Mike Whittall was elected to Codnor Parish Council (Amber Valley) uncontested.

Paula Rea was elected to Ault Hucknall Parish Council (Bolsover) uncontested.

Duncan Kerr

Congratulations to Duncan Kerr who has been elected to Bolsover District Council and Hodthorpe parish council.

Whitwell should be the best place to live in Bolsover, but we’ve fallen behind. Creswell got the industrial units, and Clowne got the shops, but we’ve got lumbered with a derelict pit site and now Alkane. But we don’t have to accept this. You can do something about it. Send a clear message to Bolsover by voting for Duncan a local campaigner who pledges to:

• Secure a sustainable use for the pit site to provide jobs, homes and green spaces.
• Develop community-owned renewable energy.
• Lobby for effective traffic calming.
• Get help for the elderly to insulate homes.
• Fight cuts to the services we rely on.
• Campaign for more facilities for the young.
• Run a surgery giving free help and advice.
• Clean-up derelict and untidy sites.

You have two votes for Bolsover, use one for Duncan Kerr

Who will deliver for Whitwell?

We have not done well from Labour’s domination of Bolsover and the Resident’s Association who run the Parish Councilhave given us the highest Council tax in the District. Both parties have had their opportunities, it’s time for a change.

Vote Duncan Kerr in the Bolsover election on May 5th

Alkane: No ifs, No buts, No way.

The Green Party supports farm-based anaerobic digestion plants but Alkane’s plant is too large, in the wrong place and far too risky. Even the Environment Agency strongly object to the idea of storing waste in the open and it gives green energy a bad name. Duncan’s record on taking action is second to none. Ask the other candidates whether they have:

• Publicly challenged Alkane at their Meetings?
• Served Freedom of Information requests on EMDA (who own the land) and the
• Environment Agency to find out what’s been going on behind the scenes?
• Written to every members of the EMDA board to protest at the sale of this land?
• Called on the Councils to work together to buy the land and thwart development?
• Signed-up to Whitwell Against Alkane’s (WAA) pledge?
• Studied the documents and pressurised Alkane to give the answers we need?
• Regularly attended meetings of the WAA and written newsletters for them?
• Duncan is the candidate who has done most to support Whitwell Against Alkane

Duncan will listen to your views. Duncan is active in the community.

This is a disgrace

Over three thousand people are waiting for a Bolsover Council home so why have eight properties in the Holmefield Road area been boarded-up for months? Residents have told Duncan that they are an eye-sore and encourage anti-social behaviour. With rents of over £60 a week the Council is not only depriving a family of a home but losing up to £2,000 a month! At a time when many families are suffering because of the cuts the Council needs to sharpen up its act. Families deserve better care than this.

Good news, but they could do better!

According to their glossy newsletter Bolsover Council is trying to improve its cumbersome recycling service, but they don’t say why, so we will. Government statistics show that Bolsover’s recycling rate is the worst in Derbyshire. Over 90% of Councils in England recycle more than us, sometimes nearly twice as much, and it actually costs them less. But don’t blame the bin-men they’ve not been given the tools to do the job. Residents are fully committed, so why has Bolsover been so slow to improve this important service?

“He knows how to get things done”

Duncan, who is married and lives locally, has over 30 years experience in working for Councils. Qualified in Housing and Environmental Health for 10 he worked at the highest levels in Local Government before starting his own consultancy. Now, more than ever, we need councillors like Duncan who have the knowledge, passion and contacts to make a real impact. The Alkane proposals make this election the most important in Whitwell’s history, so think long and hard about who has the qualifications, stamina and vision to serve for four years on Bolsover Council. Whitwell’s future depends on your vote.

As a community activist Duncan has written funding applications, arranged social events, and set-up a local film club. He is a keen allotment holder, runner and cyclist. Last year he was selected as the Parliamentary Candidate for Chesterfield. Duncan says “I joined the Green Party because like many of us I was let down by the old parties who make grand promises then do as they like”. The Green Party is different, we stand by our principles, fights for fairness and have a positive approach. In a fast changing world we need Councillors who make things happen and shape the future.

To contact Duncan, or get a window poster:
Email: Duncan.kerr@derbyshiregreenparty.org.uk
Tel: 01909 726349.
Visit: “Duncan for Whitwell” on Facebook and www.derbyshiregreenparty.org.uk

Investment into reducing the energy demand of the country needs to be happening now if we have any chance of minimising the damage of climate change. Almost 60% of our carbon emissions come from manufacturing and consumption, more effort must be made to reduce this figure along with major improvements to public transport and changing attitudes towards how we use our cars.   The Borough Council should aim to become carbon neutral, it should take advantage of the Feed In Tariff to turn its building stock in to energy generators, cutting its energy costs and raising revenue.  Green Councillors in Norfolk are setting up a Council owned Energy Supply Company, using the Feed In Tariff to finance fitting solar panels on Council buildings, selling surplus electricity back to the grid, so cutting costs and raising revenue. Green Councillors in Kirklees set up a free insulation scheme for council tenants that has enabled households save on average £150 on their annual energy bills. Greens deliver new ideas, not cuts.

Too many Councils are failing to protect the interests of small business and the local economy, always favouring the interests of big business.  Throughout the country, Green councillors with the support of local landlords, traders and residents have managed to stop many attempts by supermarkets to build unnecessary stores that would cause the closure of local independently owned shops. Local stores provide a wider social and economic role and one that is central to a sustainable neighbourhood. Over 50% of the turnover of independent retailers goes back into the local community whereas the supermarkets effectively take money out of the local economy. They also meet the needs of the disadvantaged, socially excluded and elderly, particularly those with a lack of mobility who cannot access more distant shops.

Green Councillors have also fought to save local markets and helped establish farmers markets to encourage the sale of locally produced food.  The Borough Council should review its land holding aiming to make land available for food production for local supply, again raising revenue for local services. Greens bring cooperation with local business not sell out to big business.

Untold billions was found to bail out the banks and replace Trident yet when it comes to safeguarding our children’s future and the lives of many people around the world both Labour and the Lib-Con Coalition do not see it as a priority. Greens are planning for a safe and sustainable future for all.

This contest will be the first electoral test for the coalition Government, and interestingly, both the LibDems and the Tories will be standing. The LibDems were 103 votes short of taking the seat from Labour in May, and under normal circumstances, they would be expected to take the seat comfortably. However, these are not normal circumstances, the LibDems are taking flack from the Tory press, and they are set to reap a bitter harvest over their U-turns on student fees, nuclear power and other issues. The word on the street is that Labour will hold the seat.

Media interest in the campaign will grow considerably in the New Year with the coalition partners competing against each other. The Tories will be keen to out poll the LibDems and they will work hard to get out their vote in the Saddleworth part of the Constituency. If they can do this, it will strengthen the hand of those in the party who want to break the coalition and go for an early poll before the advent of AV. These backwoodsmen will try hard to discredit the idea of coalition government, and as the Telegraph has done, will use any tactic how ever underhand, to convince the electorate that coalition is inherently unstable and delivers weak government. They do not want to share power – ever, they want absolute control to protect their vested interests.

This contest will also be seen as an early evaluation of Ed Millibands leadership of Labour and of his attempts to repair the damage done to the Party by Blair’s flirtation with American conservatism. He has yet to establish himself as a leader with a clear profile and agenda, and Labour has much to live down. They will find it difficult to criticise the cuts agenda that they would also have followed. They can hardly vigorously oppose the rise of student fees that they introduced, and in power, they were very keen to get private companies involved in both education delivery and the NHS.

There is also a dark side to the campaign. Oldham was the scene of serious rioting in 2001 and following that, the BNP did particularly well in both Oldham constituencies, polling 11% in Oldham East in the 2001 general election. Since then their vote has fallen back to around 5%, they did save their deposit in May. Since the riots, the causes of which remain controversial, much work has been done in the town to address the issue of segregation within the borough, but still the extreme right consider this to be fertile territory and both the BNP and the National Front have indicated that they will stand.

Many in Oldham do not accept that the riots of 2001 were race riots. There is a belief that the national media decided that this was the explanation and sensationalised events, so drawing in extremists from out of the area looking for a fight. People of Oldham are no more racist than in any other part of the country and do not welcome the inference that riots were due to local bigotry. They will probably not welcome the presence of extremist candidates in the by-election.

Greens clearly will work hard to out poll the negative extremists. Our aim is to focus the campaign on the issues that will affect the livelihoods and well-being of all people in the constituency and to offer positive alternatives to the ruinous ConDem policy of cuts. This includes the Green New Deal, a costed programme of investment in Green technology and the public sector to create thousands of sustainable jobs. We go in to the contest as the only party supporting free education at the point of delivery, knowing that it is through education that people can escape poverty and build self-confidence and a sense of self-worth, which the progressive private sector also requires.

Greens apply the same principle to the National Health Service, knowing that all people must have access to healthcare according to their needs and not their wealth. We will tell the electorate that the Green Deal is the pathway to creating thousands of new and sustainable jobs, that through a programme of home insulation we can cut energy bills, saving people money and providing work for local businesses. We will tell the electorate that the climate is changing, that the weather will become more extreme, but by addressing this issue now, we can create sustainable work and businesses now and avoid serious costs in the future. Greens will offer a positive message of hope in the face of the negative petty political point scoring of the other parties.

To keep updated with the campaign, visit www.oldhamgreens.org.com. If you can help this campaign in any way please contact, campaign@oldhamgreens.org.uk

[Mike Shipley 23 December 2010]

In Derbyshire, as elsewhere in the country, our results were disappointing by comparison. We failed to save our deposits, which will hit us financially. By gaining around 1.5% of the vote, we have demonstrated that there is bedrock of support. In four constituencies, more than 2,800 people chose our positive message of fairness over greed, environmental protection over destruction. On that bedrock, we can build. In the local elections our vote was stronger. In Derby City around 5% overall, in New Mills West, 10%

Brighton was no flash in the pan. It took many years of dedicated campaigning, both for local and national elections. It involved taking defeats on the chin and coming back for more, driven always by the knowledge that our policies are fair for all and are the ones that will have to be enacted if we are to build a decent and sustainable society.

This is our motivation. We will come back for more. We will stand in the local elections next year, translating the Green vision into a local manifesto for action. We will contest the next general election. Our campaigning will not stop, it is not about individual ambitions, it is not about building great and glorious careers. It is about carrying our alternative visions of society to every person, getting them to believe that there is another way to live other than the vicious ‘me first’ destructive way of the capitalist free market.

Mike Shipley, DGP election campaign co-ordinator, May 2010

Chesterfield
Labour              17891
LibDem             17342
Conservative    7214
UKIP                    1432
Eng. Dem.          1213
Green                    600        1.31%
Ind                         147

Derbyshire Dales
Conservative    24378
LibDem                10512
Labour                  9061
UKIP                      1779
Green                      772        1.65%
Loony                    228
Humanity               50

Erewash
Conservative    18805
Labour                16304
LibDem                 8343
BNP                        2337
UKIP                        855
Green                      534        1.12%
Ind                           464

High Peak
Conservative    20587
Labour                 15910
LibDem               10983
UKIP                       1690
Green                        922        1.83%
Ind                              161
ND                                74

Derby City Council – Boulton ward:
Labour 3410
Lib Dem 824
Con 1689
David Foster (Green ) 213

Derby City Council – Darley ward:
Con 2608
Lab 1799
Lib Dem 2176
Jane Temple (Green) 482

Seeing at first hand the processes by which national and local policies are developed helped me realise that our actions on climate change fall a long way short of showing the world leadership needed to prevent global temperature rises of over two degrees.  I therefore left Local Government, joined the Green Party and started my own environmental consultancy business “A Climate for Change” (AC4C.co.uk). For me action on climate change is part of a process of building a more equal and inclusive society and having undertaken some voluntary work with young homeless people I have embarked on an MA in Social Work.

When not working my hobbies are cycling, music and losing a constant battle with weeds on my allotment. I am very active in the ex-mining community where we live and  I have led successful bids to get the funding for our own local gala and to bring young an older people together for film and even Wii evenings. I also lead an environmental action group through which we are investigating the potential of a community-owned wind turbine.

I’ll let you know if I get a sensible answer!

Duncan Kerr