Green Party Candidates
The Green Party stood a full slate of 13 candidates in the Norwich City Council elections on Thursday 1 May 2008, when one of the three seats in each ward was up for election. The Green Party's candidates were:
Nelson Ward - Bob Gledhill
Bob, who lives in Nelson ward on Sandringham Road, has been a City Councillor for Nelson since 2004. He knows the area well and can regularly be seen on the streets visiting local residents. Bob is also a member of Norwich Friends of the Earth and has actively supported several campaigns of that group, such as the GM Free Britain campaign.
Wensum Ward - Ruth Makoff
Ruth lives on Dereham Road and is a postgraduate student at UEA. Ruth has been an active member of Wensum Ward Green Party for over a year now, working with Councillors Rupert Read, Tom Llewellyn and Adrian Holmes. She has visited residents across the ward and helped the Wensum Councillors take up local issues of concern. Ruth is a co-chair of Norwich Green Party.
Town Close Ward - Samir Jeraj
Samir, who lives off Unthank Road, is an active member of the Town Close Green Party team, supporting the work of Councillors Chris Hull, Janet Bearman and Stephen Little and visiting residents to discuss local issues. Until recently Samir worked as an economic development officer for a local council in Norfolk and he now works part time for a Norwich-based international development NGO.
Mancroft Ward - Adrian Holmes
Adrian, a resident of Oak Street, has been a City Councillor for neighbouring Wensum Ward for four years but decided to seek re-election in Mancroft, where he lives. Adrian is supporting Mancroft Green Councillors Tom Dylan and Howard Jago in their work in the ward. For example, Adrian regularly attends the St Augustine's Together Residents' Association meetings and is actively supporting the group's call for St Augustine's Street to be pedestrianised to help regenerate the area and improve air quality.
Thorpe Hamlet Ward - Peter Offord
Peter has been an active Green Party campaigner in Thorpe Hamlet ward for the last two years, visiting residents, taking up local issues and participating in community meetings. Outside his work with the Green Party, Peter is Chair of Norwich Stop the War Coalition and his paid work is teaching adults with disabilities, based at Wensum Lodge. Last year the Green Party missed out in Thorpe Hamlet ward by just one vote. The Greens are working hard in the ward to try to win this time. It is clear that every vote counts!
University Ward - Amandine Stone
Amandine lives on Earlham Road and is a postgraduate student at UEA. She is Secretary of UEA Green Party and has been active in University Ward Green Party for the last year, visiting residents across the ward and taking up local issues. University ward already has two Labour Councillors. On 1st May local residents will have the opportunity to elect an active Green Councillor for the area.
Eaton Ward - Richard Bearman
Richard lives in Eaton ward on Constable Road and is married to Green Councillor Janet Bearman. He is an active member of several local campaign groups, including Norfolk Organic Group and Norfolk Education for Action on Development as well as the Green Party. Richard is a regular cyclist and would like to see comprehensive cycle routes introduced across the city. In Eaton ward, this should include, for example, advanced stop lines for cyclists at the junction of Unthank Road and the ring road (as there are already at the junction of Ipswich Road and the ring road).
Lakenham Ward - Martine Beattie
Martine is the Fundraising and Social Coordinator for Norwich Green Party and a member of the Executive Committee. She has lived, and brought up a family, in Norwich for more than twenty years and is currently a postgraduate Ecology student at UEA. Martine is an active member of the Sustainable Living Initiative that provides shared allotment space in Norwich and is a supporter of the Children's Food Campaign.
Bowthorpe Ward - Jenny Toms
Jenny has been a Green Party member for seven years and is a member of Norwich Green Party's Executive committee. She is a UEA Ecology graduate and now works for the RSPB. Jenny's interests include protecting green spaces and wildlife, supporting local and independent businesses and promoting low-carbon housing. Jenny's partner is Green Party Councillor and Parliamentary Candidate Adrian Ramsay.
Catton Grove Ward - Colin Hynson
Colin, who lives off Silver Road, is a children's writer and an educational advisor for museums and other heritage organisations. He is a member of Amnesty International. He is particualrly interested in issues around education and children's rights. He is also an active member of the local Woodcraft Folk.
Crome Ward - Penny Edwards
Penny has been a Green Party supporter for many years, first standing in the Norwich City Council elections in 1990. She works for a city centre voluntary organisation as a youth counsellor. Penny is a keen cyclist and supports the City Car Club Scheme, which promotes car sharing. She has grown vegetables on her organic allotment for over 20 years. Penny is particularly concerned about improving recycling facilities whilst at the same time discouraging overpackaged goods.
Mile Cross Ward - Christine Way
Christine has lived in Norwich for over 20 years and runs a small business in the city centre. She is a member of the local residents' association and the local traders' association, which aims to support and promote independent, local businesses. Christine is an active campaigner on environmental issues, particularly in the Campaign Against Climate Change. She is concerned about traffic congestion and pollution and the effects of this on the health and safety of the community.
Sewell Ward - Penny Killingbeck
Penny has been a Green Party member for seven years. As well as regularly leafleting and canvassing for the Green Party, she has been a trustee and committee member of the local branch of the RPSCA for the last 15 years and her work is in restoring paintings. Penny is a former member of the Labour Party and is particularly keen to promote the Green Party's strong animal rights policies. Penny stood in Sewell ward last year and finished second.