Latest poole news
- Four Green MPs elected – with Green advances across Bournemouth and Poole
Everyone in the Green Party movement is today celebrating the largest advance in our 41-year history, as the number of Green MPs quadrupled to four. Across Bournemouth and Poole, there were also solid advances in the Green Party’s vote shares. - Chris Rigby in i newspaper: ‘This is unacceptable. Wytch Farm has been an accident waiting to happen for years’
BCP Green Councillor Chris Rigby has been quoted in the i newspaper’s coverage of the Poole Harbour oil spill: “Local councillor Chris Rigby told i: ‘This is unacceptable. Wytch Farm has been an accident waiting to happen for years.’ Mr Rigby, who represents the Green Party on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, added that the plant was meant to be shut in 2016, but Perenco had gained an extension until 2037.” - ‘Some things are bigger than politics’: Greens join other Unity Alliance figures at well-attended oil spill protest
Green Councillor Chris Rigby writes: “When I say some things are bigger than politics, an oil spill in Poole Harbour is one of them. “Today councillors from the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, Labour and Poole People were all present at the demonstration on Poole Quay expressing our dissatisfaction with Perenco and Wytch Farm – along with… Read more: ‘Some things are bigger than politics’: Greens join other Unity Alliance figures at well-attended oil spill protest - ‘A devastating impact on our local environment’: Response to Poole Harbour oil spill
BCP Green Party notes with sadness and anger the oil spill which took place in Poole Harbour on Sunday 26 March 2023. A major incident has been declared, and the spill will have a devastating impact on our local environment as well as those who live near and work on the harbour.
Parkstone
The Green Party speakers for Parkstone ward are Sarah Ward and Ben Pantling.
Sarah Ward
Sarah has lived in Poole for over 25 years. She is mum to three now adult daughters, all of whom were born in Poole. Sarah works for a charity which provides advocacy for children involved in the care system or who are care experienced, ensuring they have a voice and that their rights and entitlements are met. Prior to this Sarah worked for 30 years with homelessness and substance misuse organisations, developing services and improving outcomes for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
As a person with a deep rooted belief in the power of community, Sarah was previously a trustee for local LGBT+ charity Space Youth Projects, and more recently The Parent Carer Foundation, taking on a key role in the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) improvement work being carried out by BCP Council. Sarah is passionate about improving the rights of carers (being one herself) and improving health equality for all. In 2020 Sarah co-founded and ran the Covid-19 Poole Community Project – providing vital support to over 400 local residents with a team of around 20 volunteers.
As a Green Party campaigner, Sarah has a passion for protecting and restoring the environment and encouraging others to see that we are all part of nature and not separate to it. Sarah supported her daughter to organise the COP27 rally for BCP in 2022, which was attended by over 300 people. Sarah is a keen advocate of social justice and campaigns for our essential services like the NHS, water supply and public transport to be kept out of the hands of profiteering private enterprise. In 2020 Sarah was named as one of the Big Issue 100 Change Makers of the year for her campaign to remove measures the council had introduced which penalised people living on the streets for being homeless. The campaign resulted in a case going to the High Court and the council removing the measures.
Ben Pantling
Ben has lived within the BCP conurbation for nearly 30 years. Along with with his wife and three children, his family home is in Poole.
Ben works for a well-known local manufacturing company with an international reputation.
An avid sports fan and participant, he coaches the Poole RFC Juniors, plays for the Poole RFC senior men’s team and has a long history of playing in the Bournemouth Saturday & Sunday football leagues. He has also completed three marathons, most recently London 2024.
As a Green Party activist, Ben has a passion for protecting the environment so that it can be passed on to our children in a better state.
Follow sarah ward on social media
Follow ben pantling on social media
facebook.com/poolegreenpantling 
@greenpoolepant1
Contact Ben pantling
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Poole Green view – community newsletter
Poole Green View – Spring 2023
Further issues of Poole Green View are planned, especially to Parkstone ward – if you could deliver some copies of a future newsletter there in your own time, please get in touch with Ben.