by JONATHAN FENTON-FISCHER

jgff@london.newsquest.co.uk

BY JONATHAN FENTON-FISCHER

æjgff@london.newsquest.co.uk

Candidates for the Ealing and Hillingdon seat on the Greater London Assembly were grilled on the environment at their first debate on Tuesday last week.

Hillingdon and Ealing Friends of the Earth branches organised the meeting at Greenford Hall, Ruislip Road, Greenford attended by every candidate fighting for the seat in the May 4 London-wide elections including Conservative councillor, Richard Barnes ,, leader of Hillingdon Council and Ealing Labour councillor Gurcharan Singh.

Mr Singh said he hoped his green credentials were already proven by the cycle route he instigated in Lady Margaret Road, Ealing.

Mr Barnes admitted his borough had 'everything that is wrong and right about London' from woods and nature reserves to arteries of pollution.

Lib Dem candidate Mike Cox also supports cycle routes. 'I hope to turn 'On Yer' Bike' into a compliment,' he said.

Nick Grant, London Socialist Alliance candidate, said taxing the rich was the only solution to improving London's environment and Tube privatisation must be opposed at all costs.

The Greens' Graham Lee went further and said charges were needed on cars driving into London, as well as a five-year freeze on train and bus fares.

Susan Sweeting, co-ordinator of Hillingdon Friends of the Earth said she was quite pleased with the turnout of about 25 people.

'There was a lot of consensus among the candidates on issues like transport and the Tube,' she said.

'But we didn't get the impression all of them were fitting in with Friends of the Earth's six targets on reducing traffic, housing, protecting wildlife, creating jobs out of green technology and climate change.'

BY JONATHAN FENTON-FISCHER

æjgff@london.newsquest.co.uk

Candidates for the Ealing and Hillingdon seat on the Greater London Assembly were grilled on the environment at their first debate on Tuesday last week.

Hillingdon and Ealing Friends of the Earth branches organised the meeting at Greenford Hall, Ruislip Road, Greenford attended by every candidate fighting for the seat in the May 4 London-wide elections including Conservative councillor, Richard Barnes ,, leader of Hillingdon Council and Ealing Labour councillor Gurcharan Singh.

Mr Singh said he hoped his green credentials were already proven by the cycle route he instigated in Lady Margaret Road, Ealing.

Mr Barnes admitted his borough had 'everything that is wrong and right about London' from woods and nature reserves to arteries of pollution.

Lib Dem candidate Mike Cox also supports cycle routes. 'I hope to turn 'On Yer' Bike' into a compliment,' he said.

Nick Grant, London Socialist Alliance candidate, said taxing the rich was the only solution to improving London's environment and Tube privatisation must be opposed at all costs.

The Greens' Graham Lee went further and said charges were needed on cars driving into London, as well as a five-year freeze on train and bus fares.

Susan Sweeting, co-ordinator of Hillingdon FoE said she was quite pleased with the turnout of about 25 people.

'There was a lot of consensus among the candidates on issues like transport and the Tube,' she said.