Keith Taylor, 20mph in Tunbridge Wells

Keith Taylor is out in Tunbridge Wells pushing the 20's Plenty message. This is from Kent News:

A campaign for a 20mph speed limit on residential roads in Tunbridge Wells is gathering momentum.
Keith Taylor, a Green MEP for the south east, is set to visit the town tomorrow to back the drive.
He said: "Introducing 20mph can make a real difference to a town like Tunbridge Wells; it can save children’s lives. In both Portsmouth and Oxford 20mph residential streets have reduced the speed of traffic without the need for other traffic calming measures.
"Last week in Europe I gained support from fellow MEPs who agree that 20mph zones should be recommended as best practice across the EU."

Dungeness is in the 'Premier League' of Wildlife sites

Keith Taylor, Green MEP for Kent and the South East, has joined support for the preservation of Dungeness by signing the Natura 2000 pledge.
He will visit the RSPB’s Dungeness Nature Reserve on Tuesday, April 26, which is part of the European-wide Natura 2000 network.

Green Euro-MP Supports Lydd Airport Expansion Protesters

This is from Keith Taylor, Green MEP for Kent

Keith Taylor, Green MEP for Kent and the South East has given his support to protesters campaigning against a proposed expansion of Lydd Airport in Ashford, Kent. On the day that a public inquiry begins into the expansion, he vowed to write to the Secretary of State to voice his objections.

Nearly 14,000 people wrote to the Government Office for the South East to request the expansion plans were called-in for a public inquiry.

Keith said: “The large number of people that requested a public inquiry into the expansion of Lydd airport shows that there are huge concerns about the impact these proposals would have in terms of the increase in pollution for local residents and the threat to important wildlife.

“Dungeness peninsula is one of the most important and sensitive wildlife habitats in the UK. The airport’s expansion will have an impact outside the immediate locality, damaging internationally protected wildlife sites.

“From what I can see, the decision of Shepway councillors to dismiss their own officers’ recommendations to reject the proposal was not based on any sound reasoning. Like many others, I welcome the public inquiry to examine that decision-making process.

“Expansion of services would increase noise and air pollution and raise greenhouse gas emissions in the area. Such developments would set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the region, and indeed the rest of the UK. I will be writing to the Secretary of State to voice my objections to this ill-founded proposal.”

The inquiry starts today at Shepway Civic Centre in Folkestone and is expected to run for 13 weeks.

20mph in Maidstone with Keith Taylor

Last month's visit by Keith generated a lot of interest. Keith wass interviewed by John Warnett on Radio Kent and was put up against Nick Chard, KCC cabinet member for roads. The campaign was mentioned on the BBC South East TV news.

It also ran in the Kent Messenger along with a superb photo taken by budding journalist Poppy!

Keith Taylor in Maidstone

Spend a hectic afternoon with Keith Taylor MEP in and around Maidstone yesterday.

We visited the Oaken Wood campaigners and Keith was very impressed with what they have achieved. It looks like Kent Wildlife Trust has objected to Gallagher's plans now and there is to be a public meeting in December.

We moved on to Fant Farm where 380 houses would be built under the current strategy that the council has. Keith and I signed a letter to Cllr Chris Garland asking him to redo the Strategic Housing Land Area Assessment. Also noted is a four fold increase in the social housing waiting list, so we shouldn't be reducing plans for housing too much, but perhaps refocussing them.

We moved on to Harrietsham to hear from the chair of the parish council about how the noise from the M20 is affecting residents there. The M20 runs right past the village and its surface is concrete rather than tarmac. The road noise a quarter of a mile from the motorway in the school car park meant we had to shout to be heard.

Finally we met with Janetta Sams who has been leading a campaign in Lenham (collecting 1000 signatures on a petition and presenting to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board) to get 20mph limits around schools. Kent Police are blocking the proposal saying they won't endorse 20mph limits without traffic calming. Keith is writing to the Cheif Constable to ask them to reconsider.

Greens fight for Roma rights

Received this from Keith Taylor our new Green MEP for the South East following Sarkozy's disgraceful and racist expulsion of Roma from France. Roma are persecuted across Europe and I used to get emails from one of their campaigners. We must stand and fight for the rights of the oppressed. Well done Keith!

Keith's press release:

EU HAS DUTY TO UPHOLD RIGHTS OF ROMA PEOPLE, SAYS GREEN EURO-MP 

- Comments follow President Sarkozy’s widely criticized deportations of Roma from France to Romania

MEPs will congregate on Tuesday (7 September, 3pm) to debate a proposed resolution on the European Parliament’s formal response to the expulsions of Roma people in France.

The plight of the Roma people is back on the political agenda in Parliament following controversial moves by the French government to deport planeloads of Roma to Romania as part of a general crackdown by President Nicolas Sarkozy. 

MEPs and the Council have repeatedly asked the European Commission to draw up a cohesive strategy and programme for the EU wide integration of the Roma – but so far it has failed to do so. 

As a member of the Greens/EFA group, one of four EP political groups which condemn Sarkozy's government for the expulsions, the Green MEP for the South East said he was horrified by the mass deportations – and urged the EU to uphold the principles of its own laws by taking a hard line on France’s draconian policy.

Keith Taylor, the Green Party’s MEP for South East England, said: “Roma people are European citizens, yet some of their most fundamental rights – including freedom of movement within the EU – have been abused. It seems clear that the actions of the French government are driven by xenophobia, and represent a blatant flouting of France’s obligations under international law. 

“In case there was any doubt, the Romanian Interior Minister Vasile Blaga scotched the French justification for the deportations – that the individuals were criminals – when he revealed that not a single Romanian deported from France last week appeared on any French or Romanian police databases. 

“The Parliament and Commission must not ignore this injustice. It must act swiftly to draw up a common European strategy for the Roma people which addresses the many challenges they face in a fair and humane way. The Greens believe that the EP resolution should go further and will therefore seek to amend it in Strasbourg on Tuesday. We are also calling for a legal challenge against this strategy of persecution.”

There are an estimated 10-12 million Roma people in the EU, representing the largest ethnic minority. Other member states, such as Italy, have also been criticized for their historically poor treatment of the ethnic community. Romania is calling for recognition of Roma human rights and a wider policy of integration.

While Greens have made clear their plans to speak out against the expulsion of Roma, the conservative EPP group has said it will attempt to block criticism of Sarkozy’s actions.