Dr Diane Scott has campaigned against the expansion of Heathrow airport. She travelled by train to Copenhagen to take part in the peaceful demonstrations there during the December Climate change talks. She is also campaigning against the proposed application for a Biofuel power station in Southall. The campaign led to the unanimous rejection of the proposal by Ealing Council in September 2009, but the fight continues as the decision has been appealed.
Diane has a PhD in Immunology and has worked in medical research. She feels strongly that patient care should be a much higher priority of the NHS and that far more provision should be made for mental health care. She also believes in the importance of local communities and the development of social networks to improve the quality of city life.
She will be retiring from full time research in the Spring and will be able to devote her time to representing the Syon community.

John Bradley has previously stood as a Green Party candidate to represent local people at local and national level. Having worked in the construction industry as a Commercial Manager for 30 years he presented evidence at the Terminal 5 inquiry attacking the economic case for airport expansion. John has been active on green issues and in local affairs for 20 years most recently highlighting the abuse of expenses by the local MP.
He is currently chair of Friends of Boston Manor Park and an active member of his local allotment association. "Growing your own food is not only one of the most satisfying things you can do it's cheaper than going to the gym and allows you to appreciate the natural world - even in the city."
In 2005 John went back to university where he gained a first class honours degree in Classics and is currently studying for an MA.
John lives in Upper Butts in Syon.

The local Labour Party in Brentford & Isleworth has been using taxpayer's money to produce and deliver thousands of booklets about anti-social behaviour, as a vehicle to put Ann Keen's name and photograph through every letterbox in the constituency ahead of the general election expected within months.

"It is dishonest of Ann Keen, because it purports to be what it isn't.  It claims to be written by Ann Keen and to be specially aimed at the local community", said Tom Beaton, of Hounslow Green Party.

In fact the identical booklet has been surfacing all over the country in the past two years, and  is always written by the local Labour MP and is always titled to suggest that it is of particular local relevance to that MPs constituency.  It has often been featured in local newspaper reports with a picture of it being "launched" by the local Labour MP with the Home Secretary of the time Jacqui Smith (try using a well-known search engine with "anti-social behaviour handbook").

It is clearly a booklet produced by the Labour Party centrally, with only the MP's name, photograph and constituency varied so that it can be used as an easy way of promoting the MP locally - but at no cost to the Labour Party or the MP.

The Labour MP's pay for its production and delivery out of the 'Communications Expenditure', an allowance of up to £10,400 a year for each MP to "...communicate proactively with their constituents about their work in furtherance of their parliamentary duties."

The November 2009 Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Kelly Report) recognised that the communications allowance was being misused.  Kelly wrote that, "...with some commendable exceptions, the evidence that the communications allowance has really succeeded in promoting more effective engagement is very limited, even allowing for the relatively short time since its introduction. There is much more evidence of it being used in ways that are essentially party political or have more to do with self-promotion."

He recommended that it should be discontinued.  It is being stopped from 1 January 2010 (ie the week after next).

"It is really quite extraordinary that Ann Keen should use this discredited allowance, only days before it is abolished, in precisely the sort of way that caused it to become discredited in the first place" Tom said.

"I have no doubt that Ann Keen will make her usual claims about it being 'within the rules as they were then' and about her claim being 'approved by the parliamentary authorities'.   She never seems to read - or if she has read she hasn't understood - that part of the rulebook which says that "Individual Members take personal responsibility..." and that "Claims must only be made for expenditure that it was necessary for a Member to incur to ensure that he or she could properly perform his or her parliamentary duties."

Tom said he will be making a formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards about Ann Keen's use of her communications expenditure for this piece of party political publicity.

"No one seems ever to ask themselves, 'Is this right?' ", he said.  "They ask only, 'can I get away with it?"

The marchers surrounded Parliament for "The Wave".

Dr John Hunt, Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Brentford and Isleworth, said: "The International Energy Agency (IEA) has just published a report showing that existing government policies have alarming consequences for climate change and for energy security.

"The IEA regard the economic downturn as an opportunity to put our planet on a truly sustainable energy path which will arrest climate change.  Although this is an enormous challenge, it is one that we can meet.  It is also a challenge that we MUST meet:  not just for the sake of future generations, but for the survival of more and more people threatened by drought, famine, and flood.

"As the window of opportunity is extremely short, it is essential that governments agree robust action at Copenhagen this December.  That is why I urge you, whatever your political views, to join the march on Parliament on 5^th December."

More information on the march can be found on the Global Climate Change campaign website at http://www.campaigncc.org/climatemarch2009.

The United Nations Climate Conference (COP15) was held from 7^th to 18^th December in Copenhagen. More information can be found at http://en.cop15.dk/

The IEA report can be found at "World Energy Outlook 2009", International Energy Agency: www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=294 and www.worldenergyoutlook.org/docs/weo2009/WEO2009_es_english.pdf The goal is to reduce the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to 450 parts per million of CO₂-equivalent.

Dr. John Hunt, a local resident, will stand in Syon in May's local elections.

John has campaigned on many issues relevant to the people of Syon, particularly in relation to the expansion of Heathrow.

While at primary school he began with the safety of London buses.  Since 1988 he has demanded better standards in healthcare.  In the 1990's he submitted reports on air pollution to the Heathrow Terminal Five public enquiry, and monitored air quality with local schools.  In 2007 whilst protesting at the Heathrow Climate Camp about the impact of the airport expansion on climate change he was arrested, though later released without charge.  He has campaigned against the Third Runway and joined protests at the airport.

John has lived in Syon since 1987.He grew up in Hillingdon; studied in Brighton, Colchester, and London; and gained a Ph.D. in computing.  He worked as a software specialist for companies large and small in London, Essex, and Switzerland.  Later he worked as a consultant for several years.

However, appalled by experiences of poor healthcare, he retrained as a nurse.  He spent four years with his Patient Forum to improve hospital care at the West Middlesex hospital.  Through a spell working in home-care, he improved monitoring of local services.  John now has responsibility for End of Life Care at Hounslow Local Involvement Network ("LINk") as he cares deeply about this.

John has also been selected by the Greens as  the prospective Member of Parliament for Brentford and Isleworth.

Dr John Hunt made a short speech.  He said:

"After campaigning against Heathrow expansion since the mid-1990's, in the face of lies and deceit by BAA and the current Labour Government, and by the previous Conservative one, I was pleased to hear the announcement that BAA won't submit a planning application before next year's General Election.

I was pleased, but not ecstatic. After years of lies and deceit, one learns to be suspicious. And my suspicion was rapidly justified, when mention of a new international hub in the Thames Estuary resurfaced.

Earlier this week the International Energy Agency published "World Energy Outlook 2009", showing that existing government policies have alarming consequences for climate change and for energy security. This was backed only recently, in a report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers: "Climate Change: Have We Lost the Battle?".

This is not just a vague threat at some indefinite point in the future. More and more people are already threatened by drought, famine, and flood, and becoming environmental refugees.

We must win the battle! But increasing emissions of greenhouse gases by expanding aviation will drive a cart and horses through the 2008 Climate Change Act: and a flight of jumbos through any hope we have of saving our planet from anthropogenic climate change."

 Consultation on the future of Gunnersbury Park - Hounslow Green Party:

Summary:

I am writing on behalf of Hounslow Green Party to object to the proposed development in Gunnersbury Park as presented in "Gunnersbury Park Options Appraisal" (Jura Consultants and LDN Architects, June 2009). 

The report does not consider Hounslow and Ealing Councils' failure to meet their obligation to maintain the park and the historic buildings in their care.  By assuming 'No Blame', the report is able to conclude that the Councils should not be financially responsible for rectifying the situation and that some other source of funding has to be found. 

We also object to the consultation process based on this report which presented only two extreme options:  

• to fund the correction of Hounslow and Ealing's failures by selling part of the park for development - as recommended in the report, or
• to allow the buildings to continue to deteriorate - an option explicitly rejected in the report because it is unacceptable to park stakeholders.

This gave respondents no choice, and a consultation without choice is invalid.  The results of this consultation should not form the basis of any decisions made by the Councils.

Grounds for Objection:

The principal reasons for objecting to the proposals are:

•1.        The park is currently protected by the Metropolitan Open Space Act (1881).  In the spirit of this Act, we expect all green spaces in London to be protected.  As the population of London, and West London in particular, increases, protecting parks and green spaces is of paramount importance; they are vital for the health and wellbeing of all residents.  This sale would set a dangerous precedent for all of our parks.  This is not just about these 400 trees or this park, but about all Hounslow's, Ealing's and London's green spaces.  We object on the grounds of the Metropolitan Open Space Act.

•2.        The park is also protected by the Rothschild Deed of Covenant, which entrusted this estate for public use.  This Covenant prohibits building private property in the park.  We do not accept the building of housing on the park in the 1920's, or other technical changes to the Covenant since, as grounds for further breaches. We object to this breach of the Rothschild Deed of Covenant.

•3.        This sale of land is justified because it is assumed sufficient funding will not be available from other sources.  Rather than being the first choice, sale of green space as a funding option should be rejected as a matter of policy.  We believe the Councils have a duty to seek funding elsewhere, or to modify the proposals so that less funding is needed.

•4.        The additional parking spaces will cause further loss of green space.  We believe modern developments should plan to provide public transport links for users rather than encourage car use.

Green Party Alternative:

While we object to any loss of green space, we are open to a wide range of potential uses of the historic buildings, provided they are of benefit to the public as required by the Rothschild Deed of Covenant.

We propose the Councils adopt a less ambitious way forward, prioritising the refurbishment of buildings over a longer period.  Smaller amounts of funding could be sought for individual buildings / projects from both Council and other sources.  Reviews of the success and failure of early projects will feed back into later ones.

We appreciate that the sports changing facilities have been as badly neglected as the historic buildings and need replacing.  But they do not need to be moved to a new location, with the additional expense and loss of green space implied.  We would like to see more sports facilities in the area, but parkland should not be sacrificed to obtain them.

The Future Governance of the Park:

This park has been seriously neglected for many years.  Current governance and management structures have clearly failed and need to be replaced.  Long-term maintenance programmes, backed by legally binding funding commitments, need to be agreed as part of any restoration project.  

15^th October, 2009

Dr John Hunt

    On behalf of Hounslow Green Party

    c/o  89 Airedale Avenue

    London  W4 2NN

The motion stated "This council is committed to preserving the borough's parks and green spaces and enhancing their role as providing amenity to the community." 

"This council is committed to improving Gunnersbury Park but rules out selling parts of the park to developers to help pay for it. "

Dr John Hunt said  "the Green Party have opposed this development in principle from the start.  The Greens are totally opposed to funding council expenditure by selling off park land. Don't believe those who say we are not a rich society - it is just a question of priorities. And what is more important than our green spaces?  It is good to see that despite the earlier intransigence of local councillors common sense seems to be prevailing.  However, Hounslow have not passed an equivalent motion, so we must remain vigilant. !"

Darren Johnson, Green Party Assembly member visited Gunnersbury Park to see at first hand the potential impact of the development plan proposed by the Jura Consultants for Ealing and Hounslow councils.  He was joined by John Hunt, parliamentary candidate for Brentford and Isleworth.

The proposal is to refurbish the ‘listed' buildings and add new facilities in the park.  This would be partly financed by building housing on 5.6 acres of the park that runs along Lionel Road North . The proposals also include a sports centre even though the Fountain Centre in Brentford is very close.  

Darren Johnson said: "The proposed site of this new housing development is against everything we stand for in the Green Party. It will destroy over 5 acres of wooded land, which so badly needs protection in urban areas today. As well as giving us places to enjoy and savour, wooded areas provide valuable habitat for all sorts of wildlife and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."
 

Darren Johnson and Dr John Hunt urge constituents to write or speak to their councillors to defend the wooded area and to express their views on how this development should be pursued.  

The Jura Consultants' report can be viewed at www.hounslow.gov.uk/gunnersbury and the proposals are also on display at the Gunnersbury Park Museum. Residents can also express their view by contacting Richard Gill, the Gunnersbury Park Development and Regeneration Manager, Gunnersbury Park Museum , London W3 8LQ and their local councillors.

Jenny said "this is a great day out for all the family. Today we have had a glimpse of what a sustainable future might look like in Hounslow, and it is very enjoyable!"

Jenny Jones is third from the left in the photograph. Koy Thomson is third from the right.

London Cycling Campaign's aims are to promote cycling, campaign for change, and support its members.

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Nationally the Greens increased their vote share by 44%, coming first in Brighton and Norwich.  Green leader Caroline Lucas was also re-elected to the European Parliament.

The National Office has received more than 900 applications to join the Green Party in six weeks, so if you did apply to join please by prepared for a short delay.

Thanks to everyone who voted Green!

The March was timed to coincide with UN Climate Talks in Poznan, Poland and with similar action in another 94 countries around the world.

Protestors were opposed to the third runway at Heathrow and expansion of the aviation industry; new coal power stations such as the one planned at Kingsnorth in Kent; and to the expansion of agrofuels, which have negative impacts on forests and world food supply. Protestors demanded a Green New Deal with new jobs in renewable energy generation and other green projects.  

Dr John Hunt, Green Party election candidate, said "Last month's emasculated Climate Change Act and continued Government delays demonstrates that assurances about cutting emissions will prove worthless. Significant progress to avoid irreversible and catastrophic climate change requires that we reduce ALL sources of pollution. Aviation, a luxury, and also the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gases cannot be granted any exemptions."

At the end of the march the protestors were joined by Jean Lambert, Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London.

Notes

1. The Global Climate Change campaign website is www.globalclimatecampaign.org

2. The Green New Deal is explained at www.neweconomics.org

3. Scientists now agree that climate change caused by emissions of Carbon Dioxide from burning fossil fuels, and other sources, are a serious risk. In the Fourth Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (' IPCC'), an independent United Nations sponsored body, in February 2007 scientists stated that climate change is "unequivocally happening" and that they are 90% certain that it is due to man-made emissions. They concluded that temperatures could rise up to 6 degrees by the end of the next century if no action was taken. Such a change is likely to have catastrophic impact on food production and sea levels, as well as leading to the extinction of many species.

The IPCC website is url www.ipcc.ch

The Forth Assessment can be found at url www.ipcc.ch

Dr John Hunt said:

"After John McDonnell's (Hayes and Harlington) seizing of the ceremonial mace, his colleagues Andy Slaughter (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush) and Virendra Sharma (Ealing & Southall) resigned their posts as parliamentary private secretaries to vote in protest with former ministers against the Government on Heathrow . But despite hype about what Ann and Alan Keen are doing for constituents they both voted last week to expand Heathrow. Or perhaps they were just confused, like Martin Linton (Battersea) who voted in favour of a third runway by mistake .

Hopes that we will be saved by the Conservatives are unfounded, as not all Tory MP's voted to oppose Runway 3 . The party claims to be against expansion at Heathrow for environmental reasons, as with 220,000 more flights, the airport could become the largest single source of carbon dioxide in the UK, emitting nearly 27 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year . However, the shadow transport secretary , Theresa Villiers has said that the Conservatives are willing to expand airport capacity in the South East and that they are quite prepared to expand Luton, City Airport, and Southend!.

The same week as the Government narrowly won the vote on Heathrow expansion, the European Commission announced action on UK breaches of the European Directive on Air Quality. In London it is estimated that over 1,000 people die prematurely each year as a result of poor air quality and a further 1.000 are admitted to hospital. One might think that Ann Keen, as a former nurse, would worry about the health of her constituents; and that as a junior minister for health would want to reduce hospital admissions and NHS costs, yet she voted against the motion.

Oil is running out. Airlines have gone bust this year, and others have cut flights. Our climate is already changing: nationally and globally. Ice-caps are melting. Populations are being displaced. Belatedly, the UK and US governments are recognising the need to cut carbon emissions. Yet the Governmental continues to talk about a cap on the number of flights and using aircraft less polluting than any yet invented, which fools no-one. Instead of expanding unsustainable industries we must invest in reducing consumption, reducing pollution, and conserving our planet's finite resources. We must learn "to embrace a new model of growth, which is more equitable and more inclusive, and which places a realistic value on the environment and the future we all need to share" . Otherwise we will rapidly realise that no amount of "quantitative easing" will enable us to pay the price."

Notes

1. Airport protest ends in Mowgli moment for John McDonnell Ann Treneman / January 16, 2009 www.timesonline.co.uk

2. Government wins third runway vote - but saw its majority cut to just 19 2009/01/28 newsvote.bbc.co.uk

3. Tories clear the way for more flights from small airports Sam Coates, Chief Political Correspondent / January 29, 2009 www.timesonline.co.uk

4. Anti-Heathrow MP's voting gaffe embarrassment Eleanor Harding / 31st January 2009 www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk

5. Why climate change matters in the downturn Barbara Stocking, CEO of Oxfam / January 31, 2009 www.timesonline.co.uk

Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson retained their seats - despite a huge increase it Conservative votes: in the Mayoral race, Ken Livinston won more votes than in 2004, but still lost the election!

 In South West London (the GLA constituency which includes Hounslow, Richmond, Twickenham and Kingston), John Hunt, a Hounslow Green increased the Green vote by more than 3,000.