Chiltern Green Party

Phil Folly - Green Party candidate Chesham by-election 24 May 2012

Working hard for Chesham

No need for Phil to go out to pose for photos – he can be spotted in so many places during an average week working for Chesham and working with Chesham people. His huge efforts and wide variety of activities with so many groups in the town deservedly earned him the Chesham People’s Award in 2010.

Message from Phil Folly
“I took early retirement in 2004 after 42 years with the Post Office, including 30 years as Royal Mail manager. I immediately joined a number of community groups, for which I continue to play an active role. I attend Town Council full meetings in the public gallery and many other committee meetings and AGMs, and I am an avid reader of the minutes. I could say my main interest is Chesham!, and if I am elected to be a Townsend  Ward councillor it would be a great honour.

I am married to Kate and it will be our 30th anniversary this year. We are the founder members of the Chiltern Green Party, formed in 1983. We have lived just off the Berkhamsted Road for 30 years and many people talk to me about issues concerning them. Residents and shopkeepers alike are exasperated by the litter and anti-social behaviour, and reduction in police station opening hours for example.”

Some of Phil Folly’s roles and activities for Chesham:
COPAG (Chesham Older People’s Action Group) Vice-Chair. Helps with advice and talks for over 50s. Helps with transport.
Chesham Environmental Group Chair. Organises working parties.eg. clearing the River Chess of silt; and the ‘litterpick’ around Newtown and Nashleigh Hill in early April; and he works with the councils on environmental issues which arise and liaises regarding graffiti, fly-tipping.
Friends of Lowndes Park Treasurer. Phil attends the monthly working party, maintains the gardens, etc, planting of nature areas eg  ‘Spring into Action’ initiative. Phil is also installing a ‘nectar bar’ for the bees!
Friends of Chesham Cemetery Active member. Maintenance including older graves and railings; wild flower area.
Transition Town Chesham Treasurer, one of the organisers of the local produce market in conjunction with Chesham Town Council for which they collected a national award last year. Helps man the TTC stall at the monthly market. He organised the recent cycle ride through Chesham to promote the need for safe cycling routes.
Good Neighbour scheme Active member. Helps the elderly with shopping and transport to the doctor’s and hospital.
NAG (Neighbourhood Action Group) Attends group meetings held with a Community Support Officer and police officer.
Chesham Allotments Phil is famed for his Quizmaster role at social events, and he organises a treasure hunt for children at the annual open day.
Jubilee celebrations Phil is organising a street party for his fellow residents in Essex Road.
Walkers are Welcome Phil was responsible for bringing this national initiative to encourage walking visitors to Chesham.
Litter-picking Tidies up litter several times a week in Chesham parks, The Moor, and the litter he has found accumulating behind the new medical centre.

My aims and objectives
•We live day-to-day with the parking problems in the area and the traffic on Broad Street and Berkhamsted Road. We need permits; more support for those who  have mobility issues; easier access to public transport.
•Introduce neighbourhood litter-picking schemes (and support those already existing) to encourage all ages to look after their environment
•Crack down on anti-social behaviour including vandalism and litter-dropping
•Campaigning to keep the Green Belt
•Campaigning against HS2
•Establish more safe routes to school
•Longer opening hours for police station; more Police Community Support Officers
•Encourage people to shop locally and maintain our healthy community

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