Bernard with Caroline Lucas, Leader of the Green Party
Co Chair.
Former Councillor for Central Ward (2006-2010) Local Election Candidate for Broomhill
I am 56, married and have lived in the ward for over 20 years. I work as a therapy assistant at the Northern General Hospital and was a Green Councillor in Central ward from 2006-2010. Public service cuts will damage a Broomhill community struggling to balance the needs of residents, students and businesses. Yet we can fund the public services, good housing and education that we all need. The Lib Dem supported coalition has clearly chosen to target public services while ignoring the excesses of bankers and corporate tax avoidance. As your ward councillor my focus would be on the protection of key local services over my four year term.
Cuts will have an impact on everyone in the ward including the education and future job prospects of students. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals provides both healthcare and jobs for Broomhill people but, like all public services, it is threatened by cuts and privatisation. Vital services like Citizens Advice Bureau face massive cuts. Vulnerable people on Disability Living Allowance face benefit cuts. We would prioritise investment in jobs, public services and decent pensions and benefits.
To tackle congestion, pollution and road safety, we want money spent where traffic is worst, such as at Broomhill Shopping Centre and on Ecclesall Road. We want higher priority for public transport and for pedestrian and cycle routes, including winter gritting. We persuaded the Council to adopt a city-wide 20mph speed limit policy for residential roads. It will cut injuries and air pollution, save lives and reduce NHS costs when implemented.
We believe local neighbourhoods deserve good facilities and cleaner, quieter and safer streets, not cuts to public services. We support local schools, shops, post offices, libraries and community groups; and take care to listen to people’s views. Landlords must ensure students live in properly maintained accommodation while residents have a right to protection from late night noise nuisance and anti-social behavour. We have objected to certain planning & licensing applications for late-night opening in Broomhill centre, on Ecclesall Rd and elsewhere, including Oasis Pizza, the Walnut Club and King Kebab.
Cuts to vital public services, benefits and pensions are not needed if the government:
• Closes massive tax loopholes
• Gets more people into work
• Cuts Trident nuclear missiles
• Taxes the money markets
• Taxes bank profits and cuts bonuses
Greens say create 1 million new jobs by investing in renewable energy, public transport and housing. Scrap tuition fees and reinstate the Educational Maintenance Allowance.
The Green Party says NO to cuts and YES to investment in jobs.
