Residents of Kingswood have the opportunity to elect an MP who will fight to save our green spaces, for today and for future generations. As Kingswood’s former MP argued in his resignation letter, we are facing a climate emergency and the time to act is now. We see this in the recent summer heat waves, the autumn floods and the poor harvests of some crops, both around the world and here in South Gloucestershire.
Locally, we are seeing our green spaces and biodiversity eroded. We are seeing cuts to public transport routes, forcing people to become even more reliant on cars or, for many vulnerable people in our communities, having their only transport options removed. Cuts to our NHS have left a record level waiting list. Cuts to our schools mean many are literally falling down.
Many of the challenges we face locally stem from decisions made in Westminster, decisions that cut our essential local services and are not in the interest of the Kingswood constituency. We need an MP who knows what issues we face here and will stand up for Kingswood.
The Green Party has been arguing for taking our environment, and its impact on ordinary people’s lives, seriously since we were formed over half a century ago. And we have sound policy for change, not just on the environment but on education, healthcare, transport and a fairer, green society. In Bristol, there are now more councillors from the Green Party than any other party and we are seeing the positive effects of local policies developed with fairness and long-term environmental responsibility.
Our local priorities
In Kingswood our priorities are:
- Housing that protects green spaces
- Public transport that serves local needs
- Protecting biodiversity and responding to the climate emergency
Our candidate is Lorraine Francis, who is currently a Bristol City Councillor and will be the Green candidate for the new Bristol North East constituency in the general election.