9th April : The Greens today launched their 2008 City Manifesto, ‘Making Progress’, with the promise that electing more Green Councillors on 1st May would lead to more coherent and consistent decision-making and a Council more focused on delivering real sustainability.  

Says Green Councillor Nuala Young, Chair of the popular Green-run East Area Parliament: “The other parties are now - finally - talking about sustainability but their actions do not match their words leading to costly and contradictory decisions. For example, the other parties talk about reducing car travel then agree to the building of a massive new car park in the City Centre. They talk about the need for affordable housing then designate suitable brownfield land for offices. They talk about supporting small, local businesses then do their best to attract multinationals into the City. They talk about the need to recycle our waste then back the construction of an environmentally disasterous incinerator. This is not progress but business as usual.”
 
Green Party 2008 City Manifesto Priorities

• Better recycling service and a cleaner City
• 20’s plenty - safer streets for all
• More affordable, high quality housing
• Protect the local and global environment
• A more financially responsible, democratic Council
  

Most people are keen to recycle but the current doorstep scheme is not meeting everyone's needs. Littering is also a serious problem which the Council have failed to address. This year, only the Greens opposed cuts in the Council’s street cleaning budget. The Greens say:

®       Invest more in the current recycling scheme with targeted additional collections & enforcement.

®       Extend recycling scheme to include all plastics & food waste.

®       Work with the County Council on a waste reduction programme.

®       Start a 'Clean Oxford' initiative to tackle littering, fly-tipping and graffiti.

®       Continue to oppose the County Council’s shortsighted and costly waste incinerator plans.

Oxford has unsafe streets, serious air pollution and declining cycling. Pollution levels are often above statutory limits. Pavements & roads are in a poor state of repair. The Greens say:

®       Push the County to introduce 20mph speed limits in residential streets throughout the City.

®       Progress plans for a low emission zone to keep polluting vehicles out of the city centre.

®       Pedestrianise Queen Street & oppose the massive, traffic-generating Westgate expansion.

®       Improve cycling facilities throughout the City.

®       Work with the County on providing safe walking routes to schools.

Due to inadequate Government investment, poor planning decisions, and the unregulated ‘right to buy' policy, there are not enough affordable homes in Oxford, leaving hundreds in temporary accommodation. Both the LibDems and Labour voted to reduce proposed developer contrubtions to desperately needed affordable housing. The quality of private rented accommodation also needs to be improved. The Greens say:

®       Build new affordable ‘green homes' on vacant industrial sites, Council-owned land (such as the new Westgate) and above car parks - not on sensitive ‘green field’ sites or flood plains.

®       Improve enforcement of building regulations to raise environmental standards.

®       Introduce a strict landlord registration scheme to improve the quality of rented properties.

®       Oppose further Government pressure to sell off Council housing.

®       Fit renewable energy systems and better insulation to Council housing, reducing fuel bills.

Whilst the other political parties are beginning to talk about the importance of protecting our environment, their actions seldom match their words. The Greens say:

®       Continue implementation of the City’s Green-led Climate Change Action plan - improving sustainability, saving energy and reducing waste in Council departments and facilities.

®       Extend the free insulation scheme introduced by the Greens to include more homes.

®       Install wind turbines on suitable Council-owned land to provide Oxford with green power.

®       Ensure that environmental planning policies, initiatied by the Greens, are fully enforced.

The LibDem-run Council has got a poor track record of listening and responding to local opinion. Meanwhile, democracy is being consistently undermined by New Labour who are cutting funding to local Councils, centralising power and privatising public services. The Greens say:

®       Increase the profile, funding and powers of the popular Area Committees.

®       Promote open, genuine public consultation with, for example, action planning events.

®       Campaign to keep public services, such as the NHS, under public ownership.

®       Put more money into local projects that make a difference - such as playground improvements, play schemes, youth facilities, community centres & environmental enhancements

®       Invest in ‘spend to save’ measures to improve efficiency of Council services.