April 2024 Environmental Hustings

On 11 April 2024, Merton Friends of the Earth, in partnership with Sustainable Merton, and Merton Cycling Campaign held an Environmental Election Debate for London Assembly (GLA) Candidates for Merton & Wandsworth Constituencies at the Merton Arts Space in Wimbledon.

Left to right: Gabriel Partos, Co-Coordinator of Merton FOE; Mariana Pacheco, Co-Coordinator of Merton FOE; Diana Sterck, CEO of Sustainable Merton; Eleanor Cox, Conservative Party; Leonie Cooper, Labour Party; Pippa Maslin, Green Party; and Sue Wixley, Liberal Democrats.

The aim of the event was to give an opportunity to residents to learn about the positions of the London Assembly candidates on key environmental issues particularly pertinent to London, Merton & Wandsworth, in advance of May 2024 London Assembly and Mayor of London Election.

Political Candidates & respective Parties attending were: Eleanor Cox from Conservatives; Pippa Maslin from Green Party, Leonie Cooper from Labour, and Sue Wixley from Liberal Democrats.

There were many questions from local residents, covering a range of topics such as AELTC’s Wimbledon Park development, ULEZ, active travel, waste management, and sustainable & affordable housing development.

As we stand at a critical juncture in combating the climate and nature crisis, the Friends of the Earth London Network are calling on all candidates to take our climate action pledge, vowing to hold the Mayor of London to account on hitting the 2023 targets to:

• Reach net zero climate emissions

• Bring air quality across London in line with World Health Organisation guidelines

To date, we are thrilled to announce that the following Merton & Wandsworth Candidates have taken our pledge: Pippa Maslin from Green Party, Leonie Cooper from Labour, and Sue Wixley from Liberal Democrats.