My name is Oliver Owen and I’m proud to be standing as your Green Party candidate in the South Gloucestershire Council by-election in the Frenchay and Downend ward.
At this time it would be usual for a candidate to outline their pledges and make promises for all of the things they would do if elected, in an effort to win your vote.
But I feel that for me to do this would be somewhat disingenuous.
It takes extensive resources to win elections, resources that I just don’t have.
So the immediate questions to answer are: why am I standing in this election, and why should you vote for me?
The climate crisis demands urgent action.
And many of the things that need to be done can be done at a local level – whether it’s improving transport infrastructure, decisions around housing and development, and the protection and enhancement of our green spaces.
These issues are at the heart of Green Party politics, not only because they are crucial in how we address the climate crisis, but also because they impact our communities and the quality of our day-to-day lives.
Sadly, I don’t believe that other parties really get the urgency of the crisis or are committed to implementing the measures that need to be taken. Too often party political allegiances and other influences stand in the way of delivering the local improvements we desperately need.
So it’s important to me that residents in Frenchay and Downend have the opportunity in May to vote for a Green representative, to send a clear message to the council and to the other parties that they must wield the power they have in local decision making to fully address the climate crisis.
Every vote is counted, and a vote for the Green Party in May is a vote to deliver meaningful local solutions to the climate crisis.
Thank you.
