Party leader Natalie Bennett urges Black Country to 'think green'

Natalie Bennett – who has spearheaded the party for four years but will soon step down – said small, independent businesses could revitalise the economy in Wolverhampton and Walsall.

The Australian-born former journalist visited both areas as part of a farewell tour.

As part of its 2015 General Election manifesto, the Green Party pledged to promote small businesses.

Ms Bennett said: "Areas like Walsall and Wolverhampton, where I have visited today, are in desperate need of 'green' ideas.

"There are many empty shops in the town centres and the local councils seem to believe that the answer is to knock them down and then bring in the big chain stores rather than the smaller, independent businesses.

"It is the independents which would keep money in the area, provide good job opportunities and give the chance for people to do their own thing.

"With the big chain stores you are more than likely going to get zero-hour contracts, minimum wages and insecure employment.

"The money goes out of the area and very often into the nearest tax haven.

"What we need is strong, local economies."

Ms Bennett visited Big Centre TV in Walsall, the Refugee and Migrant Centre in Wolverhampton and the city's Gatis Community Space, where she was shown around by director Maria Billington.

The old Gatis Street adventure playground in Whitmore Reans was taken over by a community group last year, having previously fallen victim to cuts made by Wolverhampton council.

Ms Bennett made time to speak to youngsters helping out at the centre as part of the National Citizen Service 'the Challenge' programme and encouraged them to become involved in grass-roots campaigns.

She said: "It is hugely inspiring what volunteers have delivered here in a very short space of time.

"It is not just the physical progress which has been made but all the people involved and what they will have got out of it."

Ms Bennett said she was leaving it up to Green Party members to decide on their next leader and declined to name her preferred candidate.

She added she felt she had left the party in better shape than when she first became leader in September 2012.