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Green Party Election Broadcast 2008 Local Elections

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yURPKlp866o

Sustainable Energy Exhibition At Garth Hill College

I went to the sustainable energy exhibition last week at Garth Hill College. There was lots of interesting material to read and the presentations were thought provoking. I congratulate the pupils and staff for their efforts. A sustainable energy officer from Bracknell Forest Borough Council was on hand and she added considerably to the value of the evening by her informative and helpful remarks. It is a pity though that more residents did not visit to benefit from all the work done. Most people would gain financially by accepting the advice that was offered. When our Council again undertakes an initiative in this way, then I urge eveyone to attend if they possibly can.

David YoungThe Green Party General Election candidate for Bracknell.

EXTREME WEATHER IS ‘A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME’

Last week we had two bad storms in our area. It was reported that even the roof of the Chancellor's 11 Downing Street suffered during the Budget Day storm. (By the way last week's Budget was a huge missed opportunity. It was not green; it was Brown.) Still the weather wasn't as bad as the awful floods last summer. Then, after the rainfall in June, the Government's Environment Agency told us not to worry as such downpours only happened every 30 years. Then to their suprise, the torrential rain was even worse in the very next month. I deplore the Government's apathy on what has been described as the worst ever threat to the continuance of human life on our planet.

The turbulent weather conditions frequently hitting the South East are a worrying sign of things to come unless the Government takes a tougher line on climate change. Studies have suggested that the South East of England is likely to be one of the UK regions worst affected by global warming. A 2004 report entitled ‘Global Warming, Local Warning’, showed the expected consequences for the South East where the dense population, long coastline and low-lying land make us increasingly vulnerable. To prevent the devastating consequences of climate change, the Government should belooking to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions by reducing demand, investingin carbon neutral sources of power and developing widespread energyefficiency measures. Having seen the daffodils in December and the bluebells in January (both 3 months early), we all know there will be a dire problem for future generations. All the independent expert scientists over the last 25 years have agreed. The UK needs to persuade other nations to take action. So we must urge our our politicians to act very soon.

David Young is the Green Party General Election candidate for Bracknell.
David Young, 9 Haywood, Bracknell. Tel 01344 456489.

To retain human life on the planet we need to save the Gulf Stream and the permafrost. To help, we can all cut our CO2 emissions: Reduce consumption; Reuse; Recycle; Insulate our homes; Use less electricity, gas and water; Buy local food and save food miles; Use less fossil fuel; Fly less.

The Future of Our Hospital

To the Bracknell Standard.
From David Young, 9 Haywood, Bracknell. Tel 01344 456489.

I congratulate the Bracknell Standard on its campaign about our local hospital at Heatherwood but I am shocked that so few people have felt able to sign the petition that asks the Prime Minister to protect the future of the Hospital and not to allow any further deterioration there. I suppose this lack of interest by residents means they will be happy to travel further for important medical services.

In fact I hear the Primary Care Trust has already taken note of this apathy and is planning to close the Stroke Unit at Heatherwood in December. Stroke patients who can get to a hospital quickly have a much better chance of survival so I urge readers to sign the petition without further delay. Our MP has signed it, so have lots of councillors and doctors. It is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Heatherwood

David Young
The Green Party General Election candidate for Bracknell.
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Post Office Closures

From David Young, 9 Haywood, Bracknell. Tel 01344 456489.

It is ridiculous. Last year the head of the Post Office, Adam Crozier, received a salary of £1.1 million, a £300,000 bonus and had a hefty sum paid into his pension too. And what were his decisions that deserved a total package approaching £2 million for one year's work?

He decided to initiate yet another round of closures of much needed local post offices, cut the last collection of the day (so most post boxes are now emptied in mid afternoon) and abolish Sunday collections. Why does the Government allow the rich to get richer in this way?

I call for the introduction of higher taxation of such mega rich individuals and for the nationalisation of the Post Office to prevent further degradation of the lives of ordinary people.

David Young
The Green Party General Election candidate for Bracknell.

Council Tax Discount

I note the report in last week's Bracknell Standard that the Council Tax Discount for homes empty in Bracknell is to be cut from the normal 50% discount, to 10% after the first six months. I applaud our Council for this gesture but why not go the whole way? Under the Local Government Act 2003 the Council could have decided to cut the discount to nothing. I call for this to be done next year.

An opportunity has been missed for residents to pay less council tax. It is a pity that the Labour Government has not developed the proposal that dwellings empty for a long period should attract double council tax to induce owners to vacate their property to help reduce the housing shortage.

Houses empty for many months cause major offence to the thousands of local residents who are waiting for affordable housing. Most will have been on the Council waiting list for a long time. They want to move into their own home rather than stay with in-laws or friends or pay rents they can barely afford to a private landlord without security of tenure. So, in economic terms, it's a matter of increasing the supply of affordable housing to reduce the demand.

Poorly paid key workers in particular are badly affected whether they are policemen and women, teachers, council staff, firefighters, healthworkers or other professions. They have been harmed by the sale of council housing that has been encouraged by both Conservative and Labour governments over the last 20 years.

Our population is increasing as people live longer. Some families split up due to financial pressure. Thus more homes are needed. Now our Council should do more to provide additional affordable housing, particularly on brown field sites.

David Young
The Green Party General Election candidate for Bracknell.