Glasgow City Council Elections: We talk to the councillors who want your votes

Apr 24 2012 By Joe McGuire

Martha Wardrop: Green candidate for Hillhead

FOR music-lover MarthaWardrop, being a councillor in a UNESCO city of music is a very happy state of affairs.

The Green Councillor moved to the city to study politics and economics at Strathclyde University twenty years ago and fell in love with the city.

Today the 42 year old is co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party and leads the party’s five councillors, a position attained after gaining experience working in the voluntary sector.

And Martha has just one regret about her busy schedule working in the Hillhead ward-it keeps her from getting to as many gigs as she would otherwise like.

Martha, who is a fan of Mumford and Sons and Goldfrapp, said: “Making sure I’m attending community council meetings and local groups means I don’t get to as many concerts as I’d like, but I always make a point of getting to the Big Tent Festival in the summer.

“There’s so many great bands in the city, it’s a great place to be for a music lover.”

Her passion for both local community and music is reflected in her championing of the regeneration of Kelvingrove bandstand.

She said: “The enlisted building is one of only three remaining examples in Scotland.

“It’s a unique space with a wonderful ampitheatre that could be used in the Commonwealth Games.”

Her work with local groups has made her realise that financial pressures on the council could be alleviated by supporting neighbourhood activism, with people adopting streets and areas to keep clean and develop.

Martha is also an ardent spokesperson for public transport and doesn’t own a car.

Her green credentials are seen in more ways than one when it comes to campaign literature, which is printed on recycled paper.

She said: “If elected I will campaign to protect our green spaces and promote cleaner and more efficient transport.”