Countryside and Green Spaces Management
Our countryside is vital for our survival and must be managed sustainably and treated with respect. Maidstone Green Party opposes intensive farming methods and genetic modification, calling instead for organic and environmental stewardship of the countryside. Green spaces within our towns and villages should be treated in a similar way. Maidstone Green Party will:
- ensure that planning proposals protect existing wildlife habitats and include public open space
- enhance the biodiversity at all public open spaces, where this would not conflict with its recreational use, and ensure they are appropriately managed in the future
- reduce the Council’s use of herbicides and pesticides in public parks, open spaces, tennis courts, streets, etc. Organic weed control methods should be adopted wherever possible
- promote the benefits of organic, locally produced food, and local distribution networks or box schemes
- lobby the Government and EC to improve incentives for producers to switch to free range and organic food production, and remove incentives for large scale monoculture and factory farming, which have devastating effects on biodiversity, animal welfare, soils and water quality
- encourage schools and other institutions to use organic, GM-free and Fairtrade ingredients and to provide more vegetarian and vegan options
- encourage local shops and supermarkets to sell a greater proportion of food that has been produced locally, organically and ethically
- persuade the Council to work with Allotments Associations to develop an Allotments Strategy – to protect existing sites, provide new sites in new large development, ensure that they are well maintained, promoted, and have areas set aside for organic production
- work with charities, such as the Woodland Trust to plant new woods and establish new wildlife habitats around the borough with public access
- have planning policies that protect all rivers, wetlands and their vicinities from any negative developments. Work with the Environment Agency to enhance watercourse in the council’s ownership and promote restoration to landowners where appropriate.
