The Norwich Green

First Buses Under Scutiny

Norwich City Councillors have initiated an investigation into First Bus services in the city. The Scrutiny Committees of the local Councils will be working together to challenge First Bus managers over a range of public concerns about local bus services. City Councillors will be pressing for this to be followed by the development of a strategy for bringing about a reasonably-priced, reliable and comprehensive set of bus services in Norwich.

Green Party Councillor Chris Hull said: "Renewed public concern over First services was sparked by yet another set of price rises recently. Furthermore, First has still been unwilling to listen to public concerns about bus routes – such as the lack of a direct service from Unthank Road to the hospital after the 25 route was revised over a year ago.

Safer Norwich Partnership Open Day

Residents are invited to attend this open day between 1:30 and 7pm on Thursday 25th January at the Vauxhall Centre on Johnson Place. Representatives of the local Councils, Police and various other public bodies will be present to answer residents' questions about any matters relating to community safety and the local environment. The partnership's members are already implementing anti-crime measures in Town Close and are keen to meet residents.

News In Brief

Anti-social behaviour problems can be reported to the following dedicated City Council phone number: 212100. Green Councillors have also taken up a range of such problems on behalf of Town Close residents that City Council anti-social behaviour officers are helping to resolve.

Tesco has withdrawn its appeal against the City Council's decision to reject its second application for a store on the corner of Unthank Road and Trinity Street. The company still has a few weeks to appeal against the rejection of its third application. It is currently unclear whether or not Tesco will submit a new application.

Some Lime Tree Road residents have written to the City Council asking for assurances about any work that is carried out on the mature trees on the road this winter. These residents would like to be kept informed of timescales for planned work. They have also asked for confirmation that the character and shape of the trees will be retained during pruning. Last year local residents and Green Councillors succeeded in getting the Council to drop plans to radically pollard the trees (which would have left them as stumps) in favour of more sensitive management methods.

Incineration One Year On: A Public Meeting

A year after the ruling Conservatives at County Hall first announced plans to build an incinerator to burn our waste in Costessey, anti-incineration campaign group NAIL2, Norwich Friends of the Earth and the Evening News have organised another public meeting. The meeting will discuss the latest proposals (which include Trowse and Costessey as possible locations for an incinerator) and look at the alternatives to burning our waste.

The Green Party is the only political party that is opposed to incineration anywhere in Norfolk in principle and is arguing for comprehensive recycling facilities and a resource recovery park instead.

Speakers at the meeting will include Dr Dick Van Steenis (industrial emissions specialist), Maxine Narburgh of Bright Green (zero waste expert) and Norman Brookes (meteorologist). Nelson Ward Green Councillor Adrian Ramsay will be in attendance. The meeting is open to all and will be held on Monday 29th January, 7pm at Costessey High School on Richmond Road in Costessey.