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The Green Party believes it may get its first councillors this election. The Greens are already strong in the old St. Augustine's Ward, with nearly 20% of the vote, having beaten one of the two Labour candidates in 1999. The two sitting Lib Dem councillors in Fosse Ward are retiring and one of them, Councillor Geoff Walker, has criticised the Leicester Lib Dems for "inconsistencies between what they say and what they do". Only one of the replacement candidates lives in the ward. As for the Labour candidates, neither of them lives in the ward and one doesn't even live in Leicester.
The Greens have good policies. Both candidates live in the ward, and promise to hold regular surgeries if elected. Candidate Geoff Forse says: "This is a real chance to make local history by electing the first Green councillors. It is possible with your help. Green votes count."
Geoff Forse and Mark Sperry are Green Party candidates in Fosse Ward.
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Geoff (pictured here addressing the Green Party's National Conference) has lived in this area for nearly fifteen years, running the Woodgate Resources Centre (the old library) for the Woodgate Residents' Association. He has stood in all local elections for the old St. Augustine's Ward since 1991. He also stood in the 1997 General Election and the 1994 and 1999 European elections. He is currently Elections Co-ordinator for the national Green Party.
He says: "It would be a great honour to be elected Councillor for Fosse Ward. Please give me a chance".
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Mark was formerly Chair of the Liberal Democrats in Leicester West.
He joined the Greens three years ago because, in his own words, "I was convinced that political issues relating to the environment were the most important, and these were not being satisfactorily considered by my old party."
How the Green Vote has Grown
(St Augustine's Ward figures)
1991 4%....... ----
1995 8% ...... --------
1996 11% ..... -----------
1999 18% ..... -------------------
2003 ............. -----------------------------?
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A Message to Fosse Ward voters
If you are not already one of the many Fosse electors who have decided to give their vote to the Green Party, please consider doing so. You could be helping to make local history by electing Leicester's first Green councillors.
The Greens are already strong in the old St. Augustine's Ward with nearly 20% of the vote (beating one of the Labour candidates in 1999), and our vote has tended to increase by 50% at each election. If we can double the Green vote this time, we will probably win.
The two sitting Lib Dem councillors are retiring and one of them, Councillor Geoff Walker, has criticised the Leicester Lib Dems for "inconsistencies between what they say and what they do". As for the Labour candidates, they only appear at election times, and one of them doesn't even live in Leicester.
Geoff lives and works in the ward and has stood in all local elections since 1991, as well as in the 1997 general election and the 1994 and 1999 European elections. Mark, who also lives in the ward, was formerly prominent in the Lib Dems before becoming disillusioned with them.
Leicester needs more Green policies. We should:
- Improve public transport, with more and better cycleways;
- Tidy up our streets;
- Bring back the skip scheme;
- Reintroduce park keepers / managers;
- Introduce neighbourhood councils to bring local services closer to residents.
If you agree with these policies, and feel that it's time for a change in Leicester, please vote Green on May 1.
Yours sincerely
Geoff Forse
Mark Sperry
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