Adrian Birch 

Former naval officer ADRIAN BIRCH is a Chartered Building Surveyor, environmental building designer and retired university lecturer. He has lived and worked in the Forest of Dean for over 40 years. His children attended Tutshill and Wyedean schools.

He served for 9 years on the board of a local housing association and has a strong connection with the social housing sector and is a passionate believer in building sustainable co-housing communities as well as sustainable buildings. He was involved in the design of the award winning Brockweir and Hewelsfield Eco Shop and café and the revamp of Sedbury Space, both of which revitalised local communities.

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He sings tenor in the Forest Treblemakers singing group. He co–runs an open mic event monthly in Chepstow and is a freelance walk leader for a walking holiday company. Since retirement he has been assisting his wife in realising her dream of being self-sufficient in the production of vegetables and is always seeking new challenges.

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Global warming is the most serious threat to mankind and our government and ‘opposition’ are fiddling around on the margins. The Greens (and schoolchildren it seems) are ‘the only adults in the room’ when it comes to preparing for a low carbon future and safeguarding our environment. ‘Think globally act locally’ has never been more relevant. We can change the world, one step at a time, starting on your own doorstep in the Forest of Dean. We have no time to lose.

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Tidenham ward has a number of challenges, the most pressing of which is traffic congestion on the A48 leading to high levels of air pollution in Tutshill and Chepstow.

This appears to be an unintended consequence of the abandonment of tolls on the Severn bridges. It will be several years before Gloucestershire CC and Monmouthshire CC can agree, fund and implement a Chepstow by pass, but evidence suggests this may not resolve the problem and more immediate action is needed. Greens want to see better bus provision and to encourage drivers to share cars.

A park and ride scheme serving Bristol Newport and Cardiff and bus priority lanes coupled with road pricing at peak times could greatly assist us to achieve this objective.