Greens have proposed more support for the city’s homeless today at the council’s Policy and Resources Committee.

Ahead of the final decision on the City’s budget for 2020/2021 in two weeks’ time, senior councillors will today debate the finer details and opposition councillors have a chance to amend the Labour budget.

Greens have proposed some funds from the under-used ‘Winter Maintenance Reserve’ are reallocated to providing additional Housing First placements. 

Housing First, which was first introduced under the Green Administration, is a programme that provides unconditional support to homeless people failed by traditional approaches. It has proved very successful.

Councillor David Gibson, the Green Opposition spokesperson on Housing said:

“While people live on the streets in our city, we ask that under-used reserve funds are used to provide more support. 

“It is a scandal that as one of the sixth richest nations in the world we have such a high homeless population. We are committed to doing all we can to end homelessness in our city. Along with Labour we are signed up to a joint plan to end the need for homelessness,  to have a chance of achieving this we need to expand successful schemes like housing first as fast as possible “

An additional Green proposal asks for funding towards more staff in the council’s legal team, to support with the joint Green and Labour programme to build 800 additional council homes by 2023.   

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, Leader of the Official Opposition said:

“We are proud to present a number of positive proposals to the City’s Budget today, which follow our principle of not cutting services to fund another.

The city council has failed to use the Winter Reserve and Greens strongly believe when numbers of homeless people continue to rise, that money would be better spent on Housing First- which works on the basis that the first thing to do is to get homeless people off the streets. We want to use some of this money on a council-led programme of insulations which warm homes, improve health and cut the city’s carbon footprint.”

The post Greens propose unused funds to support homeless appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

Labour and Conservative Councillors have signed a decades-long contract for Hollingbury golf course, despite a Green appeal for further consultation to take place on the long term future of the site.

Labour and Conservative councillors agreed to lease the Hollingbury site to a bidder seeking to retain the golf course for a period of up to the three years – but also agreed a further, 25 year lease.

Greens criticised the ‘rushed’ decision to award a long term lease, raising concerns that no public consultation was offered on the future of the site.

The report on options for the Hollingbury site arrived late on Tuesday, leaving just a day for the community and councillors to scrutinise proposals.

Despite the lack of consultation, a proposal from the Greens to award the initial three year lease  – and provide more scrutiny of the 25 year contract – was voted down. A Green proposal to explore an ‘in-house’ option, and include a ‘break clause’, to end the contract if it fails to meet community needs, was also rejected.

Greens have expressed dismay that councillors voted against the option of awarding only the initial three year lease, and say the Labour Council should have done more to guarantee environmental protections before signing up to a 25-year long contract. 

Calling on the Labour Council to do more to ensure public consultation in future, Greens say that the plans for council owned land should be subject to more rigorous public and community involvement.

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, Green opposition spokesperson on Policy and Resources committee, said:

“The rushed, last-minute attempt to decide the future of the Waterhall and Hollingbury golf courses has become a huge missed opportunity to engage with our communities over the sites. The lack of public consultation has left everyone – from golfers to conservation groups – without a proper say. 

“Discussions about the future of the Hollingbury course were left to the last minute – and now a decades’ long lease has been granted without any further scrutiny. All while there’s been no community consultation.

“Greens attempted to amend the proposals. We called on Labour to strengthen the lease agreement, by asking for more consultation and stronger environmental protections. We also called on the council to keep other options – such as managing the site ‘in-house’ – on the table. These safeguards are all things we assumed Labour would want too: yet our proposals were voted down by Labour and Conservative Councillors.

“Ultimately, the lack of consultation and tight deadline for a decision meant this process was deeply flawed from the beginning. Just a few years ago the council tried to sell the Downland – and Greens won the argument then for better scrutiny. Our concern is that the lessons have not been learnt. We must not see the city’s environment and our communities pushed to the side in Labour’s rush to sign the 25 year Hollingbury land deal. With a climate crisis upon us, we call on the Labour Council to show they are prepared to engage with the community over the future of council-owned land.”

The post Labour Council votes down option for further scrutiny of Hollingbury golf course plans appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

Green Councillors have called on the Labour Council in Brighton and Hove to take inspiration from other parts of the UK and bring forward a report on ‘car free’ options for the city centre.

Other cities such as York, Edinburgh and Birmingham have recently proposed consultations on how to reduce car use in city centres and promote the shift to other forms of travel. Greens say the ‘time is right’ for Brighton and Hove city council to put together a report that gives residents details on the potential options for car-free spaces. Greens want the report to emphasise the importance of exemptions, such as for people with disabilities, emergency service vehicles and traders.

Stating that it will be critical for the council to work with communities to identify the best possible solutions, Greens say the report must detail how people with accessibility needs will be considered. Pointing to the success of weekend car-free zones in areas of the North Laine and Lanes, Greens also want to see the Labour Council explore the possible economic impacts on local shops and traders.

Councillors on the committee will be asked whether they agree to a report on the possible options for car free areas in the city centre. A ‘frequently asked questions,’ has been provided by the Greens to allay concerns that councillors will vote for a ‘ban’ on car use during a meeting of Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on 21^st January.

As a result of a joint pledge to address the climate crisis, both the Greens and Labour are working together to launch the first ‘city assembly’ on climate change, to ensure residents can shape the council’s response to the climate crisis. Reports on the potential for car-free areas in the city centre can then be explored and debated by city residents in the city assembly.

Cllr Amy Heley, who is calling for the report, said:

“European cities such as Amsterdam and Oslo have demonstrated that a car-free city centre can be beneficial for all. What’s more, limiting car use in city centres makes them safer, more accessible and more attractive to visit, and brings economic benefits as a result.

“Having a greater understanding of city-centre traffic is a realistic response to the emergency of the climate crisis. And it offers an opportunity to deal with congestion, road safety, and dangerous levels of air pollution which is causing a public health crisis. It’s vital that all communities in our city feel engaged and informed about what the options are – and we want to see the Labour Council explore several possibilities. This could include a trial in a specific area of the city, for example.

“At this stage, it will be useful for a report to help the city understand what the proposals emerging from other UK cities could mean. Brighton and Hove has set ambitious climate targets, and our pledge to tackle emissions is directly connected to transport use. We are calling on the council to explore thoroughly how we can become the next city to take positive action.”

Cllr Steve Davis, who will second the proposal for a report, added:

“We have an opportunity to address the climate crisis before it’s too late – and so much of this will involve looking at transport use. We are not deciding tomorrow on the future of car use in the city centre; but we are asking the Labour Council to produce a report on our options for greater car-free spaces, improving road safety and promoting cycling and walking. We want to see this open up a much-needed conversation with residents about the impact of vehicle use on our city centre, on our air quality and on our climate crisis targets.

“In parallel to this, Greens and Labour are preparing to establish a city assembly on the climate crisis – to take views and ideas for how we reach carbon neutrality by 2030. This will by necessity look in detail at transport use in the city. We hope this report can provide more information to all of us on what the options are in Brighton and Hove, as we look towards meeting our important and ambitious climate targets.” 

FAQs

Will the council vote for a ‘car ban’ at Tuesday’s committee?
The request from the Green Party Councillors is for the city council to explore options for car free areas of the city centre. This would be explored in a report written by council officers. There is no plan to introduce a car ban in Brighton and Hove and no such changes will come into effect as an immediate result of Tuesday’s meeting.
Councillors at the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee will be asked to vote on whether to have a report written, looking at the options for more ‘car free’ areas in Brighton and Hove. Claims that the council will agree to a ‘car ban’ on Tuesday are incorrect.


How will this impact upon people with disabilities, emergency service vehicles and taxis?
It has been requested that the report explores exemptions, and Green Party Councillors have asked the Labour Council to consider exemptions for blue badge holders, emergency service vehicles and taxis.
Other cities such as York and Birmingham have started looking into this and have suggested that carers, blue badge holders, taxis and emergency service vehicles would be exempt.

Will there be an impact on shops and local businesses?
Large, commercial high street retail companies are reporting a downturn, largely attributed to online shopping. Studies and analysis from Business groups and organisations such as Living Streets point to the need to revitalise high streets and make them more attractive as visitor destinations, with greater focus put on accessibility and safety for pedestrians.
When plans to limit car access on weekends to other areas of the city such as East Street came forward, local businesses were supportive and viewed the changes as boosting local business, by improving the safety and accessibility of the area.
Greens want to see a proper assessment done of the possible impact on any nearby businesses, through an economic impact assessment. Separately, Greens historically have routinely called for action to address some of the main causes of the decline in high street shopping, such as fairer business rates for small business and exploring issues such as an e-commerce levy. Green have opposed plans to increase business rates.

Will residents be consulted?
Greens say that any proposed changes must be subject to a public consultation. A report will help to bring together the information on possible options, including a ‘do nothing’ option.
Working together with the Labour Party, plans are in place for the first city assembly on climate change, focusing on transport. The city assembly will help to determine the actions that the city will take, in consultation with residents. Members of the climate assembly could shape transport policy by contributing to the next local transport plan for the city. 

What else is being done on air quality?
It will be the Labour-run council that decides how much information will be included in a report on how car-free areas contribute to clean air targets. Greens have asked for a feasibility study and a review of the impacts, and we want to understand more about how car-free areas can have a positive impact on public health. A recent study from the British Heart Foundation found that 460 people could die as a result of poor air quality in Brighton and Hove across the next decade.

In opposition, Greens successfully amended the budget in February which has enabled the council to push for a series of environmental improvements, including:

– more tree planting
– improvements to our cycling infrastructure, including assigning £700k towards transport and road improvements
– projects that seek to minimise our carbon footprint, including the creation of a £500k fund to support carbon reduction initiatives, agreed as a result of an amendment to the council budget made by Greens last year

Greens have also asked the Labour Council to explore
– an ultra low emission zone,
– plans from buses and taxis to move towards low emission engines; and to look at incentives for other less polluting vehicles;
– a clean air day

The post Greens say time is right for conversation on city centre car use appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

Hopes for an ambitious environmental project at the Hollingbury and Waterhall golf sites could be dashed because a botched process left no time to respond to community concerns, Greens have said.

Councillors have been asked to consider the future management of the Hollingbury and Waterhall sites, as the lease for running the golf courses is set to expire on 31st March 2020.

Despite broad public interest in the management of the sites, Greens say the tight timetable for a decision on the future of the golf courses has prevented in-depth community involvement, criticising the Labour Council for conducting a ‘last-minute,’ process.

Questions over the future of the site were raised at a council committee meeting in June 2019, leaving just months to find suitable leaseholders, discuss the details and agree a lease.

Greens say that tight application deadlines left community and volunteer-led organisations with little time to support or submit robust proposals, freezing out community expertise. Green Councillors have also expressed disappointment that little time was given to develop an ‘in-house,’ council-led option. Condemning the lack of consultation, Greens have criticised the Labour Council for failing to take community concerns into account.

Now, it has been revealed that while a bid has come forward to ‘rewild’ the Waterhall site, options for Hollingbury Golf Course will now no longer be heard or scrutinised by TECC Committee,  bypassing a key stage in the decision-making process.

A further attempt by the Greens to strengthen plans for ‘rewilding,’ has also been rejected, as the terms of the lease of the sites has already been agreed. Greens have urged the Waterhall bidders to work with environmental organisations to develop a rewilding project of the highest standard.

Greens say that failures in the decision-making process represent a ‘huge missed opportunity,’ to rethink the future of the sites, calling on the Labour Council to urgently review the decision and allow more time to engage with the community and bidders.

Councillor Marianna Ebel, who is proposing an amendment on the golf course decision, commented:

“Greens are extremely disappointed at how the decision over the future of the golf courses has been managed. Options to run the sites were advertised too late and with a bidding period that was too short, leaving little time for bidders – particularly community organisations – to submit strong proposals.”

“The public were offered no consultation – and we are concerned that local wildlife groups such as the Sussex Wildlife Trust, the South Downs Alliance and the Biosphere Partnership as well as ecologists and wildlife experts were not been invited to contribute their wealth of knowledge. Too much focus was put on financial viability, and not enough focus on social and ecological value.”

“Back in June Greens pushed the Labour council to look again at how to use these sites, proposing ‘rewilding’ as an option. We have since seen a massive demand from the public for rewilding for both sites, with a petition calling for this option gathering more than 5000 signatures in less than a month.”

“While we are glad that a bid has come forward to rewild the Waterhall site, we want to see the public given a greater say over how rewilding is done.  The tender process did not allow communities to share their thoughts on how this should be managed: but we want to see any rewilding project conducted to the highest standard. We believe strongly that an in-depth, year-long, ecological audit is needed so that this is done right.” 

“Ultimately, at this late stage, we urge the Labour Council to do more to engage with the community to get the right result – not rush through such an important decision.”
 

Councillor Clare Rainey said:

“These sites have the potential to offer so much to our local community, wildlife and natural environment. The Labour Council failed to consult with the community, and the subsequent rushed, decision making process represents a huge missed opportunity to make the most of these assets. With the company running the sites operating at a loss, Greens had pushed the council to commit to a more ambitious vision for Waterhall and Hollingbury.”

“As it stands, rather than take time to develop the best possible scenario for all, we are left with a botched process and no clarity over the future of the Holingbury site. The community will feel as if there are little options left to raise concerns. We urge the Labour Council to take on board the wishes of the community, to demand a high standard of rewilding at Waterhall – and to immediately review the decision on the Hollingbury site, with a pause if necessary to get it right.”

The post Race to decide future of golf course sites a ‘huge missed opportunity’ to engage with community, say Greens appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

Schools in Brighton and Hove aspiring to go ‘plastic free’ must be given greater support from the council with the cost of new environmental measures, Greens have said today.

Councillors Clare Rainey and Amy Heley have asked the Children, Young People and Skills Committee to consider what support can be put in place for schools  wishing to implement more environmental measures, saying that many local schools are being held back by cost pressures.

In a letter going to committee on 13^th January, Councillors Rainey and Heley have outlined some of the positive changes Dorothy Stringer are making towards reducing their carbon impact and waste. However, at present, the school is having to fundraise for these initiatives.

Greens have asked the Labour council to consider providing both guidelines and funds for schools making these positive changes to their environment.

Councillor Clare Rainey said:

“In the wake of huge attention to our climate crisis, and the youth climate strikes, it is no wonder that schools in our city are aiming to make positive changes to our environment.

“So we were saddened to hear the challenges schools are facing with this – and we hope that the council can put more support in place to addressing them.”

“We hope Dorothy Stringer school can inspire all schools in Brighton and Hove to reduce their use of single-use plastic and support pupils with addressing the environmental challenges that we face’.

Councillor Amy Heley, who is a former pupil at Dorothy Stringer added:

“I’m really inspired to hear of the work being taken by schools such as Dorothy Stringer and I hope that we as a council can do more to support them.

“Simple changes such as reducing plastic use can have a large impact and in a school environment can be really effective in educating students in reducing their carbon impact – and learning about the urgency of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.”

The post Council must support schools in their push to go ‘plastic free,’ say Greens appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

Money saved through changes to the city’s recycling and waste disposal contract could be set aside to fund plastic recycling services, thanks to a proposal from Green Councillors agreed this month.

The recycling and disposal service for household waste in the city is currently managed by private company Veolia, who have a 30-year ‘Private Finance Initiative’ (PFI) deal with Brighton and Hove City Council.

A change to the contract agreed by the council’s Policy and Resources committee will see the cost of the deal reduce by £3.1m – resulting in the council pocketing £129k in savings. Pointing to repeated requests for the council to go ‘plastic free,’ Greens say this money could be used by the council to develop improved plastic recycling collection services.

Now, councillors at the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee will receive a report on how the money saved from the contract can fund more plastic recycling collections for residents.

Welcoming the support for the proposals, Greens also repeated their call for the council to renegotiate the PFI deal, saying the £1bn contract does not meet the needs of the city. Under the terms of the deal, the council is required to hand all recyclable material over to Veolia: yet the company is currently unable to offer a recycling service for most plastics.

Councillor Hannah Clare, who put forward the proposals with fellow Green Councillor Sue Shanks, commented:

“Time and time again residents have told us – sort out our refuse and recycling crisis. It’s why Greens pledged in May’s election that we would look again at the restrictive, 30-year PFI deal that means much of the plastic waste collected in the city goes straight to landfill. We aren’t there yet, but this amendment presents a first step, using money gained back from Veolia to invest in more plastic recycling options.

“While any changes will not be immediate, we are glad all councillors supported our call for improvements. It’s time we give the green-minded people in this city the chance to recycle more.”

The post Use waste contract cash savings to fund plastic recycling, say Greens appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

Brighton and Hove Green Councillors have called on the city’s newly-elected MPs to heed the warning of climate crisis and commit to radical and swift action on climate change.

The request comes exactly one year after Brighton and Hove City Council agreed to adopt a climate and biodiversity emergency, with Green Councillors pushing for the city to become carbon neutral by 2030.

With just 11 years left to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, Greens say more must be done at all levels of politics to deliver action on the crisis.

Greens said:

“It’s now one year since the council agreed to adopt our declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency. That means we only have 10 years left to prevent the worst effects of climate change and achieve our carbon neutral targets. It is vital we are all reminded that slow progress is simply not an option.

“We welcome any initiatives that attempt to address the scale of the challenge before us. At a council level, as official opposition, Greens have been at the forefront of calls for a carbon neutral city by 2030 and for a Green New Deal. Our changes to the council’s budget created a fund for projects that reduce the city’s carbon footprint. We want to see community renewable energy projects, species and habitat protection and sustainable transport given a real boost.

“Following this latest election, we urge politicians of all parties to grasp the scale of the problem and respond urgently: we need lobbying in Parliament and we also need local action.

Put simply: the clock is ticking and we must up our pace. We call on elected politicians of other parties to recognise the urgency of this crisis, and stand with Greens in fighting for city-level and nationwide solutions.”  

-ENDS

Notes for Editors

Brighton and Hove Green Councillors proposed that the city council adopt a Climate and Biodiversity emergency on 13^th December 2018, a call backed by all parties on the council. The council also supported Green requests to implement a target date of 2030 for whole-city carbon neutrality.
https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2018/12/14/success-greens-climate-emergency-declaration-xr/

Currently 95% of Brighton & Hove’s carbon emissions come from transport and ‘stationary’ energy such as domestic and commercial heating and energy consumption.
https://new.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2019/working-together-climate-emergency

Following the results of the local election Greens also pledged to work with city communities and partners, including the Labour Council, on climate change. This includes delivering a ‘City Assembly,’ on climate crisis that aims to engage citizens in helping to shape responses to climate change locally. Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty has been the co-chair of the city’s Carbon Neutral Programme Board. https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2019/11/29/why-we-need-an-emergency-response-to-the-climate-crisis/

Green amendments to the Brighton and Hove 2019 budget created a ‘Sustainability and Carbon Reduction Investment Fund,’ to support projects that reduce emissions. https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2019/03/21/council-takes-new-steps-to-tackle-climate-emergency-following-green-budget-win/

Among various initiatives and in addition to the declaration of climate emergency, the Green Group has also successfully called for:
– A Green New Deal for Brighton and Hove: a council and city wide plan to boost skills and employment opportunities in fields of work that help tackle climate change, such as renewable energy or home insulation, prioritising policy and programmes that tackle social inequality and issues such as food waste and fuel poverty. https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2019/10/24/the-citys-response-to-the-climate-emergency-must-create-new-jobs-and-tackle-poverty-say-greens/

– A budget for climate change work to be included in the Labour Council’s next budget setting paper for 2020/21 https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/s147519/Item%2088%20Climate%20Assembly%20Green%20Group%20Amendment%20V2.pdf


– Support for school strikes and a protocol that allows young people to take part safely in climate action
https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2019/09/13/success-for-greens-and-campaigners-as-council-agrees-to-support-walk-outs-for-climate-action/

– Schools in the city to be given support applying for a UN scheme to develop a ‘climate change teacher’ for every school
https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2019/09/12/climate-change-teacher-for-every-school-as-greens-back-united-nations-accredited-teacher-training-programme%ef%bb%bf/

– An Ultra Low Emission Zone for the city
https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/s145541/ULEZ%20letter%20to%20ETS.pdf

– A Clean Air or Car Free Day to support greater pedestrian access and ‘active travel’ in the city
https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/s142538/Item%207c%20Letter%20Amy%20Heley%20ETS%2025%2006%202019.pdf

– A ban on single use plastics at events and across the city a strategy to prevent unnecessary single-use plastics
https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2018/07/20/greens-secure-extra-commitment-council-will-push-for-plastic-free-events/

– Investment into local transport plans, supporting public transport and cycling and walking infrastructure
https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2019/03/21/council-takes-new-steps-to-tackle-climate-emergency-following-green-budget-win/

– And follow up on previous work to reject fracking, protect sea life, prepare for flooding, end the use of harmful pesticides and work to boost tree planting

Greens have also raised concerns over the slow pace of progress, including on previously agreed initiatives such as food waste collection, Clean Air Day or improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure.  Greens have also raised concerns that progress could be more advanced if previous suggestions such as for investment into community energy and solar had been taken up in previous council budget setting rounds.
https://www.brightonhovegreens.org/2018/02/23/labour-conservatives-vote-down-green-homeless-prevention-budget/

The post Greens call on newly elected MPs to act on climate change and say ‘time is running out.’ appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

They were joined by guest speaker Uma Krieger, fourteen-year-old activist from Youth Strike 4 Climate. Uma spoke about the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change report, which stated in 2018 that there were only twelve years left to avoid catastrophic climate change. She described how this election, which will set the next parliament for the next five years, will be crucial in the battle to prevent climate catastrophe.

Alexandra Phillips MEP, candidate for Brighton Kemptown, said: “We must not lose sight of the fact that the best way of combating the climate crisis is by remaining in the EU.

“But while this year has been filled with the constant overhanging dread of Brexit, it has also been host to inspirational movements, and I am filled with tremendous hope; hope from the success of the Extinction Rebellion movement, hope from Greta Thunberg, and her Climate Strikers like Uma, and hope from the Green Wave in May’s local and European elections.”

Ollie Sykes, standing for Hove, said: “In this election, we need Green votes because 11,000 climate scientists said this week that the climate crisis has arrived and it is accelerating faster than expected. And that the world faces untold suffering because of it.

“And we need Green votes because we want to change our electoral system, which is not fit for purpose, and is to blame for the mess this country is in, because we need a genuine green transformation of our economy and because elected Greens will always put planet and people before party.”

Caroline Lucas, candidate for Brighton Pavilion, said: “When Boris Johnson called this election, he said it was the only way to ‘get Brexit done’.  But the truth is that a General Election will do nothing to resolve Brexit – that’s why the Green Party has consistently called for a People’s Vote, as the only way to resolve the Brexit chaos – and we’ll be championing a vote to Remain.

“But some things are even bigger than Brexit – and the climate emergency is one of them. Only the Greens have a vision which is radical and ambitious enough – a Green New Deal of £100Bn per year to decarbonise energy, transport and homes, creating hundreds of thousands of good jobs, and addressing inequality. No more fossil fuel subsidies. And no more airport expansion, which Labour have refused to rule out. This is the climate election. If not now, then when?”

The post Greens launch campaign with “if not now, then when?” rallying call to save climate appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

Green Councillors are calling for the city council to improve walking zones around local schools so that more children, families and carers feel safer walking to school.

A petition has been signed by over 1,300 people which means it will be debated at a meeting of full council, October 24^th, accompanied by Green proposals for Safe Walking Zones around every school.

Green Councillor Sarah Nield, who created the petition, said that many parents and carers are encouraged to walk to school but do not feel that surrounding roads are sufficiently safe. Pointing to the prevalence of speeding cars, idling traffic, poor visibility and a lack of road crossings, Cllr Nield said that existing school ’10 minute walking zones,’ can be made more accessible.

The Green proposals call on the council to work with education providers, parents and carers to understand what improvements can be made. This includes enhancing accessibility of walking routes, adding crossings, boosting visual signage and including communication campaigns that raise driver awareness of ‘safe school walking zones.’ Greens urge the council to review how existing structures which calm traffic and improve road accessibility can be used to create better walking zones for pupils. 

Feedback from parents to the petition also included some frustration that school walking zones are only reviewed ‘when accidents happen.’ Greens say that fears about safety also impede the positive health and environmental benefits to be gained from encouraging young people to walk to school.

Cllr Nield commented:

“We all want our children to walk to school. But so many of our schools are surrounded by busy and hazardous roads without adequate crossings. Families are left dodging between the rush-hour traffic: the walk to school is a daily danger in the lives of thousands of people in Brighton and Hove.

“Greens are calling for safe walking zones to be created around all our schools. A public petition calling for this change has currently gathered around 1350 signatures, and I’ve been standing outside the school gates with a paper version getting feedback, along with signatures, from parents, staff and carers. The strength of feeling about this issue is overwhelming. Everyone has a story about a near-miss, a particular road they worry about every day, or a child they wish could walk to school unaccompanied. Everyone seems to live in fear of the accident which could so easily happen. Many also mourn the loss of independence our hazardous roads represent to their kids.

“While areas around schools are often called ‘walking zones,’ we’re calling on the council to review the safety and accessibility of these routes to some of our most vulnerable pedestrians, working with our local schools to establish what improvements can be made. Most of our primary-aged children live within a ten minute walk of their school – and they should have the right to make that journey safely.”

Green Councillor and member of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee Steve Davis added:

“The streets surrounding our schools have become danger zones. Focusing on the safety of roads around our schools goes a long way to making the walking journey to school a genuine possibility for a much greater number of parents and pupils. 

“On top of promoting the ‘right to walk to school,’ we’re also asking for a report from the city council that explores funding to boost this type of work – and how these proposals fit in with existing plans to calm traffic and improve our roads. Proposals to introduce more crossings, in line with the wishes of parents and schools, will work well alongside the walking and cycling infrastructure plans being put forward in the council’s cycling and walking plan. The incredibly successful Hackney Toolkit [3], which aims to massively reduce the amount of vehicles at the school gate, has shown what can be done. 

“If we accept children have the right to walk to school in safety, we will do so much to grow a love of walking, active travel and sustainable transport, as well as genuinely avert accidents.”

The post Calls to make walk to school ‘genuinely safe’ for children and young people appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.

The city’s response to the climate crisis could help to combat poverty and create new jobs, Greens have said today, calling on the council to adopt a ‘Green New Deal.’

Brighton and Hove City Council has declared a ‘climate and biodiversity emergency,’ and agreed last December to commit to reducing carbon emissions to ‘net zero,’ by 2030.

A proposal going to a meeting of full council today, (October 24^th) will put forward plans for a ‘Green New Deal,’ for the city, that looks at how plans to reduce carbon emissions can also create new jobs and better opportunities for people in Brighton and Hove.

Calling for positive change, Greens say the climate emergency can be addressed in ways that simultaneously tackle problems of poverty, inequality and accessibility, such as through minimising fuel poverty and boosting opportunities in ‘low carbon’ industries – including public transport and renewable energy. 

Greens also want the council to write to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urging the Government to support a national Green New Deal, so that issues of social inequality and poverty become central to nationwide plans to reduce carbon emissions.

Work on a ‘Green New Deal,’ has been underway for several years, with Green MP Caroline Lucas co-founding the UK’s Green New Deal group in 2008.

Councillor Amy Heley, who will put forward the proposals, commented:

“The Green New Deal is a not a new idea – but it is desperately needed. If we don’t act now the climate crisis will be a catastrophe. But we can be bold in the way we respond and use this opportunity to drastically improve quality of life.

“Brighton and Hove City Council has a key role to play in promoting investment in both people and planet. We must seize the chance to address poverty and inequality – through steps such as insulating homes to prevent fuel poverty. We can benefit our health – by improvements to air quality that also address the climate emergency. Working with partners across all sectors, there is an opportunity to boost jobs that play a direct role in our transition to a carbon neutral city.

“It is vital we work with partners to assess how our own commitment to addressing the climate emergency can improve social justice and job creation, as we enter the 10-year process of reaching net zero by 2030. Our response to the climate crisis can also be a positive one.”

Councillor Elaine Hills added:

“We now face the collapse of the environment, of biodiversity, habitats and species extinction – crises that demand a large scale response. To reverse the decline of our natural environment it’s clear that there is a need for major reform – but the reform we need is in fact well overdue: looking at a system that can prioritise people and our environment instead of focusing on profit and plundering natural resources.

“The council can play a major role in this transition. We urgently need to look at ways we can move away from using fossil fuels and the practices of industries with high carbon use. Businesses must also be encouraged to get on board, in ways that protect, enhance and offer new jobs. It is positive that work towards carbon neutrality and developing a ‘circular economy,’ that reduces waste, for example, is already underway.

“On top of this, our call for a Green New Deal asks the council to demonstrate good practice as a major employer – by continuing to develop ‘net zero’ initiatives and employment opportunities, setting an example in our own buildings and employment practices.

“Changes that support our environment can also support our residents – for example, work to help people insulate their homes, or develop district heat networks from renewable energy sources, can ensure we make the transition away from costly fossil fuel based energy and address fuel poverty.

“At this stage we are asking the council to explore what can be done and to commit to working with partners across the city. There is so much to be gained by ensuring environmental change and social justice go hand in hand. We can innovate in ways and at a scale that we have never been able to before, to benefit everyone.” 

The post The city’s response to the climate emergency must create new jobs and tackle poverty, say Greens appeared first on Brighton & Hove Green Party.