The Green Party in Shropshire

Why vote Green in local elections?

Only the Green Party is serious about climate change. We want all new building projects to make their own renewable energy; in 5 years 30% of the energy used in public buildings to be from renewable sources council vehicles to make the maximum use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel private householders over 60 to get free draught-proofing, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, making a better quality of life for older people as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Green Party supports local services and local businesses and gives more of a say to local people. Keep the swimming pool in the town centre. Rather than build a new one out of town, spend the money on improving the one we have Promote the wonderful resource of the indoor market. Advertise it at street level, put it on the town's signposts and put in an escalator to make it easier for everyone to get in and out make sure the council buys from local suppliers oppose out-of town developments and new supermarkets.

Greens would make sure the council provides the affordable housing it promised. This council's record on housing is shameful and they are running out of excuses. If there is space for any number of executive homes and luxury apartments then there is space for affordable homes for local people. Greens would make sure the promised number of homes are built, with high energy-efficiency standards so that fuel bills are kept down. All new developments to include 40% affordable housing. "Affordable" is to be based on the real incomes earned by people in low-paid jobs. Not everyone wants to buy and so there should be homes to rent as well as support for people who would like to build their own energy-efficient homes.

Greens would review all big capital projects. The council is not a financial institution with responsibility to its shareholders. It is responsible to us, the residents. It should stop its obsession with big property deals and instead find ways of using important buildings such as Rowley's House and the Flaxmill for public benefit.

Green policies would make it easier to recycle. We need to produce less waste and recycle more, so that less goes to landfill and so that we avoid any need to build an incinerator to get rid of our waste. Greens would introduce a collection for kitchen waste and give residents free compost bins. By 2010 we would charge residents for collecting waste to dispose of; and reduce the council tax by the amount that is currently spent on waste.

The Green Party would introduce secure pedestrian corridors linking all neighbourhoods to Shrewsbury town centre. We would provide safe walkways, with good crossing facilities, that would make Shrewsbury a safer place for pedestrians and encourage more people to leave their cars at home.