A long-standing NHS professional, Dr Watson has served for over 35 years, including 23 years as a consultant anaesthetist at Broomfield Hospital. Now retiring from clinical work, she is dedicating her time and energy to local public service. A resident of Haughley parish, Agnes is deeply committed to improving the lives of people in the community.

“I would be honoured to continue the fantastic work Rachel did for our area,” said  Dr Agnes Watson. “She was an incredibly inspirational Green councillor who cared deeply about the people she represented. I want to carry forward that same commitment and be a strong, accessible voice for residents.”

Dr Agnes Watson has already been active helping Adrian Ramsay to get elected as MP, working alongside Green councillors such as Janet Pearson, Keith Welham and Andrew Stringer. Her priorities include supporting residents with health challenges, improving local infrastructure, protecting green spaces, and holding developers accountable to planning rules.

Councillor Janet Pearson, who worked closely with Rachel Eburne, expressed her full support: “Rachel was always available to help residents – whether it was arranging heating repairs, tackling fly-tipping, or supporting those struggling with council services. I know Agnes shares these values, and I have every confidence she’ll be an outstanding councillor.”

The Green Party topped the poll at the last local election in this ward, with the Conservatives in second place. With Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK failing to field candidates last time, the Greens are urging voters to back  Dr Agnes Watson to ensure continued effective, community-focused representation.

Come along to help

Promoted by Judy Chisman on behalf of Dr Agnes Watson (Mid Suffolk Green Party), all at Carr Cottage, St Mary’s Gardens, Creeting St Mary, IP6 8LY.

The post Dr Agnes Watson announced as Green Party Candidate to continue Rachel Eburne’s Legacy in Mid Suffolk appeared first on Mid Suffolk Green Party.

All four political groups unanimously endorsed the motion from Green Party councillors Andrew Stringer and Andy Mellen that government fundamentally misunderstood how the planning system and housing market work, so that easier planning permissions did not necessarily result in more houses being built. Across the UK there were already well over a million homes already permitted but not getting built. Councillors pointed to the developers as the major reason for this shortfall rather than planning delays.

Councillor Stringer, cabinet member for planning, said :

“Our planning team, both staff and committee members, are working well and we have already implemented most of the detailed improvements government ‘streamlining’ is proposing. We have a good record at appeals and the committee works to add value to the proposals it considers. This benefit would be lost if committees were sidelined. Delays often result from applicants being slow to respond to legitimate concerns raised by our statutory consultees, “

Councillor Mellen called for Government to give councils the tools to ensure that homes permitted then got constructed in a phased way to co-ordinate with the provision of infrastructure. This could include council tax on unbuilt homes or penalties for non-completion.

During the debate planning committee members made clear that developers only built homes when it was profitable to do so, keeping house prices buoyant. In particular Councillor Sarah Mansel, chair of planning, explained how prolonged delay between outline approval and detailed consent meant policies and needs changed but the committee was bound by the earlier constraints.

“Government are hypocritical in talking about introducing regional mayor to improve public trust, while wanting to curtail the democracy and accountability provided by committee decisions where local people could see and hear that their concerns were listened to.” 

Other points from the debate included further defences of democracy and the view that Committees are the very core of the planning system.

Cllr Matthissen confirmed :

“The Green Party nationally also wants to see 1.5 million homes built during the term of government but says they should match the requirements established by regular surveys showing the most pressing need is for affordable rentals rather than four-bed executive houses for sale.”

In this regard he reminded members of the budget debate a few weeks earlier when it was explained that the housing financial model showed that the council could not add any further homes to its current stock. This prevented MSDC from contributing directly to the government targets.

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The council has criticised Suffolk Libraries for proposing a reduction in library opening hours, yet this was on the back of libraries budgets not being significantly increased in the last 10 years.

The county’s libraries were divested in 2012 after considerable public protest against the Conservative council’s plans to close libraries. Since that time, the service has gone from strength to strength, with local Friends groups raising money for their local libraries and volunteers working hard alongside library staff to keep down costs.

Members of the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group criticised the ‘callous’ treatment of the Friends groups and Suffolk Libraries by the council, who only found out that the council was planning to withdraw from contract negotiations at the same time as the council briefed the local press.

Simon Harley (Green Party), the group spokesperson for Public Health, Communities and Biodiversity, said:

“My group have been asking since November 2024 about the libraries contract, but were entirely kept in the dark.

Suffolk Libraries have been a trusted partner of the council for many years, and have provided an incredible service to Suffolk residents, inspiring their loyalty and trust. But you can see clearly in the Cabinet papers how the council has undervalued the charity – the council’s own audit report from 2023 states that they ‘need to improve their working relationship’ with Suffolk Libraries and ‘invest sufficient resources’ to work with them. Yet now, only two years on, that relationship has entirely broken down.

It was made clear in the meeting that the Cabinet member with responsibility for the library service doesn’t even attend their Board meetings.

We are unsurprised that over 22,000 Suffolk residents have signed the petition asking the council to rethink its decision to move libraries back in-house.

It was the council that was threatening the future of the county’s libraries back in 2012 when the service was divested. They are trying to spin this story to be about Suffolk Libraries’ failings, when in fact they have consistently undervalued both the libraries and Suffolk Libraries as an organization for years.

It’s not surprising that the people of Suffolk do not trust Suffolk County Council to run the libraries again. They expect the libraries will be at risk if this happens and their fears are not entirely unfounded.

We ask that Suffolk County Council puts aside its animosity towards Suffolk Libraries and gets back around the table to reverse this damaging decision as a matter of urgency.”

The post Suffolk County Council Opposition Blast Council Mismanagement of Libraries Contract appeared first on Mid Suffolk Green Party.

Rachel Eburne was elected as a Green Party councillor for the Haughley and Wetherden ward of Mid Suffolk District Council at a by-election in 2010. The third Green, she was then twice returned unopposed and later topped the poll of the enlarged ward. Rachel went on to lead the group as it grew to six and was an outstanding chair of the scrutiny committee.

Rachel was appointed to the Local Government Association board for environment and transport, advising on policy and representing councillors to Government.

In November 2018 Rachel was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) but chose to continue as a councillor and led the campaign which doubled numbers to 12, teamed up with the Liberal Democrats, and reduced the Conservative administration to controlling the Council through the Chair’s casting vote. 

Despite increasing pain and debilitating treatment, Rachel remained active representing her community as well as inspiring the new generation of councillors. She stepped back from leadership but played a key role in the 2023 campaign which took the Green Party to its first ever majority control of a principal authority anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Since then Rachel had served as deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for finance and resources.

Leader of the council, Andy Mellen, paid tribute :

“Rachel was a true community champion, a steadfast advocate for both planet and people, as well as a close and supportive friend.  Her death leaves a huge hole in the council, in her community, and in our hearts.”

Long-serving councillors who had served alongside Councillor Eburne throughout her 15 year term added their thoughts :

Councillor Andrew Stringer :

“Rachel Eburne set a new standard of what a community could expect from a Councillor. No one was ever in doubt of her commitment to, and love of public service. Her understanding and passion for environmental causes was second to none, a tragic loss to her family, community, and our Council and the political life of Suffolk. We have lost one of the very best of councillors and a very dear friend. “

Councillor John Matthissen :

“I, and many others, will miss so very much Rachel’s unique combination of clarity, warmth and determined hard work. The very best friend and colleague.”

Apart from her work as a councillor for the Haughley, Stowupland and Wetherden ward, and the wider district, Rachel played a significant role within the local Mid Suffolk Green Party, especially as treasurer.

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We believe we are speaking for the people of Suffolk, as the recent support for Suffolk Libraries and the petition on Change.Org shows – at the time of writing this has now been signed by over 14,000 people, almost 2% of the county population. The threshold for petitions to be considered by the council is 0.5% of the population.

We understand that negotiations may have broken down and become fraught, but Suffolk Libraries are a trusted partner of Suffolk County Council, and have provided the council with an excellent library service for over ten years. The charity inspires massive loyalty and trust from the people of Suffolk, and the volunteers who work so hard to keep the libraries running.

Respectfully, it’s time to put the animosity aside and for us to try and work out a way for Suffolk Libraries to have a chance to deliver a new contract, harnessing the wealth of volunteer support, under close scrutiny of the county council.

The post Councillors are calling for Suffolk County Council to contact Suffolk Libraries for urgent talks to resolve the current impasse on the library contract appeared first on Mid Suffolk Green Party.

We are in favour of devolution as a principle that genuinely empowers and brings decision-making closer to local communities, but this is not what is being proposed to date.

Why do we not look at the lessons of history, many councils that have unitarised have spent millions on doing so and many are yet to see a penny of savings or services improve. 

A single unitary council for Suffolk could well take decision-making further away from communities, as it will lead to larger electoral divisions and decisions being made centrally for the whole county. Suffolk is a county with areas of different character and need, and what is best for Ipswich may not be best for rural Mid Suffolk, or the coastal communities of East Suffolk.

We will fight for keeping the ‘local’ in local democracy every step of the way.”

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There’s a lot in this report that is deeply concerning: that the behaviour of leaders isn’t good enough and that staff morale is poor, with a particularly low grading on culture and values.

Cuts to funding and staffing have a negative effect on employees and their morale. They are generally made to take on extra work when colleagues leave, and don’t feel valued by their employer.

It is deeply worrying that this Conservative administration didn’t spot this decline until this report landed in their laps, but unsurprising – they also failed to spot the decline in children’s social care which saw the service fall from Ofsted Outstanding to Requires Improvement last year. And SEND services have been in a downward spiral for years.

This is proof positive that cuts have consequences.”

Cllr Simon Harley (Green, Peninsula) – Suffolk GLI Spokesperson for Public Health & Biodiversity

The post Green, Lib Dem & Independent Group on Suffolk County Council group responds to Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service inspection report appeared first on Mid Suffolk Green Party.

Mid Suffolk District Council leader Andy Mellen reacted to the news:

“We welcome and respect that four of our opposition colleagues have acted in accordance with their values and conscience and, we believe, in the best interests of our residents and the communities we serve.”

“We understand the difficulty of the decision they have made and look forward to a growing degree of pragmatic collaboration.”

The post Conservative councillors in Mid Suffolk go Independent – Green reaction appeared first on Mid Suffolk Green Party.

Recent solar farm applications have seen approvals granted by the Planning Inspectorate on the best quality and most versatile agricultural land, for example the Gunthorpe Road development in Lincolnshire last year. Despite its good quality agricultural land, Suffolk has also been a target for solar farm development, including the recently approved Sunnica proposals for the west of the county, and the White Elm solar farm planned for Mid Suffolk.

Despite some changes to planning law at the end of 2023, not enough is being done to ensure that new homes have renewable energy courses – which reduces energy bills as well as the environmental benefits.

In addition, solar panels could be retrofitted to homes and commercial buildings, or on car park canopies as can be seen in France. A focus on rooftop solar would be preferable to taking good quality farmland out of action for years at a time.

Whilst solar panels on roofs cannot provide all of the 58GW that England needs to provide to meet the UK’s solar targets, the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group are clear that rooftops are the preferred place for solar panels rather the countryside.

Leader of the Green, Lib Dem and Independent group, Andrew Stringer, said:

“I’m very pleased that today’s council meeting recognised the urgent need for a joined-up government policy on solar planning and development.

“Every time a council of any colour tries to develop a policy to insist on solar on new domestic properties, the government stops them by insisting they must not go beyond current building regulations, which cannot compel solar on new domestic roofs.

“Although when properly managed, solar farms can increase biodiversity and give the soil a period of recovery from intensive farming, they are a jarring sight on our beautiful countryside and take up lots of good quality land which we could be using to produce food.

“Our message is ‘Roofs before Rural’ and we would like to see the government making rooftop, urban and brownfield solar power the priority for development.

“Suffolk County Council can set a good example by accelerating its plans to introduce solar panels to its properties and assets, including schools, libraries and buildings on county farms. As well as helping to combat climate change – which is ultimately a far greater threat to farmers and food security than solar farms – this will reduce the council’s spend on energy bills and help it to meet its ambitious 2030 net zero target.”

The post Roofs Before Rural: Suffolk County Council Opposition Motion on Solar Farms Passed appeared first on Mid Suffolk Green Party.

“I’m delighted to learn that the government heard our Council’s response to its consultation last October on young people’s health and vaping. I wholeheartedly welcome its decision to ban the sale of disposable vapes from June 2025.

“It was concerning to learn earlier this month that in the UK a million non-smokers had taken up vaping. There are obvious health benefits to reducing access to cheap – and more hazardous, often counterfeit – single use vapes.

“Suffolk Public Health partners promote use of vapes only as a means of reducing reliance on tobacco, which continues to be the leading cause of preventable death globally. “

Councillor Colin Lay, who champions Stowmarket at the District and Town councils, added:

“In 2023, the staggering sale of 7.7 million disposable vapes each week revealed a troubling pattern, as around 5 million of these devices found their way to waste each week, with many being discarded on our streets. This alarming statistic underscores the fundamentally unsustainable nature of disposable vapes, making a government-enforced ban not just welcome but essential.”

“But the hazards posed by tiny lithium batteries also mustn’t be overlooked. Our staff and waste handling premises are exposed to significant dangers during collection processes from bin lorries through to recycling facilities. This has culminated in hazardous incidents such as the recent fires at the Sackers site in Claydon.”

• Vapes are not recyclable other than in dedicated battery disposal containers at recycle centres and shops 
• Single use vapes contribute to litter clinging to our streets and parks
• All retailers who sell vapes now have a legal duty to take back used ones
• Vibrant colours and enticing flavours are specifically designed to attract children, 
• Existing laws prohibit the sale of disposable vapes to underage users
• Increase in usage among minors demonstrates those regulations are insufficient

Councillor Lay concluded:

“In light of these pressing issues — from environmental degradation to public health concerns — an outright ban on disposable vapes emerges as the most effective solution for addressing this complex problem we face today. This situation underscores a critical oversight by the government in addressing the fundamental causes behind underage vaping effectively. Currently imposed penalties—such as on-the-spot fines of £100 and maximum fines reaching £2500 for retailers caught selling tobacco or vape products to children—appear inadequate in establishing meaningful deterrence or fostering compliance within the market. Thus, it is imperative that more robust measures are employed to mitigate this growing concern effectively.”

“An essential subsequent measure would be the establishment of stringent product safety standards for the rechargeable vape sector, ensuring that individuals do not resort to inexpensive, unregulated alternatives from the global market in response to the absence of single-use vapes”

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