News / Greens announce second candidate for council election
WITH less than four months until the May election for a new council, the local branch of the Scottish Greens has announced a second candidate to stand.
Debra Nicolson has been approved as the party’s candidate in the Shetland West ward which, following changes to the boundaries, will in future be represented by two rather than three councillors.
The party’s Alex Armitage announced his candidacy for Shetland South a few weeks ago.
Nicolson has lived in Shetland for nearly 30 years, raising a family in Aith while working as an administration assistant with adult learning. She is an active member of the Sandsting and Aithsting Community Council and has most recently led a successful campaign to lower the speed limit along the Tresta Road.
She previously stood for Shetland West in the last council elections and went on to stand in the 2019 Holyrood by-election as the first Green parliamentary candidate to stand in Shetland.
She was also a Highlands and Islands list candidate for the Scottish Parliament election in May 2021.
Debra has spent years campaigning for better mental health provision and if elected will ensure mental health is a priority for the next council. She is also passionate about improving public transport and active travel, especially in rural parts of Shetland where she wants to see better bus provision.
Another priority will be to push for greater community involvement in major decisions, including planning.
While supporting renewable energy she said she is critical of many aspects of the Viking Energy wind farm, including its scale, which has divided and alienated the Westside community.
“I am particularly keen to see more local involvement in projects that affect the community,” she said.
Viking Energy and the Orion project are examples where people feel disempowered and lacking control in decisions that affect their place.
“Any future projects must involve greater community ownership and control rather than being imposed on us.”
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