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Candidate Profiles: Miranda Williams, Peninsula

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Name: Miranda Williams (Labour)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I’m 27 and have lived in the Borough for 4 years, as well as being an active member of our community I am also a school Governor at Fossdene Primary School, Charlton.

After graduating from university I worked for the Department of Work and Pensions in a JobCentre Plus before moving to work in London as a Caseworker for a Member of Parliament.

In my spare time I enjoy reading and knitting as well as following Forest Green Rovers from a distance.

I have been a member of the Labour Party for 11 years.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

It matters that all people eligible to take part in any election vote. Voting is the only way that you can choose your representatives who make important decisions about your community.

Politics effects everyone in all parts of our lives so if you value the things that are part of our daily lives such as our clean streets, good local schools and our recycling scheme then you need to take part our democratic system and vote to elect your local representatives.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Having worked in Parliament for the last four I have seen how effective hard working elected representatives can be. I also believe that working together as a community produces results far beyond what can be achieved when we work alone.

I believe I have the energy combined with the skills necessary to work with our community to promote the interests of Peninsula residents and to continue to work to make our community an excellent place to live.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

There is very little that I don’t love about the area! Greenwich Park, along with the Pleasaunce in East Greenwich as well as the O2 I would say are my top 3 favourite ‘things’. But on top of that I love the diversity of our Borough and the feel of the area on Marathon Day.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

To ensure that the Olympics in 2012 is an enjoyable and positive experience for all our residents as well as the many expected visitors.

I will work hard to ensure that new housing developments always have a balanced mix of homes offered at social rents, opportunities for shared ownership as well as those for sale at full price. I want to make sure that people growing up in this area have the best chance of living here for the next generation.
To be an approachable and effective Ward Councillor for all the residents of Peninsula.

Candidate Profiles: Adrian Ross, Greenwich West

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Name: Adrian Ross (Green Party)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I’m 44 years years old, married (to Naomi) with a 4 month old son (Ben). I’ve lived in West Greenwich for the last 8 years, but have been coming here regularly ever since my very first trip to visit the Cutty Sark and Maritime Museum, aged 9. Originally from Wiltshire, I studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge and I work in IT.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?
Because the council are the people who look after the environment that you live in. They are responsible for the streets and amenities; for determining the mix of housing, businesses and shops; for encouraging investment, appropriate development and conservation; for traffic and parking schemes; and for providing facilities such as libraries and leisure centres. In brief, the council are responsible for practically everything that I care about when I leave my front gate.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I NEVER thought that I would get involved in politics! But concerns about the environment led me to the Green Party, and after reading their vision for the future I realised there was a better way to do things and a better way to live. Green policies put people and quality-of-life ahead of consumption and greed, and I’d like to be able to provide a better lifestyle for my family, neighbours, friends and everyone who lives or works in Greenwich.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

Wow, where do I start?! I love the Observatory, the Park and the Queen’s House (where Naomi and I were lucky enough to have our wedding reception). I also love the market and the town-centre shops, although I’m very concerned that the plans for the market might spoil these things. My favourite stretch of road is Royal Hill from the flower shop, past the Creaky Shed, butchers, cheese shop and fishmongers up to my favourite pub – the Greenwich Union with its own beer. But if I had to choose one thing, it would be the fact that I
have almost everything I need within walking distance of my house (although less traffic and pollution would make the walks nicer!).

If elected, what would be your priorities for the ward over the next four years?

I’d like to reduce traffic and pollution in the Borough by providing better local servies within walking distance, by improving public transport and by limiting the number of additional cars that will come with all of the new developments. I’d also introduce schemes such as “walking buses” to take children to school – avoiding rush-hour congestion and helping our children to stay healthy. I’d like to offer encouragement to local neighbourhood schemes by offering council grants to communities with the best ideas for how to improve their
area (as Lewisham council and the Green councillors there have done). I’d like to make sure that the council use the Olympics as an opportunity to get some long-term investment and improvement in West Greenwich to compensate for the disruption that we will have over the next 2 years. And I’d like to put the Green back into Greenwich, with schemes such as Fairtrade, smart-meter lending from libraries and local energy-saving cooperatives.

Finally, I’d like to make politics in Greenwich as cool and interesting as everything else that’s here!

Andy Hewett answers your questions

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Andy Hewett is the Green Party candidate for Greenwich & Woolwich in the General Election. Here are his answers to questions put to him.

I’d like to know what the candidates would do about the Blackwall Tunnel closure, and what their views are on two-way traffic through one 1/2 of the tunnel.

Our transport priority will be investment in public transport and increasing citizens’ accessibility to walking and cycling. Traffic congestion is a consistent problem in Greenwich, and with some of the most polluted stretches of road in the country the people of Greenwich have for too long deserved better public transport.

Do you think that MP’s should be allowed to have extra jobs and consultancies while holding Parliamentary office?

No, MPs are elected to serve the people, not to serve themselves. If elected I would take no more than the average skilled workers’ wage.

Does your party support the Olympics in Greenwich Park given it would entail long closures of this vital amenity and potential damage to this World Heritage Site, not to mention the obscene cost, lack of
legacy and transport problems?

The Green Party produced a set of 6 principles in 2003, updated in 2006, by which the party will assess the sustainability of any sites used in the Olympics. My personal view is that the use of Greenwich Park for Olympic equestrian events does not fulfil these criteria, and will not be of beneift to the majority of the citizens of Greenwich. I have sent a letter to NOGOE outlining my reasons for this which they have posted on their website: http://www.nogoe2012.com/

What was the last book you read?
Aside from the Green Party Election Manifesto ‘Fair Is Worth Fighting For’, my previous light reading on the train was ‘Critique of the Gotha Programme’ by Karl Marx

Greenwich Hospital is appealing the decision to reject their redevelopment of Greenwich Market – do you support redevelopment of the market?
No, I outlined my views on this last year which you can find on our website

Do you support reform of the voting system?
Yes, the Green Party supports PR using the Additional Member System for Parliamentary elections and introducing fixed term Parliaments. We support the right to vote at 16. The House of Lords should be reformed to become a fully elected body chosen by PR, each member elected for one fixed term of ten years, with half the house elected every five years.

If elected, what would your priorities be?
Social and environmental justice. This includes reducing inequality, creating green jobs, defending public services, a living wage and decent pensions.

Spencer Drury answers your questions

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Spencer Drury is the Conservative candidate for Greenwich & Woolwich. Here’s his answers to some of your questions.

What do you think qualifies you to be MP for Greenwich and Woolwich?

The only qualification one needs to be MP for Greenwich and Woolwich is more votes than the other candidates. However, I hope that I can bring a different perspective to the role of MP through my involvement in the local community and knowledge of the different issues around south-east London.

I’d like to know what the candidates would do about the Blackwall Tunnel closure, and what their views are on two-way traffic through one 1/2 of the tunnel.

As I have said before I am disappointed that the contra-flow system has not been reinstated, but I understand this is because of a change in EU regulations. This puts a different perspective on the situation as Conservative policy is to bring a range of powers back into this country from a European level and clearly we should be able to make our own decisions about using a system which had not caused any accidents as far as I could see.

Would you like to comment on Greenwich Council’s announcement that it is to snoop on its own staff?

Ironically it was a local resident who passed the letter which has been put in the public domain to me and I sent it on to Dizzy (Phil Hendren) who is a friend of mine and used to live in Plumstead.

I think that the principle of the state creating bigger and bigger databases is one which scares me. It seems the relationship between the state and the individual has changed, with all the power in the hands of the government which can compare our data as an when it wishes. The relationship between the individual and the state has to be rebalanced so that the individual has more power. This is one of the reasons why I oppose the Labour policy of introducing ID cards.

What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was ‘The Return of Sherlock Holmes’ and I am currently picking my way through ‘Suggs and the City’ which I find very relaxing when my days are filled with electioneering.

Greenwich Hospital is appealing the decision to reject their redevelopment of Greenwich Market – do you support redevelopment of the market?

I think Greenwich Market needs refurbishment not redevelopment. This means smartening up what is already there (and is much loved by local residents and visitors) rather than demolishing chunks of it, putting up wood cladding on buildings and ripping up the cobbles. So no, I do not support the redevelopment plans that were bought forward, but I do think that the roof of the market needs replacing.

Would it be democratically acceptable for a Bristol based quango to force upon Greenwich a market redevelopment that is unwanted by the people or their elected representatives in the Council?

Linked to the previous answer, no. This is equally true for other planning applications which are overturned in Bristol having been rejected in Greenwich.

Candidate Profiles: Mary Mills, Peninsula

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Name: Mary Mills (Labour)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I am an elderly widow who has lived in Greenwich for the past 41 years. My working life was mainly spent in the voluntary sector, including a stint at North Charlton Project, but latterly working on a community response to Docklands redevelopment, eventually concentrating on issues around the environment. I have a PhD in industrial history and am Secretary of Greenwich Industrial History Society – and because of this have written a number of books on the subject, concentrating on east Greenwich, the Peninsula and the riverside walk.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

Of course it matters that people vote – we should be all about a participative democracy. It also matters that people speak up for what they want for the area they live in and I have always done what I can to encourage people to get in touch and to pass on what they say where I can.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I hope I can make a difference to people’s lives in east Greenwich, North Charlton and the Peninsula. There is so much to do and so many things which are difficult. For many people it is hard to live in an area where there is so much change (although for others it is exciting). We need to understand those stresses and respond to them sympathetically and constructively and I do feel I have some very special experience of this. I also feel that in the ten years I have been on the Council I have learnt a great deal of how to tackle the many everyday problems which people have, and hopefully tackle them effectively and realistically. I very much feel that it is my duty to talk to as many local people as I can to learn what they want from their councillors, and I would encourage them to get involved. I am very used to handling email, and twitters and stuff like that – and hope to be able to use it to interact more and more local people. Over the past ten years I have developed a newsletter about local people and local events which goes out monthly – so I have always been happy to hear if people are doing things they want others to hear about, and to add addresses to the list of those who want to get it.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

What do I like most about the area. Where do I start? When I moved to Greenwich in the 1960s I was knocked out that I was finally in an area with Labour councillors, a Labour MP and a Labour GLC member. I am still very proud of that. However I had come from Gravesend and both there, and here in Greenwich, we have the river – and that is a wonderful thing threading through all our lives. But now – oh how I miss the sound of the boats all day! – and the great cacaphony at New Year. But I am very proud of east Greenwich – it IS the centre of the world, its an exciting place to be and I am grateful every day that I live here.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

Where do I start with that? I suppose I want the people who live here to be happy to live here and to have good and fulfilled lives. I suppose that also I want to work towards a cleaner, greener, totally sustainable environment. That’s the long term. In the short term its sorting out all those 100s of day to day problems which hopefully are building blocks towards the long term. Or at least I hope so.

Joseph Lee answers your questions

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Liberal Democrat candidate for Greenwich & Woolwich, Joseph Lee, answers the questions submitted to him by Greenwich.co.uk readers.

If elected, what would your priorities be?

I would bring around real regeneration of Woolwich and stop Greenwich town centre turning into something almost unrecognizable to many people, the area is fast disintegrating. I will change the area which works for the residents of the area, not exclusively for tourists. The town centre is aimed too much for tourists and doesn’t reflect the needs and wants of local residents. As much as the local economy needs tourist money coming in, we need to strike a balance which works for local people. By doing this it will help bring new and original businesses to the area and not necessary businesses which strictly cater for tourists. Also I will be pushing for safer streets by providing more facilities for young people on their doorstep, to keep them occupied and aware from negative influences. Also to push for a higher level of policing throughout the constituency, this is a key issue when I am on the door step, people are becoming frustrated by a lack of police on the beat throughout the
constituency.

I’d like to know what the candidates would do about the Blackwall Tunnel closure, and what their views are on two-way traffic through one 1/2 of the tunnel.

I think it’s unacceptable that Nick Raynsford allowed Mayor Johnson to commence work on the Blackwall tunnel without giving people any alternative while the tunnel is out of operation. Though I agree the work needs to be done to improve the safety of the tunnel. I felt Raynsford gave in too easy to Mayor Johnson and didn’t lobby hard enough for a alternative.

Do you think that MP’s should be allowed to have extra jobs and consultancies while holding Parliamentary office?

100% no. It’s completely unacceptance for members of parliament to have extra jobs or consultancies while as MP. Being a member of parliament is a full time job which needs 100% commitment and I can’t understand how any members can carry out other extra jobs or consultancies without their own constituency work falling behind, I feel very strongly about this issue and as your member of parliament I confirm that I won’t hold any others jobs or consultancies while working for you.

Why are you the only candidate to have withheld your full address in the official statement of declared candidates?

It’s only a short term temporary property I live in at present as I am due to be moving any time now, the landlord has issues about me using the address which I have to respect. if elected, I will be moving into the constituency within 28 days.

Does your party support the Olympics in Greenwich Park given it would entail long closures of this vital amenity and potential damage to this World Heritage Site, not to mention the obscene cost, lack of legacy and transport problems?

Well, I feel the way same as many people throughout the constituency feel, they feel let down that the current MP took it upon himself to decide that the Olympics were good for the area without asking the residents of their opinion. It also sadden a lot of people that the leader of the council Chris Roberts didn’t attend the important council meeting decider to hold Olympic equestrian events in Greenwich Park. All in all, residents wasn’t given a choice about the games but as your MP I will vow to ensure the games are carried out with close scrutiny with everything the Olympic organizers do to ensure that the areas used are used with absolute minimal amount of short and long term damage, I will be very active in ensuring that the necessary closures are minimal we get the park back virtually how we gave it over. Finally, I want to see everyone constituent see the full benefits of the Olympics, not just residents close to where the games are being held but residents further afield in say Charlton or Blackheath.

What was the last book you read?

Unbowed – the memoirs of a Kenyan environmentalist and women’s rights campaigner Wangari Maathai who also won the nobel prize

Are you in favour of joining the Euro?

Though I am keen of keeping close ties to Europe, I am not in favour joining the euro.

Greenwich Hospital is appealing the decision to reject their redevelopment of Greenwich Market – do you support redevelopment of the market?

Greenwich Hospital have resubmitted plans to demolish the much loved market and surrounding areas and replace with a modern market, a shopping precinct and a 100 room plus hotel. The Liberal Democrats are against these plans and we are actively campaigning to protect Greenwich market and will be shortly issuing the council a petition. I will ensure that these plans are again thrown out and the market stays the way it is.

How would Greenwich be different in five years time if you, and a Liberal Democrat government, are elected?

Greenwich will be different for many reasons, the talented Liberal Democrat prospective councilors from all over the constituency will bring around a difference kind of politics, a type of politics where we value what people have to say, we will listen and act accordingly, there will be no disastrous decisions like the Olympics games coming to Greenwich, where no one was listened to and the council went ahead with the games without consulting residents prior, nor will we accept councilors who miss 35 out of 54 meetings in the past year like your council leader did, we will bring around positive change with a Lib Dem council which actually cares about the people and the decisions they will make on behalf of them. From a personal perspective, I will be a fully accountable MP who will always aim to be within reach of contact for all constituents, not someone who will be constantly doing various non constituency consultations as a form of extra income. I will be employed by the people of Greenwich and Woolwich to work for the people of Greenwich and Woolwich.

I promise to raise the standard of local primary and secondary schools in the area, so parents don’t have to send their kids out of the constituency to obtain a decent education. Most secondary age kids in Greenwich are having to travel to Lewisham, which is fundamentally unacceptance and I for one don’t stand for this any longer.

Candidate Profiles: Anthony Austin, Greenwich West

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Name: Anthony Austin (Liberal Democrats)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I work part-time as a freelance editor and also as cycle instructor in south and east London boroughs, teaching children and adults safe cycling. Previously I was a correspondent for Reuters, the international news organisation, working in Switzerland, Italy (including Vatican correspondent), Thailand, and Sweden.
I recently ran the London Marathon for the third time, on this occasion to draw attention to the plight of the polar bear with proceeds to the World Wildlife Fund. On another occasion I ran for the Mayor of Greenwich’s McMillan charity.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

While canvassing for the LibDems I’ve also been handing out forms for people to register to vote, if they hadn’t already done so. When occasionally someone says “I don’t vote, all politicians are in it for themselves” or the like, I say “but don’t you think everything we do is political, and it matters that your voice is heard at the local and national level.”

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I am standing in this election for the LibDems with fresh policies to challenge 39 years of Labour control of Greenwich Council which has become dictatorial, lazy and cynical.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

I love the riverside and its shipbuilding heritage. We should do much more to promote our borough, its royal status, the Thames path from Thamesmead to Deptford.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Greenwich West ward over the next four years?

If elected, and in consultation with my party colleagues, I would seek to give better value for council tax, investigate reversing the Labour decision to close Charlotte Turner primary school in Deptford, bring local people more into the planning process rather than imposing development on them.

Candidate Profiles: Simon Gallie, Greenwich West

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Name: Simon Gallie (Conservative)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

Simon Gallie has lived with his Partner in West Greenwich for the past 12 years and in London for 23 years. At work he leads a team of business and private banking managers based in Central London.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

In the last local election the turnout was very disappointing at less than 30% and we got another 4 years of a Labour Council who had already been in control for over 30 years. What we don’t know is what the other 70% of local residents wanted. If you care about your local area you need to vote.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

As I think parts of Greenwich are good but could be great. Are our streets as clean as they could be? Does the town centre look as good as it could? Are our public open spaces kept tidy? I don’t think we are getting value for money and want to make good great. I think I have business and commercial experience that would be useful in local government.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

The wonderful Park and World Heritage Site with many historical buildings in Greenwich West.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Greenwich West ward over the next four years?

In no particular order:
Ensure the Olympic Authority return the Park as they have said they will (despite a very lax and planning consent containing little detail).
Tidy and clean streets we can be proud of.
Value for money and efficiency in the upkeep of the council grass and planting areas.
Regeneration of some of the business premises and ensuring this is consistent with the World Heritage Site.
Preserving Greenwich’s Markets.
Controlling crime and anti-social behaviour without limiting residents ability to enjoy a drink in the sun.
Installing bins so people can actually “bag it and bin it” after their dogs.
Re-open Charlotte Turner School which should not have been closed.

Candidate Profiles: Dave Sharman, Peninsula

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Name: Dave Sharman (Green Party)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I am semi-retired, having spent the last 20-odd years working for myself as an independent management consultant. I previously worked as a lecturer in organisational behaviour at Thames Valley University.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

Local elections are crucial in getting committed people to take action. Voting for someone that you think can do something for the area is a big step. It’s also different from the general election as each candidate is assessed on a trust/competency basis.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Because I want to challenge and change the mindset of our current council – but accept that this is a big task!

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

The view from the Cutty Sark pub with the O2 and the gas-holder in the background – and the Old Naval College if you look the other way!

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

Creating a sense of community between GMV and the rest of East Greenwich; Finding some small things to improve the congestion in Trafalgar and Woolwich Roads and making a whole series of small changes that ordinary people in the ward would appreciate.

Candidate Profiles: Matthew Pennycook, Greenwich West

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Name: Matthew Pennycook (Labour)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I live in Tarves Way on the Rubicon development where I have helped set up a thriving Residents Association and I am a Governor at James Wolfe Primary school. My background is in the third sector where I have worked on campaigns and policy with organisations such as Child Poverty Action Group as well as heading national campaigns for the Fair Pay Network – a national coalition of fourteen anti-poverty organisations committed to taking action to highlight and tackle working poverty in Britain. I am also a Greenwich organiser for Hope not Hate, the national campaign working to expose the extremism behind the British National Party, and I’ve been campaigning over the last year across the Borough to make sure we don’t see a BNP councillor elected on May 6th. In my spare time I enjoy running, reading and practicing my Chinese (mandarin) which I have studied for the past five years.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

Most of the decisions that effect people on a day-to-day basis take place at a local level so council elections are just as important as general elections. Politics affects everyone and involvement in the political process is essential to meeting the common challenges we face as a community. Democracies exist only by virtue of the engagement of their citizens. So if you value the safety of your home and family, the cleanliness of the streets around your home, or the quality of services and life in your local area then you need to vote for it and elect representatives who know and live in the ward with you and who have the experience and ability to understand your concerns and champion your interests.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Faith in politics may be at an all time low but I still believe in the power of people working together to improve their lives. I am standing to be a councillor because I have seen both professionally and in the voluntary work I do what can be achieved if committed individuals work together toward common goals. I believe I have the energy and the skills needed to advance the interests of Greenwich West residents and to continue to build on the progress made in our area over the last few years.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

I love many things about Greenwich but our Royal Park stands out as my favourite thing in Greenwich West. It is an immense privilege to live so close to such a beautiful piece of parkland which is used and valued by so many residents.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

If elected I will work hard to build a fairer, safer and greener Greenwich West. My priorities would be:
• To safeguard our two Sure Start Children’s centres and to ensure our local schools improve faster.
• To ensure that the Olympic events in Greenwich Park are an enjoyable experience for residents and that the Park is returned in the same or better condition as it is in now.
• I believe in decent, affordable local homes so I will work hard to ensure that we build upon the work of the Decent Homes Programme locally and continue to improve our social housing stock.
• To preserve and maintain important local landmarks including Greenwich Market.