Standing a candidate at a General Election raises the profile of the Green Party locally, contributes to support for our MPs nationally (Short money) and provides an opportunity for supporters and other voters to lend their voices to the fight against climate chaos and to argue for a society that works for everybody by voting Green.
Olly Davey, our Green Parliamentary candidate for the Exmouth and East of Exeter constituency describes the impact he is having as both a District and Town Councillor.
Olly (on the right) consistently argues the case for better provision for sustainable transport - walking, cycling and public transport.
I was elected to both Exmouth Town Council and East Devon District Council in 2019. In 2020, the minority Independent administration at EDDC collapsed and I and the only other Green councillor were invited to join a coalition of Lib Dem and Independent councillors to form an administration. Following the council elections in 2023, I was re-elected, and the coalition remains in control. I was subsequently appointed Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning to oversee the drafting of a new Local Plan, and at Town Council I was honoured to be elected Mayor of Exmouth for the year 2023-4, the first Green Mayor ever.
As a Town Councillor I have worked with others to achieve:
- Water Bottle Filling Stations across the town to cut down on the number of single use plastic bottles
- A planned new cycle route through the Bapton Valley Park, which forms part of a potential cycle route from the Brixington area into the town
- A street clean up of the "Colony" area of Exmouth in response to a contact from a resident. We got all three councils - DCC, EDDC and Town Council - working together to clean roads, pull out weeds, collect rubbish and tidy the area.
- The appointment of a Climate Emergency officer at Town Council
- Protest at the missed opportunities in DCC's plans for Active Travel improvements in the area around the railway station
At the East Devon District Council, again working with others, we have:
- Persuaded Council to declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency
- Campaigned for better cycle parking in Exmouth - a number of new stands have recently been installed
- Scrutinised the environmental credentials of planning applications
- Ensured that green space is protected in the draft Local Plan
- Approved the installation of new highly insulated modular housing (Z Pods) to form new social housing
- Campaigned for the highest possible insulation standards for new homes
- Supported residents with a range of issues, including homelessness
Mike Rosser Exmouth Town Councillor for Littleham Ward
As a town councillor I have a voice, and this influences decisions affecting the community and environment that I live in. Over the years as a councillor, policies that I have advocated are increasingly being supported. These include:
- the need to stop sewage being discharged near our beach. Because the town council agreed to my motion concerning this, it has added to the voices of other groups demanding action. This in turn has attracted national media coverage, and the issue is nearer to being addressed
- as a member of the town planning committee I have consistently raised ecological issues, which are innow being given consideration
- I initially raised the need for a traffic survey and management plan within the town, and this has now been acknowledged (although not yet agreed by DCC).
As a councillor I have the opportunity to keep Green issues on the agenda and increasing the likelihood of them being addressed.
Henry Gent, one of just two Green Devon County Councillors, describes one tangible impact he has had in this video.
Paula Fernley, East Devon District Councillor for Broadclyst, describes the impact she is already having:
“I joined the council in the hope I could make a small difference for the planet particularly in relation to climate change.
5 months in I was amazed to be asked to become a Coast, Country and Environment assistant portfolio holder. My remit is green spaces and The Clyst Valley Country park. I’ve been helping to expand the boundaries of the park and fight climate change by engaging in tree planting projects to help reduce flooding and plan cycle paths to make more routes in the area cycle friendly.
Other priorities in which I’m involved include a major focus on water quality in our seas and rivers where we are working hard to get South West Water to stop polluting and to provide better service, and a trial to recycle nappies. Roads made with the end product are 2-3 times more durable than using current techniques.
I never imagined I would be involved in such high level decision making so early in my council career.”
Paula on a fact finding mission to see how the nappy recycling plant works.
Paula is also a Parish Councillor for Broadclyst.
So, if you can spare the money, please contribute generously to our fundraiser in support of our Green candidates.
Your donations will be used to pay for designing and printing campaign literature for the General Election and campaigns to increase our representation at the County and District Council elections.
Published and promoted by Sarah Vaughan for East Devon Green Party, both at 1 West Clyst Barnyard, West Clyst, EX1 3TR.