I am somewhat perplexed by Mr Akker’s recent letter to the Gazette on Thursday 17th May.

Indeed, as he and I are regularly in contact, I am disappointed that he should seek to assign blame specifically to my campaign for his missing out at the last local election in Mersea & Pyefleet.

I am particularly surprised at Mr Akker's claim that an offer was made to him to pursue local Green Party policies in exchange for the Greens standing aside.

To the contrary, Mr Akker generously encouraged me to continue to stand in both the recent local election and the previous Essex County Council election to campaign on issues close to my heart: opposing New Nuclear at Bradwell, resisting housing overdevelopment and saying no to litter and single use plastic.

Furthermore, a simple analysis of the vote share in the local election clearly shows that Mr Akker took votes from all the other candidates (including myself), with the majority of Mr Akker's support coming from the previously substantial number of UKIP voters.

I will continue to stand for the Green Party in future local elections and serve on West Mersea Town Council as chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.

In that respect I encourage Mr Akker to work with me to enable the optimum outcome on housing here in West Mersea.

Peter Banks,
Colchester Green Party Candidate for Mersea and Pyefleet,
Firs Chase
West Mersea