Cllr Chris Mitchell says:

“I have attended all the Local Plan committee meetings since being elected.  I have been able to speak up for Croxley Green and have been listened to.  I am thankful to all parties for this unanimous decision to protect the Green Belt.”

The post VIDEO: Croxley Green Belt out of Local Plan appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

The full letter reads:

Dear Mr Mohindra and Three Rivers Conservative councillors,

“This Government has today launched an attack on nature” ~ RSPB England

There is widespread anger in response to government plans to remove fundamental legal protections for our environment. Opposition has come from many organisations ranging  from the RSPB and National Trust through to the Wildlife Trusts and Friends of the Earth.

Alongside the reckless approach to the nation’s finances, the government seems intent on tearing up protection for nature. In a three-pronged assault on nature Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng plan to;

• Scrap planning rules that protect nature in new ‘investment zones’ covering huge areas of the country.[1] [2]
• Rip up environmental protections introduced by the EU, without plans for replacement.[3]
• Withdraw plans to help farmers to protect nature [4], with reports suggesting the ‘Environmental Land Management Scheme’ (ELMS) has been ‘put on hold’ whilst a return to a Common Agricultural Policy type per acre payment is expected, which will break a specific manifesto pledge [5].

Of course just before these announcements we also saw Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg open the door to environmentally damaging fracking, a policy that is widely opposed, will do nothing to reduce energy bills, and which the founder of Cuadrilla himself says is unviable [6].

The responses from those who care for nature have been overwhelming. Joan Edwards, director of policy for The Wildlife Trusts, says these policies will mean “polluters can get away with poisoning our rivers and countryside – even more than they are doing already.” [7] Hilary McGrady of the National Trust says, “environmental protections are dismissed as ‘burdens’, while investment and growth are pitted against nature and climate action.”

These proposals come as part of a ‘dash for growth’ package which is also spooking markets and ruining government finances. There is no mandate for these measures: they actually reverse the direction of travel on the environment in your 2019 manifesto and have never been put to the British people.

Yet we know people’s livelihoods and local economies can be put on a sound footing with a three pronged approach to investment: in nature recovery, in renewable energy and in home insulation to reduce energy bills. Research has shown that “Protection and use of environmental assets is key to evening out economic imbalances between metropolitan and rural areas”[8]. In other words, the recovery of nature and the revival of local living standards should and can go hand-in hand.

We call on you to make plain to your party leaders that these policies must be reversed. We ask for a public statement from your group leader on your group’s views about these policies.

There is no case for staying silent, and every reason to stand up for your communities and for your local environment by making it plain that you will not support the tearing up of environmental protection and the reversal of attempts to help nature thrive.

Regards,

Emma Brading and Micheal Rayment, Co-Chairs of Three Rivers Green Party

Cllr Chris Mitchell, Three Rivers District Councillor

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-growth-plan-2022-factsheet-on-investment-zones/the-growth-plan-2022-investment-zones-factsheet

[2] Map of investment zones: https://twitter.com/RSPBEngland/status/1573366828222808064

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/23/uk-environment-laws-under-threat-in-deregulatory-free-for-all

[4] https://www.edie.net/reports-defra-set-to-scrap-plans-to-pay-farmers-for-nature-restoration-and-creation/

[5] “in return for funding, [farmers] must farm in a way that protects and enhances our natural environment” https://www.conservatives.com/our-plan/conservative-party-manifesto-2019

[6] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/21/fracking-wont-work-uk-founder-chris-cornelius-cuadrilla

[7] https://www.birdguides.com/news/uk-government-launches-all-out-assault-on-environment/

[8] https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_918714_en.html

The post Open letter: Disown the government’s ‘attack on nature’ appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

He said: “It is wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm of young people trying to grapple with some of the most difficult issues facing humanity.”

One of their main concerns was how they could safely travel to school on foot or by bicycle. How can we have safer routes to school? What needs to be done? Please let Chris know where there are specific issues. For example, where safer crossing points are needed, if footways are too narrow, or not being properly maintained.

The post Students want safer school commutes appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

Russell Ball and Rosi Jordon, with support from Green Party Councillor Chris Mitchell, managed to get Tesco to bring forward their plans and install electric charging points at the Rickmansworth site. It shows what local people can do to encourage companies to act more sustainably.

The post Every Little Helps! appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

The Liberal Democrats are still claiming the 50% as an achievement on leaflets (see image) and their website. They received much positive press coverage and they chose to celebrate their forward-thinking approach to grassland management.

The post Backtrack on biodiversity appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

“I am concerned about the Council’s poor performance on its environmental and biodiversity policies. Never has the District Council needed a councillor like Chris more than now.

“Chris is passionate, committed and has a proven track record. I’m of the belief that there is the right person for the right job and I think this is Chris’ moment. His balance will complement the Council and he will work in areas we really must make progress on.

“Please vote for Chris Mitchell!“

The post Chris Mitchell gains support of ex-Lib Dem appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

The post VIDEO: Chris and Andrew discuss new solar panels appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

An inaccurate statement from a Lib Dem Councillor was read out and no debate was allowed. The Parish Council has written to correct this. You can read the facts on Croxley Green Parish Council website. The Liberal Democrats simply don’t listen to residents and think they can get away with misrepresenting the situation.

The Lib Dems send out regular newsletters. They never mention the Red Cross Hall. Why not? Are they ashamed of the decisions they made? Why do they keep running petitions and then ignore anyone else’s?

Chris is still campaigning to keep the Red Cross Hall as a resource for the whole community.

The post What is going to happen to the Red Cross Hall? appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.

Following pressure from the Greens, Hertfordshire County Council has updated their tree maintenance strategy.

Chris Mitchell said:

“I am pleased to see that new trees are being planted with better support stakes that allow for growth. This will hopefully prevent  problems in the future.”

The post New trees planted with better design, thanks to Green Party appeared first on Three Rivers Green Party.