It's election day tomorrow. After 6 weeks of almost constant campaigning (I had to take a couple of days off to say hi to my family), I am looking forward to seeing some great results across the borough. I am then looking forward to a few days rest...
The feedback from door knocking has been terrific and the support that we have received so far has been great.
If you are still undecided on how to vote, please look at our website or give me a ring! (www.maidstone.greenparty.org.uk or 01622 808370)
Stuart
Green Party campaigner in Kent. Also a nurse, academic, former manager, writer, Druid, husband and father...
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Monday, 28 April 2008
Weekend work
A massive thanks to the 17 supporters who turn out on Saturday afternoon to deliver leaflets across the entire ward in just 1 1/2 hours (we missed one road out and 50 houses in another road - these will be done today). This type of help really makes life much easier for those of us whose legs are complaining after weeks of campaigning.
Did no campaigning yesterday though - spent the day with my wife as it was her birthday.
Stuart
Did no campaigning yesterday though - spent the day with my wife as it was her birthday.
Stuart
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Fant Marina - great news
The great news this week is that the planning appeal for the Fant marina has been turned down by the Planning Inspector. The area is safe for the time being (it would be great if this land could be bought by the council or the community to make sure that it stays safe). A big thanks to all those who campaigned against the marina!
Stuart
Stuart
KENT’S GREEN MEP CRITICISES LORRY PARK PLANS AS OPPOSITION STACKS UP
A South East MEP has added her voice to a growing campaign against plans by Kent County Council to erect large vehicle parks along the local motorways in an ill-advised attempt to solve the problem of heavy lorry congestion in the area.
The council’s policy to ease the ongoing ‘Operation Stack’ in Kent has been heavily criticised by local communities, who have expressed serious concerns about the effect of the proposed lorry parks on the rural surroundings, given the potentially huge increase in noise, waste and air pollution.
Today, Caroline Lucas MEP warned that both the current levels of freight traffic in Operation Stack, and the proposed lorry parks, which would hold over 3000 vehicles, are unacceptable for the people of Kent. She said:
“Operation Stack has plagued Kent’s roads for long enough. Whenever the cross Channel transport packs up, local people must suffer long pile-ups of parked lorries and the frequent closure of the M20.
“But the lorry parks planned by Kent County Council are simply not the answer; they are unsustainable, unworkable and unsuitable for the surrounding area. The land earmarked for an off-motorway lorry park between Junction 10 and 11, for example, is green land with a rural community which would struggle to accommodate such a facility.
“Lorry parks would harm the countryside, promoting higher noise and light pollution, and if the worrying predictions about the number of lorries on UK roads increasing annually are to be believed, even a 3000-space lorry park may not be large enough.
Dr Lucas continued: “This is not a problem that Kent alone should have to deal with; it is a UK-wide issue that requires a national strategy.
“This pressing problem requires effective short term solutions, such as imposing full charging on all foreign lorries in line with EU law to reduce numbers. We need to ensure that the Eurotunnel’s maximum carriage capacity of HGVs is being utilised and that HGVs are fully inspected to EU standards.
“Furthermore, the ongoing expansion of the Port of Dover's Eastern Docks should be suspended, as this can only lead to even more vehicles moving through the Port, which itself has limited road capacity options.
"I urge Kent County Council to consider these solutions before ploughing ahead with their unpopular and unsustainable lorry parks."
The council’s policy to ease the ongoing ‘Operation Stack’ in Kent has been heavily criticised by local communities, who have expressed serious concerns about the effect of the proposed lorry parks on the rural surroundings, given the potentially huge increase in noise, waste and air pollution.
Today, Caroline Lucas MEP warned that both the current levels of freight traffic in Operation Stack, and the proposed lorry parks, which would hold over 3000 vehicles, are unacceptable for the people of Kent. She said:
“Operation Stack has plagued Kent’s roads for long enough. Whenever the cross Channel transport packs up, local people must suffer long pile-ups of parked lorries and the frequent closure of the M20.
“But the lorry parks planned by Kent County Council are simply not the answer; they are unsustainable, unworkable and unsuitable for the surrounding area. The land earmarked for an off-motorway lorry park between Junction 10 and 11, for example, is green land with a rural community which would struggle to accommodate such a facility.
“Lorry parks would harm the countryside, promoting higher noise and light pollution, and if the worrying predictions about the number of lorries on UK roads increasing annually are to be believed, even a 3000-space lorry park may not be large enough.
Dr Lucas continued: “This is not a problem that Kent alone should have to deal with; it is a UK-wide issue that requires a national strategy.
“This pressing problem requires effective short term solutions, such as imposing full charging on all foreign lorries in line with EU law to reduce numbers. We need to ensure that the Eurotunnel’s maximum carriage capacity of HGVs is being utilised and that HGVs are fully inspected to EU standards.
“Furthermore, the ongoing expansion of the Port of Dover's Eastern Docks should be suspended, as this can only lead to even more vehicles moving through the Port, which itself has limited road capacity options.
"I urge Kent County Council to consider these solutions before ploughing ahead with their unpopular and unsustainable lorry parks."
Friday, 25 April 2008
Kent TV
Kent TV filmed the parties in Fant Ward last month and have now put the film out: click here to see it.
Thursday, 24 April 2008
St George an icon of multiculturalism, freedom and dissent
I had hoped to post this yesterday, on St George's Day... I found this excellent piece by Peter Tatchell:
Rebel against Roman tyranny
"St George's Day should be a national holiday in England. We should celebrate St George as a symbol of freedom, dissent and multiculturalism," says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
"It is time we ditched the myths surrounding St George and celebrated the reality of his courageous life.
"He doesn't belong to the far right. He represents multiculturalism and rebellion against tyranny.
"St George wasn't white or English. He was a rebel from the Middle East. His father was Turkish and his mother probably Palestinian. He rebelled against the Roman Emperor Diocletian and was executed for opposing the persecution of Christians by the Romans.
"An early defender human rights, he is a heroic symbol of protest and the right to freedom of belief and expression.
"St George's parentage embodies multiculturalism and his life expresses the values of English liberalism and dissent," said Mr Tatchell.
Rebel against Roman tyranny
"St George's Day should be a national holiday in England. We should celebrate St George as a symbol of freedom, dissent and multiculturalism," says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
"It is time we ditched the myths surrounding St George and celebrated the reality of his courageous life.
"He doesn't belong to the far right. He represents multiculturalism and rebellion against tyranny.
"St George wasn't white or English. He was a rebel from the Middle East. His father was Turkish and his mother probably Palestinian. He rebelled against the Roman Emperor Diocletian and was executed for opposing the persecution of Christians by the Romans.
"An early defender human rights, he is a heroic symbol of protest and the right to freedom of belief and expression.
"St George's parentage embodies multiculturalism and his life expresses the values of English liberalism and dissent," said Mr Tatchell.
Friday, 18 April 2008
Red Pepper
I've been quoted in the latest edition of Red Pepper.
Stuart Jeffery: ‘We’re not middle class idiots,’ he barks (as your intrepid questioner ducks for cover). ‘That’s quite offensive. I don’t mind being called an idiot but don’t call me middle class.’
I've had better quotes, but it's still good to get in Red Pepper. I spent an hour with the guy who wrote the piece, I'm sure I made better points...
The whole article is very nicely written, read it here.
Stuart Jeffery: ‘We’re not middle class idiots,’ he barks (as your intrepid questioner ducks for cover). ‘That’s quite offensive. I don’t mind being called an idiot but don’t call me middle class.’
I've had better quotes, but it's still good to get in Red Pepper. I spent an hour with the guy who wrote the piece, I'm sure I made better points...
The whole article is very nicely written, read it here.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Green support growing in Fant
Have been campaigning hard now for the last three week, out almost every evening knocking on doors and speaking to people. I won't get round to every one as there simply isn't time but I'm encouraging people to ring me if I miss them and they want a chat.
The support is phenomenal and a step change up from last year. I have no way of guessing what the result will be but I'm very optimistic!
Having covered part of the area around Gatland Park and Fant Lane this week, people are concerned about kids hanging around and causing trouble. I'm all for kids hanging around - especially in parks. I seem to remember doing it myself a long time ago! Not so keen on causing trouble...
Some suggest more CCTV. I suggest we have more than enough CCTV (the average person is caught 300 times a day on CCTV) and I have massive problems with the surveillance society that we live in and CCTV simply moves the problem to other areas.
Others suggest that the kids should go home. Again, I think kids need to be out and about and learning about society and community. They can't do that on a Play Station. Lots of kids do stay in, often because of the perceived (and sometimes real) dangers of letting them out. The roads are ridiculously busy - far busier than they were 30 years ago - this needs addressing urgently. But the safety of kids playing outside would be greater if more kids did it. It would be greater if communities reclaimed the streets from the cars and the rat runs.
There is no instant fix to people's concerns, and the only way to resolve these issues if through building communities. What we mustn't do is discriminate and demonise our children.
The support is phenomenal and a step change up from last year. I have no way of guessing what the result will be but I'm very optimistic!
Having covered part of the area around Gatland Park and Fant Lane this week, people are concerned about kids hanging around and causing trouble. I'm all for kids hanging around - especially in parks. I seem to remember doing it myself a long time ago! Not so keen on causing trouble...
Some suggest more CCTV. I suggest we have more than enough CCTV (the average person is caught 300 times a day on CCTV) and I have massive problems with the surveillance society that we live in and CCTV simply moves the problem to other areas.
Others suggest that the kids should go home. Again, I think kids need to be out and about and learning about society and community. They can't do that on a Play Station. Lots of kids do stay in, often because of the perceived (and sometimes real) dangers of letting them out. The roads are ridiculously busy - far busier than they were 30 years ago - this needs addressing urgently. But the safety of kids playing outside would be greater if more kids did it. It would be greater if communities reclaimed the streets from the cars and the rat runs.
There is no instant fix to people's concerns, and the only way to resolve these issues if through building communities. What we mustn't do is discriminate and demonise our children.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Harry Bear backs Siân Berry and Snow Joke
Excellent news for Sian Berry in the London Mayoral race, it appears that Harry Bear has withdrawn and is backing the Greens.
"I have withdrawn my challenge to become Mayor of London and have decided to endorse the Green Party candidate, Siân Berry."
Find out more here: London Green Party Website
In Maidstone, election leaflets are beginning to go out, hampered by the snow today, but we still managed to do a third of them.
Stuart
"I have withdrawn my challenge to become Mayor of London and have decided to endorse the Green Party candidate, Siân Berry."
Find out more here: London Green Party Website
In Maidstone, election leaflets are beginning to go out, hampered by the snow today, but we still managed to do a third of them.
Stuart
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Green Election Launch
The Green Party launched its nation election campaign today in Norwich with Caroline Lucas, our South East MEP leading the launch. Norwich greens are doing very well, they are hoping to become the main opposition party on the council, i.e. the second biggest party. They currently have 10 councillors and are one of the most successful local parties in the country.
Campaigning has continued all week and I have just returned from a couple of hours of door knocking. The support is fantastic, it would great to follow the Norwich example.
I attended the public hearing on the Fant Marina appeal today. There was a strong turnout and opposition to the appeal with around 50 people at the hearing. I have yet to find anyone in favour of the marina and it was good to see the wide variety of objections going to the planning inspector. I spoke quite a few times and hope that I made an impression on the inspector. Figures crossed for the appeal being turned down - the marina will be disastrous for the area if it goes ahead.
Campaigning has continued all week and I have just returned from a couple of hours of door knocking. The support is fantastic, it would great to follow the Norwich example.
I attended the public hearing on the Fant Marina appeal today. There was a strong turnout and opposition to the appeal with around 50 people at the hearing. I have yet to find anyone in favour of the marina and it was good to see the wide variety of objections going to the planning inspector. I spoke quite a few times and hope that I made an impression on the inspector. Figures crossed for the appeal being turned down - the marina will be disastrous for the area if it goes ahead.
Manic elections
It has been a manic couple of weeks. Local elections have kicked off and I have been knocking on doors with every spare minute that I have. Looks like the Greens will stand a record number of candidates in Maidstone this year, our support is stronger than I have ever known it and there is a real sea change among people.
We have a good chance of winning in Fant Ward, the 18% vote last year only needs a moderate swing from the Lib Dems to turn it into a win (216 votes based on last year's results and there are 6300 voters registered in the ward).
The public meeting on the Fant Marina is this morning, which I will attend and hopefully speak at. I have yet to find anyone supporting the plan and there seems to unanimous opposition among the local parties. Hopefully we can convince the Planning Inspectorate to turn the appeal down. If you are free, come along to the Museum of Kent Life at Cobtree at 10am today.
Finally, I've been quoted in Red Pepper following an interview at the Green Party conference a couple of months ago, pleased to have been quoted but I'm not sure they picked the best points that I made.
We have a good chance of winning in Fant Ward, the 18% vote last year only needs a moderate swing from the Lib Dems to turn it into a win (216 votes based on last year's results and there are 6300 voters registered in the ward).
The public meeting on the Fant Marina is this morning, which I will attend and hopefully speak at. I have yet to find anyone supporting the plan and there seems to unanimous opposition among the local parties. Hopefully we can convince the Planning Inspectorate to turn the appeal down. If you are free, come along to the Museum of Kent Life at Cobtree at 10am today.
Finally, I've been quoted in Red Pepper following an interview at the Green Party conference a couple of months ago, pleased to have been quoted but I'm not sure they picked the best points that I made.
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