Introduction

Green Party policies are based on the four principles of social justice, real grass-roots democracy, a peaceful life for all and sustainability. In Reading the Green Party has been working hard to make these principles a reality. We want to make real progress towards towards a future where we can all share a high quality of life whilst living in balance with the environment.

A vote for the Green Party in Reading is a vote for a credible alternative to the business-as-usual agenda followed by the three old parties.

This year the Greens have identified five key election themes with the cross-cutting objective of tackling climate change running through all of them:

• Greener transport and improved air quality
• More affordable, high quality housing
• Reduce waste, more recycling and a cleaner town
• Community building and empowerment
• Sustainable, vibrant and diverse local economy

In nearby Oxford City Council, Green Party councillors - now numbering eight - have been making a real difference on social and environmental issues for a number of years. We want the people of Reading to have the same chance for progressive thinking in the council chamber, to have councillors that will listen and that will take a stand on all the issues which are important to local people.

The Green Party's full manifesto covers all aspects of council business, and can be viewed here.

Key theme: Greener Transport and improved air quality

Reading suffers from serious air pollution problems, affecting health and welfare. This is caused by very high levels of car traffic and congestion. Transport is responsible for approximately a third of harmful greenhouse gas emissions and so this is another area that should be prioritised in tackling climate change.

Key Green solutions:

• Increase levels of walking and cycling by providing better facilities and by promoting local shops, services and working
• Prioritise the bus service, reducing fares and improving service
• Introduce strong demand-management measures to reduce car journeys both through and into the town centre
• Support introduction of 20mph speed limits and "home zones" in more residential areas

Key theme: More affordable, high quality housing

The current housing situation is dire. Thanks to poor Government investment in social housing and the unregulated "right to buy" policy the number of affordable homes has reduced over recent years. Greens want to reverse this trend. Housing is responsible for approximately a third of harmful greenhouse gas emissions and so this is one area that should be prioritised in tackling climate change.

Key Green solutions:

• Bring empty houses back into use
• Build new affordable environmentally friendly homes on vacant brown field sites not on sensitive green belt sites and flood plains
• Reduce the number of "hidden homeless" in short-stay accommodation
• Cease privatisation and sell-offs of council housing
• Ensure all houses have adequate levels of insulation and heating
• Require 10% renewable energy provision on all new housing and on all developments over 1000sqm

Key theme: Reduce waste, more recycling and a cleaner town

Many Reading residents are dissatisfied with the cleaning of the streets. Despite its claims, the Council's record on recycling is not much better and the Council has failed to reduce waste.

Key Green solutions:

• Prioritise waste reduction
• Move to a multiple container/bag recycling scheme - allowing more items to be collected
• Promote and distribute free compost bins to everyone that wants one
• Promote year round community waste initiatives such as the Rivers and Environmental Spaces Clean Up Event (RESCUE)
• Advise and pressure local businesses to look at and tackle their waste issues

Key theme: Community building and empowerment

In Reading, the turnout for elections is low, the Council has a questionable mandate and legitimacy. The consultation process is flawed and so generates very few responses and with the "Punch and Judy" politics, attendance from local people at Council meetings is non-existent. It is as if the council is trying to disengage, disempower and disenfranchise local people and keep them as far away from the decision making as possible.

Key Green solutions:

• Set up Local Area Groups with genuine powers, so people can get things done locally
• Get local people involved in the budget process through a participatory budget pilot
• Organise a community building conference

Key theme: Sustainable, vibrant and diverse local economy

Britain has long been "a nation of shopkeepers". But Reading is losing its local independent shops and in danger of becoming a clone town. Corner shops, banks, post offices and pubs are fast disappearing and being replaced by "identikit" chain stores. This loss of diversity is loss of character, money is being sucked out of Reading to corporate headquarters, which is bad for the local economy and the loss of local shops is a loss to our social fabric.

Key Green solutions:

• Support the re-balancing of regional economies to move further economic growth out of the South East's already overheated economy. Lessening the unsustainable burden on our resources and infrastructure
• Oppose unsuitable supermarket development and expansion plans
• Produce a directory of independent shops and services to promote local shops
• Invest in district centres - not just the town centre
• Extra support for community enterprises and local "not for profit" businesses

Conclusion

We hope you agree, that the Green Party presents real solutions to the problems facing Reading today. If you want a progressive and sustainable town; if you want a real say in how your council is run; and if you want politicians who will be honest and straightforward in defending their principles, then there's only one option - vote Green.