City Elections - 1st May - St. Mary's Ward

Matt has lived in Oxford for most of the last 8 years having arrived to study as a mature student at Brookes - where he gained a degree in Ecology.

Matt now lives in East Oxford and works as a landscape gardener and  part-time educator teaching children ecology. 

Matt has been campaigning on social and environmental issues all his adult life - from organising anti-war rallies to protesting against infringements of human rights. 

Most recently, Matt has been active in the campaigns to save Jericho Boatyard, protect local allotments from development and preserve Radley Lakes.

Dear Voter,

Popular local Green Party City Councillor Sid Phelps is standing down at this election and I am asking for your support to be elected in his place.

I am looking forward to representing this unique part of the City and working alongside the other Green Councillors for this area, Craig Simmons and Larry Sanders.

It is important that students exercise their right to vote. Without their support, the City would be a lot less student-friendly. For example, thanks to past student support, the Greens were able to push through the current 20mph speed limit on the Cowley Road. Before this there were many more accidents involving student cyclists.

This 20mph zone needs to be extended and St. Clement's Street given the same treatment as the Cowley Road with wider pavements, bike racks, benches and trees.

On rented housing, the Greens are pushing for a strict registration scheme to help tackle the problem of dodgy landlords. 

The Greens are also campaigning against Labour and LibDem plans to triple the size of the Westgate shopping centre - on land which should have been used for affordable housing.

On national issues, the Greens proudly stand for peace, justice and sustainability. It is surprising how often national policies impact on local Government (for example, ID Cards and privatision of public services) and it is good to have Green views represented locally on these issues as well.

I hope that you will take the time to vote on May Day and cast your vote for the Green Party.

If you have any questions, please email me on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thanks.

Matt 

PS: If you were angered by the closure of Magdalen Bridge on May morning, please note that this decision was supported by Lab and LibDem Councillors - NOT the Greens.  

MATT ON THE ISSUES

- Oxford City Council needs to do more to tackle climate change, and Matt is determined to build on the good start made by the Green Party in this area. His experience as an ecologist, educator, and with sustainable lifestyles in the boating community, will help him to do this.

- Matt supports radical solutions to the city centre's air pollution problems, which are running out of control. We need a 'Low Emissions Zone' now, and Matt will make it a priority to work with other Green councillors to see that air quality improves in the City Centre.

- As a keen cyclist, Matt supports 20mph zones in all residential streets within the City. The Greens have already succeeded in getting a stretch of the Cowley Road 20mph and are now working to extend this. Matt also wants more secure cycle racks in the city centre, to help prevent the epidemic of bicycle theft in Oxford. He would also work with Green County Councillors to ensure further work on accident 'hotspots' such as the Plain Roundabout and Botley Road Railway Bridge, to make them safer for cyclists.

- Matt opposes the LibDem and Labour-backed plans to triple the size of the Westgate shopping centre using Council-owned land which could be better used to provide affordable housing. The development will lead to more air pollution and congestion within the City.

- Matt was a leading activist against the war in Iraq, and continues to oppose the occupation. He would support any moves made by the City Council to highlight the continuing illegal and immoral actions of the British government.

- Matt supports the Green Party's policy of a return to grants and a scrapping of top-up fees and tuition fees.  Education is a right, not a privilege. He spent four years fighting student fees in NZ where they were introduced in 1990

- Opposing draconian city centre legislation. Matt is opposed to both the 'zero tolerance' drink ban in the city centre and the decision to close Magdalen Bridge on May Day morning. He believes that it is better to work with the student community to find solutions to any problems that may arise, rather than simply banning traditional celebrations.

- Matt would continue the work being done by current Green councillors to improve the quality of private rented housing in Oxford, and to regulate landlords who take advantage of their tenants. More needs to be done to inform tenants in the rented sector of their rights.

- Matt is opposed to privatisation of council services, and supported the Green Party when it stood alone opposing the outsourcing of the City's council tax collection (a decision the LibDems and Labour later regretted when the outsourcing ended up costing  MORE than retaining the service in-house). Matt also opposes the privatisation of the City's schools and health services being pushed through by Labour.

- Matt supports the expansion of affordable housing provision in Oxford, and his involvement with the 'Save the Jericho Boatyard' campaign is born of a desire to preserve sustainable, affordable lifestyles for Oxford residents.