Mark Ereira

GREEN candidates are hoping for an electoral breakthrough in May’s local government elections in Suffolk.

The party hopes to field at least 50 candidates in the race for the 75 seats on Suffolk County Council – and is aiming to increase the number of councillors.

In 2009 two Green councillors were elected – Mark Ereira-Guyer and Andrew Stringer. This year it is launching a detailed, local manifesto covering the county’s service areas.

The manifesto, endorsed by Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, sets out key commitments and priorities.

These include:

nStop outsourcing & privatising council services for the sake of ideology and dogma.

nTarget help to Suffolk schools based on their needs, not on what tier they are in.

nSupport actions to ‘re-localise’ the food system, encouraging local producers, independent traders, vibrant town centres and helping people to grow food for local sale or consumption.

nImproving people’s quality of life by phasing in 20mph limits on those residential roads where communities want them.

nInvesting in bus services and prioritising walking, cycling and public transport

nKeep council tax low for the long term by holding on to the assets we have and managing them well

nEnhance returns for council tax payers by investing the county’s wasted money pile in renewables, insulation and energy efficiency measures.

nBuild the training for young people to ensure they can take their place in a sustainable economy.

Mr Ereira-Guyer, leader of the Green and Independent Group on Suffolk County Council said: “We are fielding more candidates than ever before because we know that otherwise people in Suffolk will not be presented with a proper alternative. “

“In so many areas of policy in Suffolk, we are the only effective opposition.”

Natalie Bennett, Green Party leader, said: “Suffolk is one of the most important areas of the country for the Green Party, which is one of the reasons I visited the county last September.”