Candidate for Ecclesall

Jason is a researcher into social policy and local services at Sheffield Hallam University and a research assistant to the Green Party Councillors in Sheffield. He came to Sheffield in 1992 to study at Sheffield University and has lived here ever since, moving to Greystones three years ago to live with his wife.

Jason believes in supporting local business, mostly going to local shops in Banner Cross, Ecclesall, and Hunter's Bar. He says, "It is a real pleasure to go just round the corner and get fresh fruit and veg, bread and a warm pasty. That is something many areas around Sheffield have lost. The food is good, the service genuine, and having local shops gives the place more life".

Local shopping areas are also often where groups of young people congregate at night and usually this is harmless, if sometimes intimidating. However, he says, "there have been a couple of serious incidents apparently involving local kids. Continuation of schemes like the 101 service, talking to late-opening traders, and having a regular police presence is important. There also needs to be more free activities on offer, especially on weekends, to divert kids from getting mixed up in trouble."

Jason believes there are some good public transport links around Ecclesall, but that improvements can still be made "The bus links with neighbouring centres like Broomhill are not great and there have been problems with services like the 85 to Millhouses. The Council should introduce Quality Bus Contracts that would give local people more control. There also needs to be better training for drivers, and consideration given to the free City Centre bus service providing a night time link between the railway station and local bus services."

As a Councillor, Jason would argue for the Council to be made as open and democratic as possible; "There is a worry that the privatisation of Council services will lead to less accountability. Too often Council's sell off assets or pay for services that would have been better kept under public control." Another important issue is that of planning; "the availability of PlanningOnline has been a real positive way people can comment on applications in Sheffield but there is still often not enough advance notice, especially when people have to reference quite complicated planning documents."

Jason enjoys growing food (apart from when the slugs get it!), and composts and recycles most of their household waste. He believes having accessible recycling is important; "the loss of recycling facilities at the local Somerfield made it clear we either need more kerbside recycling or many more local recycling banks. The pilot of local Bring Banks in Central and Darnall, initiated by the Green Party Councillors, will hopefully be rolled out across the City. We will also continue to look at what kerbside recycling will give the best impact on climate change and how that can be best funded."