Darren Johnson said. "The Thames should be for all Londoners to enjoy not merely crammed wall-to-wall with luxury apartment blocks. I want much tighter control on development with a focus on protecting green space and wildlife and promoting river related activities such as sailing and river transport."
London Greens believe that the Port of London Authority needs reforming and the Thames needs to be brought under the control of the London Assembly. Darren Johnson called for an integrated transport policy which includes the promotion of river transport and getting more freight off the roads and on to the river.
Darren said "The Port of London Authority, which has sweeping powers over the River Thames, is currently unaccountable and undemocratic. It needs to be brought under the democratic control of Londoners through the Mayor and Assembly."
Key Aspects of the Green’s Action Plan for the Thames include:
· promoting public access for pedestrians and cyclists and improving public access to the foreshore
· protecting and enhancing wildlife corridors and all green space along the river
· protecting and widening flood plains, providing natural solutions to increased flood risks.
· creating new green public space as part of the Thames Gateway
· ensuring all riverside development encourage biodiversity and enhance the river landscape
· promoting river-related activities such as sailing, educational opportunities and walking
· promoting river transport and working to get freight off roads and on to the river
· supporting new rail crossings, pedestrian and cycle bridges over the Thames but scrapping plans for new road river crossings which will just create more traffic and more pollution
· bringing the Port of London Authority under the democratic control of the GLA
NOTES TO EDITORS
· Darren Johnson is 37 and was selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in May 2003. He was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 where he is Leader of the Green Party Group. He was also elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002.
· The Mayoral election will be held on June 10th at the same time as the elections for the London Assembly and the European Parliament. At the last Assembly elections the Greens scored one of their best ever results in the Party’s history, securing 11.1% of the vote across London and winning three seats on the 25-member Assembly.
· Darren Johnson’s vision for a sustainable Green London can be found on his website www.johnsonformayor.org.uk
· Jean Lambert is London’s Green Member of the European Parliament and she is No 1 on the list for the London Green Party. Her website is www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
· Green Party Assembly Members are Cllr. Darren Johnson AM, Deputy Mayor Jenny Jones AM and Noel Lynch AM
· Biographies for all candidates are available from London Press Officer, Penny Kemp 07711 760692 or penny.kemp@virgin.net
· Published and promoted by Chris Cotton on behalf of London Green Party both at 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ
· Printed by Penny Kemp, Press Officer on behalf of London Green Party at 1a Waterlow Rd, London N19 5NJ
Further information, interviews:
Penny Kemp 07711 760692
ENDS