Forget tactical voting and send a message to the next government says Cllr Tim Young, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Chichester, who is urging voters to use this election to demand immediate action on the climate before it’s too late.

Whilst Chichester has long been considered a safe Conservative seat, there is a growing sense of disappointment with the status quo and politicians who are out of touch and under delivering. 

“As a coastal community, we are already experiencing the negative impacts of the current government’s failure to act on the environment,” says Young. “In the past year alone, residents have experienced devasting flooding in their homes and seen beaches polluted with raw sewage. Gillian Keegan is supposed to represent the interests of Chichester residents. And yet her voting history shows she doesn’t share their priorities at all. Perhaps the most famous example is the fact that she voted to allow water companies to discharge sewage into our rivers and seas. The Green Party on the other hand is pushing for water companies to be brought back into public hands to prevent this from happening.” 

As well as climate and nature, the Green Party will be fighting to protect the NHS, leading the drive for a safe, warm home for everyone and pushing for immediate measures to address the alarming increase in the cost of living.

Young continued, “I would urge anyone looking for change to forget about tactical voting and think about the message they want to send to the next government. The Labour Party have abandoned their environmental promises. Every Green vote counts as a reminder that the electorate cares deeply about a cleaner, fairer future for all.”

A father of two from Midhurst, Young works for a provider of solar projects for industry and has represented Chichester South on Chichester District Council since May 2023. A keen runner, Young has completed several marathons.

“We live in a beautiful part of the world and I am passionate about protecting it,” says Young. “As a green energy expert, working in the renewables sector, I can assure you that not only is a green future our only chance of survival – it can also be an exciting and prosperous one.“

Local Green Party Spokesperson, Ann Stewart says: “As a hard-working Chichester District Councillor with a 100% attendance record, Tim is a very strong candidate. He will apply the same energy and commitment to representing the Chichester constituency in Parliament as he does at a local government level. Tim and the Green Party are promising real hope for real change.”

The post Tactical voting? Vote Green instead. appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Arundel & South Downs has raised concerns for vulnerable residents in rural communities after Ofcom and the UK government agreed to let BT switch off landline services leaving only broadband services available.

Steve McAuliffe, Arun District Councillor, is leading calls for BT to engage with villages and vulnerable rural residents over the planned analogue switch off.

“In many of our small villages and isolated homes across the Arundel & South Downs Constituency, the broadband signal isn’t currently reliable enough,” says McAuliffe. “Many residents across the constituency completely rely on landlines and do not have a mobile phone or a broadband connection.  We’re leaving these people uncertain and concerned about how they will raise help in an emergency.”

BT has told broadband providers that the landline network will end by December 2025. It is unclear what this means for customers in areas with poor signal. McAuliffe has spoken with affected residents in many villages and the overwhelming message has been that before any switch off is decided, BT need to recognise that the postcode system of determining which areas have good broadband, and therefore marked for switch off, is not a suitable and reliable method for many areas.

“We are told that the broadband signal in the village is good,” one resident and Parish Councillor for the village of Slindon, Andrew Foakes, told McAuliffe. “But this is based on an assessment of the postcode.  The postcode covering the village also covers areas 2 miles from here that do have good signal. Ours though, here in the village, is intermittent and patchy with some houses not having any broadband signal at all.”

According to McAuliffe, a further problem is that many villages in the constituency do not have reliable electricity networks. Extended blackouts when trees fall on overhead supply cables are a regular occurance. So even in areas where there is a reasonable broadband connection, it won’t work when the electricity is out for longer than an hour.

“We need BT to engage with affected villages and homes and explain how vulnerable people will be safeguarded and how those working from home will be able to run their businesses after 2025,” says McAuliffe. “So far, we haven’t even been able to contact a BT project manager to explain the issues with the postcode system and the exacerbating impacts of intermittent power cuts.”

Whilst it is technically possible for people to convert properties so that they have back-up systems, conversion can be complicated and expensive so McAuliffe believes it is unfair that customers are expected to foot the bill and manage the complexity of converting their homes and businesses without financial support or technical help.

McAuliffe concludes: “This is not a reasonable way to treat people and I want BT managers to come to the affected villages to positively engage with the residents well before any homes are switched off and left unable to contact friends and loved ones should they need to.”

More about Steve

Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Arundel & South Downs, Cllr Steve McAuliffe is an ex-British Army Air Corps soldier whose 20-year career in ecology and environmental management consultancy has spanned both industry and politics. He represents Arundel & Walberton on Arun District Council, is a board member of South Downs National Park, and recently completed his Masters, focusing on protected species legislation and anthropogenic impact mitigation. McAuliffe has a solid track record of delivering on campaign promises demonstrating hard work and an ability to get things done. A key campaign pledge at last May’s local elections was to prevent the development of an AirBnB ‘party house’ in River Road, Arundel. By September McAuliffe got the plan scrapped following significant work to discredit the financial basis of the project, the erroneous income predictions and unrealistically optimistic build costs.

The post Local champion fighting to save telephone service for rural residents appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

Steve McAuliffe is an ex-British Army Air Corps soldier whose 20-year career in ecology and environmental management consultancy has spanned both industry and politics. He represents Arundel & Walberton on Arun District Council, is a board member of South Downs National Park, and recently completed his Masters, focusing on protected species legislation and anthropogenic impact mitigation.

McAuliffe has already shown that he is a viable option for many Conservatives. In the last 15 months he has won two elections in the affluent and ‘safe’ Tory ward of Arundel & Walberton – the second of which secured a further two Green seats and a clean sweep.

“I believe we have a chance of taking this constituency from the Conservatives for the first time in decades¹. Life-long Conservative voters have voted for Green candidates in unprecedented numbers at recent local elections,” says McAuliffe.

“Our current systems and policies are failing to secure a sustainable and affordable future for the people of Arundel & South Downs, our wildlife and the wider world. A green technology and infrastructure transition is viable, economically prudent and in all our best interests and I believe Green politics is in tune with the values and views of the majority of Arundel and South Downs constituents.”

McAuliffe has a solid track record of delivering on campaign promises demonstrating hard work and an ability to get things done. A key campaign pledge last May was to prevent the development of an Air BnB ‘party house’ in River Road, Arundel. By September McAuliffe got the plan scrapped following significant work to discredit the financial basis of the project, the erroneous income predictions and unrealistically optimistic build costs.

Local party spokesperson Faye Mackenzie says: “I’m delighted Steve has been selected to represent communities across Arundel & South Downs in the much-anticipated election this year. Like the rest of the country, people in Arundel & South Downs are fed up of sewage, flooding, inappropriate development and the lack of investment in essential services like the NHS. Steve is the change candidate the people of Arundel & South Downs need as their representative in parliament.”

Did you know? Arundel and South Downs has been held by the Conservatives since it was created in 1997. Previous iterations were also a Conservative stronghold.

The post Greens’ Arundel & South Downs candidate ready to take on Conservatives at general election appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

The post Protecting People and Plants from Pesticides appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

On Thursday 16 November the Chichester & Arun Green Party met for the 2023 AGM, which included a hustings for our parliamentary candidates for the next general election for Chichester (Tim Young) and Bognor & Littlehampton (Carol Birch). For those members who couldn’t make it in person or virtually on the night you can watch the hustings below before casting your vote. As we only have one candidate for each constituency the options are to vote for that candidate, or to vote to reopen the nomination process. Members should have received a voting link from OpaVote through which to cast their vote.

The post Parliamentary candidate hustings appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

The formal business of the AGM (for members only) will take place from 6.30pm to 7pm. This will include voting in our new officers for 2023/24. Could you share some of your skills with the local party? Please consider standing for a role. Members are entitled to one vote on each of the motions and proposals put forward. If you have a motion you would like to table, please contact Deborah by 7th November.

From 7pm, all other guests are welcome to join us for a talk from an expert speaker and the hustings for our two parliamentary candidates.

First up Josie Cohen from Pesticide Action Network will be discussing the egregious and pernicious effects of pesticides on our soils, rivers, seas, wildlife, crops and health. Josie’s talk and a Q&A will run from around 7.15pm – 8.15pm.

From 8.30pm, we will hold a hustings with the nominees to be our local MP candidates for Chichester, and Bognor Regis & Littlehampton. There will be an opportunity to ask questions on the night, but if you would like to send something in advance, please contact Deborah.

Tea, coffee and refreshments will be available by donation. Plus plenty of time to meet and chat with other local Greens. Come and help us celebrate a successful year, and make even bigger plans for the year ahead.

The post AGM & Pesticides Action Network talk appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

Mel Penycate, Green District Councillor for Arundel and Walberton, is supporting the residents, their families and many members of the local community who are deeply upset about this unprecedented sudden decision.

“One lady has lived there for fifty years, since the site was first obtained for its present use,” says Cllr Penycate. “The notice of eviction has caused great panic and distress. It came completely out of the blue.”

Cllr Penycate and those fighting this injustice are lobbying for extra time, and for the Home Farm Trust to consider offers from other social care providers who would keep the residents in their homes.

“We understand there is an offer of this kind on the table and hope that those running the Home Farm Trust will act with kindness and generosity towards these vulnerable members of our community,” says Cllr Penycate.

The post Green councillor supports evicted residents appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

Local Greens say simplifying the journey between Arundel, Worthing and Brighton stations, thereby negating the need to ‘change trains and double-back’ at Barnham or Littlehampton, would encourage greater local rail use. This provision of a viable alternative to car travel, especially for daily commutes, along the West Coast corridor would facilitate a reduction in local road traffic and air pollution and is far preferable to an expansion of the local road network. An Arundel Chord may also prove a boost to the local economy by providing direct rail connectivity between the two major tourist destinations of Arundel and Brighton.

Arun District Councillor Steve McAuliffe (Arundel & Walberton), who submitted the response on behalf of Chichester & Arun Green Party says: “Changing trains mid-journey reduces train travel desirability and increases car travel preference. This is especially the case in winter months when ‘platform time’ is particularly unwelcome. While we welcome service improvements and enhancements, transformational change like the addition of a chord – as well as improvements to timetables and service frequency – is required to promote practical alternatives to car use.”

Fewer car journeys through the Arundel area would alleviate local congestion and trunk road pinch-points. Road traffic impacts within Arundel, Crossbush, Lyminster and the surrounding villages would be lessened whilst the current A27 impasse is resolved. During academic terms, when car use increases for student ‘drop off’ and ‘pick up’, a move to efficient rail travel between Arundel and the campuses at Worthing, Brighton and Chichester would be improved. Ford Road, currently used by school and college students, would see fewer car journeys, thereby reducing road hazards and student risk whilst concurrently improving the traffic situation for local residents.

Cllr McAuliffe continues: “Healthier local air and improved river water quality would result as vehicle pollution levels drop. Active travel enhancements are considered likely to follow via an expansion of inter-connected rail, cycle, mobility and walking routes. Public wellbeing, environmental improvements, student safety and rail network resilience are all foreseeable positive consequences of an Arundel Chord addition.”

[1] Direct services between Bognor and Littlehampton, Bognor to London Bridge and Brighton to Portsmouth are subject to further cuts and deterioration.

The post Arundel ‘Chord’ would be transformational, local Greens tell Southern appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

How can we get government policies changed?

For some it is to protest, others sign petitions, some work locally to at least get some local change, but at some point we often start to wonder if we should challenge in the courts. But how difficult might this be, how expensive, how do you get a legal team together, and how scary is it?

The Chichester and Arun Green Party has invited three speakers to talk to us about legal actions opposing oil and gas drilling: Sarah Finch, Sue Taylor and Lorraine Inglis. Please see below for their short biographies. Everyone is welcome to join us, to discuss these issues and hear more about our speakers’ experiences with the legal system.

The event will take place on Tuesday 26 September 2023 at the Friends Meeting House on Priory Road in Chichester at 7pm and the guest speakers are:

Sarah’s case went to the High Court in 2020 but the decision went against her. Her case went to the Appeal Court in 2021, where one of the three judges agreed with her case. In June this year her case was heard in the Supreme Court. The judgement will be issues later this year. Find out more.

However, in 2021 West Sussex County Council voted unanimously to reject a planning application for a new well test at Balcombe. The oil company, Angus Energy, appealed and earlier this year the communities secretary, Michael Gove, overruled this council decision. In July this year a statutory review of this decision was heard in the Royal courts of Justice.

Lorraine has been a driving force in supporting legal campaigns. As well as the current legal cases she was central to the legal challenge to the UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) injunctions against “Persons Unknown”. This would have effectively made protest at oil and gas sites a contempt of court offence for anyone and everyone who attended or even publicised a protest. Contempt of court convictions can result in large fines and even prison sentences. Three Sussex sites, Balcombe, Broadford Bridge and Markwells Wood were included in this injunction. This legal challenge resulted in significant reductions in the scope of the injunctions.Lorraine has developed a considerable expertise, both in the legal challenges and liaising with law firms, as well as fund raising and generally keeping “the wagon on the road”. She is a Steering Committee member of Netpol (The Network for Police Monitoring) and has been the lead coordinator in Frack Free Sussex, Frack Free Surrey and Frack Off London.

Come and join us on Tuesday 26 September, 7pm at the Friends Meeting House, Priory Road, Chichester, PO19 1NX. Registration is free but we would ask for a small donation to help cover the costs for this event. Click here to reserve a spot.

If you can, please plan your journey on public transport. You can contact Ann on arunchigreen@gmail.com if you are able to offer, or would like to request, a lift share. We look forward to seeing you there.

The post Green Talk: Taking legal action for the environment appeared first on Chichester & Arun.

We are keen to hear from members on subject areas people would most like to have a talk and debate about. So far we are suggesting topics such as: ‘How can we persuade people out of their cars much more?’; ‘Food security, quality and farming’; ‘Climate breakdown – mitigation & adaptation’; and ‘War and the ubiquitous normalisation of it in the media’. In discussing any of these areas we must of course be mindful of what we can most have an influence on and be clear about how we will go about it, both as individuals and in our groups.

Deborah Smith, Arun area co-coordinator and organiser of the August social, said: “After the talking, it MUST be, and it was, heartening to hear about all the street-based and on-line campaigns, legal cases, local democratic participation in development consultations and council meetings that are going on. NOW is the time for all the groups and tribes to come together, enhance democratic processes, sift out the verbiage and not be deflected from priorities by too much bureaucracy!!”

Our next Green event is a wonderful talk that will take place on Tuesday 26 September entitled: ‘How can we get government policies changed?‘ The Chichester and Arun Green Party has invited three speakers who are deeply involved in legal actions opposing oil and gas drilling: Sarah Finch, Sue Taylor and Lorraine Inglis. Everyone is welcome to join us, to discuss these issues and hear more about our speakers’ experiences with the legal system. The talk will take place at Chichester Quaker Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Priory Road Chichester PO19 1NX. You can read further details and register your intent to attend on the Eventbrite event page.

The post Green minds meet at August social appeared first on Chichester & Arun.