Ashley

Hello - to those of you I haven’t yet met, my name is Gus Hoyt and I have been selected to stand for the Green Party in Ashley in the forthcoming city council elections on Thursday 5th May 2011.

After Daniella Radice’s excellent work for the Greens in previous elections I will be working hard to earn your support. Ashley has many green businesses and households and Bristol needs more Green councillors to fight to make it a greener city.

I have always been actively involved in environmental and social issues and am looking to get even more stuck in if you elect me as your councillor. Currently I am involved in campaigns ranging from the No Tesco campaign in Stokes Croft to Freebus.

It is clear that, despite kind words, all of the main three parties are dedicated to maintaining the illusion of economic growth rather than defending their local independent retailers. The recent "no questions asked" approach to the Tesco and Sainsburys approvals are testament to this. I hope to stand and ask the questions that no-one else seems willing to. This is vital on all fronts, from protecting the local economy and jobs to ensuring future food sustainability.

Parks in Ashley will get funding for improvements, but this is at the cost of other communities losing theirs. We believe in preserving and cultivating Bristol's precious green spaces and not in selling them for development - especially when so many properties and commercial spaces sit empty and unused.

I am happy to see the Council finally adopt our plans for Plot 6 next to Temple Meads. We all know of the need for an integrated Transport Hub for Bristol. Councillor Tess Green and I are excited to help push this forwards in the right direction - with a focus on service and not commercial gain.

It will be exciting to be part of the Steering group for the Westmoreland House and Carriage Works development, but I believe this must be driven by and for the local community not for political gain. As such Stokes Croft may be able to develop in its own unique guise and not developed by an outside influence.

The Greens have a strong presence in Ashley and Daniella Radice just missed out four years ago from becoming Ashley's first Green Councillor with over 34% of the vote. Only 110 votes out of the 3,322 were the difference between a new Green voice for the ward, and current Councillor Shirley Brown (neé Marshall).

The ward of Ashley is made up of  St Pauls, St Agnes, St Andrews, Stokes Croft, Montpelier and St Werburghs.

If you would like more information, have any suggestions or proposals or would like to simply sit down over a cup of tea and discuss issues in your neighbourhood then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you, and think Green in 2011.

Gus Hoyt.

Contact

Ashley is part of Bristol North Green Party.  Please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details of members' meetings.

Alternatively; contact Gus directly at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , by phone on 07557 203 416 or on Twitter @MrGreenGus.

If you need to find out whether you live in this ward, visit Bristol City Council's ward finder.