Mark Stevens – The Green choice for Warwick students

This article is the opinion of another organisation and is not affiliated with The Boar.

The upcoming Warwickshire County Council Elections take place on Thursday 1 May. Any student who prioritises the environment, wants to see an improvement in student services, and lives in South Leamington, Cryfield, Heronbank, or Lakeside should vote for the Green Party candidate Mark Stevens.

Stevens’ goal is to improve public services across Leamington. Public transport must be well-maintained and constantly improved, not only so that users have a good experience, but also to have a positive effect on the planet. Stevens wants to put students at the heart of the bus conversation. Any student living in Leamington Spa knows that when travelling to the University of Warwick, you are more likely to get on the bus if you are on Lower Parade; students often get passed by at Upper Parade.

“I consistently struggled to get on full buses in the morning and it became the norm to have several full buses drive past Gibbet Hill in the evening, leaving me stranded for over an hour most of the time,” one student testified in 2023.

Green Party Councillor Jonathan Chilvers also ‘hears from students that the bus service is unsatisfactory’, but says ‘only with more Green County councillors will we be able to achieve’ better services

Furthermore, bus schedules are too often cancelled, delayed or non-existent. For instance, the U1 service, taking students from Campus to Leamington, stops at 3am and restarts at 7am. For clubbers, the bus schedule stops too early in the night, as most clubs close at 4am. This leaves nightclub-goers unable to get home via public transport. Often, they must resort to taxis or drive their private cars, which can be unsafe (especially after drinking), expensive, and unnecessarily worse for the environment.

Mark Stevens understands and cares about the ways these problems with the buses impact the overall student experience. He visits the campus often, his last visit being on Wednesday 23 April, where he discussed first-hand the experiences of students and what can be done to improve the experience. Moreover, he has already started acting by personally repairing bus signs and shelters and plans to lobby the bus companies to accommodate student needs in their timetable.

Green Party Councillor Jonathan Chilvers also “hears from students that the bus service is unsatisfactory”, but says “only with more Green County councillors will we be able to achieve” better services.

Stevens also cares for better and safer cycle paths on campus, which often have faded markings or are ineffectively routed. This ties to his broader commitment to sustainable travel and cost-effective solutions to the climate crisis.

With such a tight race between the Green Party and the Conservative Party, it is likely only a few votes will decide the outcome. Greens can win; your student vote could be the difference

Green councillors have already set a record for delivering for students – Mark Stevens will be no different. One of the councillors for Leamington, Will Roberts, has already improved student rights by “introducing stronger regulations for landlords, including student housing”.

On the doorstep, I often hear that voting Green is a wasted vote. But, with such a tight race between the Green Party and the Conservative Party, it is likely only a few votes will decide the outcome. Greens can win; your student vote could be the difference we need to secure the future.

So, if you live in South Leamington Spa, Heronbank, Cryfield, or Lakeside, I urge you to go to the polls on May 1. Mark Stevens promises you a better student experience and a brighter, greener future. Your vote could decide it. Vote Green.