The Norwich Green

Please Vote for a Strong Green Voice at City Hall

A message from Janet Bearman to Town Close residents:

"Green Councillors work hard to represent residents on a range of environmental, social and community concerns. There are currently five Green City Councillors. Please elect me as your local Green Councillor on Thursday 4th May to strengthen the Green presence at City Hall.

The Green Party won the most recent local election in your area (Town Close), when Chris Hull was elected as your Green County Councillor in May 2005. It is clear that Greens can win in Town Close.

Green Councillors deliver newsletters and visit residents throughout the year. I have enjoyed meeting many Town Close residents on the doorstep over the last year and would be delighted to represent the area as one of your local Green Councillors."

Why Only One Vote?

In each area or ward of the City there are three City Councillors and one County Councillor. This year's election is for one of the City Councillors for your area. Last year Chris Hull was elected as your Green County Councillor for a four year term of office. The LibDems currently hold all three City Council seats for Town Close. The Green Party is hoping to win one of these on 4th May and increase the Green presence at City Hall. There are currently five Green City Councillors and two Green County Councillors.

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 Townb Close 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-September 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. Over 70 people attend a public meeting organised by the Green Party to discuss lobbying the Council on the issue. Councillor Chris Hull advises Town Close residents wishing to support or object to local applications how best to make their views known to the Council.

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:

Green Councillors support a residents' campaign against an application for garages to be built on a green space between St. Stephen's Road and Wood Street. The Planning Committee votes for the development to go ahead with support from all the LibDems and some of the Labour Councillors.

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 2005:

Norwich City Council passes a Green Party motion calling for MPs to back the Local Communities Sustainability Bill. The Bill would give Councils more power to protect local services such as post offices and corner shops.

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 extending the green box recycling scheme to more houses and 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. The Greens argue there is still a long way to go in improving local recycling facilities.

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 Chris Hull 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

Janet Bearman 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.

Lime Trees Update

Councillor Chris Hull writes:

Local residents and Green Councillors have persuaded the LibDem Executive at City Hall not to radically pollard 32 mature trees on Lime Tree Road. We used a report from an independent arboricultural consultant in which it was argued that pollarding the trees (reducing them to trunks) would destroy their visual effect and be less healthy for the trees than less drastic options such as crown thinning and removing weak branches.

I am pleased that the less drastic methods are now the Council's preferred option. This campaign is a clear example of how pressure from residents and Green Councillors can have positive results. At a public meeting in February we persuaded the LibDems to take the issue to the Executive for consideration. Until then they were intending to leave council officers to do the work without a democratic decision-making process being followed.

The Executive has left open the option of pollarding as a 'last resort'. We will be keeping an eye on the Council's plans for the trees. If any pollarding is planned, we will press for residents and the independent arboriculturalist to be consulted before the work is carried out to establish whether it really is a 'last resort'.