WYCHAVON Greens are celebrating after retaining their Evesham South seat on the district council.
Councillor Peter Knight comfortably won the by-election caused by the passing of Coun Ed Cohen, who made history in 2019 by winning the seat for the party for the first time.
Voters in the area went to the polls last Thursday (August 10) and gave the Greens a resounding endorsement with Coun Knight 319 votes ahead of Conservative Stan Brotherton with 177 votes.
Independent Julie Haines finished third on 82 votes ahead of Labour’s David Tasker on 79 votes.
Matt Snape (Independent) won 36 votes while Liberal Democrat David Quayle secured 12 votes with the turnout for the election – held in the middle of the holiday season – at just 15.97 per cent,
Ed’s wife Sarah Cohen, chair of Mid-Worcestershire and the Vale Green Party, said: “We are a party that works hard for our residents all year round.
“We keep people informed and we work hard to get things done.
“We’re also willing to work with anybody to get things done – we are happy to collaborate, which is something that holds some parties back.”
She added Wychavon’s Greens – across the district – are strong on protecting public open spaces and on social policy, fighting local elections on local issues.
However she acknowledged headlines on the current climate change crisis may well have had an impact.
“Quite clearly the Green Party is fighting to prevent climate change,” she said.
“It’s going to affect the way people live and what we eat – even those in the top one per cent of society.
“Yes it’s about the environment, but not just the obvious, it includes things like fighting to address social inequality and the shortage of housing because after all, people need somewhere to live.”
Councillor Knight’s success means the Green Party retain their six strong position on Wychavon District Council, with the controlling Conservative group on 22, the Liberal Democrats on seven, and Labour with one seat.
