The Bath and North East Somerset Green Party’s recent mini conference, held to help address the poor air quality in the region, has been deemed a success.
All political parties active in the Bath area were invited to speak, as well as local organisations concerned about air quality.
Speakers included councillors from the Greens, Conservatives and Labour, and a spokesperson for the city’s Lib Dem MP, as well as representatives from CycleBath, Transition Larkhall, Bath Trams, and Idling Action Bath.
Dom Tristram, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Bath, said: “It was great to see so many members of the public attend. I’d like to thank the speakers, especially those from other political parties in Bath for getting on-board with the idea of working together.
“While we may have our differences we all have to breathe the same air, and with it having such an impact on our health we can all agree that something needs to be done. That can only happen if we work together.”
Adam Reynolds, chair of CycleBath, added: “Ghent transformed their city within one year reducing car use by almost 60% in residential areas and 30% on major routes.
“With cross-party collective political will, we can do the same for Bath. We must change the city’s streets into healthy places, where kids feel safe cycling to school, where people breathe easily, and communities thrive.”
Cllr Bob Goodman, Cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods said: “I think [the conference] showed people working to a common end.”
The air quality conference was the second in a series of public events which Bath and NE Somerset Green Party have organised about major issues this year.
In February the former leader of the party, Natalie Bennett, came to Bath to talk about a Universal Basic Income.
Dom Tristram said: “Politics should be about issues, not petty tribalism. We hold these public events so that important concepts and problems can be discussed, the public can ask questions and have the information they need to make informed choices on the decisions that effect their lives.”