The fact that the Green Fair was so well attended by stall holders and visitors shows how strongly people feel about environmental issues in Portsmouth. I am really pleased that we have put it at the top of our political agenda and I hope that both environmental and social justice issues underline all our policies, they are both at the top of my agenda. The Copenhagen Climate Talks are coming up shortly and there are several public meetings coming up round the country to co-ordinate an approach. I am not sure about their demands to cut speed to 55mph or to scrap the roads program – to me the really sensible argument is to encourage investment in developing green cars as no one really wants to reverse the freedom that the car gives. Perhaps the demand for a million Green Jobs by end 2010 could include scientists working on this.

We do need a cheaper and more efficient train service too but high speed trains have to be full and run on renewable energy if they really want to be considered green. If you want to find out more about the Campaign against Climate Change you can find it at www.campaigncc.org. I did have my photo taken with a poverty sign which is going to be beamed up on a wall along with thousands of others!

Another stall I spent some time was the Pompey Cycle Forum. As a keen cyclist and someone who thinks that Portsmouth should be the cycle city of Britain (it is flat and compact) I am fully behind this group who do much to lobby the City Council about making the city more cycle friendly. We won’t get people on their bikes until we have safe cycle lanes and continuous links around the city. When I went cycling in France last year, we were able to cycle around Cherbourg easily with clearly marked trails. Cycling to and from the ferry in Portsmouth especially around the ferry port was not so easy. The most controversial issue at the moment is cycling along the sea front, at the moment parked cars make it very dangerous and the group and myself have been lobbying for a safe cycle route along the sea front which would encourage more cyclist from all over the area.

Lastly a big plug for a public meeting on Greening Southsea at the Kings Theatre, Albert Road on 29th September at 7.30pm.