Ambitious Scottish Greens in Aberdeen yesterday launched their local manifesto hoping their “vision” can help make a breakthrough in Scotland’s oil capital.
With one councillor already elected in neighbouring Aberdeenshire, the city branch of the party believes pledges to keep down rents, diversify the city’s economy and create “low emission zones” will gain them votes in the Granite City.
The party, who vowed to stand on purely local issues across Scotland, are standing seven candidates in Aberdeen.
On a national level, the Greens have been at the centre of controversy after backing the SNP’s drive to hold a second independence referendum in Parliament last month.
The move came despite the party previously pledging to only back a new vote if a petition on the issue gathered a million signatures.
But yesterday Green candidates met with Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie outside Marischal College and unveiled their range of policies.
Other high profile pledges included extend 20 mph zones in residential areas, establishing a local energy company and develop plans to re-open disused rail lines and stations.
Last night, party convener Guy Ingerson said his group would try and act as a “bridge” between the feuding SNP and Labour groups in the Town House.
He said: “We will work with parties on an issue by issue basis. Labour and the SNP both claim to be parties of the left, and we are also a party of the left, so I think we could help broker some common ground.
“Greens are the most radical party on housing. All the parties agree that we need to build more social housing, but hundreds of flats are lying empty across Aberdeen.”
Renee Slater, candidate for Torry and Ferryhill, said that she would continue to oppose a controversial incinerator project planned for the ward.
She said: “Traffic congestion and pollution affect everyone’s health, and nobody wants to send their child to a school with an incinerator next door, which is the plan for Tullos school.
“In prosperous parts of Aberdeen, the environmental consequences of the oil and gas industry can seem far away – but the industry has also brought inequality, high cost of living and a fragile economy.
“Rather than watching Aberdeen become another coal town, Greens want to build a more sustainable foundation for the city’s economy.”
