Please Vote Green in the City Council Elections
 James Conway (pictured left) is your Green Party Candidate for Thorpe Hamlet ward in the Norwich City Council elections on Thursday 3rd May. James Conway and the Green Party Councillors have been active in Thorpe Hamlet ward all year round, delivering newsletters, visiting residents and taking up local issues with the council. James lived on Riverside Road for two years and knows the area well. He stood in Thorpe Hamlet ward last year, gaining 497 votes, and this year hopes to become the first Green representative for the area.
A summary of the Green Party's City Council Election Manifesto will appear in our next newsletter, along with a reminder of recent Green campaigns in Thorpe Hamlet ward. For more information in the meantime please browse this site or contact James Conway on (01603) 627139.
Please elect James Conway as a Green representative for Thorpe Hamlet ward – another Green voice at City Hall.
 The Green Party holds nine City Council seats and last year won Mancroft ward, which borders your ward. The Green Councillors provide a constructive opposition to the Labour administration at City Hall. Help build a Greener Norwich: please elect James Conway on Thursday 3rd May.
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Deal Ground and Utilities Site Update
The results of the consultation on the future of the Deal Ground and Utilities site (a large piece of land between Thorpe Road and Trowse) were similar to the feedback that Green Councillors have received from Thorpe Hamlet residents on the issue. The common responses were in line with the Green Party's stance: green spaces on the site and Carey's Meadow should be protected; any housing should be affordable and of a high environmental standard; there should be a pedestrian and cycle bridge to Whitlingham Country Park from Thorpe Road. Much of the site is a functional flood plain and, with climate change increasing flood risks, the Environment Agency has expressed concern about over-development on the site. This is one key reason why it is currently unclear what will happen with the site and when. Updates will be included in future newsletters when they are available.
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Unitary Status Explained
Councillor Adrian Ramsay writes:
Norwich is one of 13 areas short-listed by the Government to become a Unitary Authority. Here we answer some frequently asked questions. For more information please visit www.norwich.gov.uk.
What does it mean? Currently, some local services in Norwich are run by the City Council (such as housing, planning and parks) and some by the County Council (such as transport, education, social services and waste disposal). Unitary status means all these services are run by the same council.
Who supports it and why? All three of the large parties at City Hall (Labour, LibDems and Greens) support the bid. A Unitary Authority would mean all services delivered in Norwich would be decided upon in Norwich. Currently our city’s waste disposal and transport services are controlled by Conservative councillors who represent rural Norfolk. As a result the campaigns against incineration and for better bus services and cycle routes in the city have been difficult. They would have been easier if these services were run by councillors who are elected by Norwich residents.
Who will make the final decision and when? The Government will make the final decision in July following a consultation. We will publicise the details of the consultation when they are known.
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Another Former LibDem Councillor Joins the Green Party
 Simon Richardson, who was a Liberal Democrat City Councillor between 2000 and 2004, has joined the Green Party. Simon joined the Green Party partly because of its support for council housing and opposition to the demolition of the structurally-sound council flats on Barrack Street. Simon, who lives in Mancroft ward, is the second former LibDem Councillor to join Norwich Green Party in the last year. Dawn Castle-Green joined last summer, citing the Green Party's clear opposition to incineration as a major reason for defecting. There are also six former Norwich Labour Councillors actively supporting the Green Party.
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Cedar Road Area Permit Parking
Residents of the Cedar Road area have submitted a petition to the City Council highlighting the congestion problems caused by the number of business parking permits that have been issued for the area. The petition was submitted to last month’s full council meeting, when Green Councillor Bob Gledhill also tabled a question asking for a review of the business permits policy for this part of the city. The petition was referred to the Norwich Highways Agency Committee, which will consider it on Thursday 24th May, 10am at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and Green Councillors will be present to speak on the issue again.
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News In Brief
The City Council has now rejected an application for 14 houses, 99 flats and 7 office units at The Nest on Rosary Road. Residents had expressed concern about the density and height of this proposed four-storey development.
The recycling banks for glass, paper and cans outside Normandie Tower are available for use by all residents in the area and passers-by. Some local residents suggested we highlight this in case people thought they were only for use by Normandie Tower residents.
The panel conducting an investigation into local bus services will first meet this month. The Green Councillors on the panel will highlight the many concerns raised with them by residents. This includes an important issue highlighted by one Thorpe Hamlet resident: that First Bus only allows one child under five to travel for free for each fare-paying adult, discriminating against any parent travelling with more than one young child.
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'Bring CityCare Services Back Under Council Control' Say Greens
The Green Party has revealed that one of its key policies for the 3rd May City Council elections is to bring at least some services currently provided by private firm CityCare back under council control. Many City Council services, including waste and recycling collections and the management of parks and trees, were contracted out to CityCare in 2000. The council will soon have to decide who should run these services when the contract ends in 2010. Councillor Adrian Ramsay said: "Privatisation often proves to be more costly and makes services less accountable and responsive. This is supported by feedback from residents and local newspaper reports."
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Don't Attack Iran
Norwich Green Party is joining with local members of the Stop the War Coalition to back the growing international pressure against Britain and the USA launching an attack on Iran.
Councillor Rupert Read, the Green Party's representative on Norwich Peace Council, said: "The British Royal Navy personnel being held in Iran should be released. A negotiated diplomatic settlement is needed to achieve this. It is crucial that the terrible mistake made four years ago in attacking Iraq is not repeated with an attack on Iran. Another attack in the Middle East would make the region and the countries involved more unstable and result in more loss of life."
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Riverside Road Junction Update
James Conway writes:
Thank you to everyone who responded to my article about the busy junction of Thorpe Road and Riverside Road. Many other residents have, like me, found the junction dangerous when walking or cycling and a number of suggestions have been made. I am arranging a site meeting with council officers for next month to discuss possible safety improvements. If you have any ideas for the junction and would like to attend the meeting please let me know (contact details here).
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