Candidate Profiles: Lucy Mortimer, Greenwich West

Name: Lucy Mortimer (Liberal Democrat)
Ward: Greenwich West

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

My name is Lucy Mortimer, I am 32 and have lived in the Borough for about 7 years, first in East Greenwich, then Shooters Hill, then West Greenwich. I work in renewable energy and carbon finance in developing countries, particularly South and East Asia, although originally I trained to be an architect. I’m currently doing up a derelict house in West Greenwich with local architect Roger Sedgely, whos practice is on Roan street. Between us, we’ve ensured its being fitted with some “green” technologies, including solar panels a water collection facility which feeds water back to the washing machine! Most importantly its highly insulated to prevent the power we generate and the heat we use escaping, which is something the council should really be considering with all houses if we’re ever to reduce our carbon footprint – simple measures like this really work well. I’m also involved in mentoring kids under the Children’s Society programme for vulnerable 11 and 12 year olds in the local area.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

I think if people want local services that work for them, communal spaces that cater to their tastes, local amenities that reflect their needs and local council policies that reflect their beliefs and values, the only way to do that is to take an interest in who represents them best at the local level on the council. If you don’t take the time to vote, the council is just that bit less likely to reflect your own needs and desires.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I love living in Greenwich, but the things that drew me to live here – the Park, the artisan & vintage Markets in the centre of town, the diversity of the population – are being slowly eroded. The idea that the Market could be under threat again, now that the planning application to develop it into a hotel has gone to appeal, is really distressing, especially as the plan disregards the views of pretty much all of the local community who want it to remain largely as it is. The town centre is fast becoming run down, with empty boarded up shops, and those that remain don’t cater to the needs to the public but mainly to tourist. So, rather than just watching from the sidelines, I decided to get wholeheartedly involved! I believe if you really feel strongly about things like this, you should do what you can to fix it, so thats why I decided to stand for local election.

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

My favourite place in Greenwich is the University. I walk through it at 7 each morning on my way to work, and again on my way home. Often in the evenings you’ll hear the most amazing music floating out across the courtyards as students at orchestra or band practice rehearse, which is really uplifting after a long day!

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

Priorities for me would be the things my fellow candidates Anthony, Ian and I have collectively been outlining in our weekly focus’:

1. Education education education! So many people we’ve canvassed have talked to us about the difficulties they face in schooling their children, forcing them to send them outside of the borough, pay for private schools, or move away. We should be helping families to educate their children well, and improving schools, not closing them like we’ve seen at Charlotte Turner.

2. Making Greenwich town centre work for the community; At present, the centre is full of empty shops, and few sell goods that cater to local people, who are forced to shop out of town for fresh food – for example, why are there so few greengrocers and butchers, and basic provision stores? And where there could be numerous cafe’s to at least cater to the tourists that pass by, we have closed stores. We should be encouraging people to spend their money locally, by supporting local business through regeneration and innovation, instead of allowing shops to remain closed, which degrades the local area and does nothing for people who live there.

3. Saving Greenwich market from development; I am totally against the development of the market, plans for which have already been turned down but have been resubmitted at appeal in much the same form. We don’t need another 100+ room hotel, we need a market that is substantially the same as it is now, which draws in visitors and locals alike, and I think the community needs to have its voice and its wishes heard .

4. Listening to the community, so that services are improved where it matters, problems are addressed, and the voice of the many are heard rather than just the vocal minority.