THE Green Party co-leader visited Witham last week to support the local election campaign.

Adrian Ramsay was in the town on Friday, April 28, as part of a series of visits to Essex and the East of England.

Mr Ramsay serves as co-leader for the Green Party alongside Carla Denver.

During his visit, he met with local Green councillors, candidates and supporters.

The number of Green councillors in the East of England has risen in successive local elections and is seen by the national Green Party as an important area for growth, with the possibility of the first majority-controlled Green council in Mid-Suffolk.

In the Braintree district, the Greens and their colleagues the Independents already form the main opposition group to the Conservatives on the council, as the G&I Group.

At the local elections this year, which are being held on Thursday, May 4, there are 22 Green and 9 Independent candidates standing in a co-operative G&I alliance at the elections.

It is thought to be the largest non-main party slate that has stood in the district since BDC was formed in the local Government reorganisation in the 1970s.

Chairman of the Braintree and Witham Green Party councillor James Abbott said: “We were very pleased to be able to welcome Adrian Ramsay to Witham on April 28.

“We discussed some of the main issues facing the town such as the need for Witham to have its own community hospital and making sure that the planning system works for local communities to deliver affordable homes in the right places.  

“Mr Ramsay joined us for a while to help us campaign in the town before heading off to his next visit up the rail line in Colchester.

“Like the local Greens, he has been working hard over many weeks of the local election period to secure a strong result.”  

Mr Abbott will be standing in the upcoming local elections for the Silver End and Cressing ward, where there are two seats.

Fellow Green colleague Bob Wright currently holds the other seat.

They are up against Jack Bayford (Con), Steven Bennison (Lab), Ann Griffin (Lab), Darrin Hammond (Con), Annetta Hawkins (Ind) and Andrew Page (Heritage Party).

To view the full list of candidates standing, visit HERE.