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:
Natalie Bennett visits Leigh for Action Day
On Saturday 25th March 2023, the Green Party held a Campaign Launch event in Leigh-on-Sea, attended by former Green Party Leader Baroness Natalie Bennett and Green Councillor for Stratford Olympic Park Nate Higgins. Hosted by local Green campaigner Richard Longstaff and Green Party volunteers, the team held a day of campaigning in Leigh speaking with […]
Council Continues Devastating Tree-Felling in Southend
Southend Council has started 2023 with a doubling-down on their efforts to remove trees across Southend. The Green Party has been applying pressure to Southend Council following a new string of incidents of indefensible and avoidable tree removal. Several roads across Southend, particularly Leigh, have seen the council’s yellow Tree Removal Notices being stapled to […]
Greens Respond to Lib Dem lies.
We have been made aware of some ill-informed comments made by the Liberal Democrat candidate for Leigh about the Greens. In a column written by Carole Mulroney in the Leigh Times (19th April), she claims that the local Green Party branch has a “tight focus” and goes on to infer that we have no policies […]
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