Mick Coats
Green Party
Balderstone & Kirkholt Ward
Thank you for reading this. I am standing as the Green Party candidate for this ward. This is an election about what we can do locally and why it is important to vote. The main parties have failed the people of Rochdale, with the interests of the party put in front of the needs of local people. To some extent it is not the fault of local party members, they are just doing as they are told; but now is the time for a different sort of politics. Climate change does not afford us the time to do nothing. All of us should try to help in the battle to tackle climate change for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
We face the same problems at every election; the need for decent housing, well paid local jobs and safety from crime and speeding cars. We also need cleaner streets and green open spaces. It is difficult to remove these problems with local authorities short of cash but there are some things that we can do. To start with the council needs to be more open and democratic; recognising that local people do have good ideas and listening to them.
Developers need to build on brownfield sites before building on the green belt. Developers should also be forced to build properly affordable housing. There has been a lot of building in the town centre, but where are the new houses? Our priorities should be houses, not expensive flats.
In other towns any development must use a certain percentage of local labour and local firms. They should also be made to provide improvements to the local communities with their developments. All to often they maximise their profits to the detriment of local people. We need to take control of what happens in our town.
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing should be brought back under the control of the council; housing is a basic right and should be in the control of the council. It is in neighbouring towns.
Vehicles grossly exceeding the speed limit are a menace throughout the borough. These are deadly and should be treated as such. Speeding car drivers should be prosecuted as the law breakers they are. Their cars seized and destroyed with speeding drivers made to work in accident and emergency to appreciate the harm that they cause.
It is time for a more diverse council and the institutions made more democratic, not less. Too many ambitious prospective councillors see their election as a pathway to a lucrative career. The current council has run out of ideas and is past it's sell by date. It does need a shake up, please take the opportunity to do this now.
Our policies can be accessed via the internet. Please contact me if you need help to manage the internet,( I find my kids are helpful for this!). Nationally, the Green Party condemns warring factions across the world and calls for a ceasefire and long-term solutions. But it is not just wars that cause misery for so many. Child labour and oppression are much further spread.. We should not be 'doing business' with anyone involved inhuman activities.
Locally lets use the knowledge and skills of residents. Devolve as much decision making and local control as possible. Currently we are increasingly being involved less. For too long we have been ignored, our views overridden and seen as voting fodder for parties to use and abuse.
Time for a change.
Mick Coats
