As part of their preparations for the General Election, two of Suffolk Green Party’s parliamentary candidates have traversed their constituencies by bike.
Starting at 10.15am from the Cornhill in Bury St Edmunds, Emma Buckmaster, the parliamentary candidate for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, followed the national cycle route 51 via Thurston, Drinkstone, Woolpit, Shelland, Harleston and Onehouse to Stowmarket. She was accompanied by Green Party councillors along the entire route, and was waved off by councillor Julia Wakelam, former mayor of Bury St Edmunds.
Keen cyclist Sarah Mansel, longstanding councillor for Elmswell and Woolpit, led the way. In Thurston they were joined by councillors David Bradbury and Austin Davies, village representatives. Apart from Austin, they continued to Woolpit where they paused for refreshment and were joined by former councillor Helen Geake and councillor John Matthissen, who le through the remaining villages of Shelland, Harleston and Onehouse which he represents, to Stowmarket.
At the regal cinema cafe the Green Party team was joined by councillor Dan Pratt who is the parliamentary candidate for the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency, and by councillor Nick Hardingham (Stonhams). After lunch they said farewell to Emma, Sarah and David, and Dan led to Needham Market. Nick and Dan continued to Coddenham where they were in turn joined by Councillor Dave Penny, who represents that village as part of his Claydon and Barham ward, for the final leg to Ipswich.
Since May this year almost all of the route is represented by Green Party councillors.
Afterwards Emma Buckmaster said: “The successful and enjoyable trip shows that cycling is a practical alternative to the car for some journeys, even more so when helped by an electric bike. I will be making more visits around the constituency using this form of transport.”
Dan Pratt added: “In country or town, cycling does make sense for many people, and I hope more will give it a try. Suffolk County Council have some loan electric bikes which I have enjoyed trying, while generally preferring the greater health benefits of pedal power.”
The purposes of the event were threefold:
- To show that cycling is a practical form of travel even in unfavourable weather
- For candidates and councillors to get a close look at parts of the Districts (starting in West Suffolk, traversing Mid Suffolk and finishing in the Borough of Ipswich)
- To cover and look at all of the national cycle route to see its advantages, problems and current condition.
The Green team will be reporting back to District and County cycling officers on the problems they encountered and suggesting improvements.