"Trees not Tarmac": Protest Against Houses on Flood Plain (29 November 2006)

Our protest yesterday against plans to build 120 homes on Cowdray Meadow received good media coverage. There were long pieces on both BBC Radio Essex and Anglia TV News and there are good articles in today's East Anglian Daily Times and Evening Gazette.

"Trees not Tarmac": Protest Against Houses on Flood Plain (28 November 2006)

PROTESTORS will gather on Cowdray Meadow tomorrow morning (Tueday 28th November) under the slogan "Trees not Tarmac" to express their disgust at the decision to allow planning permission for 120 houses on the site. A large turnout is expected, with members of several local groups promising to be present.

Green Party spokesman Peter Lynn, said "We want to send a clear message that the people of Colchester do not want more houses built on the last remaining green sites within the town. We do not want more roads and more traffic. We need to preserve the green spaces that remain, not just for their own sake but to retain pleasant surroundings that we can all enjoy."

Mr. Lynn continued, "To build here is folly as it is a flood plain and the only access is onto an already-congested road. Furthermore, the wildlife along this stretch of river will suffer. There are otters, bats, bees and several species of rare and interesting birds. As anyone who walks along the river side regularly will know, kingfishers can often be spotted. I wonder if we will see them any more once the houses are built."

Aside from the Green Party, several other local groups and societies are expected to be represented at the protest as well as local residents.

Climate Change March (3 November 2006)

Colchester Green Party members took part in the Climate Change March in London recently. Amongst the speakers was Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas.

Green Fair (28 October 2006)

Today the Green Party organised Colchester's first Green Fair. The event at the Arts Centre was a great success. Hundreds of people enjoyed organic food, cakes, teas and coffees and visited the wide range of stalls, including local products, environmental groups, jewellery, ceramics, books and clothes as well as displays on cycling, solar energy and waste reduction.

Apple Day (21 October 2006)

Green Party members celebrated Apple Day today by handing out locally-grown apples to bus users in Colchester town centre to thank them for travelling by bus. Taking the bus to town helps reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions and makes the town centre a more pleasant place.

Green Party Conference (21-24 September 2006)

Colchester and District Green Party were represented at National Party conference in Hove. We contributed to discussions and to debates on motions and made lots of new friends!

Brightlingsea Music Festival (5 August 2006)

We ran a refreshment stall at today's music festival. We signed up some new supporters while enjoying the local musical talent!.

Ipswich Green Living Days (23-24 June 2006)

This weekend we joined fellow Green Party members from throughout the Eastern region in running "Cafe Green" at the Green Living Days event in Chantry Park, Ipswich. The event was most interesting with a wide range of stalls and entertainments.

Martin Newell (22 June 2006)

This evening Wivenhoe-based musician and poet staged a benefit gig for Colchester and District Green Party at the Greyhound, Wivenhoe. Martin had the audience in stitches at times with his erudite and witty anecdotes and poems. We are most grateful to Martin for his generosity.

Borough Council Election Success (5 May 2006)

Colchester Green Party today heralded the results of the borough council elections as a major success. Over 3,000 people voted for the Green Party in Colchester, by far the highest number that the party has ever obtained.

It was a truly record-breaking election. We achieved our highest-ever overall share of the vote and came second in three wards, including Castle ward where we got 23% of the vote, well ahead of both the Conservatives and Labour. The Greens had never previously come higher than 4th in any ward that all the other three major parties were contesting. Green candidates received more votes than their Labour counterparts in eight wards and came within 20 votes of them in three more. Prior to this year we had never come within 100 votes of Labour in any ward.

The Greens  Castle ward candidate, Peter Lynn, said We are getting fantastic support from the people of Colchester. Large numbers of people are realising that our stance on many issues is the closest to their own concerns and their own wishes. Many people would like to have a Green councillor but are afraid to vote for one as they think it might be a wasted vote. Now they can see that it is not wasted as we can win seats. I m sure that this trend will continue and next year will see the first Green councillors in Colchester. In a few years we should be able to emulate places like Norwich, where there are now eleven Green councillors doing excellent work. 

Voters in 20 of Colchester s wards will have another chance to vote Green in May 2007 when a further third of the seats on Colchester Borough Council will be contested.

Full details of all the election results are available here.

Green Party Election Broadcast (24 April 2006)

The Green Party Election Broadcast was shown on national television last Monday. If you missed it, or want to see it again, you can watch it on the BBC Local Elections 2006 website. Click on the "Election Broadcasts" link at the bottom right of the page.

May 2006 Local Election Campaign (11 April 2006)

The Green Party local elections campaign has been launched. The party hopes to have more than 100 councillors after the elections on May 4th. For more details see here and here.

Colchester Borough Council Elections (4 April 2006)

Colchester Green Party will be standing in all 20 wards in the forthcoming Council elections on May 4th. For more information see the elections page.

New Committee (6 February 2006)

The February meeting of the Colchester and District Green Party incorporated our AGM, at which committee members were elected for the forthcoming year.

The new committee consists of:

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