The Norwich Green

City Council Backs 20mph Limit Campaign

Norwich City Councillors have voted unanimously for the City Council to support a 20mph speed limit across all residential streets in Norwich. Green Party Councillors supported the proposals but argued that evidence should be taken from other parts of the country on how the lower speed limits can best be enforced. In order for the blanket 20mph speed limit to become a reality it needs the support of Norfolk County Council. Green County Councillors will be pushing the ruling Conservative Group at County Hall to back the proposals.

Peter Offord, a Green Party campaigner in Thorpe Hamlet ward, said: "This City Council vote is great news. It could result in Green Party policy being put into practice. A 20mph speed limit on all residential streets would improve road safety and air quality. It would also make pedestrians and cyclists safer. I know that residents on several roads in Thorpe Hamlet are campaigning for traffic calming measures but many are being kept waiting. A blanket 20mph limit could help us tackle road safety across the city more quickly."

Greens Oppose Barrack Street Flats Demolition

Green Councillors are opposing the plans of the Labour Executive at City Hall to demolish some of the council flats on the south side of Barrack Street (numbers 141-239).

Councillor Adrian Ramsay said: "The Green Party supports the proposed development of civil service offices on the site behind the flats but this could go ahead without these structurally-sound flats being demolished. The flats do need investment but the Council should put that investment in rather than abandoning some of our Council housing stock."

The Council intends to move tenants to other Council properties over the next 18 months. Residents still have the opportunity to object to the proposals at the planning application stage.

Anti-Incineration Campaign Update

Proposed Ber Street Development

An application for 164 flats to be built on the Lind garage site on Ber Street is expected to be revised. The number of flats proposed for the site is much greater than the number allocated in the City’s Local Plan. Green Councillors are supporting residents' objections to the Council. Concerns relate to the impact on traffic levels in the area, and on nearby buildings, of having a six-storey, 164-flat development. A revised application would be likely to include a smaller number of properties and/or offices. The site includes Mariners' Lane car park, which the City Council has agreed to sell.

Former LibDem Councillor Joins Green Party

Dawn Castle-Green, a former LibDem City Councillor, has joined the Green Party. Among the reasons for this move, Dawn cites the approach of the former LibDem administration at City Hall to tree management and to CityCare as well as its failure to oppose incineration and introduce comprehensive recycling facilities.

Recycling Update

Green campaigner James Conway writes:

Residents frequently ask the Green Councillors where they can recycle tetrapaks, the waxed containers with metal linings that fruit juices often come in. These cannot be recycled with normal cardboard but the Mile Cross Household Waste Recycling Centre at Swanton Road has started a trial tetrapak recycling scheme. As it is a trial the scheme will only be made permanent if it is well-used. A variety of other materials can also be recycled at Swanton Road, including car and household batteries.

We are also pleased to report that on-street recycling bins have now been installed in 15 busy city centre locations. These bins will make it much easier for shoppers, workers and tourists to recycle glass, paper and cans. They can also be used by nearby residents, many of whom have inadequate doorstep recycling facilities. City centre bins have proved successful in many other cities in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. I'm pleased that the Green Councillors successfully lobbied for their introduction in Norwich. The locations of the bins include the Bus Station, Castle Meadow, Pottergate, Theatre Street and Hay Hill.

Climate Change Exhibition

Green Party Councillor Andrew Boswell has been working closely with Norwich Cathedral, UEA and other organisations in developing an exhibition entitled "Changing the Climate, Changing Ourselves". The exhibition presents the science of Climate Change, how it will affect us and what individuals can do to make a difference – with practical examples of sustainable energy and housing. It will be held in Norwich Anglican Cathedral between 19th August and 16th September. Entry is free. Why not drop in during the month to find out more?

Comment Piece: Energy Policy

Green Party City Councillor Adrian Ramsay examines the options for our future energy needs and puts the case against nuclear power.

The world's reserves of oil and gas are becoming seriously depleted, with many analysts saying we have reached the peak of production. Furthermore, the increasing use of these fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to climate change. We are starting to see the effects of climate change, with flooding, hurricanes and other extreme weather patterns becoming more frequent in many countries. These effects will worsen if the burning of fossil fuels is not significantly reduced, and will have a devastating impact on low-lying East Anglia.

The first priority must be to reduce the amount of energy we use. Improved insulation in existing and new buildings would help cut energy use and reduce fuel bills. Furthermore, greening the economy to ensure that we are not importing goods that can be produced locally would create a massive energy saving and secure local jobs. Greens also favour a much greater use of small-scale renewable energy generation. Solar panels and mini-wind turbines for our homes should be promoted through the planning and taxation systems. Studies have shown that these options would create far more jobs than the alternatives.

The Green Party opposes Government plans for more nuclear power stations. They would provide a new target for potential terrorist attacks and generate more nuclear waste. This waste remains radioactive for thousands of years and no safe way of disposing of it has been found. Nuclear power also creates climate change emissions through industrial processes such as uranium mining and transportation. Furthermore, nuclear power is the most expensive option. In 2002 the Government had to bail out struggling nuclear generators British Energy to the tune of £12 billion, while the cost of storing our current nuclear waste is over £1000 for every person in the UK.

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