14th Apr 2007

Election manifesto launched

North Hertfordshire Green Party today launched its election manifesto for the district.

The manifesto, which runs to eight pages, covers policy positions on planning, working with the community, working with business, taxation, waste management, transport, the operation of the council and consultation.

The party believes that the most important and urgent contribution NHDC can make to combating climate change is ensuring that all new build is constructed to the highest environmental standards. This would be achieved through a phased approach requiring all new build to be "zero carbon" by 2016. Green Party councillors would push hard to accelerate the work on the Local Development Framework, which will contain the policies and local planning rules.

Giles Woodruff, Hitchin Walsworth ward candidate explained:

"The government are insisting that about 500,000 homes must be built in the East of England alone. Buildings last for decades, there's lots about to go up, and we only get one chance to make them as efficient as possible. If we impose the highest technical standards on new build now then it will make any other changes required to tackle global warming more achievable, and achievable at a lower cost."

The party is also prioritising measures that help develop the local community and support local businesses. A key aim here is to turn the district's approach to tackling climate change into an exciting community project, drawing on expertise, imagination and enthusiasm of residents in the district.

The manifesto can be read in full here.

As far as we are aware, no other political party fielding candidates in North Hertfordshire has as yet published a local manifesto on its website. If you spot one, let us know!