Save Newham City Farm and Newham Green Party have formed an alliance which will see them stand as joint candidates in Beckton at the local elections on 5 May.

Sol Bourgeon, Karen Webb-Green and Alison McLucas will represent the Green Party in Beckton on a platform of saving Newham City Farm.

Rob Callender, the Green Party candidate for Mayor of Newham and candidate for Royal Victoria ward, will stand on the same platform.

During a council cabinet meeting in September last year, it was decided that the farm would be closed, with residents promised that the area would remain a green space accessible to the public.

Despite a petition reaching nearly 50,000 signatures and several organised peaceful protests, the farm remains closed.

The farm’s future has been included under the Beckton Parks Masterplan, a project set up by the Council to engage with local communities on the future of the green spaces in the wards of Beckton and Custom House.

Newham’s Green Party have been supporters of the Save Newham City Farm campaign and have criticised the council’s decision.

Rob Callender said: “We are delighted to be standing joint candidates with Save Newham City Farm.

We have supported the campaign from the beginning and are proud of the work already done to save such an important local amenity.

“We think it’s the perfect next step to increase the pressure on Newham Labour over their terrible decision to deprive so many current and future generations of the opportunities to learn and volunteer which the farm provided. Together, alongside my campaign for Mayor, we will fight to ensure Newham Labour can no longer ignore residents’ views in the Council Chamber. ”

Save Newham City Farm campaigner and Beckton resident Alison McLucas said: “Numerous requests for the local Labour Council to hold fair dialogue have been rebuffed or completely ignored. Through our campaign, we have learnt that the closure by stealth of Newham City Farm and the disorganised Beckton Parks Masterplan consultation are just examples among many of how the Council is dealing with residents’ concerns.”

She added: “I am standing as a Green, not only because I want to see our 45-year-old farm reinstated to benefit the community again but also because the Green Party permits me to be an independent voice on the Council to represent my community, to hold the Mayor and Council to account and to ensure that my fellow residents are included properly in consultation and the decision-making processes on all issues.”

Local government and Mayoral elections will be held on Thursday 5 May to elect the Mayor and councillors representing 24 Borough wards.

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