Councillors are “too posh to bus,” say Greens
13 March 2007
31 out of 54 Brighton and Hove city councillors, most of them Tory and Labour, are "too posh to bus", says the Green Party, opting for free car-parking spaces in the city provided by the council rather than use the free bus passes available to them.
“While the council is urging the people of Brighton and Hove to leave their cars at home and take the bus, these councillors are setting a poor example,” said Bill Randall, Green Councillor for Hanover and Elm Grove (pictured below).
“Furthermore, they enjoy free parking in the city at all times while they ask others to pay to park outside their own front doors. It’s just not fair.
“Gordon Brown and David Cameron are outbidding each other today in their attempts to prove their parties have genuinely embraced the green agenda.
"But the message hasn’t got through to many of their local councillors in Brighton and Hove. Their actions confirm what most people believe – Labour and Tory do their Incredible Hulk impersonations only when they think it will win them votes.
"Few council meetings and engagements end late in the evening," added Councillor Randall. "When they do, councillors, particularly women, who are concerned about travelling alone late at night, can take a taxi.
"Councillors with a disability apart, the rest of us should use the buses, along with the growing number of people of all ages in the city. Green councillors do.
"None of us has a parking space. Other councillors turned down our invitation at a recent council meeting to join us on the buses. We urge them to rethink their position."
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Geoffrey Bowden Green Party Press Officer on 07958 682 683.[ENDS]
