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Candidate Profiles: Adrian Ross, Greenwich West

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Name: Adrian Ross (Green Party)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I’m 44 years years old, married (to Naomi) with a 4 month old son (Ben). I’ve lived in West Greenwich for the last 8 years, but have been coming here regularly ever since my very first trip to visit the Cutty Sark and Maritime Museum, aged 9. Originally from Wiltshire, I studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge and I work in IT.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?
Because the council are the people who look after the environment that you live in. They are responsible for the streets and amenities; for determining the mix of housing, businesses and shops; for encouraging investment, appropriate development and conservation; for traffic and parking schemes; and for providing facilities such as libraries and leisure centres. In brief, the council are responsible for practically everything that I care about when I leave my front gate.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I NEVER thought that I would get involved in politics! But concerns about the environment led me to the Green Party, and after reading their vision for the future I realised there was a better way to do things and a better way to live. Green policies put people and quality-of-life ahead of consumption and greed, and I’d like to be able to provide a better lifestyle for my family, neighbours, friends and everyone who lives or works in Greenwich.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

Wow, where do I start?! I love the Observatory, the Park and the Queen’s House (where Naomi and I were lucky enough to have our wedding reception). I also love the market and the town-centre shops, although I’m very concerned that the plans for the market might spoil these things. My favourite stretch of road is Royal Hill from the flower shop, past the Creaky Shed, butchers, cheese shop and fishmongers up to my favourite pub – the Greenwich Union with its own beer. But if I had to choose one thing, it would be the fact that I
have almost everything I need within walking distance of my house (although less traffic and pollution would make the walks nicer!).

If elected, what would be your priorities for the ward over the next four years?

I’d like to reduce traffic and pollution in the Borough by providing better local servies within walking distance, by improving public transport and by limiting the number of additional cars that will come with all of the new developments. I’d also introduce schemes such as “walking buses” to take children to school – avoiding rush-hour congestion and helping our children to stay healthy. I’d like to offer encouragement to local neighbourhood schemes by offering council grants to communities with the best ideas for how to improve their
area (as Lewisham council and the Green councillors there have done). I’d like to make sure that the council use the Olympics as an opportunity to get some long-term investment and improvement in West Greenwich to compensate for the disruption that we will have over the next 2 years. And I’d like to put the Green back into Greenwich, with schemes such as Fairtrade, smart-meter lending from libraries and local energy-saving cooperatives.

Finally, I’d like to make politics in Greenwich as cool and interesting as everything else that’s here!

Andy Hewett answers your questions

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Andy Hewett is the Green Party candidate for Greenwich & Woolwich in the General Election. Here are his answers to questions put to him.

I’d like to know what the candidates would do about the Blackwall Tunnel closure, and what their views are on two-way traffic through one 1/2 of the tunnel.

Our transport priority will be investment in public transport and increasing citizens’ accessibility to walking and cycling. Traffic congestion is a consistent problem in Greenwich, and with some of the most polluted stretches of road in the country the people of Greenwich have for too long deserved better public transport.

Do you think that MP’s should be allowed to have extra jobs and consultancies while holding Parliamentary office?

No, MPs are elected to serve the people, not to serve themselves. If elected I would take no more than the average skilled workers’ wage.

Does your party support the Olympics in Greenwich Park given it would entail long closures of this vital amenity and potential damage to this World Heritage Site, not to mention the obscene cost, lack of
legacy and transport problems?

The Green Party produced a set of 6 principles in 2003, updated in 2006, by which the party will assess the sustainability of any sites used in the Olympics. My personal view is that the use of Greenwich Park for Olympic equestrian events does not fulfil these criteria, and will not be of beneift to the majority of the citizens of Greenwich. I have sent a letter to NOGOE outlining my reasons for this which they have posted on their website: http://www.nogoe2012.com/

What was the last book you read?
Aside from the Green Party Election Manifesto ‘Fair Is Worth Fighting For’, my previous light reading on the train was ‘Critique of the Gotha Programme’ by Karl Marx

Greenwich Hospital is appealing the decision to reject their redevelopment of Greenwich Market – do you support redevelopment of the market?
No, I outlined my views on this last year which you can find on our website

Do you support reform of the voting system?
Yes, the Green Party supports PR using the Additional Member System for Parliamentary elections and introducing fixed term Parliaments. We support the right to vote at 16. The House of Lords should be reformed to become a fully elected body chosen by PR, each member elected for one fixed term of ten years, with half the house elected every five years.

If elected, what would your priorities be?
Social and environmental justice. This includes reducing inequality, creating green jobs, defending public services, a living wage and decent pensions.

Candidate Profiles: Dave Sharman, Peninsula

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Name: Dave Sharman (Green Party)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I am semi-retired, having spent the last 20-odd years working for myself as an independent management consultant. I previously worked as a lecturer in organisational behaviour at Thames Valley University.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

Local elections are crucial in getting committed people to take action. Voting for someone that you think can do something for the area is a big step. It’s also different from the general election as each candidate is assessed on a trust/competency basis.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Because I want to challenge and change the mindset of our current council – but accept that this is a big task!

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

The view from the Cutty Sark pub with the O2 and the gas-holder in the background – and the Old Naval College if you look the other way!

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

Creating a sense of community between GMV and the rest of East Greenwich; Finding some small things to improve the congestion in Trafalgar and Woolwich Roads and making a whole series of small changes that ordinary people in the ward would appreciate.

Candidate Profiles: Robin Stott, Greenwich West

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Name: Robin Stott (Green Party)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

Im 67 years old, have lived in the Ashburnham triangle for 35 years and am active in the local Ashburnham Triangle Association.. I worked as a consultant physician in Lewsiham hospital until my retiremnt 5 years ago. Throughout my medical carreer, I have been active in the anti nuclear movement ( as Chairman of the the International Cttee of the International Physicians in the 1990’s against Nuclear war and as chairman of the local CND branch in the early 80;s ). And with the charity Medact, of which I was chairman for 8 years, I have worked to promote social , environmental and economic justice as a basis for global good health. I was for 6 years a member of The London Sustainable Development Commission, and now co-chair the Climate and Health Council, which seeks to engage health professionals in tackling climate change.
I am married with two grown up children, am a keen cyclist, tennis player and party goer.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

The council have a major responsibility for local affairs, and should be responsive to local opinion.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Because I believe that the fair shares green perspective needs to be represented as forcefully as possible at all levels of government.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

The Ashburnham triangle , where I live, is full of sparky and friendly people, and nearly every time I walk or bicycle around the triangle , I meet people I know. Its great to have the shops and cafes in Royal Hill, and Somerfields within walking/bicycling distance. The park is a jewel, particularly in the early morning, and with Greenwich theatre and Cinema gives me immense pleasure. And then there is the Thames, and the cammeraderie of the Ashburnham Arms.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the ward over the next four years?

My life long aim is to create local communities in which resources are shared in a more equal way, building a sense of trust and security which makes for joyfull living. Having all those things which make life worthwhile local and accessible means encouraging local shops, enabling more people to work locally so that commutes can be on foot or bicycle, encouraging local entrepreneurs, and encouraging people to meet and discuss issues in an open and non judgemental way. In the long term, this means devolving funds and responsibility from central govt to a more local level –In the short term, much can be achieved by the council devolving a proportion of the budget to the local level, for citizens assemblies to oversee.

In such assemblies I will argue for schools within walking/bicycling distance, and the safe paths to reach them, for a 20 MPH speed limit on our roads, for the council to actively support the Transition town movement, and innovative ways to provide local care for elderly people.

Candidate Profiles: Darryl Chamberlain, Peninsula

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Our continuing series of profiles of candidates for the Peninsula and Greenwich West wards in the forthcoming council elections.

Name: Darryl Chamberlain (Green Party)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I’ve lived in the east Greenwich and Charlton area all my life – I was brought up in Combedale Road, and now live in Charlton. I’m a journalist who worked on the BBC News website until last year, and since then I’ve been doing freelance work (including for greenwich.co.uk). I’m a season ticket holder at The Valley and like live music, long walks and even longer train journeys. I also write the 853 blog.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

Council elections matter at least as much as the general election – I’d even say you’ve more chance of forcing change through by voting in a council election than in a general election. If your local council isn’t sweeping your street properly, is leaving your local facilities to rot away, allows developers to walk all over it and has no plans to tackle congestion and pollution, then you should make a stand and vote.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I’ve kept blogs for seven years and started off being rude about everyone and everything under a psuedonym. But as time went on, the penny dropped and I realised that taking potshots at everything wasn’t enough, and through blogging I’d met people in Lewisham who were doing good things to improve their areas. When I quit my job at the BBC I decided I wanted to do something positive to improve the area. I’d been impressed with what Greens had done in Lewisham, especially in doing basic things like keeping residents updated with what they’re doing – something that seems beyond most Greenwich councillors. So I joined the Greens to help them improve their publicity, and when the opportunity to stand came up, I jumped at it. This area’s my home, and I want to make it better.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

It’s the walk along the river – we’ve miles of waterfront that we don’t talk up enough, from the tourist scene in central Greenwich through to the industry in Charlton. The recent fiasco with the Thames Path closure highlights just how it gets taken for granted. It’s as important to Greenwich as the park is. One of the good things about the recent developments is that – eventually – the walk was opened right the way around the peninsula for the first time. We need to keep up the pressure to make sure the path is kept open as much as possible, and stays open.

We’re also lucky to have beautiful streets around Pelton Road – which could benefit from a little bit more care – some cracking pubs and the buzz around The Valley on matchdays.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

We need to make sure local services are defended – East Greenwich law centre is under threat of closure, and the council won’t commit to the
future of East Greenwich Library, which is a fantastic community facility in a beautiful building which should stay in public use. Greenwich Council should also come clean about just what’s happening on the old hospital site – this patronising “heart of East Greenwich” stuff is wearing thin when the land’s been lying empty for three years.

We’d also like to pursue some simple ideas to combat congestion, like electronic boards to warn drivers of traffic jams through Greenwich or Blackwall Tunnel closures, and put pressure on TfL and Southeastern to make public transport more attractive to use.

We need to make sure streets are kept clean and safe – parts of the ward, particularly in Charlton, barely see a street sweeper’s broom and are left looking an absolute state after the bins are collected.

We’d like to champion local businesses – the East Greenwich Traders Association is doing great work and we’d like to help them do better. And I’d like to see the barriers between the Millennium Village and the rest of the area broken down – it could be a real asset to the area, but GMV residents have issues with the way it’s run. It’s incredible that nobody has been able to set up a full-time cafe by the ecology park, for example – it could boost its profile like the cafe
in East Greenwich Pleasance has done there, and attract other businesses to GMV.

Finally – the Greens will keep publishing newsletters and keep in touch with residents. Councillors on their own can’t improve Greenwich, but by teaming up with local people, then together we can give it our best shot.