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Greens say 'Council should control buses'
On 2 October, the First bus company introduced some changes to its routes and timetables. One of the changes is that the 25 bus service, which runs from the train station and along Unthank Road to UEA, no longer continues past UEA to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
Adrian Ramsay, Green Party City Councillor, said: “These changes have worsened local bus services for thousands of Norwich residents. There are other First bus services to the hospital such as the 24 (via Eaton) and the 22 (via Bowthorpe). However, the 25 should also be going to the hospital to ensure there are frequent services to the N&N from different parts of the city.
“Residents who depend on the 25 bus service to get to the hospital now have to change at UEA, meaning a less efficient service for hospital staff, patients and visitors. The Green Party has launched a petition calling on First to reinstate the previous 25 route [note: Petition now closed].
Photo: Green Councillors Adrian Ramsay (left) and Andrew Boswell at a number 25 bus stop on Unthank Road.
“Following Green Party proposals, the City Council has called upon First to reinstate the 25 service to the hospital. However, with no regulation of local bus services, First can ignore what the council has said. That is why the Green Party also proposed that Norwich should have a Quality Bus Contract to give the local councils power over routes and fares. This would enable cheaper, more reliable services to be put in place. The City Council has agreed to creating a Quality Bus Contract – we now need the County Council to also back the plans to make them a reality.”
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Protecting local services
Norwich City Council has backed Green Party calls for MPs to pass the Local Communities Sustainability Bill. The Bill would give councils more power to ensure the survival of important local services such as post offices, bank branches and corner shops. Green Councillors argue that the Bill is needed to reverse the trend towards the loss of local services that are vital for people who are unable to travel far and for protecting the environment by reducing the need to travel.
Photo (left to right): Green Councillors Bob Gledhill, Jessica Goldfinch and Andrew Boswell outside the Post Office at Earlham House shops.
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'The Lanes'
Shops-keepers in the Upper Goat Lane area of Norwich have formed a group called ‘The Lanes’ to help promote the merits of shopping at the independent and local businesses in that part of the city. The Green Party believes that such businesses help give Norwich its unique character as well as benefiting the local economy. Green councillors have offered their support to the group in lobbying the City Council to help promote the area. Independent businesses elsewhere in Norwich are working to start similar groups.
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Little Bethel Street
Residents in the Little Bethel Street area have contacted the Green Party councillors about the problems caused by long buses using this very narrow street. The long buses inevitably go over the pavements as they turn the corner. There have been several minor collisions with pedestrians as a result. The problem has been worsened by construction traffic and delivery lorries using the road to get to the Chapelfield development.
The City Council has been discussing two possible solutions to the problem with local residents for several years: either to pedestrianise the road and re-route the buses or to ban lorries and large buses from using the road and require the bus company to put smaller (but more frequent) buses on this route. Several residents have expressed frustration that no solution has yet been implemented and the Green councillors are helping to lobby the City Council to put in place an appropriate solution as soon as possible, before any serious accidents occur.
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Renewable energy in new developments
Norwich City Council has agreed in principle that developers in Norwich should be required to obtain 10% of energy in new developments from clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
Councillor Adrian Ramsay said: “Government regulations on planning policy mean it could be a couple of years before this comes into force but I am glad the policy has been agreed in principle. Green Councillors have been lobbying for this policy for some time after several other councils put the policy in place. 10% is the absolute minimum of clean energy that we should be requiring.”
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NORWICH STEINER SCHOOL
Enquiries: Valentina Monguzzi 01603 623971
Holistic learning for a better world
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Licensing update – Councillor Bob Gledhill writes...
In September, the Green Councillors held a public meeting to discuss ways of lobbying the City Council Executive to re-run those consultation processes on late licence applications where incorrect response deadlines had been issued. Along with several members of the public, I later tabled questions to a full council meeting but the LibDems could not be persuaded to hold fresh consultation processes and hearings for the affected applications to give residents a say.
However, after the new licences come into force on 24 November residents will have the right to ask for review hearings to be held for the late licences it has issued. Residents will need to show that their concerns relate to the pub in question and to the Government’s four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; prevention of public nuisance; protection of children from harm.
For information about the licence application of any particular pub or about the review process, please contact the City Council Licensing Section: 212760/1/2 or licensing@norwich.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can contact Councillor Bob Gledhill on 621980.
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Local Transport Plan consultation
Green County Councillor Andrew Boswell writes...
Norfolk County Council is currently consulting on its Local Transport Plan (LTP). Residents can obtain information by phoning 223267 or visiting tinyurl.com/dvnrj. I recently exposed in the national press that the County Council had abandoned an original aim of the policy: to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. This is unacceptable at a time when the effects of climate change are becoming ever more apparent. The LTP should focus on improving cycling facilities and bus services. Residents can respond to the consultation until 16 December 2005.
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Police Community Support Officers
PCSOs are now on the beat in Norwich, carrying out patrols to assist the work of the Police and improve community safety. The Green Councillors are holding regular meetings with the Community Police Officer, who is arranging for PCSO patrols in areas where residents have reported anti-social behaviour. This includes the junction of The Avenues and Colman Road and Earlham Cemetery.
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Seasoned hardwood logs cut to order. By-product of local tree surgeon's work.
Single load £30
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Treble £70
Box of kindling free
Pallets £1
(01603) 811686
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Doorstep recycling now includes cans
Most residents who are in the green recycling box scheme are now able to recycle tins and cans in the doorstep collections. The tin and can collections are expected to cover all households on the green box scheme by Christmas.
Councillor Jessica Goldfinch said: “This is another, much-needed step forward in improving local recycling facilities and helping to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Green Councillors have long been pushing for such improvements and we are glad that we are starting to see some results. We will continue to push for other improvements, such as an increase in the number of recycling banks so people not on the green box scheme can more easily recycle.”
Green campaigner Steve Altman celebrates the fact that residents can now recycle their tins and cans in the green box scheme.
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Future of City Hall – Councillor Adrian Ramsay writes...
Last month, the local press unveiled plans for a luxury hotel to be opened at City Hall. At that stage, the plans had been drawn up by council officers but there had been little consultation with councillors. I attended the meeting of the City Council Executive at which a decision on the plans was to be made. I urged the Executive not to approve the plans but to set up a cross-party working group to look at all the options for the future of the building. This was agreed, and so no decision will be made until after the working party has produced a report in January 2006.
Green Councillors will be arguing for the City Council to remain at its current site and for City Hall and the land behind it to still be owned and run by the council. There are problems with the current situation that need addressing, such as the poor energy efficiency and high running costs of the building and the fact that the former car park area at the back of City Hall is not in use. We will be suggesting solutions that involve community use of the building and the land. If you have any suggestions for us to put to the working party then please get in touch.
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3 December is global campaign day on climate change. Please join us on a march for action on climate change, meeting outside the Forum at 9:30am and ending at the Fair. There will be information on climate change and environment-related children’s activities at the Fair.
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Surgery Times
Your Green Party Councillors hold the following surgeries:
- Second Monday of each month
Belvedere Community Centre
Belvoir Street
6-7pm
- Third Wednesday of each month
St Alban's Church Hall
Grove Walk
7-8pm
- Last Friday of each month
Cadge Road Community Centre
10-11am
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Contacting Mancroft Greens
The Green Party Councillors continue to take up local issues of concern with the Council. If you have anything you would like us to investigate or any questions please contact us:
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We would be pleased to hear from you
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The Norwich Green is published by Adrian Ramsay, 12 Suffolk Square, Norwich, NR2 2AA
on behalf of Norwich Green Party, 15 Connaught Road, Norwich, NR2 3BP.
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