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National Green Party to launch local election campaign in Norwich

1 April 2008 - Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP and the Party's Principal Speaker, will be launching the national Green Party campaign for the local elections in Norwich later this week. She will be giving a speech on Thursday 3 April outside the Forum.

The national party will be holding its launch in Norwich because of the party's strong prospects in the 1st May local elections, when the group hopes to become the second party on the City Council.

The launch of the local election campaign will take place on Thursday 3 April, 5pm, outside the Forum. Caroline Lucas and local Green Party Councillors and candidates will be there for the campaign launch, which will consist of speeches and handing out leaflets to the public.

Councillor Adrian Ramsay, Co-ordinator of the Green Party Group on Norwich City Council, said: "I'm delighted that the national party campaign launch is taking place in Norwich. We were chosen to host the launch because of Norwich Green Party's strong prospects for making gains at this year's elections and becoming the most influential local Green Party in the country. Last year we missed out on becoming the Council's main opposition group by just one vote in one ward. This year it is clear that every vote counts in our bid to make Norwich a Greener place.

"Green Councillors have been pushing the City Council in the right direction on a number of issues, such as renewable energy, recycling facilities and support for small and local businesses. However, there is still a long way to go on these and many other social and environmental issues. We need more Greens to be elected on 1st May."

Caroline Lucas MEP added: "Norwich is an inspiration to those across the country who want to see the Green Party moving forward far and fast. I am very happy to be coming to Norwich to urge voters both in Norwich and across the nation to seize the opportunity, on 1st May, and vote Green, for real and lasting change."

Norwich Green Party will officially launch its manifesto for the local elections on Thursday. The document is already available on the election pages of this website.

Key policies in the manifesto include:

• Pressing for a Quality Bus Contract, so the local councils can ensure reasonably-priced and reliable bus services.
• Prevent development on land with high levels of flood risk, green spaces and land that is important wildlife habitat, such as immediately next to the riverbank.
• Expand doorstep recycling facilities and support the reuse, repair and recycling of materials through a Resource Recovery Park.
• Setting up area committees with local budgets, where ward councillors have real power to influence what happens in their areas (whether they are from the ruling party or not) and where local people can come along and have their say.
• Establishing more farmers' markets, to support local producers.

On 3rd April, earlier in the day, Caroline Lucas will also be visiting other parts of East Anglia where there Greens are hoping to win seats on 1st May, including Colchester.