The Green Party has announced its candidatures standing for the Cotswold District Council in Thursday's elections.

Five candidatures will be standing for positions across the Cotswolds.

In a tactical move, the Cotswold Green Party are working with the Cotswold Liberal Democrats to try and take control of the council, putting their differences to the side.

Most Cotswold District Council ward seats have either a Green Party or Liberal Democrat candidate, with most ward seats having one, but not both parties represented.

Sabrina Poole, chair of Cotswold Green Party, said “We want Cotswold District Council to move to a committee system, requiring all councillors to work together."

Who are the candidates?

Blockley Ward – Clare Turner

Clare has lived in her Blockley home for over ten years and has spent her working life in environmental research and evaluation.

Clare is heavily involved in her local community, running a weekly stay and play toddler group that provides peer to peer to support to the parents of carers of young children, chairing the school PTA and acting as a trustee and secretary for Blockley & District Allotment Association.

Coln Valley Ward – Michael Poole

Michael has lived in the Cotswolds for his whole life, working in developing, testing and procuring packaging, handling and logistics solutions whilst bringing up his children in the area.

He is a keen advocate of reducing single-use packaging across different industries and peoples’ lives, plus the need for more affordable and social-rented housing in the Cotswolds.

Kemble Ward – Sabrina Poole

Sabrina has lived in the Cotswolds her entire life.

Sabrina is currently a Green Town Councillor on Cirencester Town Council, where she has been advocating for a reduction in single-use plastics, a transition to using renewable energy and adequate youth provision.

Sabrina is strong believer in improving local democracy and transparency on councils, and would like to see Cotswold District Council holding developers to account.

She also believes that Cotswold District Council should support public transport initiatives to help increase social mobility.

Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South Ward – Xanthe Messenger

Xanthe teaches A Levels at a local college and has previously been a Green City Councillor in Oxford.

She would like to see community services protected, small and green enterprises supported and resources used carefully and fairly.

The Rissingtons Ward – Andrew Maclean

Andrew lives in Upper Rissington and is actively involved in the village, such as leading the Neighbourhood Plan group.

He worked for the civil service for over 15 years and now works part-time building affordable houses in cities to help low-income people gain access to decent homes.

Andrew is advocating for Bovis and Linden Homes to deliver all the agreed community facilities for Upper Rissington, plus more business units at Upper Rissington to create high-quality local employment opportunities.

He also believes that Cotswold District Council should support public transport initiatives, for both environmental and social reasons.