As the region prepares for the next WECA Mayoral election on Thursday 1st May, the woman who wants to be elected to the top job has laid out her aims and ambitions for our local area. Mary Page, who is standing for the Green Party, says she wants to be a voice for ‘ordinary, everyday people’.
“We need a mayor who can get things done,” said Mary, “the West of England Mayor has huge responsibility for overseeing transport, spatial development in terms of house building, and the creation of skills and employment opportunities. Yet too many people don’t know what the role does, who is doing it, or what it can do for them.”
“I have a plan, a WE CAN plan. A WECA Nature, Nurture and Needs plan. We must protect our natural resources, nurture our people and businesses, and work out what the region needs to grow and prosper sustainably. Previous mayors have spent too much time fighting with the local councils and this needs to change to a more collaborative approach. We need to give communities more freedom and support so we can shape a brighter, greener future together.”
If elected as the region’s new Mayor on Thursday 1st May, Mary will give people their freedoms back by:
· Provide training and skills development at the heart of local communities. Working collaboratively with our brilliant businesses, colleges and education providers to upskill and reskill our workers to aid and grow sustainably.
· Exploring a Freedom bus pass. 67,000 people took up the birthday bus pass but why was it limited to one month a year, and why only include bus travel. The pass needs to be more inclusive and offer those in rural communities an option where there is no public transport and support disabled people who feel adversely impacted by Clean Air zones, liveable neighbourhoods, Residents’ parking zones and remove inaccessibility barriers.
· Enabling people to feel more in control of the decisions that impact their lives. Communities will be supported to draw up a Neighbourhood plan so green spaces are valued and protected, yet housing is delivered at the right price, in the right place and right numbers.
Mary added: “Our region really needs new energy and I’m ready to take the West of England forward. We need more collaborative working by valuing all the talents and skills that anyone has to offer. If we free up commerce, colleges and councils to work together, we can put the heart back into our communities.”
The Green Party has selected experienced campaigner Mary Page as their candidate. With professional qualifications in journalism and communications, Mary recently worked at the Shirehampton JTE (Jobs, Training, Enterprise) Hub – which is a community-based One Stop Skills and Job Shop. Previously she’s worked for Jobs 22 who help people back into work, the Department of Work and Pensions, the National Composites Centre, and South Gloucestershire Council.
For more information about Mary Page, and to get involved with her campaign email westofengland@southwest.greenparty.org.uk
