Green Party News Around The Country

The Kent Green Party is opposing a new junction on the M20 (which would be 10a) saying it would lead to a massive expansion of Ashford and could lead to development on greenfield sites.

Jim Killock has an interesting debate going on about who could be the leader, deputy leader, two co-leaders, after the Green Party autumn conference.

Greens in Norwich support a new target of 40% affordable housing as part of any new development comprising more than 15 units. Adrian Ramsay, co-ordinator of the Green Party in Norwich, and running against Charles Clarke in the next general election, said:

"It's a great opportunity to require higher levels of affordable housing in a new development and that's something the city desperately needs. There are other cities that have much higher requirements for affordable housing than Norwich has had up to now and I think it's time to have a higher target because of the need and the housing waiting list."

Jason Kitkat, one of the Green councillors in Brighton, is tabling a motion against ID cards, saying that Brighton and Hove council should not take part in pilot schemes relating to ID cards, or make the card a requirement to access council services and benefits.

London Greens are proposing a cable-car alternative to a six-lane bridge across the Thames Gateway.

The Greens approached a commercial company and one of the world leaders in cable car planning and production which looked at the requirements of crossing the Thames and it has said the idea is technically feasible. With existing navigation and aviation restraints from London City Airport taken into consideration, the company, Doppermayr, says a cable car system could carry a maximum of 4,000 people an hour in each direction. The average speed would be around 15 mph and crossing time would be around two minutes. With cable cars arriving every 22 seconds, there would be hardly any waiting time, and they are as close to zero emissions as any powered method of transport can be.