Your Greens at Southend Council
The Green Party has had elected representatives on Southend City Council since May 2023.
At every election, the Greens win more votes from residents who support our hard work, integrity, and vision for a fairer greener Southend.
Greens at the City Council have:
- consistently pushed for more action on the climate and ecological emergencies; including introducing a new Policy that improves the way the City Council maintains and replaces our urban tree coverage.
- constructively analysed the civic budget, offering proposed amendments that give residents more value for their money.
- given proper scrutiny to major planning applications, and recommended improvements that safeguard our heritage assets.
- fought for the retention of important local services; like the under-threat Libraries and Children's centres.
- and much more!
The Greens are a growing voice in Southend politics, and with your support, we can increase that voice at the City Council and beyond.
Councillor Richard Longstaff
Richard Longstaff is your Green Councillor for Leigh on Southend City Council.
Richard was the first Green Party Councillor elected to the City council, elected to represent Leigh in May 2023.
About Richard:
A Senior Lecturer of Architectural Technology at Anglia Ruskin University since 2005, Richard also founded a local award-winning design and research studio in 2002, where he practices as a Chartered Architectural Technologist.
Essex born and bred, Richard has lived in Leigh for over 20 years and has three children. Richard helped Leigh Town Council save the community centre when it was considered for demolition, and also set up and helped organise the well-known campaign to save the Grand Hotel. He was also the local architectural designer behind the restoration of Strand Wharf in the Old Town.
In 2019, Richard formed the successful Once-Upon-a-Tree (Southend) campaign, which seeks to pressure Southend Council into stopping needlessly felling healthy mature trees, and instead develop a new green tree-planting initiative.
Richard was elected as a Green Councillor for Leigh in May 2023.
Councillor Richard Longstaff
Stuart Allen is your Green Councillor for Leigh on Southend City Council.
Stuart was the second Green Party Councillor elected to the City council, elected to represent Leigh in May 2024.
About Stuart:
Stuart has lived in Southend since 2010 and in Leigh for the past 7 years. He works at the sustainable zero-waste store, The Refill Room and has already set a following for his tireless sustainability work through his Instagram account, ‘The Jar Keeper’.
He is always looking at ways to improve biodiversity, pushing for cleaner, safer bathing waters and beaches, and ensuring Leigh remains a special part of Southend with a strong focus on community, clean & safe streets, and supporting fantastic local businesses.
Stuart was elected as a Green Councillor for Leigh in May 2024.
Some of our latest work at the City Council:
Listening to residents:
Richard has been our hard-working Green campaigner in Leigh since 2019. In that time, he's spoken to hundreds of Leigh residents and businesses.
Richard is Leigh's strongest voice on Southend City Council, working hard and standing up for what matters. Get in touch with Richard using the contact details above.
Fighting for action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency:
Richard is the leading figure on environmental issues at Southend Council, pushing hard to ensure bold measures to protect our green spaces and fighting for meaningful action on issues like sewage and air pollution.
Richard has spent many years battling Southend Council over its dire record of tree-felling across the City, and now in the Council chamber, he's scrutinising decisions and fighting for action on Green issues.
Standing up for our Community:
Richard works collaboratively with other Councillors to ensure the very best outcomes for Leigh. He holds the administration to account on important issues and speaks out for our town and our interests.
Richard is currently engaged in reviewing several major planning applications and supporting residents through the Cost of Living crisis.
The latest news from our City Councillors:
Greens win second City Councillor in Leigh
After a year of hard work, Stuart Allen will be joining Cllr Richard Longstaff at Southend City Council after being elected with the highest number of votes at this year’s local elections. Stuart was duly elected with 1725 votes for Leigh ward, which represents 58% of the vote, and was over 1000 votes ahead of […]
Greens’ Tree Motion Passed at SCC
At the Full Council meeting of 7th September 2023, Green Party City Councillor Richard Longstaff proposed a motion to shake up the way Southend Council manages our City’s Trees. Local residents have long dispaired at the City Council’s brutal “cut before complaint” approach to tree management, which has led to the unnecessary and premature removal […]
Green Party’s Richard Longstaff elected in Leigh
4th May 2023 THE GREENS are celebrating a successful Local Election this year, electing the first-ever Green Councillor to Southend City Council. Well-known community campaigner Richard Longstaff has been elected as a Councillor for the Leigh Ward. Richard won the seat with 1042 votes, which represented 39% of the total vote. The Liberal Democrats finished […]
Help the Green Party in Southend-on-Sea: