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Budget Bid to Promote Local Food

23rd February 2007

For immediate release

A festival celebrating foods local to Bristol could be one outcome of a budget amendment proposed by Green Party Councillor Charlie Bolton.

The appointment of a Local Food Officer would help develop a local food strategy, along with work to reduce the number of food deserts in the city - the areas with little or no easy access to healthy fresh food such as fruit and vegetables.

Tess Green, Green Party candidate for Southville, widely tipped to be elected in May's council election, said:

"Making good use of our local food resources is critical to both the local economy and to creating a more sustainable environment"

"The bird flu outbreak in Norfolk showed yet again the dangers of our current food system. It's not just turkeys, though, we have absurd anomalies where we import and export approximately equal amounts of lamb and other meats. Food travels enormous distances as a matter of course. For example, we have all heard about the 30,000 mile Christmas dinner. Then we have raspberries, picked in Scotland, packaged in Bristol to be sold in Scotland. That¹s why we need to systematically promote local produce. Less Budweiser, more Beer Factory no 7 !"

Tess Green pointed to the popularity of the Southville local food week organised under the auspices of the Sustainable Southville Project. It gave rise to a local beer festival, the market at the Tobacco Factory and has promoted a number of shops on North Street.

"We should promote local food on a Bristol-wide level, and this is one very good way of achieving it."

Local Food officer budget amendment In the first ever Bristol budget amendment proposed by a Green Party councillor, Charlie Bolton is asking the full council to agree the appointment of an additional officer tasked with promoting local food, including developing a local food festival. If the amendment is agreed, it would result in an increase in council tax of just 60p per band D house. Cllr. Bolton has also put in a second amendment to the city council to increase expenditure on energy efficiency.

 

Note:

The full council meets to consider its budget on Tuesday 27th February, 2pm

Contact:

Tess Green, Tel. 0117 985 2795
Cllr. Charlie Bolton, Tel 0117 966 1639
Peter Goodwin (Green Party Press Officer) 01275 543280

Sequel:

See also post-budget press release - Tory/LibDem deal wrecks Green Budget Initiatives