Two local Green Party Branches have formally agreed to a merger to share resources and increase their campaigning strength across the Cherwell and West Oxfordshire District Council areas.
After months of discussion, the West Oxfordshire Green Party and the North Oxfordshire Green Party have agreed to form a single branch – The North and West Oxfordshire Green Party. This was partly prompted by recent changes in Parliamentary boundaries which meant that some General Election Candidates stood in constituencies that crossed District Council boundaries and is also part of a new strategy to better focus on local issues.
After the Green Party’s recent successes in local elections and the quadrupling of their Westminster representation, the aim is for Greens in Oxfordshire to redouble their efforts in next year’s County Council elections. The new branch already includes 12 councillors at all levels of local government including one County Councillor, eight District Councillors, The Bicester Town Mayor and a number of Parish and Town Councillors.
The merger was officially agreed at a meeting last week where new officers were elected and plans for future election strategies were discussed.
Speaking after the meeting the newly elected Chair of the North and West Oxfordshire Green Party, Barry Wheatley, said:
“It’s an exciting time to be part of the expansion of Green Party activities in Cherwell and West Oxfordshire. The combination of expertise and resources of the two branches will allow us to move up a gear in our campaigning for new seats and support for our existing councillors.
The trust that the electorate has already placed in our councillors is generating real change locally that protects public services and ensures nature recovery, whilst at the same time addressing costs of living issues. But we need to speed up those changes if we are to mitigate the impacts of climate change such as flooding. Only by electing more Green Councillors will environment and nature be given the priority that they deserve. It’s my hope that the creation of a new branch will encourage the hundreds of new and existing members to join in our activities and work with us to generate real hope for a greener future for all.”
The Leader of the West Oxfordshire District Council Green Group Rosie Pearson added :
“As the Green Party, nationally and locally, goes from strength to strength, it feels absolutely right that our West Oxfordshire branch has joined forces with North Oxfordshire Greens to form a new local party. This will strengthen the voice of Greens in local government, so that we can influence policy, from championing community energy and low-carbon housebuilding to insisting on nature, food growing and accessible green spaces being given their due weight in our Local Plan.”
Leader of the Cherwell District Council Green and Independent Alliance Group and the Oxfordshire County Council Green Group Ian Middleton said :
“This is an exciting new beginning for both our groups bringing together enthusiastic and committed members from two districts with a wealth of campaigning and council experience which I hope will help us to significantly increase our representation at all council levels, but particularly on the County Council where we are currently in joint control of the administration. In future years I hope we will also be able to grow our numbers on both West Oxfordshire and Cherwell District Council where we are also in joint control with other parties”
