At the Council’s budget-setting meeting on 13 February 2020, I called on the Council to set targets for new genuinely affordable homes for rent, to provide stronger support across all our communities to address the impacts of austerity, and to commit to real urgency in addressing climate change.

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Crispin Blunt was re-elected as MP for Reigate last week and has published an Election Statement setting out his priorities for the new term.

We are disappointed to see no mention of the climate emergency, and no commitment to addressing poverty, beyond urging support for local charities to take the strain.

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Thank you to everyone who voted Green in the recent General Election. You can read the local results here

Three public hustings give you a chance to hear from all the candidates seeking your vote in the general election.

Godstone hustings
30 November, 4pm
The White Hart Barn, behind the White Hart Inn, High Street, Godstone RH9 8BT

Whyteleafe hustings
Monday 2 December, 7.30pm
St Luke’s Church. Whyteleafe, CR3 0AA.

Tatsfield hustings
Wednesday 4 December, 7.30pm
The WI Hall, Paynesfield Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2AT

Caterham hustings – with a focus on education
Thursday 5 December, 6-7pm
Sunnydown School 152 Whyteleafe Rd, Caterham CR3 5ED

Read about the Green candidate, Joseph Booton

Two public hustings give you a chance to hear from all the candidates seeking your vote in the general election.

Come along – and bring any friends who may be undecided how to vote

Redhill hustings hosted by Churches Together
Monday 2nd December, 7.30pm
St Bede’s School, Carlton Road, Redhill RH1 2LQ
Please email your questions in advance to johncapon@btopenworld.com

Banstead hustings hosted by The Banstead Five Churches
Friday 6 December, 7.30pm
Banstead United Reformed Church, Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead SM7 3AA
Submit your questions using this form

Read about the Green candidate, Jonathan Essex

Jonathan Essex has selected to be the Green Party candidate in the General Election on 12 December 2019

Jonathan is a chartered civil engineer and environmentalist, and has served as an active councillor in Redhill since 2010.

He says, “I will fight to protect our Green Belt and Surrey countryside, for fairer rail and bus fares and for planning rules requiring zero-carbon and truly affordable homes.

“We need a fairer Britain and tough action on climate change. This means shifting from our throw-away society, standing against oil drilling and airport expansion, and pushing for properly funded public services – youth and children’s centres, social care, schools and the NHS.

“In this safe Conservative seat, I urge people to vote for the change they believe in. Every Green vote will send a strong message that we need a new politics, with a clear plan that works for all, within our planet’s limits.”

Contact Jonathan

Email: jonathan.essex@greenparty.org.uk
Phone: 07801 541924
Twitter: @_JonathanEssex

Cllr Ruth Ritter writes:

It is with tremendous sadness and anger that I have read today the Trussell Trust’s State of Hunger report which outlines their research on the use of food banks in the UK.

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The Government announcement that fracking is being suspended misses out the huge expansion of oil and gas production using unconventional techniques in the South East.

Green Surrey County Councillor Jonathan Essex said: “The ban needs to be extended to the unconventional oil and gas extraction methods used in the Weald, which carry the same earthquake risks and other risks from methods involving acid stimulation.”

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This month Fairtrade, the UK’s most visible ethical label, celebrates it’s 25th birthday. In Reigate an Action group is being formed to take Reigate towards ‘Fairtrade town’ status as a way to celebrate the achievements of the past 25 years of Fairtrade but also to continue to promote Fairtrade products and inform local people about the importance of the choices they make when purchasing their favourite products.

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All but four Conservative members of Surrey County Council today blocked a joint Green/Labour motion linking airport expansion with an increased risk of climate chaos.

Jonathan Essex, Green Party Councillor for Redhill East, seconded a Labour-tabled motion at today’s Surrey County Council meeting. The Motion called on the County Council to be clear on its position regarding the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport.

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