Green Party councillor Jo Walker has sent an open letter to Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore. The letter shares serious concerns about a new law in Parliament and how Labour councillors on Hastings Borough Council responded to it.
At the same time, Labour councillors in Hastings voted against a Green Party motion to declare a Nature Emergency. The motion asked the council to protect wildlife, green spaces and trees, and to include nature in all planning decisions. Labour councillors said nothing during the debate. They did not ask questions or explain their vote. They simply voted no.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which Ms Dollimore voted for, will allow developers to pay into a fund instead of protecting nature on the land they build on. Environmental experts, charities and over one hundred thousand people have said this is dangerous and unfair.
A clear plan to protect nature
The Nature Emergency motion was written by Jo Walker and supported by fellow Green councillor Julia Hilton. It set out clear actions the council could take to improve nature and green spaces across Hastings. It also linked to national targets to protect thirty percent of land for nature by 2030.
Green councillor Amanda Jobson suggested a small change to the motion. Her amendment warned that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would make it harder to protect nature and harder for local people to have a say in planning decisions. Labour councillors still voted against the amended motion.
Nature Emergency Motion
Proposed Amendment to Motion to Declare a Nature Emergency and Accelerate Nature Recovery in Hastings
Are councillors free to speak up?
Jo Walker’s letter also mentions worrying news from The Guardian. The paper reported that the government had asked national charities not to speak out against the Bill. In return, the charities were offered small changes to the law.
This raises an important question. Were local Labour councillors also told not to speak out against the Bill? And if so, did that pressure come from the Labour Party nationally, or from Helena Dollimore herself?
In a democracy, local councillors must be free to speak for the people they represent. Hastings Green Party believes that no one should be pressured to stay silent about decisions that affect our environment and our community.
The climate and nature emergency is real
Councillor Walker writes:
“We are already well past the tipping point. The climate crisis is no longer something we are trying to prevent. It is something we are now living through. At this stage, only brave and principled action will make a meaningful difference.”
The Green Party will keep working for strong action on nature and climate in Hastings, Rye and our surrounding villages.
We thank Councillor Walker for speaking up and we hope Ms Dollimore will reply to her letter soon.
Read the full letter
This is a matter of public interest and we welcome a reply from the MP.
Contact us
Hastings Green Party
contact@hastings.greenparty.org.uk