Greens announce candidates for Kenilworth elections
By James Smith
18th Apr 2023 | Local News
The local Greens have announced further details of their candidates standing in the local town and district council elections this May.
Residents will take to the polls on Thursday, May 4, to vote in councillors for Warwick District Council and Kenilworth Town Council.
For the latter, 17 representatives will be elected across five wards. Meanwhile nine councillors will represent the town on the district council.
The Greens have put forward 16 candidates, some of whom are standing in both elections.
Here are the details for all the Green candidates for Warwick District Council:
Abbey & Arden
Kyn Aizlewood is standing to be a councillor for the first time, and says he wants to make a difference in the fight against climate change by showing leadership in the local community.
"I want to see a new kind of politics where elected officials work together, to put the interests of their community and local environment ahead of the interests of political parties," he said.
"We need to change how we live, adapting to climate change by investing in renewable energy and programmes of cheap home insulation, management of clean water, recycling plastics, low-tech local transport systems, healthy living and a re-vitalised NHS. We are a rich country, full of ideas, we should be leading the way in this!"
David Armstrong is running in the same ward, promoting two priorities - making sure new developments have the right mix of houses and are energy efficient, and tackling the council's budget deficit.
He said: "Living in the ward, I want it to be the best it can, with a strong community, great parks and all the necessary facilities.
"All of this requires well-managed, efficient support from our district council, which I don't believe we currently have. I'm standing for election to make a change and focus on what should matter to our council – what's best for our district."
The third Green candidate in the ward is John Watson who is running for election because he "wants to live in a dynamic open democracy – a major part of the Green vision".
"The issues that are most important to me are fundamentally environmental: combating climate change, reversing the loss of biodiversity, and giving access to clean rivers and oceans to all," he added.
Park Hill
Lara Cron is the first of the three Green candidates for Park Hill - with a focus on decision that impact people's day-to-day lives.
"I am concerned about how the need for housing and supporting infrastructure is addressed, the quality and type of housing being built, the lack of use of existing empty or derelict buildings with potential and how land is allocated for proposed development," she said.
"I bring my experience as an architect and my passion for ecologically sound, sustainable and beautiful design to the role."
Current town and district councillor James Kennedy is standing for election again, hoping to bring his experience on the planning committee to use once again.
"I love Kenilworth and I want to ensure all the new developments fit harmoniously into our beautiful green town," he commented.
"We need net zero houses in the right places, good active travel links for walking and cycling, and the enhancement of green corridors across the town to support biodiversity and clean air for us all."
The trio is completed by Lowell Williams, who is running to be a councillor for the first time.
He said he wants to create a "fair and sustainable" future for local.
"But challenges lie ahead," he added.
"Warwick District Council has a key role to play in steering Kenilworth's future. As a councillor I want to play my part in helping to ensure Kenilworth keeps its distinctiveness, stays green, clean, and safe, and provides a sustainable future for all our residents."
St John's
Joe Rukin is the only Green candidate for St John's.
A recipient of the Kenilworth Award of Merit for exceptional services to the town in 2016, Joe is throwing his hat into the political ring for the first time.
"For years, people have been telling me I should stand for council, but having seen how politics operates up close, like many people, I just didn't want anything to do with it," he said.
"But not only is the Green Party not like other parties, but we are on the verge of a fundamental change in the political makeup of the district council which will see it focus more on standing up for the community, the environment, the local economy, and treating people with compassion, and I want to be part of that."
Here are the details for all the Green candidates for Kenilworth Town Council:
Kenilworth Abbey
Alix Dearing and Zoe Leventhal are both standing for election to Kenilworth Town Council for the Greens.
Mayor-elect Alix says she wants to build on her experience on the town and district council to support and stand up for local people.
"The key issues are much better housing quality, taking a hard look at road infrastructure, parking and cycling routes, and improving the local economy sustainably.
"Clarity of local decision making is important; the community must be fully engaged in the issues that affect them most with better dissemination of information. This is a major objective for Kenilworth Greens."
Meanwhile Zoe said: "Kenilworth's green belt, green spaces and biodiversity all need protecting. I also want to help residents with cutting energy costs and moving to renewable energy.
"We need user-friendly cycle and walking routes for everyone in and around Kenilworth - critically, our young people must be able travel to the new school site safely and sustainably."
Kenilworth Borrowell
Joe Rukin is also standing for election to Kenilworth Town Council, and said there was one clear issue impacting local people.
"The most important issue at the moment has to be the cost of living crisis, and everything has to be done to make sure that the services people rely on are not cut or scaled back at this crucial time when more people need them," he said.
"With the planned closure of HSBC in Kenilworth, I want the town council to open early negotiations with Lloyds to try and make sure Kenilworth is not left without a bank.
"And obviously as a Green, I know that we cannot continue to fill the green belt with more and more unsustainable housing and just blindly hope that the existing services and transport links will cope with this unchecked expansion."
Kenilworth Dalehouse
Four Green candidates are standing in the Dalehouse ward including former Mayor of Kenilworth Peter Jones.
Peter has lived in the town since 1977 and says he has "a deep commitment to supporting the town's communities".
"I think new housing (quantity, quality and location) and climate change are big issues, but my special interest is biodiversity, particularly birds and insects, which are sadly declining through human activity," he said.
Fellow candidate David Bailey said he wants to build on local success stories and serve local needs.
"Leadership means fixing major and long-term problems with successful and innovative solutions, to improve housing, inequality, transport, the economy and all the local issues," he explained.
"Simultaneously we will enable everyone in our community to stop global warming and to revitalise our beautiful natural environment we need and love so much."
Mark Stevens will also appear on the ballot sheet for Dalehouse, aiming to use his career in sustainability to support the town.
"Kenilworth is a fast-growing community, so, as a resident, ensuring that the needs of the increasing pollution are being met with the right balance of environmentally sound planning and housing is key," he said.
"I have a personal passion for the circular economy, embracing the concept of reuse, repurposing assets, and harvesting value from materials and recycling to eliminate waste."
Current leader of the council James Kennedy will also be looking to retain his seat at KTC.
Kenilworth Park Hill
Neil Eaton will stand in Park Hill for the Greens having recently retired as deputy town clerk.
"I know how local government works and how best to represent the concerns of residents in the town I love," he said.
"Kenilworth is seeing significant redevelopment. Land allocation proposals in the local plan are a key issue.
"Energy efficient housing in the right places, clear transport planning (including for walking and cycling), green spaces, biodiversity and clean air for all are my aims."
Alex Randall is the second Green candidate in the ward; he says he feels let down by the current government and wants to help drive change by supporting a green economy.
He explained: "Having worked in the social housing retrofit market, I believe we can save the taxpayers 100's of millions of pounds by introducing stricter passive house building regulations which would also benefit the environment.
"I believe the green economy can provide future jobs for the younger generation especially where green schemes are supported locally in the right way."
Roy Minto is also standing in Park Hill, hoping to become a councillor for the first time.
He said: "I have lived in Kenilworth all my life and want to give back something to the town.
"We need to make sure that services work for all residents of Kenilworth, not just the loudest voices."
Akira Summers is the fourth Green candidate in the ward.
"Over the past few weeks, I have listened to many concerned residents talk about building and housing, particularly protecting the Green Belt and providing homes in suitable places," she commented.
"As a Green Party councillor, I will be very keen on helping our community take environmental responsibility towards our national goals of sustainability."
Kenilworth St. John`s
The Greens have no candidates standing in St John's ward.
See the full list of Kenilworth Town Council candidates here. And click here for Warwick District Council.
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