The Norwich Green

Please Vote Green in the City Council Elections

Janet Bearman (pictured left) is your Green Candidate for Town Close in the 4th May elections. Janet, who lives on Constable Road (near Ipswich Road), has been playing an active role in Town Close Green Party by visiting local residents and helping Councillor Chris Hull with campaigns and casework. Janet's interests include sustainable transport and organic gardening. Janet is a garden designer. If elected, she will make her council work her main job to ensure she has enough time to fulfil her duties.

The Green Party holds five City Council seats. 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 Janet Bearman to ensure there is a strong Green voice for Town Close at City Hall.

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 won the most recent local election in Town Close. Chris Hull was elected as your Green County Councillor in May 2005. Please elect Janet Bearman on 4th May to ensure there is a strong Green voice at City Hall.

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.

Town Close Green Candidate Janet Bearman 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 Chris Hull 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. Town Close Councillor Chris Hull 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 Candidate Janet Bearman, 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."

The Eagle Licensing Application

Several residents have asked us to report the decision of the City Council's Licensing Sub-Committee on the application by the Eagle pub on Newmarket Road. After considering a record 37 objections, the committee decided to grant the extended opening hours but not to allow any outdoor music. Indoor live music was granted for Sundays only and with the use of noise limiting equipment. Residents should keep a log of any noise or disturbance from the pub. This can be used to ask for a review of the licence. Please contact Councillor Chris Hull (664928) if you would like more information.

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.

Chris Hull Backs Janet Bearman

Chris Hull, Green County Councillor for Town Close, is urging residents to vote for Janet Bearman in the City Council elections. Chris, who was elected to County Hall in May last year, believes it is important for Town Close to have a Green voice at City Hall as well as County Hall.

Councillor Chris Hull said: "Janet has been supporting my work in the ward on a variety of campaigns and I believe she would be a very effective representative for Town Close residents. The Green City Councillors are making an impact. It is crucial that we have a strong Green voice for Town Close and for Norwich at City Hall."

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.

Janet Bearman 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...