We have welcomed a large number of new members as part of the recent General Election campaign, in which we doubled our local vote and saw 4 Green Party MPs returned to Parliament.

All members are warmly invited to come and meet other like minded folk for a free coffee and cake between 11am and 12noon on Sunday 4th August in the Foxlowe Arts Centre Garden.

It is the Totally Local Leek Market that day so hopefully those of you who have to travel will feel it is worth the effort and can make an outing out of it.

Jonathan Kempster
SMGP Coordinator

The post Morning Coffee or Green Tea? appeared first on Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party.

We are still coming to terms with our stunning General Election performance :

• Our best ever share of the vote at a General Election – 5.3%
• Almost double our number of votes compared to our previous best total in 2019 (2,293 vs 1,231)
• Second only to the Stafford Greens in all of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent constituencies.
• The first time we have retained our deposit – meaning that £500 can go back into future campaigns
• Our first crowdfunder campaign, raising £590 towards the campaign
• A flyer delivered to every home across the Moorlands by the Post Office – another first
• A successful street stall in Leek that has resulted in another dozen people wanting to join the Green Party

And of course, FOUR Green Party MPs in Parliament

The post What a fantastic result for Moorlands Greens! appeared first on Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party.

Thank you to all residents, Parish Councils and Action Groups who supported the development evening on Wednesday 12 June 2024. The meeting was well attended with between 25 and 30 residents present, along with Celia Muir from Support Staffordshire, Marc Wootton from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Alison McCrea from Moorlands Climate Action and James Firkins and Julian King-Salter from Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party. The main points of discussion and outcomes from the meeting are listed below:

Key Issues identified by residents in Manifold Ward

• Community Safety in relation to speeding both in 30 mph zones and on rural roads. Specific villages were identified that were of concern – Onecote, Warslow, Hulme End and Sheen
• Lack of Young Peoples Services. Residents reported a loss/reduction in youth clubs, youth workers and youth activities in local communities.
• Limited Public Transport Options. There are few regular buses available. Moorland Connect is a very good service but some residents experience difficulty using the App and booking system.
• Lack of Social and Affordable Housing, particularly for young families and individuals wanting to work and live in the area.
• Poor Digital Connectivity – re broadband, internet and mobile signal
• Wildlife, Habitat Loss and River Pollution. Concerns raised about the significant reduction in fish in the upper Manifold River
• Lack of Community Facilities in some villages – Longnor has no village hall. Grindon and Sheen no longer have a village pub.

Key Outcomes and Actions from the Meeting

• Community safety – Villages to consider a coordinated response across Manifold Ward so that different speed watch groups can share resources, training opportunities, advice and best practice. It was also suggested that villages have speed indication devices positioned in strategic places. Residents/Parish Councils to contact Jonathan Kempster if they are interested in exploring these actions.
• Young Peoples Services. Residents/Parish Councils who are interested in raising the profile of the need for youth services to contact Jonathan Kempster so that as a group they can liaise with Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services to explore options.
• Limited Public Services. Jonathan Kempster to continue to liaise with Staffordshire County Council and Moorland Connect and to advocate for local demand led services.
• Lack of Social Housing and Starter Homes. Jonathan Kempster to work with local residents, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Staffordshire County Council in identifying need across villages in Manifold Ward.
• Digital Connectivity. Local residents/Parish Councils to contact Marc Wootton (Marc.Wootton@highpeak.gov.uk) and discuss need/consider options for improving connectivity.
• Wildlife, Habitat Loss and River Pollution. Manifold residents/Parish Councils and Action Groups to contact ManifoldCAN (www.Manifoldcan.co.uk) and explore the reasons for habitat loss and pollution in rivers.
• Lack of Community Facilities. Manifold residents, Parish Councils and Action Groups to review local needs, develop business plans and explore options. Jonathan Kempster and Celia Muir (Support Staffordshire) to provide support and advice where requested.

The post Manifold Community Development Evening appeared first on Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party.

Millions of people in our country are feeling insecure and deeply worried about the future.

We live in one of the richest countries on the planet, yet nurses are using food banks, our children’s schools are crumbling, a roof over our heads is all too often unaffordable, and hospital and dentist appointments are like gold dust.

Meanwhile, the climate emergency continues to accelerate. Scientists warn that we are currently on track for global temperatures to rise by at least 2.5°C, far beyond levels at which humanity can safely survive.

Our promise to you is that all this can change. We can create a greener, fairer country together – one in which we are all safer, happier and more fulfilled.

It will take MPs prepared to make brave, principled choices on your behalf. And it will take the kinds of policies set out in this manifesto, for which elected Green MPs will fight hard every single day for you.

Voting Green on 4th July is your way of showing you believe a fairer, greener world is possible – and is worth fighting for.

The national manifesto has been published and focuses on these key policy areas:

Vote Hope. Vote Change. Vote Green

The post Green Party launches Manifesto appeared first on Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/staffs-moorlands-green-party

Why we need your help

We are not funded by big business or corporations, so we rely on support from ordinary people across the Moorlands to help raise £500 for the deposit – anything more will go towards campaign materials and spreading our message for “Real Hope. Real Change”. 

We need to raise £1000 by the end of June to pay for Helen’s General Election deposit and to get a Green Party leaflet delivered to every home in the Moorlands. If 50 people chip in £20, we’re already there! Can you help?

Your donation not only gets a Green candidate for Parliament able to challenge the old parties. Standing General Election candidates also helps us generate Short Money – the financial assistance every opposition party receives to help fund parliamentary business. This is worth around £1 per vote to the Green Party – no matter which constituency that vote came from. Standing a Green Party candidate doesn’t just demonstrate our growing strength; it’s a strategic move that could fund our mission over the entire parliamentary term. 

Finally, if Helen retains her deposit, those funds come back and can be spent by the Green Party again, so we can keep building strength both locally and nationally!

Please can you help by chipping in £20, or whatever you can afford, to help get us over the line?

A huge thank you for all donations – however large or small!

The post Can you help us give voters a Green option this year? appeared first on Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party.

Helen Stead has been selected to represent the Green Party in the upcoming General Election for the Staffordshire Moorlands constituency.

Helen lives in the Staffordshire Moorlands and has served the community for years as chair of governors at a very successful school and as a Parish Councillor in Horton.

Helen will strive to protect our NHS services, support our local farmers to produce top class food in a sustainable, nature friendly way, and work to foster a community spirit creating a fairer future with dry warm homes and opportunity for all.

A vote for Helen is a vote for Hope and Change

The post Green Party candidate for 2024 General Election appeared first on Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party.

Moorlands Connect – Use It or Lose It!

Moorlands Connect is a demand responsive bus service funded by Staffordshire County Council. It provides a great way to get around in our rural area, yet surprisingly it remains underused by Manifold residents.

Funding for this service is only guaranteed for a further 15 months and so if we want to see this great service continue, it’s important that we use it as much as possible.

When does it run?

• Mon – Fri. 7am – 7pm
• Sat. 8am – 6pm
• Sun/public holidays. 9am – 5pm

April to September only

no service Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day

For more information and to book a journey, see their website:https://moorlandsconnect.co.uk/howtouse.shtml  or phone 01335 342951.

The post Moorlands Connect – Use it or Lose it! appeared first on Staffordshire Moorlands Green Party.