In this issue

Save the Puppet Theatre!
Children's centre opening
Samir Jeraj selected for Town Close Ward
Tesco Appeal submitted
Greens help cut Council energy bill
News in brief

Save the Puppet Theatre!

The future of Norwich Puppet Theatre has been left uncertain following the withdrawal of the £60,000 annual grant from the Arts Council for England. The theatre, which educated and entertains 10,000 people each year, needs £180,000 annually to run. This is made up of income from shows and grants from the City and County Councils as well as the grant from the Arts Council.

At the last full City Council meeting, Green Councillor Adrian Ramsay asked what action the City Council is taking to help the Puppet Theatre survive. He was told that senior councillors and council officers are in behind-the-scenes discussions with the people running the Puppet Theatre about how to try to put it back on a firm financial footing. The Green Councillors also responded to the Arts Council consultation to support the case that the Puppet Theatre grant should not be cut.

Councillor Stephen Little, Culture Spokesperson for the Green Party City Councillors, said: "The Puppet Theatre is a crucial cultural facility that deserves full support. It is disappointing to say the least that the Arts Council has withdrawn its grant. The County Council has given the theatre extra money to help in the short term and I hope it can use that breathing space to find enough ongoing income to survive in the long-term."

Photo: Green Councillors Stephen Little, Adrian Ramsay and Bob Gledhill at the recent Save the Puppet Theatre march.

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Children's centre opening

The new City Children's Centre, based at the Vauxhall Centre at Johnson Place, will officially open on Wednesday 5 March 2008. The Centre will provide links to health visitors, crèches, childminders, the JobCentre Plus and other social and healthcare agencies for parents with children aged between 0 and 5.

Chris Hull, Green Party County Councillor fo Vauxhall Street area, will be speaking at the opening. Chris commented: "It is particularly exciting that the Vauxhall Centre has been chosen to run the Children's Centre. It will be unique in Norfolk and a valuable asset to the area." Parents who live in Nelson Ward are welcome to pop in between 1pm and 2pm on 5 March to find out more. Alternatively, you can call (01603) 729808 for more information about the centre.

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Samir Jeraj selected for Town Close Ward

Samir Jeraj (left) has been selected as your Green Party Candidate for Town Close Ward in the next City Council elections on 1 May 2008

If elected, Samir (who lives off Unthank Road) will serve alongside the existing Green Councillors for the area. Samir is already playing an active role in the Town Close Green Party team, supporting the work of Chris Hull, Janet Bearman and Stephen Little and visiting residents to discuss local issues.

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Tesco Appeal submitted

Tesco has submitted an appeal against the City Council's decision to reject its application for a store on the corner of Unthank Road and Trinity Street. At the time of writing there is little information available about the appeal but it is expected to take the form of a full Public Inquiry in late 2008. Details, when available, will be included in future newsletters. Green Councillors continue to campaign against the plans and are calling on Tesco to sell the derelict site so it can be put to a productive use such as housing.

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Greens help cut Council energy bill

The County Council has agreed to 21 innovative recommendations from a working group looking at ways it can reduce energy usage. Chaired by Nelson Green Party Councillor Andrew Boswell, the group investigated energy saving across buildings and services - both to save money and to help cut the Council's carbon footprint by 25 per cent over five years.

Green Councillors at City Hall have been pushing for over a year for a similar working group to be set up there. A Green Party motion calling for year-on-year reductions in emissions from Council buildings and services was passed in January 2007. However, at the time of writing, it seems the Labour administration is still stalling on setting up a working group to oversee this process.

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News in brief

City College has unveiled plans to rebuild and expand its campus on the current site over the next seven years. A local residents' group has been formed to take up concerns with the College about the effect of the plans on the local environment. For more information please phone Chris Hull on 664928. The Green Party supports accessible education and training but wants to see thorough consultation with residents over the details of these plans.

The County Council has agreed to 21 innovative recommendations from a working group looking at ways it can reduce energy usage. Chaired by Green Councillor Andrew Boswell, the group investigated energy saving across buildings and services - both to save money and to help cut the Council's carbon footprint by 25% over five years. Green Councillors at City Hall have been pushing for over a year for a similar working group to be set up there. A Green Party motion calling for year-on-year reductions in emissions from Council buildings and services was passed in January 2007. However, at the time of writing, it seems the Labour administration is still stalling on setting up a working group to oversee this process.

The County Council is conducting a review of special educational needs (SEN) schools which could result in a reduction in the number of SEN places available in the Norwich area. Green Councillors are working with parents at Parkside School to press for an increase in the number of SEN places and for the successful models of SEN schooling, such as that at Parkside, to be retained.

Neighbourhood surgeries are run by the City Council each week for residents to speak to neighbourhood wardens and housing officers about issues of concern. There is a surgery at the Vauxhall Centre each Monday between 10am and 12noon and one at the Lakenham Area Office, Mansfield Lane each Friday from 10am until 12noon.

Work is currently being carried out to improve the junction of Newmarket Road and Ipswich Road for pedestrians and cyclists. The work includes constructing two new crossing islands and new cycle crossing points. The work should be completed by the end of March.

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Published by Tom Dylan, 123 St Leonard's Road, Norwich, NR1 4JN
on behalf of Norwich Green Party, 27 Clarendon Road, Norwich, NR2 2PN