New Green Party councillors have thanked voters in a Darlington community for the “life-changing” decision to let them represent their area.
The party’s success at this year’s local elections means there are now seven councillors in Darlington who represent the party on the council, three of whom were newly elected in the Harrowgate Hill ward. Anna-Maria Toms, Roz Henderson and Richard Lawley received the majority share of the votes in a ward that was targeted by the Greens as priority.
The trio agree that their win was vindication for their tireless campaigning and doorstep work throughout the community and say they owe it to those who voted for them to help out in any way they can.
Cllr Henderson said: “We were out all the time and we worked really hard. We said to people: ‘we want to prove to you how hard we can work’.”
The ward was previously held by two Independent councillors and Conservative cabinet member Jon Clarke. However, the new Green members say voters had become apathetic with local politics, which they hoped to capitalise on.
“People were telling us it didn’t feel like they had a councillor for the past four years and they just needed somebody to be there,” Cllr Toms said.
In conversations they had on the doorstep the same topics were coming up. Parking issues, dog fouling and fly-tipping were all concerns but most prominent was the proposed Skerningham Garden Village development.
Up to 1,650 houses and facilities such as a GP surgery and schools could be built on the site to the north of Darlington by 2036, extending to around 4,500 in the future. Campaigners have long opposed the plans, which they say will have a detrimental impact on nearby wildlife and green space.
Cllr Henderson said the development would “hem in Harrowgate Hill”, building on key green space in the process. The party has long campaigned to protect the area and the new members believe that helped them win over voters.
“What really appealed to people is they knew the Green Party was the only party that’s been fighting against it,” added Cllr Henderson. “I think they want somebody they know they can trust to look after green spaces, and it’s something they feel passionately about.”
All three councillors noted their previous experience of community work and engagement, as well as living in the ward, as key to understanding the needs of residents.
Cllr Toms said: “Local politics should be run by people that live in the area and know the issues. It was important to people that we were local to voters, they want somebody that is involved. We haven’t promised much except for listening to them and trying to fix their concerns.”
Cllr Lawley admitted it is unlikely they will be able to overturn the plans for Skerningham, after they were included in the latest Local Plan, but they will continue to campaign against it.
“We want to be their voice, we want to fight for what’s important to them, be responsive to people and listen to them,” said Cllr Henderson.
The nearby wards of College and Hummersknott also elected Green councillors, and the members feel the political tide is slowly shifting in the town.
Cllr Lawley said: “People said they are sick of the two main parties and people want positive politics rather than a playground between the Conservatives and Labour. All we ever did during the campaign was what we have done and what we will do. We rarely mentioned the other parties at all, we just wanted to campaign positively.”
Details of the council’s future structure are still awaited but the Greens have called for collaborative working across the council which prioritises the needs of residents.
Cllr Henderson added: “We’re just so grateful that people put their trust in us.”
