Our candidates in May 2022

Candidate STATEMENTS

Anni Sander

I have always been passionate about sustainability. I studied civil engineering and specialised in energy efficient and sustainable building design. Since moving to Hitchin I've been very involved in waste and other environmental campaigning. I'm passionate about enabling positive change and making it easier for people to do the right thing for our environment, like running repair cafes, swapping pre-loved clothes and other items, or running socials for family cycling. I have even received an award from North Hertfordshire Council for my work in our local community. I think our councils have the power to do more to ensure a safe and healthy future for us and our children, which is why I stand as a candidate for the Green Party in Hitchin Bearton.

Deolinda Eltringham

Deolinda (Maria) Eltringham - North Herts & Stevenage Green Party (NH&SGP) Membership Officer.   I have been a resident of Hitchin since 1986.  Have a Chemistry degree, and worked in several Chemistry laboratories for many years, with a long term interest in the science of Climate Change.  I have been active locally at parish, ecumenical, and inter-faith levels.   I am passionate about environmental issues, climate justice and believe in living the changes I wish to see in my community and the world.

Since 2013, I have been the Hitchin Terracycle coordinator for some recyclable waste streams based at Our Lady's Church, raising thousands of pounds from recycling plastics for four main charities.   I have been active in the Hitchin community over the years and now am representative in the North Herts Inter Faith Forum, helping to start a new woodland in Little Hadham.   I am keen to ensure the protection and greening of the Hitchin Green Belt and see it become a valuable clean air lung and good mental health resource for our community.

Policies I care much about:

• Support locally the proposed Local Electricity Bill.
• Keen to monitor and improve air quality, and reduce air pollution
• Ensure the local Housing Plan meets local needs, to super insulated standards.
• Continue to oppose Luton Airport expansion.
• Passionate about encouraging and enabling biodiversity in local ecosystems
• Actively work with Anglian Water to stop sewage water contaminating local rivers
• Expand true recycling and re-purposing facilities.
• Make it easier to implement the 20mph speed limit where residents request them.
• Prioritise universally accessible efficient and affordable public transport network.
• Establish a broad network of EV charging points, in all supermarket and public car parks.
• Protect high standards of agricultural food production, especially locally.
• Campaign and ensure a fairer, proportional, local election voting system.

Will Lavin

Will lives with his family at The Mill House in Walsworth. He has worked as a consultant for major banks and accountancy firms in the city for over 30 years.

He is a founding member of the Green Party, and has held roles on the National Executive of the Party. He has also stood for Parliament on two occassions.

Will is passionate about securing a better future by addressing climate change, air quality and house insulation. If elected as a District Councillor, he promises to address concerns with pollution (two areas in Hitchin currently exceeding legal limits), improve cycle facilities and hold the council to account on climate change pledges.

Davina Malcom

I have lived in Kimpton for 41 years, with an old cottage garden and a field of cows opposite.  It has made me appreciate nature and the countryside.  I want to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.  Although Hertfordshire born and bred, I've travelled widely and lived in London and abroad, thus broadening my perspectives.  I spent 40 years working in IT, both in industry and teaching, including 7 years at North Hertfordshire College.

Now retired, I actively volunteer with the Woodland Trust at Heartwood Forest and with CPRE Herts.  A team of us check the 300-500 planning applications made weekly to the District Councils in Hertfordshire.  We highlight serious infringements in the Green Belt so that expert planners can formally object to the worst cases. I attend the Kimpton Parish Council meetings when environmental or contentious planning issues are on the agenda; to speak up for the trees and to encourage more villagers to adopt a greener life-style.

Whether elected or not, I will continue to fight inappropriate development in the Parish; to promote the "20's Plenty" campaign to reduce speeding in all Hertfordshire villages for safety, and to reduce noise and air pollution; and demand a better, more integrated, bus service so that all of us can get out and about without needing a car!  If I was on the District Council, my voice might carry more weight.

Hazel Middleton

Hazel has lived and raised a family in Letchworth Garden City for more than 30 years.  She has extensive experience working within the education system and is passionate that education should provide everyone with the knowledge and full range of skills they require to participate fully in society and lead a fulfilled life.  Hazel wants to introduce an education system that will nurture a desire to learn throughout life, rather than learning to pass tests.

In addition to supporting children and families through her work, Hazel is striving to empower communities and individuals to live successful, sustainable lives and believes that small actions like growing your own herbs to reduce packaging is just one of many great ways of empowering people to make bigger changes on the journey to a circular economy

Alan Borgars

Hello, I'm Alan Borgars, your Green Party candidate for Letchworth South West this year.

I live in Letchworth Garden City and currently work as an IT consultant, and my background is primarily in research and administration. I passionately believe in the need to stand up for both people and planet and ensure residents in Letchworth Garden City can benefit from green-minded initiatives, especially those regarding transport and road safety.

I firmly believe that "20's plenty" and that recycling and waste-reduction initiatives should get more support from North Hertfordshire District Council, especially given the current cost-of-living crisis that shows the need for better resource distribution and reuse whenever possible.

Hugh Parker

Hugh has lived in the Royston area for more than 45 years. His career responding to marine oil spills worldwide spanned 40 years, advising on clean-up and resolving consequent claims from affected communities. He joined the Green Party in 2019 as the only Party taking the Climate Emergency seriously.  He is currently co-chair of the North Herts & Stevenage Green Party. His particular interests are biodiversity and renewable energy.

Hugh is standing in the Royston Heath Ward for election to North Herts District Council on 5th May 2022.

John Hully

John has lived in Royston for over thirty years. His children grew up and attended Royston's maintained schools. He worked both locally and as a commuter to London in his career in IT Service Management. John believes strongly that political decisions should be made at as local a level as possible. He believes the role of government is to meet the needs of all people within the means of the living planet, through a form of "Doughnut Economics" . He wants North Herts to have the powers to generate its own electricity for its own towns and villages. John is standing in Royston Meridian Ward.

Jim Borcherds

Jim has lived in Stevenage since 1989. He taught at Marriotts School for 12 years and now works as an Education Consultant supporting Secondary schools across Hertfordshire and beyond with their timetables.

For transport, Jim's first choice is to cycle; the Stevenage cycleways were a big attraction when Jim and his wife chose Stevenage as a place to live and bring up their family. He believes that if we can enable more people to choose to walk or cycle then space on the roads will be freed up for those who need to travel in cars.

Richard Warr

Richard first moved to Stevenage in 1967 and now lives in the Fishers Green area. He works as a software developer for a small company in Old Knebworth. Richard joined the Green Party in 2015  and is currently the Treasurer of North Herts & Stevenage Green Party. Local planning issues are of particular interest.

Richard is standing in the Symonds Green ward for election to Stevenage Borough Council on 5^th May 2022.