Towards building a local consensus

Published Letter to West Briton 20/5/2010

Many of us are obviously intrigued at the Lib Dem- Conservative Coalition that is now in place. It is not a decision the Green Party would have ever wished to have been involved in, but I am sure, what ever our political persuasions, we can all hope it is no worse than the Labour Government which got us embroiled in two wars and disappointed the expectations of many progressive people.

Anyway the idea of trying to build a political consensus among people who have disparate opinions got me thinking about issues raised at the various ‘hustings’ events to which all of the candidates generally agreed, and the audiences seemed to generally support. I therefore very much hope our new MP Sarah Newton will remember those discussions, and as appears to be the spirit of these times, will take up the following matters-in the hope of building a local consensus:
1. Lobby Cornwall Council and our parish councils to build more rented and affordable housing for local people. Sarah said she understood parish councils could take action to stop the increasing numbers of second homes. I hope she will now use her position to lobby Cornwall Council, and our Parish Councils-to take action to prevent any more houses becoming any thing other than people’s primary homes, to increase council tax for second homes, and help rebuild these communities.
2. Ensure action is taken to stop green field development-where it can be avoided- to protect Cornwall becoming overdeveloped and our local environment being ruined. There are plenty of brown field sites which can be used.
3. Support the development of a local low carbon and eco-friendly economy, with particular emphasis of obtaining additional funding for Cornwall for this because of our poverty and long standing disproportionate lack of investment. Investment should include further development of renewable energy such as on and off shore wind power, and looking at how we can use wave power to generate electricity.
4. Further develop better bus and rail links within and to Cornwall
5. Lobby central government to refuse permission to build the St Dennis Incinerator, and look at alternative waste disposal strategies; for example with an increased emphasis on recycling and waste conversion to energy e.g through anaerobic digestion.
6. Sarah said she was in favour of electoral reform. Although many would prefer proportional representation, I hope she will vote ‘Yes’ in the promised free vote on the ‘Alternative Vote’ government proposal.
7. Sarah supported a ‘free vote’ regarding the fox hunting ban, and said she would be persuaded by the views of her constituents. She said she did not hunt. Should the new government be distracted to reopen this matter, I hope she will be persuaded by many of us to support keeping the ban in place and support greater enforcement.

I hope Sarah with her Lib Dem- Conservative colleagues will promote the above issues as some of the key issues for Cornwall, and in the spirit of consensus building remember that these matters had broad support of most if not all the candidates and the audience at pre election hustings events. If she is able to ensure these matters are addressed this can only be good news for the environment and people of Cornwall.