Press Releases for 2004
THAMES GATEWAY - Green Party launches tri-regional policy
21st May 2004Three regional Green Parties Eastern, London and South East - have launched a tri-regional statement on policies for the Thames Gateway(1). Hazel Dawe, Green Party European Candidate for Kent (2), comments:
"Green considerations must be paramount when considering development in what is Britain's largest brownfield site. The statement offers hope, practical policies and a more secure future for the Thames Gateway area."
The statement in full reads:
"Massive population growth and development in London and the South East is neither inevitable nor desirable. Instead of encouraging these trends, major national, regional and inter-regional efforts are required to reverse them and to make it possible for people who in the right conditions would prefer to live and work away from London and the south-east to do so. In particular, planning and economic development policies are needed which (a) strengthen and diversify local and regional economies across the UK, and (b) counteract tendencies which overheat the London and South-East economies and lead to ever greater development and population pressures.
"However, we recognise that much of the Thames Gateway area needs improvement owing to past degradation, and that London and the South East have a real need for additional affordable housing and truly sustainable economic development. While there should be no development on greenfield sites, brownfield land, if otherwise suitable for development, in the Thames Gateway can play an important role in meeting this need, provided the following policies are adopted:
Policies 1. Decisions are made by democratically elected local authorities and the GLA not an Urban Development Corporation or other appointed QUANGO within a clear planning framework and with the close involvement of local people and community and environmental organisations (including the Environment Agency and English Nature or its successor).
2. Flood plains are protected and widened, providing natural solutions to increased flood risks.
3. The ecology and landscape of the Thames and riverside land is protected and enhanced.
4. New green space is created, and existing green space and biodiversity protected, as part of a Green Grid strategy for the Thames Gateway.
5. All contaminated land is subject to a decontamination programme. Decontamination methods should not disturb wildlife, and wherever possible should promote wildlife.
6. State of the art sustainable construction is used for all new buildings, which should embody renewable energy, high-level energy efficiency and water saving and protection of biodiversity.
7. Car free developments are promoted and ambitious road traffic reduction targets set.
8. No new roads (except local access routes for new development) are built.
9. Investment is made in high quality local public transport (tram links, rail, buses etc) and cycle networks. As well as within the locality public transport should provide access to central London and areas beyond the Thames Gateway, and should provide access between all parts of the Thames Gateway area. There should be at least one rail crossing of the River Thames in each of Inner London, Outer London and Essex/Kent for local rail services.
10. The infrastructure for genuine local communities (local shops, local jobs, local services etc.) is developed.
11. Efficient use is made of all natural resources, including land, by building compact but high quality developments - with maximum access to Green Grid/wildlife corridors. There should be higher density developments near to public transport nodes and town centres.
2 of 2 12. Innovative and modern green industries (e.g. solar panels plant, recycled paper, plastics and glass plants, water saving appliances etc.) are promoted actively.
13. A range of training and job opportunities are developed to meet the needs of a diverse workforce, including jobs in manufacturing, building trades, utilities, food production, and landscape and environmental management. Worker co-operatives should be encouraged.
14. Sufficient public funds are made available.
15. Ambitious targets for social housing are adopted, and social housing has decent levels of natural light and minimum noise levels.
(17.4.04)
ends c644 words
FURTHER INFORMATION: Hazel Dawe on 01233 645167 or 07960 956272. Contact address: 10 Hillbrow Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 4QH. Local website: www.eastkent-greenparty.org.uk Hazel Dawe is a Senior Lecturer in Law at London Metropolitan University.
Notes: 1. Tri-Regional Thames Gateway position statement from London Federation, South East Confederation and Eastern Confederation of Green Parties
2. Hazel Dawe is one of 10 candidates on the Green Party list for the South East Region's European constituency. Other information on these elections can be found at www.greenparty.org.uk/southeast and on the website of the South East's Green MEP, Caroline Lucas at www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk Published and promoted by Susan Miles, on behalf of the South East Confederation of Green Parties, both at 3 Copse Cottages, Shillingford Road, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8LQ.
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