Darlington Green Party call on Councillors to work together

The Green Party are calling on all councillors to come together to form a joint administration, after the recent local elections left no political party in overall control, in order to work from a common programme to put in place progressive policies and serve for the common good of the people of Darlington.

Matthew Snedker, coordinator of Darlington Green Party said "Voters have not seen fit to give any one party a majority in the council chamber, rejecting a Labour party that had lost touch but not trusting the Conservatives, whose national party is in disarray. The only way to respect the vote is to form a joint administration that rises above party barriers and works for the common good."

Bryony Holroyd, Green Party councillor said "We have a clear program of policies that will meet the needs of people today while securing a safer and better future."

The Green Party are inviting representatives of the other parties and independent councillors to a meeting to discuss a framework that will allow the whole council to work from a common programme.

The policies proposed by the Green Party will include;

• Declaring a climate emergency with measures in place to bring carbon emissions from the Borough to net zero by 2030.
• Review the housing plan with the aim to bring the total number of new homes planned back in line with government estimates, a reduction of some two-thirds.
• Urgent review of the Northern Link Road as there are serious questions about its environmental impact and doubts surrounding its economic credentials.
• Introduce supplementary planning guidance to ensure all new homes built will have minimal heating bills by adopting zero carbon home design codes.
• Lead by example by reviewing rates of pay within the council, with the aim to make Darlington a Real Living Wage town.
• Consult on wide area 20mph limits on public health grounds to all roads where people live, work and go to school. This to be the first stage in designing a new circulation plan for Darlington’s congested road network.

Bryony Holroyd continued "the Green Party will push to improve the environment and quality of life of Darlington residents, whilst also reducing resource use to sustainable levels. All ideas will hinge on community involvement, so residents create and own a solution they feel is most appropriate."

Matthew Snedker added "Some commentators are predicting a return to the paralysis and infighting of the late 80’s when our council last had no majority party. But surely, if councillors of all parties, and none, genuinely sought election in order to serve the people of Darlington rather than themselves, then we can rise above political divisions and work as a joint administration."

Green Party breakthrough in Darlington Council elections

Newly elected Bryony and Matthew, with some of the Green Party team

Darlington Green Party members are celebrating success in the local elections in Darlington, after returning the town’s first two Green Councillors.

Bryony Holroyd, who works for an energy efficiency charity, and Matthew Snedker, a prominent local environmental campaigner, will represent College ward after increasing the party’s share of the vote from 13% in 2015 to 51%. This success builds on the 2015 local election which saw the Green Party gain the third largest number of votes across the town, which the party have repeated this year.

Speaking after her election, Bryony said “I joined the Green Party when it became clear that I’d been asking the wrong people to do the right thing. Now the people of Darlington have shown that they are fed up with not being listened to, and with decisions being made without opposition.”

Matthew added “We were delighted to get the third largest share of the vote across the town in 2015, but realised that we had to focus on one ward to get a breakthrough into the Council chamber. However, as Green Councillors we represent not just the people of College ward but also those Green voters across the town.”

Martin Wood, who placed third for the Green Party in Park West alongside Louise Maddison, where cutting down the Blackwell trees was a big issue, added “Across the country there are a record number of Green Councillors on a record number of Councils and we’re seeing that having a Green in the room can make a real difference. With Matthew and Bryony holding the other parties to account and being an effective opposition, local people will have a stronger voice.”

Anyone wishing to offer support to the Darlington Green Party can contact them by email darlingtongreens@gmail.com, telephone 01325 242498 or on Facebook as "Darlington Green Party".

Bryony and Matthew celebrate