The Green Party are standing seven candidates, led by Rupert Read and Peter Lynn. Please go to

eastern.greenparty.org.uk for all the details about this campaign and the rest of our Euro candidates. eastern.greenparty.org.uk

To help us with our campaigns this year and next please email or telephone the branch.

Contact Paul Carpenter Seven Acres Farm, Gull Drove, Guyhirn, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 4BH Tel: 01945 450807 Mob: 07956 608231 paulc@fenlandgreenparty.org.uk

This is an opportunity to elect the first Green Councillors to Cambridgeshire County Council.

The city of Peterborough, along with other unitary authorities is not electing local councillors in 2009. The next local election in Peterborough will be in May 2010. This will probably coincide with the next General Election (unless a decision is taken to go to the country before that).

For further details select Links tab and click on Regional Site.

PREL's managing director, Chris Williams, has expressed confidence that the company will be able to meet the stipulated conditions within the time-frame allowed.

Cabinet members attending yesterday's meeting were unable to participate in the debate or vote and were allowed only to observe the proceedings and raise questions of members of the public who had made oral submissions for and against the planning application. The councillors' recommendation will be considered by members of the cabinet on 2 February before the cabinet makes its own recommendation to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (whose responsibility it is to determine this particular application).

Peterborough Green Party applauds PREL for its willingness to consult openly and patiently with many interested parties over the course of the last year, and for taking on board improvements suggested by others before submitting its revised and more environmentally friendly plans. Its consultation process is a shining example of democracy in action and contrasts sharply with the waste consultations offered to residents by the city council.

However, the Green Party is unable to support any plans at all that involve the burning of waste. We remain deeply dismayed that the city council has not put forward detailed alternatives to its own incinerator plans for dealing with the urgent problems we face around landfill and the excessive amounts of waste that continue to be generated. We are not convinced that other options have been fully investigated and considered by the council and at this stage it is probably unrealistic to suppose that there is time to change course from the current plans.

We are now faced with the possibility of two waste burning facilities, both in an area that is far too close to large numbers of residential properties and to places of work. PREL's facility offers a huge-scale operation that will process waste for which Peterborough is not responsible in addition to any waste from within our administrative boundaries. The city council's facility, which even now is still shrouded in secrecy, is expected to use technology that has been surpassed by less environmentally damaging technologies, will hit the pockets of council tax payers hard and is extremely unpopular with residents. It is also believed that the council is planning to use an arm's length management company to minimise its own liability if anything should go wrong. This facility, too, is expected to process waste from other local authorities. It should have been possible to avoid the need for either of these facilities in our city.

In the interests of democracy and even-handedness, we would urge cabinet members not to allow the council's own energy from waste plans to prejudice their recommendation to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Indeed, if planning consent should be granted by DECC - and we must remember that, whatever the city council may recommend, it has no control over the final outcome of the application - the council will surely find itself in a position to negotiate a suitable contract with PREL for the waste it wishes to burn, thus enabling it to withdraw its own unwanted plans.

If the Energy Park does go ahead, we expect PREL to do everything within its power to ensure that its waste to energy facility is operated to the highest possible environmental and safety standards, as promised, in order to minimise any risks to public health and the expected noise, traffic and other negative impacts.

Leading Greens in Eastern Region said this morning that in the circumstances, peaceful direct action against more airport runways is justified and that many more protests such as that taking place at Stansted today are likely if the Government continues with current policies.

Cllr. Dr. Rupert Read, Prospective Green MEP for Eastern Region said

"Some businesses and individuals have suffered inconvenience due to having their flights disrupted this morning. But this was a brief, peaceful protest aimed at making a very strong statement against the expansion of Stansted Airport, an expansion which huge numbers of people in this region do not want.

The local authority in Uttlesford has courageously tried to prevent Stansted's expansion, as have many other local authorities; the local group Stop Stansted Expansion have campaigned for years, but the Government are riding roughshod over all of them. The entirely peaceful protesters on the runway this morning are therefore having to make a stand to say No to a second runway at Stansted - and raising awareness of the double standards of the Government allowing another surge in greenhouse gas emissions whilst simultaneously bragging about their climate change policies. The Green Party has always supported peaceful direct action as a last resort and will continue to do so where it is justified - which in this case it is."

Cllr. James Abbott, Co-ordinator of Essex Green Party and a campaigner against Stansted expansion for 25 years said

"It is always unfortunate when protests result in disruption, but someone has to take a stand against the Government's bone-headed insistence that airports must keep on expanding apparently without limit. More runways at Stansted and Heathrow will lead to thousands of homes being bulldozed, huge areas of countryside being ripped up and a surge in UK greenhouse gas emissions. People in communities near the airports will be subjected to even more jet noise than they already suffer, which is bad enough during the day but also disturbs sleep.

It is highly likely that there will be a lot more peaceful direct action unless the Government changes it airports policy. The Government has shown time and again that it will manipulate the planning system to get its own way - and now intends making it even more difficult for communities by the passing of the Planning Act. It's clear where the Labour Government's priorities are - siding with big business. If the Government persists with airport expansion it will set itself against local communities and demonstrate scant regard for the momentous implications of failing to act on climate change."

Vote Green!

Guyhirn resident Paul Carpenter will be contesting both vacancies on behalf of the Green Party on 11 December. Paul is a passionate believer in local democracy and accountability. He has worked hard for the community both as a parish councillor and as a local resident. We are proud to support Paul's nomination and wish him every success.

Click on Downloads/Newsletter to see why Paul deserves to be elected.

For details see Events Listing 18/19 November.

Deeping St James Parish Councillor, Ashley Baxter, says: "I will campaign for improved transport, youth and social services, crime prevention and energy efficiency and other Council services, especially in Bourne and the Deepings which are so often treated as the poor relations. I will defend public open spaces, especially Bourne Woods, from the threat of development. Vote Green Party!"

The 19-year-old is the first British medal winner in eighty years in an Olympics individual gymnastics event and his success will give a real boost to British gymnastics. Well done, Louis!

China's three times World Chamption Xiao Qin took the gold medal and Filip Ude from Croatia the silver.

Why not save money by growing your own fruit and vegetables?

Plots are typically 300 sq yds and cost only £50 a year to rent, with a pro rata charge for larger or smaller plots.

All sites are secured and standpipes are provided for watering. Sheds, greenhouses and polytunnels are allowed.

As well as saving money, allotments guarantee fresh produce, healthy exercise and the opportunity to make new friends.

If you'd like to learn more, call the city council on 01733 747474 or visit www.peterborough.gov.uk