Walkley | Sheffield Green Party

Cllr Alexi Dimond replies to Abtisam Mohamed MP’s opinion piece in the Sheffield Star.

Dear editor,

I was pleased to read Abtisam Mohamed MP’s opinion piece in The Star calling for the renationalisation of water – which has been Green Party policy for decades.

I also noted its impeccable timing to coincide with the Walkley by-election (where water leaks are a huge issue). I find it ironic though that Ms Mohamed fails to recognise the biggest obstacle to water renationalisation is her own Labour Party which has been in government from 1997 to 2010 and 2024 to now. Labour has resisted the policy even as water companies have failed to invest in infrastructure, paid billions in dividends to their shareholders, and pumped our waterways and seas full of sewage.

Similarly, Ms Mohamed has managed to raise the profile of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine in Parliament – without ever truly acknowledging her own Party’s role in that genocide. It is well documented that the UK government sells weapons to Israel, shares intelligence information, protects Israel from any accountability internationally, and sends spy-planes from its base in Cyprus to support Israel; which remains a key strategic military and economic ally under the Labour Government.

If voters – or Ms Mohamed – wanted to support water renationalisation (or end the UK’s participation in genocide), surely they would vote for (or even join) another party rather than Labour?

Ms Mohamed knows full well that Andy Burnham (who has already backtracked on renationalising Thames Water) is not going to pay any attention to a petition started by a Labour local election candidate for the purpose of electioneering. However, a Green win for Seb Van Bilsen Irias in Walkley (and Green gains across the country) could perhaps spur the Labour Government into action.

Yours,

Councillor Alexi Dimond

Brian Holmshaw’s letter in the Sheffield Star concerning Lib Dem leaflets.

Dear Editor

LibDem leaflets for the Walkley by-election have put out false information about the closure of the King Edward’s Swimming Pool in Broomhill.

Far from the claim that Greens signed off on the closure of the pool, it was in fact, not a council decision at all. The swimming pool had been run by an independent trust for many years and it was exclusively the decision of the trustees to close the pool in May.

We know the cost of energy to run swimming pools is now very high. Far-sighted councils, such as Green-led Lancaster Council, have managed to develop the first carbon-neutral leisure centre with the Salt Ayre swimming pool heated by renewable sources. As well as fighting to keep all the city’s swimming pools open, I shall be pressing, as Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure (CPL) policy committee on the City Council, to ensure that climate mitigation measures are central to the way we run our leisure buildings in Sheffield.

Cllr Brian Holmshaw,
Green Party councillor, Broomhill and Sharrow Vale
Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee (CPL)

Find out more about Walkley candidate Seb Van Bilsen Irias here.

A message from Seb Van Bilsen Irias

Walkley is a pretty great place to live. But we can make it even better: water leaks, potholes, fly-tipping. I’m Seb Van Bilsen Irias, and I am the Green Party candidate for the upcoming by-election in Walkley, Upperthorpe, and Netherthorpe on September 17th. I moved here 4 years ago, and I love this area like my home. I was born in Latin America and later lived in France and Italy while studying for multiple physics degrees. And because I’ve lived in different countries, I know that one of the things that makes Sheffield great is that people can come from all over, contribute to the city, and make a life here. As a Councillor, I want to work on improving communities and green spaces so that we can all come together and thrive no matter where they’re from. For years now, Greens have taken action directly in Walkley Ward, even before the May elections, reporting needs and putting pressure on Yorkshire Water to take action. We’ve been doing food bank collections every month for nearly six years and door-knocking to learn how to best represent you on the council. And we have seen recent wins from having a bigger green group in council. We told Palantir to get out of the NHS. We pushed for free bus travel for young people, and we raised 1 million pounds for solar panels in schools. Being a Councillor is no easy task. I’m aware, but I’ve got the skills to do it. I’m an experienced data analytics manager, meaning I know what it takes to see a project from beginning to end. I can work with the team and stick to deadlines. Together with my Green colleagues, we’ll make sure your voice is heard in the council. It was close between us and Labour in May, and it will be close again. But with your vote, we can win and make sure we give Walkley Ward the attention it deserves. So vote for me, Seth Van Bilsen Irias, in the September 17th by-election.

We are pleased to announce that Seb Van Bilsen Irias is the Green Party’s candidate in the upcoming Walkley by-election on Thursday, September 17.

After moving to the UK from Central America, Seb developed a deep appreciation for England’s democratic values and community spirit. He has made Walkley his home for the past four years and wants to give back to the community that has been so welcoming to him. He says:

“I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to stand as your local councillor, and I cannot wait to build on the work Andy Davies started.

This will include taking Yorkshire Water to task over their failure to act on Walkley’s decaying water infrastructure at a time of drought. It includes improving the bus services here in Walkley so we can get to work and see loved ones. And also ensuring that the most vulnerable have the support they need so they no longer need to rely on food banks.”

“I’m looking forward to speaking to residents across the ward over the next several weeks to learn more about the issues impacting our community. I hope you will consider voting Green on Thursday, 17 September.”

If you are interested in supporting Seb and the Green Party to act on the issues affecting our community, please email walkleygpdist@gmail.com

The Green Party put on their best performance ever at Sheffield’s local election, winning ten and gaining six new council seats

Sheffield Green Party are celebrating its best-ever performance at a local election after gaining six new councillors.

The Greens won 47,886 votes across Sheffield – 27.5% of the vote-share – making them the party with the most votes across the entirety of Sheffield and beating Reform by nearly 2,000 votes.

Greens now hold 20 council seats, against Labour’s 25, LibDems’ 22 and Reform’s 13, on Sheffield City Council.

Councillor Angela Argenzio, Green Council Group Leader, said: “I am elated with our results. “People told us time and time again on the doorstep that they would vote for us, but the scale of the support has surprised me. We work hard in our wards, and people trust us with the responsibility of making Sheffield a place that affords opportunities to all. We will always put people and planet first and I would like to thank all the people of Sheffield who have used their votes at this election.”

9 of the 10 elected and re-elected Green Councillors. (Apologies to Lynsey who is not in the photo!)

The biggest upset of the night: defeating the Labour council leader

The most sensational win of the day was in Walkley, where the Green Party’s Andy Davies unseated Labour council leader Tom Hunt by a margin of 73 votes after a recount.

Speaking after his win, Andy Davies said: “I’m overjoyed to have repeated history by ousting the council leader in our wonderful city, and I’m now looking forward to working with my new colleagues to improve lives for the people of Walkley and Sheffield.”

The Green Party also gained second councillors in Ecclesall ward and Nether Edge & Sharrow ward, and won councillors for the first time in Burngreave, Manor Castle and Graves Park.

Sheffield Green Party won four seats from Labour and two from the Liberal Democrats. With their win in Walkley, they are now represented in all four wards of the Sheffield Central constituency and received 52% of the vote-share in the constituency, where the party got their closest second-place result in the 2024 General Election.

Greens will share power on Sheffield City Council to deliver for our city

The Greens will now be entering negotiations with the other parties on Sheffield City Council to determine the best way to run the council for the people of Sheffield. Under the committee system, which has been in place since 2022, all parties have to work together. Greens are already part of the administration alongside Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

New councillors Mustafa Ahmed (Burngreave), Tessa Lupton (Ecclesall), Tom Atkins-Withers (Graves Park), Ruth Abbey (Manor Castle), Lynsey Angell (Nether Edge and Sharrow) and Andy Davies (Walkley) are all in new seats for the Greens, whilst outgoing City Ward councillor Martin Phipps and Hillsborough councillor Henry Nottage were replaced by Maia Salman-Lord and Richard Tinsley, respectively.

Alongside the six council seat gains, the party also retained Cllr Marieanne Elliot, (Gleadless Valley) and Cllr Maleiki Haybe (Broomhill & Sharrow Vale).

Election results: key facts

The Green Party now holds 20 seats on Sheffield City Council, up from 14 before this election, making them the third largest party on the council.
The Greens won 47,886 votes across Sheffield – 27.5% of the vote-share – making them the party with the most votes across the entirety of Sheffield and beating Reform by nearly 2,000 votes.
Sheffield Green Party also came within 101 votes of winning a Liberal Democrat “safe seat” in Fulwood, and 573 votes from unseating Labour in Crookes & Crosspool.
This is the second time Sheffield Green Party has unseated a Council Leader after Cllr Christine Gilligan Kubo defeated Labour’s Bob Johnson in 2021, in the party’s then-best performance when they gained five new councillors, and Labour lost its overall majority.
The full list of Green Party councillors elected to Sheffield City Council:
- Mustafa Ahmed – Burngreave – new Green council seat
- Maleiki Haybe – Broomhill and Sharrow Vale – held seat
- Maia Salman-Lord – City – elected in place of outgoing councillor Martin Phipps
- Tessa Lupton – Ecclesall – new Green council seat
- Marieanne Elliot – Gleadless Valley – held seat
- Tom Atkins-Withers – Graves Park – new Green council seat
- Richard Tinsley – Hillsborough – elected in place of outgoing councillor Henry Nottage
- Ruth Abbey – Manor Castle – new Green council seat
- Lynsey Angell – Nether Edge and Sharrow – new Green council seat
- Andy Davies – Walkley – new Green council seat

The full results are here.

Walkley Election letter April 24

See Dylan’s Election Page here.

Walkley Newsletter March 24

Election Address April 2023

Click the image to download a pdf.

Toby Mallinson with window poster saying "I support my postie." — Toby Mallinson, candidate for Hillsborough

Senior bosses at Royal Mail have just been hauled before a Parliamentary Select Committee. Their report outlined that the company had “systematically failed to deliver” the universal service obligation to deliver letters, prioritising more lucrative parcels instead.

You may be experiencing this in your household. We’ve been talking to posties who tell us that previous full staffing has been replaced by a new system with inadequate staffing that now requires 15% overtime to cover all rounds. It’s impacting Hillsborough, Stannington and Walkey in my sorting office area and deliveries on your road could now be entirely reliant on staff doing enough overtime.

These roads are sometimes seeing no post for a week and then it all arrives in one bundle. One customer told us they had posted a letter to themselves first class in desperation to test the system and were still waiting for it a week later.

We’ve been told that Royal Mail got behind in Sheffield during the snow and ice in December and has yet to get back on top of deliveries under this new system which management know does not work.

Current strikes in public services are not just about pay. They are about long hours and poor working conditions leading to demotivated staff delivering poor service to customers. Strike votes are reaching the required threshold backed by massive public support as union membership soars. Even headteachers have indicated a willingness to strike.

Please thank your local postie for keeping things going despite the incompetence of Royal Mail’s management. They want the failings of the new systems to reach management at the highest levels so please submit a complaint via their website if you need to.

We also need the government to recognise the need to properly fund public services and pay staff adequately for the valuable jobs they perform on our behalf.

Toby Mallinson

Council election candidate, Hillsborough Green Party

Find out about your election candidates here.