'Green' reunion - reflections

A couple of weeks back we had a party to celebrate ourselves - everyone who's been involved in Halton Green Party.

It's been 5 years (early 2004) since Jim Craig and I, with others, started the Green Party in Halton and Jim managed to get up here to be with us for this celebration (Jim started the party in Runcorn at the same time but had to move down south following his employment late 2004).

Jim's departure was a big blow to me personally as he is a hard working really creative person and was the main link in Runcorn. Its difficult basically being on your own and starting a local political party. My wife (Linda) has really helped and I've had support from various people over the years (even some friends who might not necessarily have voted Green - I really thank them!) But it's not the same as having a political activist soul mate, to hear you out, to bounce things off and bring you down to earth sometimes, who's always physically near - its different than phone calls.

It seems to me that this has been the experience of other Green Parties starting off up and down the country. There are not too many activists out there especially in non city areas. Nevertheless the Green Party has grown nationally at some rate over the past decade and now we are the fourth party numerically in terms of numbers of councillors in the country. It's almost as if the Green Party's time is now. There are signs currently, for instance, that the party is on the verge of winning its first seat at the next general election (Brighton Pavillion - Caroline Lucas).

In the areas where the Green Party has established itself locally and started to win seats it has tended to stir things up politically and motivate other politicians of different political colours to become more active in their local wards which has got to be good for local democracy.

Anecdotal evidence in the Halton View ward where the Greens are virtually breathing down Labour's neck (130 votes behind Labours top candidate in the ward) would seem to indicate that this is the case. Not only this, but Halton Council appears to have become more acutely aware of Green issues and has been initiating some really useful projects in relation to energy saving and recycling initiatives - Phil Harris one of Halton Council's Executive Board members has done some stirling work in this area which I would applaud. I wonder though, how much of this has been related to our presence? This of course could be wishful thinking on my part!

What have we been up to in the past 5 years?

Well in practical terms among many things we've been involved in:- Successfully campaigned over safety issues at Runcorn Docks (2004/6); ensured that the council complied with legislation in relation to providing public seating in Halton that could be accessed by older people and people with disabilities (2005); provided written evidence at Public Inquiries against proposals for incinerators at Ince Green and Weston Point (2006/7); Helped residents in their campaign to try to stop a mental health secure unit from being set up in the Halton View ward (2007/8); provided written evidence to the Second Mersey Crossing Public Inquiry in opposition to the proposal in terms of it's not being the appropriate solution re congestion (2008/9); helped initiate a residents Lorry Watch Scheme in Halton View (2008/9)and provided written evidence to a public inquiry against a proposal for quarrying and landfill site near Halton View ward (2008/9)


In terms of opportunities we've provided for people - perhaps we've brought likeminded people together to start asking questions about what they're able to offer their community; hopefully, without sounding pompous, we've got people to think about the real challenges we are facing in today's world and different ways of solving such challenges; provided people with an opportunity to vote for an ethical party which is just as much concerned about people in other parts of the world as it is in our community that sees linkages between how they fare and how we fare socially, economically and ecologically.

Perhaps all this is too grand and if we asked a Green Voter in Halton View ward why they have voted Green in the last few elections it might just be that its provided them with a real possibility of voting in someone new in the ward, an event which has not happened for some considerable time.

This is a real possibility in May 2010!

Lorry Watch - update!

Lorry Watch is up and running on Barrows Green Lane Widnes which tends to be the main local road route that HGV's use.

We've already identified two firms and had direct contact with them. What we are doing is in a polite way warning them that their details will be passed on to Trading Standards if they are observed in the area again.

I've been in contact with the police (community support) and they've asked us to forward photos of errant lorries. We'll do this if there is a registration number on the vehicle concerned and we have not been able to contact the firm.

On the second observation photos will be sent to the police and trading standards.

We're looking for more volunteers - it's an activity were you really feel your doing something for others and it can be fun - so come and join us!

Bold Heath Quarry/Landfill Proposal

Objections to the Bold Heath Quarry proposal are going to be heard by the Inspector concerned at an Inquiry in the Council Chamber St Helens Town Hall Victoria Square St Helens WA101HP on 25th August at 10 am.

It's now too late to send in letters objecting to the proposal but its possible to hand in written objections or speak at the Iquiry if you present yourself at St Helens Town Hall on the first morning.

St Helens Council is now only contesting the proposal on health grounds.
The Green party is objecting in relation to silica emissions, a known cause of silicosis, heavy goods traffic emissions and perceptions of public concern and anxiety regarding the links between pollution and health in Halton.

If anybody wishes to submit written objections and needs material please contact me. Also if you're not able to attend the Inquiry we might be able to get your objections to the meeting on the day, again give us a ring on 0151 423 1692

Lorry Watch - up and running again

Residents held a meeting today to discuss how they ought to proceed with the Lorry Watch scheme in the Moorfield Rd and Barrows Green area that was piloted last year by Halton Trading Standards.

Unfortunately Halton Trading Standards has merged with Warrington Trading Standards and at the moment are not able to provide any support.The problems continue so the Lorry Watch scheme will start up again this Wednesday 24th.

We will have to carry out the contacting of offending haulage companies and whereas before on the advice of Trading Standards we were just noting down information we aim to take videos and photos this time.

One of the things we might be considering with companies that continue to flaunt the restrictions is to liaise with the local paper to start a 'name and shame' monthly item that would include photos. We'd prefer not to do this. It's obviously better to get people working alongside us rather than alienating them!

I'm unsure how much people are aware in Widnes but in the next ten years or so, particularly if the planned Second Mersey Crossing, (this seems to be the king pin for these new proposed developments) Ditton Rail Freight Park, Waste Recycling Plant Widnes Water Front and Bold Heath Quarry go ahead, we will be fast becoming not only the capital of waste dumpage in the UK but also Lorry World!

I emailed David Parr Cheif Executive Officer HBC a few weeks ago to ask him about his estimate of how many more HGV's there would be on Halton's roads if the Rail Freight Park went ahead. He stated that the total would be about 580 more HGV's per day.The breakup of percentage figures of HGV traffic in terms of road usage is as follows as follows:-


1.61% A56 from Liverpool

45.98% Runcorn-Widnes Bridge

4.36% M57

42.99% M62 East

5.06% M62 West


So it looks like from the Rail Freight Park development alone there will be up to 580probably plus HGV's per day. My understanding is that the Waste Recycling plant on Widnes Waterfront would be in the region of 200 extra HGV's per day.

Recent research is suggesting that 7% of children in the UK are likely to develop chest conditions owing to particulates at child height level. These fine particulates are emitted mainly from diesel vehicles (as well as incinerators) HGV's being one of the main culprits. I'm unsure whether such health statistics are factored in when decisions are made about such schemes.

Lorry Watch is going to have its work cut out!

Shame, and hope not hate

I feel ashamed that people in the north west have elected a BNP candidate to represent them and all this entails.

The further south you go it seems that on balance the BNP vote diminished and the Green vote increased. I've always thought of us northeners as being really warmhearted and welcoming as a people and so I found the results of the election very saddening.

But then I think about what I perceive as the differences in the rates of ethnic minorities residing in the south and north and can bring myself a little to understand what pushes someone to vote BNP.

I remember a van driver last week in Widnes who told me he'd be voting BNP - because the simple mantra he'd received from all sorts of sources had told him he'd lost his job because of others from elsewhere.

I think of some 'good' people in Burnley I know who didn't vote BNP not because they weren't sympathetic to what the BNP was going on about but because they considered that they didn't want any blood baths on their doorstep.

This is reality and I'm sure we've all come across such reasoning.

What of the future - well its too early of course - we need to reflect. A couple of simple things struck me last night when I was watching the results programme. (Or maybe it's me whose simple - Linda nods!)

I felt uneasy about how all the candidates snubbed Nick Griffen. I too would have walked off the podium but I would have felt uneasy. I had this feeling even more so a couple of years ago at election time when I'd gone to the local election office for a run down on procedures. After the meeting as I was going out of the door I noticed a few BNP members coming out as well. I felt the urge to let the door shut in their faces but I couldn't. I didn't know these people - but they were human.

The other thing was the fact that the Green vote nationally was up and as Caroline Lucas said if the system of PR in Germany had been operating (national poll plus candidates in regional areas) we'd have obtained about seven or eight seats. And what about the Green result in Norwich definitely bodes well for the by - election.

Well done everyone particularly Peter.

Polling Day!!

Polling day came and I thought I wouldn't be able to do anything apart from voting owing to childcare commitments. But I did get the two people who benefit directly from such services to phone all their friends 30 plus to vote Green and ask their friends friends to do the same.

The response was overwhelming so Green candidates all over the country hopefully will benefit.

Got the message this afternoon that the Greens were on 15%, ahead of Lib Dems but we'll have to wait and see.

Green Bus?

Did anyone see a Green Bus in Sefton Park late yesterday afternoon? Well if you did it was the Green Party's Green Bus travelling the country to spread the good news!

It was red actually (photo to prove this) - a bit of a disappointment as a couple of people sunbathing in the Park mentioned. However one of their party was wearing a straw hat and as I was too he wanted to have his picture taken with me. After getting the promise of the ten people in the group to vote for Peter I gave in to their request. Does this count as buying votes?

More seriously looks like the BNP(7%) is catching up nationally. In the latest poll they're a couple of points behind the Greens(9%). So even more reason for voters to really think about voting tactically for the Greens as the remaining seat in the north west region is likely to be between them and us.

Re the canvassing last night at the Green bus event - reception all very positive with a couple of people saying they lived locally had voted Green before and would be doing so this Thursday.

Since I started leafleting a few weeks ago spoken to about 40 people with only two of them stating they'd be voting BNP. This poll very straw (hat) so still a lot to be fighting for and I really can't stand the idea of being represented by someone from the BNP.

Out in the Widnes area today and tomorrow. If anyone's interested give us a shout!!