NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE GREEN PARTY IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BRENT

17 May 2014

Vote Green in Brent on May 22nd - We are the Alternative

We are the alternative, not just in Willesden Green but in every ward across the borough
We will:
· Campaign for REAL accountability
· Fight cuts to local services
· Tackle climate change
· Combat air pollution
· Press for affordable housing for local people
· Oppose bedroom tax evictions
· Support our local schools and oppose their privatisation
· Protect and enhance our local green and  urban spaces
· Press for restoration of  local library provision

Safeguarding local services Brent has already lost millions in funding under the Coalition. The 2015-2016 Brent budget is likely to require cuts that will cause untold damage to the local population. The Green Party is anti-austerity and pro-social justice and so opposed to the Coalition’s attack on the poor and vulnerable. We will oppose any such cuts.



Accountability and Transparency  Many residents have experienced being ignored, bulldozed or mislead by Brent Council. We will make sure the Council is accountable for its  actions and transparent in its dealings with the public. We’ve signed up to Keep Willesden Green’s pledge to submit ourselves, if elected, to recall by 51% of the votes cast in a ward at this election.



Climate Change Greens are working at a national and international level to combat climate change. We will also press for local action including, encouragement of green jobs through a Brent Green Industries zone with start-up subsidies, a programme of energy  efficiency in council and BHP properties including double glazing, insulation and solar panels and a pilot Low Carbon Zone.
Clean Air Air pollution is not just an irritant, but an unseen killer, strongly linked to asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular illness. Over 4000 Londoners die early each year as a result of it. We will work with Green Assembly members for action at the London level to tackle high polluting vehicles and reduce dependency on cars. Locally we support the London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Space for Cycling’ initiative, will press for better public transport to reduce car use, especially the ‘school run’, and encourage a diversity of shops in our local high streets to encourage ‘walkable’ local shopping.


Housing We will support local developments on viable brown field sites that include at least 50%         genuinely affordable housing and that are accompanied by infrastructure improvements including health and education facilities to support the additional population. We will press for the urgent  delivery of the delayed family housing in the Wembley Quintain development. We will oppose evictions of tenants who have defaulted on rent payments because of the unfair bedroom tax.



Education We would strengthen the role of the local authority and its accountability in terms of school improvement and Special Educational Needs provision and campaign for it to be able to build new schools where needed, rather than rely on the costly and undemocratic free schools and academies. We will support the emerging collaborative arrangements between schools that aim to improve the quality of teaching and learning across the borough.



Green Spaces Brent’s increasing population makes green and urban open space even more important and extreme weather requires flood management for Brent’s streams and rivers. We will defend those green open spaces where they exist and insist on their sustainable maintenance as well as supporting the creation of new pocket parks and town squares. New developments will be required to provide play spaces for children and growing spaces for residents. The new Chalkhill Park has shown what a major impact a green space can make on a community both environmentally and in terms of bringing a community together.



Libraries We will press for restoration of accessible local libraries across the borough.


YOUR GREEN CANDIDATES


Alperton - Yusuf Akram, Barnhill - Giovanna Dunmall,  Brondesbury Park- Rai Shamon, Dollis Hill - Pete Murry,    Dudden Hill - Simone Aspis, Fryent - Claire McCarthy,   Harlesden - Simon Erskine, Kensal Green - Sally Ibbotson, Kenton - Graham Allen,
Kilburn - Nas Belazka,   Mapesbury - Scott Bartle, Northwick Park - Mimi Kaltman, Preston - May Erskine,
Queensbury - Adlen Biloum,  Queens Park - Alex Freed, Stonebridge - Brian Orr,   Sudbury - Manish Patel, Tokyngton - Khalid Akram, Welsh Harp - Jafar Hassan, Wembley Central - Kolos Csontos,

So what have Greens been doing since the last election?


Brent Greens  have campaigned on library  closures , the loss of the Willesden Bookshop, the forced  academisation of Gladstone  Park Primary School,  the Harlesden Incinerator, the free schools shambles,  protecting the Welsh Harp from over-development , construction of Chalkhill Park, and the  building of affordable housing rather than luxury  housing for overseas buyers. We opposed the cuts in street cleaning that have left our roads litter strewn. We have relentlessly  tried to hold the council to account despite not holding office. We work WITH campaigns and don’t try to take them over. Elected or not, our campaigning will continue.


Willesden Green and Euro list candidate Shahrar Ali explores the issue of lying and deception in politics in this video:
 

14 May 2014

7 May 2014

E-hustings questions from brent campaign against climate change members

E-hustings questions from bccc members

Q. With nearly one in ten deaths in Brent attributed to air pollution, what are you going to do to tackle air pollution in the Borough?
What do you propose to do reduce air pollution in Brent? The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK for failing to deal with nitrogen dioxide air pollution, and it has been estimated that in 2010 there were 111 premature deaths in Brent from air pollution (predominantly the result of particulates from road transport).
Q. Would you agree that car-parking charging in whatever form effectively constitutes a local, environmentally-friendly, progressive tax on people living in Brent?
Q. For Conservative candidates in our ward (or to all if necessary):
Q. You say you want Brent to be a “car-friendly borough”, and you also talk about “creating a greener Brent”. How would you reconcile these conflicting aims?
Q. You say you will “support programmes to reduce the council’s carbon footprint”, but do not give any specific examples. What are these programmes?
Q. To all:
Will you support the Friends of the Earth campaign to install solar panels on as many schools as possible?
Q. Do you believe that human caused climate change is taking place? And if so, what, in brief, does your party propose to do about it?

5 May 2014

The Roots of London's Housing Crisis: Social Housing, Regeneration and State-led Gentrification


The Roots of London's Housing Crisis: Social Housing, Regeneration and State-led Gentrification

Events for Prospective Birkbeck Students

Friday, 9 May 2014 from 18:00 to 20:00 (BST)


It is widely accepted that London is facing a housing crisis as manifested in rapidly rising private sector rents and house prices making more parts of the city unaffordable for those living on medium as well as low incomes. However the roots of this crisis can be traced back several decades in relation to policies on the sale of council homes to sitting tenants, the stock transfer of former council estates to housing associations, and the various regeneration programmes which have been implemented in council-built housing estates. The presentation highlights the impact of these various policies on long-term shifts in housing tenure in London and how these shifts are implicated in what can be identified as 'state-led gentrification' - how the state itself is involved in creating the conditions for the transformation of former working-class neighbourhoods into upper middle-class enclaves. The presentation illustrates how the above processes occur with reference to research examples of housing change in various parts of the city.
The session will be led by Paul Watt, Senior Lecturer in Urban Studies

12 Queens Parade
Willesden Lane
Willesden Green

NW2 5HT 

United Kingdom

Friday, 9 May 2014 from 18:00 to 20:00 (BST)


4 May 2014

The Green Party Trade Union group sends its support to FBU members

Shahrar Ali and Martin Francis of Brent Green Party with Willesden FBU  pickets 4 may 2014, (acknowledgements to Martin Francis )



The Green Party Trade Union group sends its support to FBU members striking over the May bank holiday weekend 2014 against “totally unworkable, unaffordable, unsustainable and unfair” changes to firefighters’ pensions. GPTU recognises that FBU members perform strenuous, dangerous and, at times, heroic work on behalf of the community. Their dedication is needed by us all as they are increasingly on the frontline against the damage being caused by climate change. Instead of taking effective measures to combat climate change the government disgracefully attacks firefighters’ just rewards for their vital work.

Shame on the government and victory to the FBU!


Peter Murry (Secretary) pp Green Party Trade Union group

3 May 2014

There IS an alternative: Green Party policies for Brent, May 22nd 2014


Green candidates for Brent Council elections, May 22nd, 2014


Some of the candidates with Jean Lambert MEP
The Green Party will be standing a candidate in every Brent ward in the local elections on May 22nd, except for Willesden Green where there are two candidates.

Here are the candidates in ward order:


Alperton - Yusuf Akram,

Barnhill - Giovanna Dunmall,

Brondesbury Park- Rai Shamon,

Dollis Hill - Pete Murry, 

Dudden Hill - Simone Aspis,

Fryent - Claire McCarthy,  

Harlesden - Simon Erskine,

Kensal Green - Sally Ibbotson,

Kenton - Graham Allen,

Kilburn - Nas Belazka,

Mapesbury - Scott Bartle,

Northwick Park - Mimi Kaltman,

Preston - May Erskine,

Queensbury - Adlen Biloum, 

Queens Park - Alex Freed,

Stonebridge - Brian Orr,  

Sudbury - Manish Patel,

Tokyngton - Khalid Akram,

Welsh Harp - Jafar Hassan,

Wembley Central - Kolos Csontos,

Willesden Green - Shahrar Ali,

Willesden Green - Martin Francis