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In the second of a special series of articles, each focusing on Green
candidates with particular experience and skills, we look at candidates who are actively involved in projects that benefit the environment, writes Susan Fenton.
Gill Thomas
Gill Thomas (Nailsworth) is a Parish and District Councillor for Minchinhampton and serves on Stroud District Council’s Environment committee.
In her other role as the council’s Champion for Litter and Clean Environment, she is involved in numerous litter clearance and education projects, including setting up the town’s first Litter Hub scheme and fundraising to provide primary schools with litter-picking sticks. Gill took part in last year’s Stroud Half Marathon, running the 13-mile course while picking up litter.
She has worked with schools on environmental education projects and is a director of local environmental charity Transition Stroud. Gill also works with the Cotswolds Canal Trust to tackle antisocial behaviour and goes on walks and talks with volunteers. She helped to develop the new youth volunteer working group party on the canal, and leads the sessions.
“If elected I’ll continue to help create cleaner, greener communities by tackling anti- social behaviour and litter and promoting green travel projects,” she says.
Gill lives with her partner, three children and various animals on a smallholding
where Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the Cotswolds National Landscape carry out conservation projects.
Dr Richard Dean
Dr Richard Dean (Dursley) works as a GP and is a Green Champion in local doctors’ practices, where he helps other doctors to reduce their environmental impact.
He is passionate about reducing environmental pollution and waste, promoting and supporting community energy projects and achieving a sustainable energy supply.
Richard believes that as a county councillor he could have even more impact on these issues and help explore ways to address climate change in the county.
He is also an accomplished artist and created a high-profile art project using maps to show the effects of rising sea levels due to temperature increases.
Richard has long been involved in various environmental campaign groups, including Extinction Rebellion and protest groups critical of the Hinkley nuclear power station.
He is active in local Climate Action Networks and set up a group in Chalford to
develop sustainable energy projects and find local sites for solar farms.
Chloe Turner
Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton) has been county councillor for Minchinhampton since 2021 and is standing for re-election.
For the past two years, Chloe has chaired the Environment Scrutiny Committee at GCC (as well as the Environment Committee at Stroud District Council, where she is a district councillor for Minchinhampton).
This role involves constructively challenging the Council’s decision-making on environment and nature matters, transport, infrastructure, and economic strategy; her committee’s recent work has included looking at the management of the council’s rural estate, its leadership role in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, public transport, procurement and social value.
The four-strong Green group on the council has successfully obtained over £1 million of amendments since 2021 to the Conservative budget; £420,000 this year alone.
Among other things they have secured a biodiversity officer, an e-bike hire
programme, natural flood management schemes in multiple locations, and a citizen science officer.
Outside of the council, Chloe works with third-sector organisations across the county on nature recovery, circular economy projects and climate action, and is active in her local climate action group.
Tom Jarman
Tom Jarman (Stonehouse) has senior experience in business and has helped many start-up firms, especially in the renewables, ethical housing and waste sectors.
Most recently he has worked as a director of community businesses, often as a
volunteer, in the fields of sustainability and ethical housing.
“Tom believes in ‘doughnut’ economics, meaning that the economy should serve everyone, helping us all to thrive, and should support social mobility, while protecting the planet and the local environment.
Locally, Tom is hoping to find ways to resolve the controversy around the beautiful land at Verney Fields and bring residents, council and landowner together to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.
Tom co-founded Community R4C, a ground-breaking community owned project with plans for an environmentally sustainable alternative to the Javelin Park incinerator.
This had wide support locally and nationally, including from Jeremy Irons and
Jonathon Porritt.
Free legal support from leading environmental law organisations has now provided the legal basis for changes to the incinerator contract, which would much reduce incineration and harmful emissions. Tom looks forward to being able to implement these changes as part of a significant Green Party voice on the County Council.
Promoted by Rob Brookes on behalf of Stroud District Green Party, at 17 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5QT.
