There are so many challenges out there and never has there been a more urgent need for Green Party councillors and MPs to be elected. Climate change and biodiversity loss will affect every area of everyone's lives but mostly the poorest members of society. It is the biggest challenge we face.
Social and economic justice and fairness are core to solving some of these problems. We can change our politics for the better but only if we vote for it. Thank you for your support and here's to a bright, Green future.
Sarah Butcher, Co-chair Welwyn Hatfield Green Party
Candidates for the Local Elections in our area for 2024 are:
Brookmans Park and Little Heath – William Berrington
Haldens - Lesley Smith
Handside - Phillip Hopley
Hatfield Central - Cheryl Miles
Hatfield East - Ian Gregory
Hatfield South West - Antony Henn
Hatfield Villages - Andreas Kukol
Hollybush - Peter Gamby
Howlands - Penny Berrington
Northaw & Cuffley - Brian Edwards
Panshanger - Alice Cowley-French
Peartree - Tanya Dickson
Sherrards - David Cox
Welham Green & Hatfield South - Ian Nendick
Welwyn East - Darrin Dexter
Welwyn West - Sarah Butcher
The following election statments have been issued by candidates in the 2024 local elections:
I am Cheryl Miles and my day job is working as a sustainability consultant. I have lived all my adult life in the Welwyn and Hatfield area and raised my family here.
I am running for the Green Party for Central Hatfield to serve the local community and ensure that the area that I have lived and worked in for over 35 years is not only profitable for all its citizens, but done so in a sustainable way leaving our planet in a fit state for our young people and future generations, as well as improving the environment and well-being of current residents.
I am passionate that decisions made are considered for both negative and positive outcomes, fairly balancing the needs of nature for the benefit of all.
I am proud to stand as a candidate for the Green party in Hollybush ward having lived there in the past. I work for a company that proudly markets binoculars and other optical equipment exclusively to wildlife watchers and conservationists. In particular we try to encourage the younger generations to get involved in wildlife conservation and management and habitat improvement.
I strongly believe that encouraging the next generation to engage with nature is key to us getting to grips with the challenges of managing climate change. But equally we need to reach out to those of my generation and older to help us all understand that ‘going green’ is not and has never been an option – it is a must.
An improvement in the availability and capacity of recycling and waste management/reduction facilities, increasing tree planting where practical and encouraging more residents to maintain wildlife friendly gardens would all be high on my list of priorities should I be chosen to represent the residents of Hollybush.
Hi, I’m Tanya Dickson and I have lived in Peartree for over 25 years. I have been actively involved in looking after a variety of greenspaces and nature reserves in WGC and across Hertfordshire working with many different community groups and individuals.
I am standing as your local councillor in the Peartree ward as I care passionately about our local environment, community and area. As your local representative I want to be part of joined up policies, putting our environment, sustainable and truly affordable social housing, local communities, and sustainable transport at the centre of local decision making.
I want to see our local green spaces improved for nature as well as people. And like many I would also love to see local community energy projects, and more support, guidance and information locally accessible for our community on how people can save money and improves their own homes by decarbonising for the future.
I have worked in WGC my entire adult life, my children and grandchildren live nearby so I'm totally focussed on improving our local area for them as well as ourselves. I founded and run a green social enterprise, working with many local families, community groups, sharing and inspiring them to care about protecting our natural world by reconnecting them with nature and local greenspaces.
Tanya Dickson BSc (Hons) Environmental Management
I am the Welwyn Parsh Counci Vice Chairman, councillor for Digswell ward and attend the Digswell Residents' Association meetings to provide support for safety and environmental issues in the village, including opening up the community orchard and improving the playing fields for the benefit of residents. I am also a member of the following committees; WPC Burnham Green Joint management, Leisure and Open Spaces, Finance and Climate Emergency Action Group.
"Many problems that confront us today are created by man, whether they are violent conflicts, destruction of the environment, poverty or hunger. These problems can be resolved thanks to human efforts by understanding that we are brother and sister and by developing this sense of closeness. We must cultivate a universal responsibility toward each other and extend it to the planet that we have to share."
- His Holines the 14th Dalai Lama
I have studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism for 40 years. I decided to support the Green Party as I see it as the only 'political wing' of a necessary movement to cultivate such a "universal responsibility".
I am Darrin Dexter, I am standing for the Borough Council in Welwyn East as your Green Party candidate. As an elected councillor I would be passionate to represent residents views and work on cross party consensus on the council. I would bring a Green view to the council and look at ways to improve our local environment which would benefit local people.
1. Ignoring national politics/policies, what are the local issues relating to amenities, environment, infrastructure and planning that you think most concern Welwyn East/West residents, whether within threat communities or the locality?
The speed limit between The Chequers Inn and Oaklands shops and the overall maintenance of the foot paths to make it safer and easier for residents to visit their local amenities.
Mardley Woods is a great environment for families to enjoy, protecting and maintaining the woods and supporting the volunteers who do a great job is key. Working with the council on how to stop fly tipping on Heath Road.
2. Could you let us know what your stance is on these issues, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year?
As a resident in Welwyn East for 20 years I have noticed a number of issues on the road between The Chequers Inn and Oaklands shops and have spoken to residents and local businesses about their concerns. I have also spoken to residents on their concerns about fly tipping in Mardley Woods and what can be done.
3. How would you work to address or support these local issues if you are elected, being realistic and practical about what can be achieved.
I would encourage and support the expansion of Welwyn Rubbish Action Group to Oaklands and the rural roads around Welwyn East and West. Lobby for safer and lower speed limits on key roads making the school trip a safer journey. I would also look at ways to encourage businesses and residents to explore how to improve our solar and heat pump take up in an economical way reducing our carbon footprint.
My name is Sarah Butcher and I am standing for Borough Council in Welwyn West as your Green Party candidate.
As an elected councillor I will be able to better represent resident's views and can encourage more cross-party consensus on the council. Local government is for local people. Even one lone Green voice can change the debate, challenge the status quo and ensure local people concerned about local issues, social justice and climate change have an effective voice.
Singlers Marsh becoming a village green is still a very important issue for many local people, not least as it will prevent overdevelopment nearby and protect our precious chalk river. I have consistently supported the application from the beginning of the campaign, when the Conservative-led Council initially opposed the application. For reasons never fully disclosed the Council still oppose the application and are intent on committing tens of thousands of pounds of local taxpayers' money to a legal battle against the will of residents. Village green status will not jeopardise any activity that takes place on there already, including the Welwyn Festival, but will protect it from development nearby. Green support for this issue has encouraged some councillors from other parties to change their mind on this application. The 240 house development that is planned adjacent to the Marsh would change the nature of that area forever and the resulting traffic and strain on local services would be huge. Welwyn housing has grown by over 30% since I've lived here which is considerably more than many other small villages in the Borough. It is time for the housing quotas to be spread more fairly. If I get elected to Council I will lobby for the Singlers Marsh application to be passed immediately. It is in the Council's power to grant village green status right now and not one councillor has explained why it has not been granted. It is a colossal waste of money to fight this in the courts, taxpayers money that could be much more profitably spent elsewhere. If the council still refuse I believe it would be a good next step to have a public meeting about this matter.
I have run the village litter pick (Welwyn Rubbish Action Group) for the last 14 years or so. Sadly there is always plenty to pick up, but hopefully our volunteers make our ward a more pleasant and tidy place. I liaise with the Council on reporting of litter and fly-tipping around the area. I would like to encourage expansion of Welwyn Rubbish Action Group to Oaklands and rural roads around Welwyn East and West.
Roads and crossings are not the responsibility of the Borough Council but I would like to lobby for safer routes to school from Welwyn village. Due to the road layout walking towards Welwyn Garden City from Welwyn is particularly hazardous. I support 20mph in Welwyn and lower speed limits elsewhere around the ward.
I would like to explore the possibility of getting more solar panels on schools, businesses, and public buildings. I have already made contact with a group in Hertford who have helped schools in Hertford install solar and am initiating a conversation with the local primary school. Also trying to find out if a community energy project might be possible
In last year's Borough Council elections we stood a candidate in every ward for the first time. In our target ward of Welwyn West we increased the vote by more than 100%. The results are below.
We intend to stand a candidate in every ward again in 2024. If you are interested in finding out more about standing as a Green Candidate locally please contact us on chair@welwynhatfield.greenparty.org.uk
Brookmans Park and Little Heath - William Berrington 128
Haldens - Lesley Smith 131
Handside - Phil Hopley 154
Hatfield Central - Rody Ribeiro 102
Hatfield East - Ian Gregory 99
Hatfield South West - Antony Henn 75
Hatfield Villages - Andreas Kukol 86
Hollybush - Joe Bristow 98
Howlands - Penny Berrington 102
Northaw and Cuffley - Brian Edwards 139
Panshangar - Cheryl Miles 68
Peartree - Claudia Ferlisi 91
Sherrards - David Cox 83
Welham Green and Hatfield South - Ian Nendick 50
Welwyn East - Mary Barton 235
Welwyn West - Sarah Butcher 724
