Portsmouth Green Party Candidates - Local Elections 2024

Hi Nelson Ward, I'm Duncan Robinson and I'd like to tell you my biggest concerns after 15 years of living here and how I would tackle them.

One of my major concerns is a personal one, the threat of air pollution. My youngest son was blue-lighted to A&E four times before his second birthday with breathing problems exacerbated by air pollution. I would widen the Clean Air Zone (CAZ), in line with residents wishes, to include Kingston Crescent, Kingston Road, and Fratton Road. In addition, I have signed the South East Climate Alliance ABCD pledge to ensure that council funds are not invested in fossil fuels. A novel way we could solve this issue is by creating streets of the future where we rely less on our cars because it's easier, cheaper, and safer to use public transport, walk, and cycle around the city, easing congestion and making Portsmouth much more pleasant.

Speaking of making Portsmouth more pleasant, I want to make sure we keep our protected land safe, which is why oppose the development of Tipner West. 

Another issue of great concern is the rising cost of living, especially energy bills.  I support the investment in insulation across our city from private housing to publicly-owned housing, which will reduce people's bills and pollution.

If elected, I will work hard to improve these areas, making a Portsmouth for the future that we (and our children) can be proud of).

Twitter: @DuncanRobinson5

It's evident that traditional politics has failed to address the pressing issues we face today, leaving our communities longing for hope, ambition, and a commitment to a fairer, greener society. As a young queer person with a disability, I am puzzled by the lack of progress and the harmful, backward policies that persist. I want more for our country, I want better for Portsmouth South.

I am confident that the Green Party offers a vision for real change amoungst our communities. But what change is needed? Real consideration for our environment, investment into health and social care, a commitment to seeing out global peace, electoral reform and promoting inclusion & diversity within society. There is no doubt this is a big task, yet I know with politics done differently like this a Green MP is up for the task. I am proud to be taking on this challenge in the city I have made home. Let’s Turn Pompey Green Together!

Twitter: Elliott000_

The threat of the climate crisis should have radicalised our leaders. It has not. We're still watching them putting a sticker over the Check Engine light and telling us it's safe to drive. We need fast and effective action on the climate crisis, including expanding the clean air zone, creating designated bike lanes, and increasing what can be recycled at kerbside, so that we can begin to improve our other services, including adult social care, education, and health services.

If elected to the city council, I would champion a cleaner city with better recycling, a stringent air quality action plan, and better facilities for the people of Portsmouth. The people of Portsmouth deserve a cleaner, greener city and a Green Councillor would go a long way to making that a reality.

Tim is a local resident and has been an active campaigner in Portsmouth for the last few years, with his ancestral routes tracing back to nearby Emsworth. 

Tim works as a software contractor and AI specialist. In his career, he has been involved in problem solving and delivery of solutions in complex research and engineering projects. His understanding of evidence based policy is needed to address the significant challenges we face.

After seeing worrying signs of environmental and social break down, Tim decided to get involved in politics and local campaigns. He has had a long interest in environmental issues and civil rights. Tim currently specializes in air quality and sustainable transport issues. He has volunteered with Portsmouth Foodcycle and Fratton Big Local to help support the local community.

"We need to abandon old dogmatic solutions in favour of sustainable and accountable systems. Of particular concern in Portsmouth is the level of traffic, which causes parking problems, delays, pollution and climate change. I will fight for more investment in cycling, walking and public transport, as well as requiring development schemes to put these priorities at their centre. Green spaces need to be introduced around the city to improve well being. The city also needs to improve its recycling rates, which are among the worst in the country.

I am an air quality campaigner and regular blogger on the #LetPompeyBreathe campaign."

Email: tim [at] portsmouth [dot] greenparty [dot] org [dot] uk
Twitter: @GreenTimSC

Imagine living in a city with clean air, quieter roads and with affordable and accessible transport links. This could happen in Portsmouth, not easily or quickly, but with imagination and effort. The Green Party has well researched policies on this, and many other issues which would improve our lives now, and more importantly the lives of future generations.

More immediately I would like to see increased recycling of materials. If plastic recycling bins were as widespread as bottle banks it could lead to a huge change. Finally, in Baffins we are fortunate in having a good deal of green space. I would like to see that developed throughout Portsmouth, eventually to create green pathways through the city.

We need a political system that puts the public first, and an economy that gives everyone their fair share. We need a planet protected from the threat of climate change now and for the generations to come. That’s the world we want to create and I believe we have the means to do it.

The challenges faced by the people of Portsmouth include homelessness, poor air quality, unaffordable housing and a critically underfunded NHS.

By building more social rented homes and bringing abandoned buildings back into use we can ensure that everyone has a secure and affordable place to live. Ending the creeping privatisation of the NHS and repealing the Health and Social Care Act will help us to restore a publicly funded, publicly provided health service free at the point of use. A rent cap, longer tenancies and licensing landlords will provide greater protection for renters. UK standards on air pollution are out of date, we need to implement charges for the most polluting vehicles, and support a more cycling- and walking-friendly city.

By investing in renewable energy and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, we can build a stable and sustainable society that protects our planet from climate change.

Hello people of Eastney and Craneswater. My name is Tamara Groen. And I'm your candidate for the local elections.

You may know me from my volunteering at the Repair Cafe/Library of Things in The Cascades. I'm one of the folks that gets you booked in for your repair slot or helps you check out an object to borrow.
When I'm not there, I'm busy working with young people as a supported lodgings carer, helping care-experienced young people to thrive in our community.

If elected, I would be keen to support refugees and asylum seekers who arrive here to fight back against the hostile immigration system because, in my professional experience, they help make this island better. Another of my priorities would be to improve public transport and cycle routes across the city, so that we can move around safer, cheaper, and cleaner.

So many people feel anxiety and fear over the climate crisis, but I want to give you hope. It's not too late to turn the tides. (Quite literally in Portsmouth's case.) I am hopeful that Portsmouth City Council will start enacting meaningful chances needed to cut pollution, reduce waste, and protect the people of Portsmouth. That's why I've spent every Friday this year outside the Civic Offices in a Greta-style protest to call attention to the issue of our lives.

However, given the track record of our councillors, that urgently-needed change is much more likely with a Green in office. As a gardener, I know all about reaping what I sow. With your help Drayton and Farlington, we can plant the seeds of progress and bring about a better tomorrow

I have been active in the local community of Charles Dickens Ward for many years, I work for Inter Activ a charity based at Landport Community centre as a skills coach teaching adults with disabilities and working from personal experiences, I'm keen to highlight the many local issues which affect people with disabilities and mental health. Transport, recycling, conserving our green spaces and implementing green alternatives - Giving Charles Dickens Ward a Green voice."

We all deserve a city and country that works well for us, that puts us first, has a fair economy for all, and actively protects us from the climate crisis. 
 
As a long time resident of Portsmouth, I want to see and help deliver greater and cheaper access to public transport, clean waters all round our island and better and well funded services. 
 
We need greater action taken to tackle these issues which has been lacking from the major parties. We need Green voices in the council to help deliver this. 

Josie has been a Green Party member since about 2015, joining because the major parties weren't - and still aren't - doing enough to tackle climate change.

Her day job is as an IT Project Manager, mostly working for small charities. She's lived in Portsmouth since October 2022 and loves living near the sea and kayaking on the Portsmouth and Langstone harbours.

Across England, communities are suffering. Cuts devastate local services and corporate profit-seeking threatens the environment. Instead of waiting for the council to do more, we as a community can do so much better and Green Party councillors across the UK have a proven track record of supporting and elevating the needs of people.

The cost of living crisis and the continued underfunding of public services are having a huge impact on residents’ lives.  I am concerned about rising prices, lack of affordable housing, and widening inequality.  We need to focus on ensuring people’s basic needs are being met, to allow people to thrive rather than barely survive. We also need to improve public transport and establish much safer walking and cycling routes in Portsmouth to help reduce our reliance on cars and tackle air pollution.  A cleaner, greener environment will help to improve the health and wellbeing of residents.

There is so much that needs to change and a crucial step to improving residents’ lives would be to have a Green councillor in Portsmouth.  I am committed to helping Portsmouth achieve a more sustainable future.

Harry grew up in Southsea and has lived here for most of his life, he is passionate about helping the community and the climate. He wants to run as a green councillor because he has seen the good green councillors have done around the country and thinks Portsmouth deserves a greener future and cleaner waters.