton.

We need people to help man our stall throughout the day – just an hour if you can? Please bring any small items suitable for sale (books, films, music, whatever) and ideally some home-made cake for our Fair Trade tea & coffee stall.
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Tags Carshalton, greenparty

Beulah Hill Demo planned

COUNCIL PLANNERS ARE LETTING US DOWN! PIECEMEAL AND
SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT, OVER-DEVELOPMENT AND POOR POLICING OF PLANNING REGULATIONS ARE BLIGHTING THE BEULAH HILL AREA.

The time has come to say ‘enough is enough’!

As the Council considers a third development application for 66-70 Beulah Hill, help us show them how strongly local residents feel about the blighting of Beulah Hill. Join a public protest called by Croydon Greens on:

DATE: Thursday 24th August

PLACE: Outside 66-70 Beulah Hill

TIME: 3pm

We’re aiming for major coverage in the local media so bring your banners and make your voice heard!


WHY WE NEED ACTION TO PROTECT BEULAH HILL

HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

Planning permission has already been granted for three housing developments and Barnfield Homes are pushing hard to build a fourth (of 15 houses and nine flats) on the site of 66-70 Beulah Hill.

If this is approved it will lead to a variety of problems:

· Residents in the immediate vicinity will lose their outlook and their privacy due to the number, size and proximity of new houses as well as the loss trees and shrubs on the boundary.
· In the wider area, traffic will increase leading to more air and noise pollution as well as more traffic accidents. Beulah Hill is already a major black spot for traffic accidents: the new developments will only exacerbate this situation. Air quality in Croydon is already at dangerously high levels; increased traffic will trigger an even greater incidence of respiratory disease amongst young and old alike.

· The Barnfield Homes proposal requires the felling of 21 mature trees – adding to the loss of 30 trees and various shrubs in the Ellery Road and Founders Gardens areas last year. This will represent yet another deterioration of the streetscape and will further reduce wildlife habitat.

· The overall character of the area will be undermined even further as existing housing stock is being demolished or neglected in the rush to build speculative developments. For example, as well as the proposal to demolish the houses at 68–70 Beulah Hill, another development already approved by Council involves the purchase and demolition of two bungalows, a house and the Norfolk Court Hotel. Meanwhile, potentially usable empty properties such as Ormsby Court are left vacant. This sets a dangerous precedent for speculative developers.


WHAT ARE WE CALLING FOR?


1) A FULL, INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

Despite the fact that many of these developments conflict with Croydon Council’s current Unitary Development Plan and the Second Deposit Draft Replacement Unitary Development Plan, Council officers continue to take a piecemeal approach.

For example, they currently adhere to the view that individual developments falling below the ‘guideline’ of 32 units require no traffic impact assessment. So, despite the fact that four separate proposed developments would result in an additional 50 units of housing being built within a space of less than 500 metres, no impact assessment will be made.

2) BETTER USE OF EXISTING HOUSING STOCK

On Beulah Hill, Ormsby Court currently lies empty and neglected. Across London, more than 100,000 homes lie empty. Before approving speculative developments that merely destroy the character and amenity of an area, the Council should first seek to ensure that existing housing stock is better used.

3) PROPER POLICING OF EXISTING PLANNING POLICIES

Well over a year after the destruction of more than 30 mature trees along Beulah Hill, the Council has still failed to take action to have the area restored or the perpetrators prosecuted. Once again, this failure to act is symptomatic of the piecemeal and short-term thinking that currently seems to hold sway with Council planners. The area cannot afford to lose more trees and more green spaces - they must be given proper protection.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

New housing developments

17.08.06

Dear Editor

Across the borough of Croydon, local residents are seeing new housing developments being built. Each one increasing the density of the number of homes in a locality.
One such development is 66-70 Beulah Hill Upper Norwood. In this case, perfectly acceptable housing stock is being demolished and replaced with higher density housing. This is nonsensical when nearby Ormesby Court lies empty and neglected. Across London 100,000 homes remain empty.
Croydon Council needs to look at planning applications as a whole and how they affect the wider area, not on a piecemeal basis. This includes factoring in the impact from increased traffic, pressure on public services and air quality to determine the optimum size of wards within the borough.
Finally, all new housing needs to be designed with low energy consumption in mind.

Yours sincerely

Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party
Windmill Road
Croydon

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Tags croydon, greenparty, Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, housing, development

More Peace March pictures

Croydon Greens pictured at the peace march.

Darren Johnson addressed the peace march in London today 5th Aug 2006

"Let us make our voices heard today in favour of peace and justice"

London Assembly Member Darren Johnson today addressed a substantial crowd protesting against Israel's sustained attack against the people of Lebanon. As a representative for the Greens, he reiterated the Party's call for and immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

"We in the Green Party join the demands for an absolute unconditional ceasefire now. And we demand that the British Government makes that their official policy with immediate effect. We say it is shameful that Britain is standing with the US - isolated from the international community - in allowing Israel's attacks on the innocent people of Lebanon.

"As a party of peace we condemn terrorism. But you don't fight terrorism with indiscriminate war. And you don't punish innocent civilians for the actions of terrorists. Collective punishment is a war crime. If we want a more secure world we need a more just world.

"Is it any surprise that when we sell rockets, missiles and tanks to aggressive regimes they start to use them? Last year the UK licensed arms sales worth £22.5 million to Israel. Let's rip up those contracts and supply no more.

"We also say to Tony Blair and the British Government it's time to end your special relationship with President Bush. We say its time to start a new special relationship with the innocent victims of war, oppression and injustice. We say it's time to start a special relationship with the innocent civilians of Lebanon. Those are the people who need Britain's support today - not President Bush. Let us make our voices heard today in favour of peace and justice.

"And let's demand an immediate ceasefire. An unconditional ceasefire."

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Tags croydon, greenparty

August Meeting

Next meeting will be in Croydon.

Upstairs at the Green Dragon Pub.

Thursday 17th August at 7.30pm.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Stop Global Warring

Several local Greens where amongst the turnout at Saturday's march calling for a ceasefire, including Martyn, pictured above.

I also managed to make contact with the Croydon Stop the War banner, and it's custodian, Nigel Green of Croydon STWC and Croydon CND.
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Tags war, greenparty

Rhinocycle in the local press

"Bridget meets the Humber Bridge head on as ‘rhinocycle’ doesn’t let a few mishaps stop her"

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Tags rhino, greenparty

NATIONAL EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION

On Saturday 5 August there will be a national emergency demonstration in London calling for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, the end of Israel's attacks and the end of Tony Blair's support for George Bush's wars. Dozens of coaches have already been booked to bring protestors to London. Everyone who is outraged by the barbarism we are witnessing in Lebanon and Gaza should support this demonstration.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
END ISRAEL'S WAR ON LEBANON AND GAZA
SATURDAY 5 AUGUST: ASSEMBLE 12 NOON
SPEAKERS CORNER, HYDE PARK
(Nearest tube Marble Arch)
MARCH TO PALIAMENT SQUARE FOR RALLY

Darren Johnson will be the Green Party speaker on the platform.

The Green Party meeting point details are as follows.

Meet from 11.30 inside Hyde Park, Park Lane side, roughly where it says
'Brook Gate' on this map:



further info
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Tags war, greenparty

Letter sent to The Observer

Dear Editor,


Andrew Rawnsley is correct in stating that Tony Blair is a satellite of George Bush. His open mic exchange with the American president confirms this country’s status on the world scene. Poodle Blair simply kneels to the needs and wishes of George Bush. By the same token, the vast majority of Labour MP’s kneel to the needs and wishes of Tony Blair. One can conclude that here in the UK we live in a Bushocracy: government of the people, by the people, for the Bush.

Yours sincerely

Shasha Khan
Treasurer of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party


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Tags croydon, greenparty

CROYDON GREEN RAISES RHINO AWARENESS

Croydon Green Party member Andrew Lindsay has put a lot of legwork into saving rhinos recently. He’s just finished a round England ‘Rhino-ride’ to publicise the dire situation of these endangered species.

Below is brief account of his efforts:
“We rescued four scrapped mountain bikes from the local tip and set about welding these together and creating the frame this impressive head.
It was incredible. The original frame was too narrow and she wallowed horribly on the road camber steering heavily for the kerb. The day before setting off we set about cutting and widening the whole frame by 20 inches to make it more stable and were finally finished late in the evening.”
We set off on June 1st to get to London Zoo for ‘Rhino Mayday’, that’s the annual meeting of all the heads of rhino conservation in the UK. Cycling along busy Oxford Street was fantastic, amazing reactions from Japanese tourists hanging out of bus windows trying to get a better picture. Capital Radio did a phone in; ‘Call us if you’ve seen the Rhinocycle and win £10’ all afternoon, although none of the money went to charity and they never interviewed us.”
Tragically, at the meeting we learned that the Western or Cameroon Black Rhino was declared extinct as of earlier THIS YEAR, Northern White Rhino (a sub species of the relatively healthy population of Southern White Rhinos) found only in Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) numbers are down to just FOUR and Javan and Sumatran Rhinos are in a similarly desperate situation.
When the meeting was over we looked for Cindy, our lady rider, only to find a text saying she’d gone home – for personal reasons. We soldiered on, myself, Adam Naiff and Sam Prior, both aged 18 from Brighton and the following day got ourselves escorted off the A10 by the police. It was a fair cop; when we weren’t causing a three mile tail back cars were whizzing past us at 80mph and if we’d been hit they’d never have found all the pieces.
Top wildlife conservationist, Ian Redmond OBE, joined us on the third day (see photo) as we hit some serious hills and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. A wheel broke just outside Cambridge and at that very moment we were passed by a cycle repair expert called Robin. Robin, or Mad Dog as he’s known to his mates for his strong Green views, repaired the wheel at his workshop and then escorted us to his home for a BBQ that evening.
We were rejoined by Cindy and carried on until one of the crew had a mini break down after a particularly hard day. After some healthy encouragement he got back on and, brave man, gave 100% effort for the rest of the trip. I was so impressed by all the crew!
‘Bridget’ as we called her, was a lot heavier than I’d anticipated and we were a lot less fit then we thought! On the last day before the bridge – our hardest, covering almost 60 miles - we had 2 wheel collapses and the left hand trailer buggy wheel bearings broke up, all having to be repaired. We made up a 20 metre banner with ‘www.savetherhino.org’ plus their logo and on Friday, June 9th when we crossed the Humber Bridge, we strung it over the railings for an hour before being made to take it down by security. While that was going on we did a live radio interview with BBC radio Humberside.”
On the whole it was an extremely positive experience. We so determined to draw attention to the desperate plight of the rhino that we plan to take the Rhinocycle as far as Edinburgh next year.”



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Tags croydon, greenparty, rhino, cycling, endangered species, savetherhino

One Million Europeans Against Nuclear Power

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Tags nuclear, europeans

Nuclear power letter sent to local papers.

Dear Editor,


Energy Minister and MP for Croydon North, Malcolm Wicks, has recently been on television and radio defending the conclusions of the Energy Review. I use the word defending because, as opinion polls show, the government is not reflecting the views of the people.

The decision to go ahead with a new wave of nuclear power stations will have massive implications for the whole country. There is no need for nuclear power to be tabled as a solution to our looming energy crisis. The UK’s vast renewable resources combined with simple energy saving methods provide a safer and cleaner alternative.It is baffling why an option that costs more, has huge complications in terms of waste disposal, could easily be the target of a terrorist attack, emits carbon dioxide in the production process and whose core mineral, uranium, is in ever diminishing supply, is being pursued.

I sincerely hope that future generations do not passage back to this point in time to find it was a Croydon MP, that took this country down an ill-fated nuclear road.

Yours sincerely


Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party
Windmill Road
Croydon


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Tags croydon, greenparty

Moazzam Begg speaks in Croydon

On July 10th, a couple of members of the local party went along to hear Moazzam Begg speaking at the Alkhair Educational and Cultural Centre. The event was organised by Croydon Amnesty Group. Mr Begg spoke about what Guantanamo Bay was like from the inside. He was one of nine British citizens held by the USA without charge. Prompted by his observation that there very few Muslims attending, I asked Mr Begg why this was the case? He replied that fear was a key reason.

No doubt, recent events in Forest Gate have left Muslims feeling more vulnerable. By attending such meetings, followers of Islam probably feel that their status changes from moderate to radical.



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Tags croydon, greenparty

Green Party rising in the polls

The latest Sunday Telegraph poll (9/7/06) show the Green Party Nationally up another 1% after the by-elections. The Green Party has been rising steadily from 2% earlier in the year, 4% after the Locals and now 5%.

With local election results at around 10%, including the seats with no candidate, that rate of rise could put us on around 12% overall, and well over 20% in Norwood and central Croydon.

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Tags croydon, greenparty, polls

Ethical investing letter sent to local newspaper

Reference: http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.818176.0.ethical_investing_goes_up_in_smoke_at_council.php
Edited letter as it appeared in the Croydon Guardian
http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/views/croyletters/display.var.837460.0.where_tories_stand_on_ethics.php

-07.07.06

Dear Editor,

The Conservative council’s decision to invest in tobacco companies to maximise returns for its pension funds is, I am afraid, par for the course for a Tory administration. The pensions sub-committee apparently acted on recommendations from advisers. If the remit of a financial adviser is to ensure a secure return on ones investment, then of course tobacco companies will be suggested. The thinking process is similar to those idiots who justify the purchase of 4X4 vehicles for urban use, because they are supposedly safer. The fact that you are greatly increasing the levels of harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, than if you were driving a saloon car, literally flows out the electric window. Both are examples of the ‘I am alright Jack’ mentality.

However, the council should take into account three considerations when reaching its decision. Firstly, the performance of ethical funds show respectable growth in comparison – indeed the future top performers are likely to be renewable energy providers. Secondly, a series of further compensation claims may well effect the share price of tobacco companies. Finally, it is socially irresponsible for a council to invest in an industry that is associated with the deaths of 100,000 people in the UK every year?

If anyone was unsure what the morals and ethics were of this Conservative council, then this example should confirm all our apprehensions.

Yours sincerely


Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party

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Tags croydon, greenparty

July Sutton and Croydon Meeting

The next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on Tuesday 11th July at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Greens raise nuclear influence concerns

Friday's protest went very well. Thanks to Dave and Martyn for their efforts on the day. Needless to say we caused a stir. Shopkeepers came out to see why passing cars had slowed down and a number of locals stopped to ask questions. Below is a link to the press release relating to the event.

http://croydongreens.blogspot.com/2006/06/energy-review.html
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Bring back the North End vehicle barriers

North End, Croydon town centre's only pedestrianised area has become open to motor vehicles with the removal of the barries at both ends. Once again, drivers are free to drive down this crowded shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon. This Saturday, at about 2pm, with the French market blocking much of the area the stallholders vans were being driven in from both ends of the street.

It seems all this chaos was caused by a decision to clear the area in advance of the world cup football match.





I have written to my local councillors, who's ward includes North End, asking for the return of the vehicle barriers.
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Tags croydon, greenparty, fairfield

Police should prevent crime, instead of picking on cyclists

Responding to yesterday’s High Court victory by bicycle protestors over the police, Jenny Jones, member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and Green Party member of the London Assembly, said:

“This decision is a victory for common sense. Critical Mass is a lively, but peaceful get-together of cyclists which has been going on for over a decade without any major incidents. Arresting these cyclists would have been like arresting a group of passengers for gathering at Westminster tube station during the rush hour. The police should stick to catching criminals instead of picking on cyclists. Tomorrow, shall be asking the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police not to appeal the decision.”

The Judgement

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Tags criticalmass, greenparty, cycling, police

Energy Review

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Press Release – Photo Opportunity

Local Greens Raise Nuclear Influence Concerns With Wicks

Where: Outside Malcolm Wick’s constituency office – High Street, Thornton Heath
When: 1pm – 30th June 2006

Croydon Green Party will challenge Energy Minister and Croydon North MP, Malcolm Wicks, to base his department’s energy review on facts not hidden agendas.

The Party has serious concerns about Prime Minister Tony Blair’s statement that nuclear power was, “back on the agenda with a vengeance” when there is no evidence to support such a move. Of particular concern is evidence showing Labour Party donations from energy companies and lobbying firms linked to the nuclear industry.

Local candidate Shasha Khan and local Party supporters will formally deliver a letter from the Croydon Green Party to Mr. Wicks. They will also use street theatre to reinforce their message.

Shasha Khan said, “There is no need for nuclear power to be tabled as a solution to our looming energy crisis. The UK’s vast renewable resources combined with simple energy saving methods provide a safer and cleaner alternative.”

“It is baffling why an option that costs more, has huge implications in terms of waste disposal, could easily be the target of a terrorist attack, emits carbon dioxide in the production process and whose core mineral, uranium, is in ever diminishing supply, is being pursued! Our conclusion is that the cash strapped Labour Party may be determining its policy via a different set of considerations".

Figures published by the Electoral Commission showed money flooded in to the Labour Party from energy companies and lobbying firms linked to the nuclear industry. Crucially, the cash donations give the pro-nuclear lobby access to decision makers.

EDF Energy, which has 58 nuclear reactors across Europe, gave Labour £6000 late last year. In the same period, lobbying firm Weber Shadwick whose clients include British Nuclear Fuels gave Labour £19,500. Two weeks after Mr Blair’s now infamous ‘vengeance’ speech to the Confederation of British Industry, Sovereign Strategy, which represents US Nuclear firm Fluor, gave Labour £8000. Fluor is hoping to win a stake in the £70 billion British nuclear waste market.

Shasha Khan concluded, “It is important that Mr Wicks shows us all that he is his own man and not Tony Blair’s ministerial poodle. The facts are there for all to see. If, as I fear, the energy review concludes that the country proceeds with the nuclear power option with a token level of renewable energy, then one can only assume that decisions simply go to the highest bidder.”

ENDS

Sources: 1) ‘The Independent’ - 27th May 2006 2) The Sunday Times’ - May 14th 2006

Tags croydon, greenparty

Bromley and Chislehurst Parliamentary By-election

I'm sure they would appreciate any offers of help....



Ann Garrett
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Tags bromley, greenparty

The Croydon Local Vote Swindle

From the Electoral Reform Society's 110-page booklet "The Great Local Vote Swindle".

Labour won Croydon three times in succession from 1994 to 2002 despite the Conservatives always having more votes. This was because there are a number of very safe Conservative seats in the south of the borough where turnout has been quite high, while Labour wins wards in the centre and north of Croydon with smaller shares of the vote on a lower turnout.

This pattern came to an end in 2006 as the Conservatives won control, although it should be noted that the Conservative share of the vote was fractionally down on 2002. The result was more because Labour’s vote fell sharply and went mainly to the Greens (in some wards to the Liberal Democrats).
The parties gaining votes – Greens, Lib Dems and UKIP – were left unrepresented in the council chamber. The Lib Dems lost the seat they were defending to the Conservatives while picking up votes in wards where they stood little chance of success.
The possibility of future anomalous results in Croydon is still there. It would take a relatively small swing to Labour in order for the party to reach 36 seats and overall control. There are four Conservative seats in split wards, and two wards (six seats) which are vulnerable to a 3 per cent swing back to Labour. It is therefore possible that in a future election Labour could run Croydon with less than 30 per cent of the vote and lagging more than 10 percentage points behind the Conservatives.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

The Great Local Vote Swindle

Thousands of voters were 'swindled' in local elections, says watchdog By Andy McSmith Published: 15 June 2006

Hundreds of thousands of voters who turned out at last month's council elections were "swindled" by a system that put control of a dozen councils in the hands of the "wrong" party because of a mismatch between votes cast and who got elected.

That was the claim made yesterday by the Electoral Reform Society, which published a 110-page booklet called "The Great Local Vote Swindle" , analysing the election results. Its analysis shows that the Conservatives " won" the contest in Kingston upon Thames, with 41 per cent of the vote, but it left them with only 21 council seats.

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A big loser was the Green Party, which won more than one fifth of all the votes cast in Hackney, but ended up with only one councillor out of a total of 57.

The Great Local Vote Swindle

The Society's full report on the 2006 local elections is out now.


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Tags croydon, greenparty, electoralreform, votes, democracy

Green Party present Crystal Palace Park Petition

On Wednesday 14th June, Darren Johnson, leader of the Green Party group on the GLA, will present a near 8000 signature petition to London Mayor Ken Livingstone against the construction of 200 private luxury housing units and other non-park related development on Crystal Palace Park.

Meet Darren Johnson outside City Hall at 9.30am sharp for a press photograph, take a plackard. CPCA would like to know if you can attend cpca(at)onetel.com.

Source CPCA

Croydon Advertiser coverage

Tags croydon, greenparty, CPCA, crystalpalacepark, darrenjohnson, kenlivingstone

Tom Real's Trike

If you live in South Norwood or Upper Norwood, you would have probably seen Tom Real and his 'trike'......

Meeting at The Green Dragon

The Hogshead Pub where Croydon Greens are meeting upstairs on Monday 5th at 7.30 pm has had a comprehensive refit and a name change to The Green Dragon.



The Next meeting of the Sutton and Croydon Green Party will be on the 13th June at 8pm at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives Carshalton, map here.

Queen Mary Road

[April 2006]After discussing traffic problems with residents of Upper Norwood’s Queen Mary Road, Mayor Ken Livingstone’s Road Safety Ambassador Jenny Jones has called for more pedestrian-focussed solutions in the area.

Jenny, Green Party London Assembly Member, visited the area at the invitation of Green Party candidate Shasha Khan.

Shasha Khan said, “Due to the narrow road and limited car parking spaces, it is impossible for vehicles to pass on the street. One night recently a local resident counted more than 20 vehicles lined up in a ‘Mexican standoff’ on the road.”


Jenny Jones added, “Streets should be for the people who live there, with enough space for their needs, not for motorists who want to rat run to save a few minutes.”

“Home zones are often the answer for local people, slowing down the traffic to speeds where crossing the road becomes easy even for the slowest pedestrians, where children can play, and where the quality of life is improved for everyone.”

Counting Agents at Fairfield Halls (May 4th 2006)

From left to right.
Shasha Khan, Anwar Khan, Chris Kitching, Ruby Kitching, Emily Field, Selima Khan, Megan Braid Pittordou, Tim Fernandes Bonner

Letter in the Croydon Guardian

Two weeks to break promises

also in the same paper

Doing right by Crosfield

Letter sent to local papers

18.05.06

Dear Editor,

I have just dug up two Conservative newsletters that were circulated before the council election. I am not in the habit of keeping such literature, but after reading that the Conservative Leader has backtracked on his pledge to keep Crosfield open, I just had to remind myself what the Tories stated. One newsletter has a photograph of a group of protesters with the caption, “ Conservatives supporting Crosfield workers demonstrating outside the Town Hall”. The other newsletter lists the, ”Key election pledges”. At the top it says HONESTY followed by the statement, “People are sick of politicians promising one thing before an election and doing something else afterwards.” I am gobsmacked and disgusted. So many voters must feel cheated. It took less than two weeks to find out what this Council were about. The Conservative and Labour Parties think they are a law unto themselves. What is most galling, is that they are ‘U turning’ on an issue which affects one of the most vulnerable groups in the borough. Their leader, David Cameron, talks of social justice and compassionate conservatism. Well, if anybody was in any doubt, it’s the same old Tories – always cheating - and not an ounce of compassion in sight. Is it any wonder that so many voted for an alternative in the local elections? People want people to come first.

Yours sincerely

Shasha Khan
Croydon Green Party
Windmill Road
Croydon