Plaid Cymru, The Party of Wales, has selected environmental campaigner Steve Garrett as its candidate to fight the Riverside by-election in Cardiff.
Steve Garrett was the inspiration behind the Riverside Farmers’ Market and has managed the award-winning, expanding project for 12 years.
Cardiff now has four farmers’ markets. Plaid’s man has also overseen the development of the Riverside Community Allotment, helping set up the local Food Co-op and, most recently, the Riverside Community Market Garden (RCMG) project.
Steve Garrett sits on several panels and committees which advise local and national government on food policy, is a panel member of the U.K. Sustainable Development Commission, is included in the 2009 Sustain Wales ‘Green List’ of Welsh environmental activists and was winner in the Environmentalist section of the 2010 Inspire Wales Awards.
Steve Garrett has been involved with numerous community-based cultural activities in the local community, such as organising the annual multicultural Riverside Festival. He is a board member of Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre; Vice-Chair of the Wales Association of Community Artists; and a Community Reporter for BBC Radio Wales. Steve is also completing a part-time PHD.
Steve Garrett, a father-of-three, said: “I am honoured to have been selected by Plaid, it is a great privilege and challenge. Everyone here knows what a tremendous job Gwenllian Lansdown and Plaid did for our community.
“I want to see cleaner streets in Riverside, with more recycling. It is my priority to also protect to green spaces and look at how we can fill empty shops by maybe encouraging social enterprise. Riverside is such a diverse community and we need to continue to celebrate this.”
Plaid’s Group Leader Councillor Neil McEvoy said: “I think people will appreciate the honest and open way that Plaid called the by-election as soon as we knew there was a vacancy. Our task is to get Steve elected.
“Steve is a well known community activist who has worked and lobbied hard for Riverside and Pontcanna. I am looking forward to Steve being in a decision and policy making role.
“I have consulted Steve extensively through my work with economic development in the City and I really hope that Plaid will have his input for our environmental and sustainability agenda. As a former Riverside councillor, it has been great to see old friends on the door step again. The response to Plaid and Steve is excellent.”
Gwenllian Lansdown, who has stepped down as a Riverside councillor, added: “I have known and worked with Steve for years and I can’t think of a better replacement for me.
“He really is Mr Riverside. Steve can add a lot to Cardiff council and, if elected, will be a brilliant councillor.”
Riverside councillor Mo Islam said: “We’re happy that a man of Steve’s calibre is stepping in. Everyone knows how much work Steve has done with the market, Clare Gardens and Riverside Festival. He’d be a great councillor.”
It is expected that the by-election will be held on Thursday, March 3rd, the same day as the referendum on further powers for the National Assembly.
