Brockenhurst: Barbara Czoch
I have lived in Thorney Hill for 9 years. I am an Oak Frame Carpenter and will soon be teaching the next generation of wood workers at North End Farm. I have been a foster carer for the past 6 years and am acutely aware of the lack of funding for children and young people. As a Green Party councillor, I would fight to increase the soclal care budget to provide better services for all. I will also focus on insulating homes to cut hearing costs, properly maintained roads and improved transport links.
Dibden and Hythe: Ruth Arundell
I have lived in Hythe for 15 years and have a professional background in adult and higher education, including eight years teaching academic and critical thinking skills for healthcare students at the University of Southampton. I have experience in grass roots campaigning, having established and led Defend Council Housing in Brighton and Hove for over six years, resulting in a defeat for the then Labour Government’s plan to hand its 13,000 council homes over to housing associations with the loss of the secure tenancy. I am standing as a candidate because I believe everyone should have the opportunity to vote for the Green Party.
Lymington and Boldre: Nizam Mamode
I am a transplant surgeon with over 35 years’ experience in the NHS, and have lived in the New Forest for over 10 years. My time is now divided between helping out in transplant units in the UK, and working overseas in conflict zones such as Gaza. I have previously led negotiations on behalf of the BMA for both junior and senior doctors, successfully introducing new contracts for both groups. As a councillor, I would be committed to working hard to improve local services and encourage implementation of Green policies, such as improving public transport. I will actively seek the views of all those I represent throughout my tenure, not only prior to election.
Lyndhurst and Fordingbridge: Janet Richards
I am a Green Party Councillor on New Forest District Council, representing the Downlands and Forest North ward. I have lived in Martin, near Fordingbridge for over 25 years. I help to run a local community farm and am Secretary of the village social club. I am passionate about the local community and about doing what I can to make it the best place to live.
New Milton: Kirsty Gray
I live in New Milton with my two children who attend local schools. I work for a family business in the New Forest aimed at connecting people with our beautiful natural environment. I became involved with environmental politics at university and, since the current success of the Green Party, I have a renewed sense of the part that I can play to make positive changes. At a local level, I have raised money to support children’s educational enrichment in local schools. As a county councillor for New Milton, I aim to provide a voice for social justice and ensure that the environmental impact of council policy is considered. My own experience such as having had a tyre burst on a pothole and being evicted on a section 21 order means that I understand some of the challenges at a local level. I will listen to the concerns of local residents and work hard to raise them in the
council. I aim to celebrate our community and all the wonderful people and groups doing great things locally.
New Milton: Clare Muir
I love Nature but the affects and impact of mankind, really concern me. I am actively involved with EcoSway in my village, coast2forest sustainable transport, a group looking for solutions to better integrate the transport system within the New Forest, as well as belonging to a number of wildlife / conservation charities. I have voted Green since my twenties, joining the Green Party when the injustice and gap between the rich and the poor has become intolerable. I hate seeing disadvantaged people, further disadvantaged. I have become a County Council election candidate, as I wish to increase the opportunities for the people of Hampshire, to vote for the Green Party.
South Waterside: Chris Jones
After living in the New Forest all my life and want to protect this unique place and rebuild this community, hurt by decades of austerity and I believe the Green Party are the best ones to do it. If elected to the council, I will fight against more devastating cuts and push for policies like stronger public transport links, big and small. Better support for Education and Social Services, in order to bring us into a brighter future not just for us, but for generations. “The choice before us is simple, hope or barbarism.”to support those.
Ringwood: Janet Cox
I believe strongly in upholding human dignity, safety and protection from wrong-doing. I am increasingly alarmed by the roughshod curtailment of freedom of speech, freedom to support those either within or out-with the UK who are at the mercy of untold brutality, hardship and poverty. Fear and division rule, aided and abetted by controlled and manipulated media. I will support the Green Party in any way that I can to replace fear with hope; propaganda with truth and division with shared experience – towards restoring our common values and investment in wellbeing and
humanity.
Totton North and Netley Marsh: Jasper Dalby
I grew up in the New Forest, graduating from Ringwood Sixth Form, currently working in local retail and have spent time volunteering at Four Acres Farm, a local community farm. I became interested in politics in my teens and am currently active in the Young Greens as I am keen to encourage more young people to become involved in politics. If elected, I would be keen to work on improving opportunities for young people as well as promoting the Green Party policy of free bus travel for the under 22’s.
Totton South and Marchwood: Oliver Alford-Evans
I have lived in Marchwood all of my life. I joined the Green Party when I was in the sixth form at school which led me to study history and politics at university. I am acutely aware that the rising cost of living is giving rise to further inequality, especially on the housing market. As a Green Partu councillor, I would fight for more social housing to enable young people to get onto the housing ladder. Living in the New Forest, I have seen the damage that pollution has had on our local environment and would bring in stronger measures to protect it.