he Green mayoral candidate today unveiled her vision for the capital which includes “repair centres” on every high street to help cut landfill waste.
Sian Berry is launching her manifesto this morning at Cressingham Gardens, in Lambeth, a council estate at threat of demolition that her party wants to protect.
Among her pledges, the Green Party co-leader wants to publish a waste reduction strategy that would boost the reuse and repair of goods.
It includes a new fund that would help councils and local enterprises turn empty shops and buildings into “repair centres” on every high street where they could upcycle everything from furniture and electricals to clothes.
The fund would also support the establishment of a “library of things” in every borough where people could borrow infrequently used household items such as power tools, sewing machines, camping equipment and luggage.
Green co-leader Sian Berry
/ Chris KingThe Greens say the fund would also support colleges to create reuse and repair workshop as well as founding a “London Repair Academy”.
It is all part of Ms Berry’s pledge for London to become a “zero-waste” city by 2030 so the capital does not need to rely on incineration to avoid landfill waste.
She also wants to lobby for rent controls on landlords although it is currently beyond the power of the mayor, give people more power over plans for new homes and cancel the Silvertown Road Tunnel.
Ms Berry, who came third in the 2016 mayoral race with more than 150,000 first-preference votes, said: “Greens know that preventing climate chaos goes hand in hand with solving these social and economic problems, and Greens will work with Londoners to build a way out of all the crises we face to secure a better future.
“Londoners are crying out for a new start, and Greens are ready to roll up our sleeves and transform this city.”
