Stockport Council will be pressed to take more radical steps and become better prepared for the increased threat of flooding, after agreeing a motion tabled by two of Stockport’s Green Councillors at the Council Meeting on January 16th.

Councillor Liz Crix, proposing the motion, said: “Recent events have shown that we need to be much better prepared for heavy rainfall and flooding in Stockport…..We need to continue tackling climate change and nature loss and climate experts agree that we increasingly need to adapt and prepare against extreme weather events, which our failure to reach net zero make increasingly likely.”

“Addressing the limits of our existing drainage system will help, and I understand that this Council has applied for funding to upgrade its drains.  However a lot of the recent flooding was caused by high water levels on our rivers. ….Rivers rose to unprecedented levels, and it is likely that heavier rainfalls will cause them to rise even higher in the future.  We need to be prepared. We need to expect the unexpected. “

“This leads to my first resolution point – for the Council to recognise the increasing threat and take more radical steps to improve our preparedness for flooding events.  This may involve identifying or creating areas where floodwater can flow into or be absorbed by.”

“The government has set Stockport an ambitious home building target.  Preparing the Stockport Plan includes identifying potential development sites.  Building on flood risk areas exposes new and existing buildings to risk.  New builds can be protected to a certain extent by measures such as sustainable drainage, rain gardens, permeable paving and urban greening. “

“However this may not be enough, and existing buildings may also suffer if existing areas which absorb rain are built on.  This leads to my second resolution point: that potential flood risk areas are identified in the emerging Stockport plan, and that measures to ensure resilience to flooding take place before buildings are erected on at risk sites.”

The motion, amended by Labour to include a review of grids and gully maintenance can be read here.  

It was passed unanimously.

The post Stockport Council agrees Green motion on flood resilience  appeared first on Stockport Green Party.

In the July General Election Alex stood against Tom Morrison in Cheadle constituency, making a good impression on voters at hustings. Alex works in the transport sector and recently completed an Accredited Masters in Renewable Energy. Speaking on the by-election he said: “I’m delighted to stand for election in Cheadle West and Gatley. I want to offer voters an alternative to the usual parties that compete here. I will work hard to make the community I live in even better for everyone.”

Steph has been a Green Party candidate in local elections for the last 6 years and currently works as the Marketing Manager for a charity that mobilises practical community action on poverty and the environment. Stephanie’s priorities as a candidate include: A Green Homes Grant that works, restoring youth services, and pushing for reliable & safe transport. 

You can read more about Steph here and Alex here

The councillor vacancies are the result of Tom Morrison standing down as a councillor for Cheadle West & Gatley and Lisa Smart standing down as a councillor for Bredbury Green & Romiley following the election of both of them to Parliament.

In this year’s elections so far the Green Party nationally has quadrupled its number of MPs and added more than 70 Principal Authority Councillors.

The post Alexander Drury and Stephanie Wyatt to stand in October 17th by-elections appeared first on Stockport Green Party.

My name is Graham Reid. I am 77 years old and retired. In my working life I have been a printer, joiner and then a postal worker.

I became interested in environmental issues in the 1970s but didn’t join the Green Party until 1991. Since then I have become a life member. I stood for the Green Party in the 2015 Parliamentary Election, also in Hazel Grove. 

One of the underlying principles of the Green Party philosophy is that all human activity must be indefinitely sustainable, yet humans pollute the planet with ever increasing mountains of waste, most notably of plastics which are not biodegradable. The burning of fossil fuels is the main contributor of climate change. We are deforesting, overfishing and over populating the planet. We are the biggest threat to life on earth. I believe we are a part of Nature, not separate from it, nor superior to it.

The Green Party is not only concerned with the environment. Our second main policy is social justice. In a country that is one of the richest in the world, it is disgraceful that over 20% of the population are at or near the poverty level. That over one million people are waiting for council housing. That there is lack of social care.

This country is in a bad way. Successive governments have failed to deal with the underlying issues of the day. The Green New Deal would provide a sound foundation on which to build our future.

The post Introducing Graham Reid, our Hazel Grove General Election candidate appeared first on Stockport Green Party.

My name is Helena Mellish and I’m the Green Party’s General Election candidate for Stockport, my buzzing home. 

I’m proud to represent the Greens as I truly believe they’re the only party that has meaningful solutions to today’s problems.  In light of all the craziness that is going on, they’re the only party that stands up for morality and the issues that really matter.  

Common sense.  Security.  Justice.  That’s what the Green’s promise – for our environment, for our economy, and for our people.  Green policies are underpinned by core values and rooted in fairness, not the self-interest of a few.  We won’t be scared into silence and we’re ready to take advantage of the incredible opportunity before us: — the opportunity for a green industrial revolution that energises the economy, whilst protecting our planet and all us people on it.  Us folk work hard, we deserve political leadership that works hard for us too!

As a small business owner within the food industry, I’m excited to champion local commerce and a transformation of our food systems.  We need to take back control of our resources, nationalise essential public services and invest in the technology and infrastructure that will fuel our futures.

It’s time for positive change within politics: it’s time for some more Green MPs!

I support all Green Party policies laid out in the manifesto, and my personal values wholeheartedly align to the principles of the Green Party.

The post Introducing Helena Mellish, our Stockport General Election candidate appeared first on Stockport Green Party.

I’m Alex, a 42 year old IT worker. I’ve lived in Gatley since 2016, having lived in various parts of Greater Manchester since 2004, and I’ve grown to love the people and the place.

It’s important to me that everyone can use their vote to say clearly that the climate crisis is important to them, and that’s why I’m standing for the Green Party in Cheadle.

Climate change is the biggest problem we will face this century, but it’s also a huge opportunity for the UK and the North to become a global leader in the green industrial revolution.

After 14 years of ruinous government, it is time to be bold.

The Green Party champions visionary policies that I’m proud to represent, such as tackling poverty through a Universal Basic Income and lowering energy bills by adopting renewables and insulating homes more quickly.

The Green Party has consistently supported a ceasefire in Gaza, a release of all hostages and a ban on sales of arms to Israel. Our party is explicitly anti-racist and supports LGBTQ+ and trans rights.

The post Introducing Alex Drury, our Cheadle General Election candidate appeared first on Stockport Green Party.