SCHOOLS would get wind turbines or solar panels under Green party plans going into next week’s Oxfordshire County Council elections.

The party, which currently holds five seats at County Hall, is fighting 72 of the 74 seats up for grabs on June 4.

Leader Larry Sanders, who represents East Oxford, said the county needed “a strong Green presence” as he pledged free insulation for 100,000 homes in the county over five years if it won power.

The Greens would spend £6,000 per school to invest in wind or solar energy to combat climate change, while at the heart of the party’s local manifesto is a complete overhaul of Oxford’s transport network, with plans for radically improved cycle routes and subsidised public transport.

He said: “Oxfordshire needs to develop a more resilient, local economy, which provides job security and a decent living wage, which protects the most vulnerable people in our community, and cuts our reliance on scarce natural resources.

“We need a strong Green presence on the county council to help steer Oxfordshire through the current economic turmoil, fight for public services and tackle climate change.”

Mr Sanders added: “We want to put money in the pockets of local residents, create more jobs and extra funding for social and environmental initiatives without additional increases in council tax.”

The party has also committed to commissioning a feasibility study into a modern lightweight electric tram system for the city, running north-south and east-west.

The headings of its manifesto are entitled Budget, Incineration, Flooding, Education, Social & Community Services and Transport.

Mr Sanders said: “Oxfordshire Green Party is one of the most successful in the country, with Green councillors elected to all levels of local government.

“The seven-strong Green group currently holds the balance of power on Oxford City Council, there is a five-strong Green group on the county council and Caroline Lucas has been the Euro MP for Oxford since 1999.”

To read the manifesto in full, visit greenoxford.com