The Norwich Green

Please Vote Green in the City Council Elections

Claire Stephenson (pictured left) is your Green Party Candidate for Nelson Ward in the 4th May City Council elections. Claire, who lives on Unthank Road, has been playing an active role in the local Green Party by visiting Nelson residents and supporting the work of the Green Councillors. Claire is an English teacher. If elected she will work part time to ensure she has enough time for her duties as a councillor.

Two years ago the Green Party won five seats (including the three Nelson Ward seats) at City Hall. The Green Councillors deliver newsletters, visit residents and take up local concerns all year round. They provide a voice on the Council for a range of environmental and community concerns. Please vote for Claire Stephenson so we can continue this work.

This newsletter contains information on some of the campaigns and policies of the Green Councillors. Our next leaflet will contain a summary of our manifesto for the City Council elections and a summary of the achievements of the Green Councillors. For a copy of the manifesto please go to www.norwichgreenparty.org or call 621980 / 623223.

The Green Party holds all three City Council seats and the County Council seat for your area (Nelson Ward). Please vote Green in the City Council elections on 4th May to maintain a strong Green voice for Norwich.

Campaign Against Radical Tree Pollarding: Update

Green Councillors have been supporting a local residents’ campaign against plans by the City Council to radically pollard 32 mature trees on Lime Tree Road (pictured left). Four independent tree consultants have argued that there are more appropriate, less drastic and cheaper ways to maintain the trees than pollarding (which involves cutting the trees back to trunks). The alternatives include crown reduction and removal of weak branches.

In February, the Green Councillors and local residents successfully persuaded the Council to postpone the work until alternatives had been considered. The Council’s Executive is set to consider the options and make a decision at a meeting on 19th April. The Green Party believes it is important to ensure that a less drastic maintenance method is chosen. This would help protect the appearance and health of these trees and help ensure that the Council does not radically pollard mature trees elsewhere in the city.

Greens Fight for Affordable Housing in New Developments

The City Council has a policy of requiring 30% of housing in new developments to be affordable housing (mainly provided by housing associations). However, the Green Party believes the Council compromises on this policy far too often. For example, the developers of the important St. Anne’s Wharf site in the city centre recently got away with a 9% affordable housing quota. The Green representative on the committee was the only councillor to vote against this low level.

Nelson Green Councillor Bob Gledhill said: "Property prices in Norwich have been rising well above the rate of inflation in recent years and there are more and more people in need of low-cost housing all the time. Far from failing to implement the current 30% quota for affordable housing in new developments, the Council should be increasing its quota to 50% - as is the case across London. This is a priority issue for the Green Party at this City Council election."

25 Bus Petition: Response From First

The First bus company has now responded to the Green Party petition, signed by almost 1000 residents, for the reinstatement of the 25 bus service to the hospital. First has said the service was not commercially viable and it does not intend to reinstate it, although the company would consider doing so if the road into UEA from Earlham Road were made two-way to improve traffic flows.

Councillor Jessica Goldfinch said: "Green Councillors are lobbying for this road to be made two-way as we know it would improve bus services. However, the 25 service to the hospital should still be reinstated to provide a direct service to the N&N for residents in the Unthank Road area. This is one reason why it is a priority issue for the Green Party at this City Council election to introduce a Quality Bus Contract for Norwich – to give the Councils power over bus services. However, we are pleased to note one improvement: in the timetable changes introduced on 2nd April, First increased the 21 service from UEA to the hospital in the early mornings, evenings and on Sundays."

Stop Unthank Tesco: Campaign Update

The City Council has rejected the second application by Tesco to build an Express store on the corner of Unthank Road and Trinity Street. Nelson Ward Green Councillor Adrian Ramsay addressed the committee, stating that 90% of the residents who had contacted him about the issue were opposed to the application. Tesco has since appealed against this decision. A Public Inquiry into the second application will be held in a few months' time. Tesco has also recently withdrawn its appeal on the first application, so the Public Inquiry planned for 9th–12th May has been cancelled.

Green Party Nelson Candidate Claire Stephenson, an active member of Residents Against Unthank Tesco, said: "We will inform residents as soon as we know the new Public Inquiry date. It made sense for the Council to reject the second application as it would have created the same problems the Council cited when rejecting the first application. These mainly related to the introduction of more delivery lorries onto a busy, narrow street."

Speeding On The Avenues

Are you concerned about traffic speeds on The Avenues? If so, what do you think should be done to address this problem? Several residents have recently contacted the Green Party Councillors about this issue and we will be raising it with the Council officers – please contact us (details below) if you have some views you would like us to include. Road safety measures are a funding priority for the Green Party Councillors.

Recycling and Plastic Bottle Banks

Councillor Adrian Ramsay writes...

In our March newsletter we reported that the Green Councillors had obtained funding for two to three additional plastic bottle recycling banks in Norwich. The three most popular suggestions made to us about where these should be located are: Earlham House shops, Exeter Street car park and under the Magdalen Street flyover. We have passed these suggestions to the relevant council officers and will keep you informed of developments through this newsletter.

Several residents have requested a reminder of where the current plastic bottle banks are located. They are at Sainsbury's (Queen's Road) and Waitrose (Eaton). There are also some plastic banks just outside the City Council area at, for example, Tesco at Harford Bridge.

The need for better recycling facilities in Norwich, especially for plastic, is the most common issue raised with the Green Party Councillors by residents. We agree that it is crucial that there are comprehensive recycling facilities locally as the only environmentally-friendly way of tackling the waste problem. Because the Green Councillors hold the balance of power at City Hall we have been able to secure funding for some improvements to local recycling facilities. The money for the first plastic banks in the City Council area was only approved because of our role in the budget process. However, there is a long way to go before Norwich has a truly comprehensive recycling system and only the Green Councillors are willing to make this a top funding priority. This is a key issue for the Green Party at this year’s City Council election.

Jessica Goldfinch Backs Claire Stephenson

Jessica Goldfinch is standing down as a Councillor when her term of office ends on 4th May. Although she is not seeking re-election herself, she is urging Nelson residents to support Green Party Candidate Claire Stephenson to ensure that Norwich retains a strong Green voice.

Jessica Goldfinch said: "I have enjoyed my time as a Councillor but, for personal reasons, I decided not to stand again this time. Green Councillors are making an impact and I believe that Claire Stephenson would be a very effective addition to the team."

Attacks on UEA Students

Several residents contacted the Green Councillors about the recent series of attacks on students on the UEA campus. Adrian Ramsay raised this issue with the Police and the Council, asking for more frequent Police and Community Warden patrols in the area. Green Councillor and UEA lecturer Rupert Read spoke at a meeting on the issue at which many students raised the need for better lighting on campus, particularly on the path leading to The Village where most of the attacks have taken place.

Claire Stephenson commented: "We have urged UEA and the Councils to improve lighting and patrols in the area to help stop these dreadful assaults."

Anti-Incineration Campaign

Claire Stephenson writes...