The Norwich Green

Please Vote for a Strong Green Voice at City Hall

A message from Claire Stephenson to Nelson residents:

"The Green Councillors work hard to represent Nelson residents on a range of environmental, social and community concerns. Only the Greens deliver newsletters and visit residents throughout the year. I have enjoyed meeting many Nelson residents on the doorstep in recent months and would be delighted to represent the area as one of your local Green Councillors.

The Green Party holds all three City Council seats in your area (Nelson ward). Nelson is one of only two wards in the City (out of thirteen) where the Green Party holds City Council seats. It is crucial that the Green Party wins in Nelson ward if we are to maintain a strong Green voice at City Hall."

Why Only One Vote?

Unlike at the last City Council elections two years ago, only one of the three City Council seats is up for election this year. Jessica Goldfinch's term of office comes to an end on 4th May and, for personal reasons, she has decided not to seek re-election. Claire Stephenson is standing in her place.

Your other Green City Councillors for Nelson (Adrian Ramsay and Bob Gledhill) and your Green County Councillor (Andrew Boswell) are not up for election this year.

No phone/text/internet voting

Climate Change Warning

The Government's Chief Scientist, Professor David King, has recently said that the Earth's temperature is likely to rise by at least three degrees over the next hundred years if greenhouse gas emissions are not substantially reduced. Climate researchers have stated that this rise would wreck half the world's wildlife reserves, destroy major forest systems and put 400 million more people at risk of hunger.

Green News and Action From the Last Year

This section highlights a number of issues affecting Nelson ward that the Green Councillors have been campaigning on over the last year. Please elect Claire Stephenson as one of your local Green Councillors to ensure we maintain a strong group of Green Councillors at City Hall to campaign on these and other issues.

June 2005:

Green Councillors unsuccessfully oppose the County Council's decision to take away some of the traffic lights at the roundabout at the top of Grapes Hill, arguing that it will worsen conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

July 2005:

The City Council decides to keep its housing stock under Council control and ownership. Only the Green Party has consistently opposed the privatisation of Council housing.

August 2005:

Green Councillors and Residents Against Inappropriate Development celebrate a victory in their campaign against a private development on the Hewett School playing fields.

August 2005:

The first two plastic bottle recycling banks are installed in Norwich. The money for this was agreed only because the Green Councillors hold the balance of power at City Hall and have some influence over the budget process.

August 2005:

The City Council announces it has made errors in consultation deadlines over late licence applications, resulting in many residents being prevented from having their say on applications by nearby pubs. The LibDem Executive at City Hall refuses to start fresh consultation processes or to include all comments received from residents by the deadlines they were given. Councillor Bob Gledhill advises Nelson residents wishing to support or object to local applications how best to make their views known to the Council.

October 2005:

Green Party Councillors successfully lobby for City Council support for The Lanes – a group of independent and local businesses in the Upper Goat Lane area.

October–December 2005:

988 residents sign a Green Party petition calling for the reinstatement of the 25 bus service to the hospital. First Bus refuses to do this and the Greens call for a Quality Bus Contract to give the Councils more power over bus services.

November 2005:

Metal tins and cans are included in the green box recycling collections for the first time, following lobbying from Green Councillors.

January 2006:

The Green Party calls on all parties at City Hall to oppose County Council plans for an incinerator at Costessey. LibDem and Labour Councillors refuse to oppose the incineration plans. Green Councillors express concern about the effect of incineration on health and the environment. They also argue that building an incinerator would create a demand for waste, undermining efforts to reduce the amount of waste produced and efforts to increase recycling levels. A strong Green vote on 4th May will help illustrate public opposition to incineration.

February 2006:

Following lobbying from Green Councillors, the City Council publishes a programme for introducing recycling banks at blocks of flats in the city in the next few months. The banks will be for recycling glass, paper and metals.

February 2006:

Funding is agreed for road safety measures on Unthank Road, including some pavement widening.

February 2006:

The LibDem Executive announces a £2m overspend in the City Council budget and proposes cuts in Council services to plug the gap. Because the Green Councillors hold the balance of power they are able to stop some of the worst cuts, such as those proposed for the rail partnership grant and for the tree planting budget. Green Councillors obtain funding for two more plastic bottle recycling banks and for the development of a Council strategy on its role in tackling climate change.

March 2006:

Local residents and Green Councillors successfully persuade the City Council to reject a second application by Tesco for an Unthank Road store.

Unthank Tesco Public Inquiry

Councillor Bob Gledhill writes:

We have previously reported that Tesco has appealed against the City Council's decision to reject its second application for a store on Unthank Road. We don't know the date of the Public Inquiry but it is unlikely to take place for several months. However, the deadline for submitting written comments to the Inquiry is 4th May. If you write in please send three copies of your letter and quote reference number APP/G2625/A/06/1198316. Please send your letter to: Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/21 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN.

The Inquiry will consider the reasons given by the Council for rejecting the application: the problems with bringing more delivery lorries to a narrow street; the proposed design is not in keeping with surrounding buildings; there is a tree with a Tree Preservation Order on it on the site.

Norwich Eye

Claire Stephenson writes:

Several residents have contacted the Green Party to ask for our position on the proposal for a 'Norwich Eye' giant wheel to operate outside the Forum during the summer. Our view is that this is not an appropriate location for such a large construction. The area between the Forum and St. Peter Mancroft Church is a designated public space that is used for a variety of purposes, such as meeting, relaxing and holding local events. The Green Party has submitted an objection letter to the Council on the planning application for the Norwich Eye. Please get in touch if you would like to suggest an alternative site for the Eye.

Zebra Crossing Survey

Councillor Adrian Ramsay writes:

Thank you to those residents in the Earlham Road area who have responded to our survey on how the zebra crossing over Earlham Road by Park Lane should be made safer. There is still time to participate in the survey before we submit the results to the Councils. Please send the reply slip back to us by 8th May and please get in touch if you need a copy of the survey to fill in. Some key points and trends from the first 107 responses are:

• The vast majority thought that re-painting the white lines would make the crossing safer.
• 73% of respondents would like it to be turned into a push-button crossing.
• 35% think the crossing should be moved.

We will summarise the final results, and the response from the Councils, in our next newsletter.