Georgina Treloar has been selected to replace Martin Whybrow as the party’s Hythe West candidate in May’s Kent County Council (KCC) elections.
Georgina was one of six Green councillors elected to Folkestone & Hythe District Council in 2019 and, if elected, will continue to represent Hythe on the district council. She was also the party’s candidate in the last General Election.
For Martin, May will mark the end of eight successful years as the sole Green councillor on the county council.
He has championed road safety (including the introduction of 20 mph speed limits), biodiversity (with a motion, unanimously adopted by full council, for a Pollinator Action Plan) and pushed the county council to recognise the climate emergency and agree a timetable for action to address it.
Climate change is also a major concern for Georgina and within months of her election to the district council she tabled a motion for the council to declare a climate and ecological emergency, which gained cross-party support and passed unanimously. The council is now working towards becoming carbon net zero by 2030.
Says Georgina, “Martin has been a splendid county councillor since 2013 and I want to continue and build on his work. Now more than ever, it would be a tragedy to lose the Green Party voice at Kent County Council, on traffic and highways, recycling and country parks, as well issues, such as education and social services.
“I want to ensure that as we emerge from the pandemic we build a stronger, healthier and more sustainable future.”
Says Martin, “I am delighted to pass the baton to Georgina, who I know would be a splendid KCC representative for the residents of Hythe, Dymchurch and Lympne. She would bring all of her passion and knowledge to the role.
“It is so vital that there is a Green voice in the room to hold KCC to account on its rhetoric around a zero-carbon future, biodiversity, active travel, recycling and a fairer society for everyone.”
As well as fulfilling her council responsibilities, Georgina works as a communications consultant and freelance copywriter. Her interest in how we communicate environmental issues has led her to do a part-time PhD in Environmental Social Science at the University of Kent.
Martin was elected to Hythe Town Council in 2019, where he will continue to serve as one of six Green Party councillors forming a coalition with a Lib Dem councillor and two independents.
