The Norwich Green

Greens Improve City Council Budget

The City Council has recently agreed its budget for the next financial year. Green Councillors succeeded in amending the proposals of the LibDem Executive to avoid some of the worst cuts proposed and to increase funding for some key environmental initiatives. Among the improvements to the budget made by the Greens were:

• Continued support for the Bittern, Wherry and East-West rail partnerships
• Funding for an additional two or three plastic bottle recycling banks
• Prevention of a proposed cut in 'handy tip' visits (for disposal of bulky items)
• An increase in the tree-planting budget
• Money for the development of a strategy to help tackle climate change

Councillor Adrian Ramsay, Co-ordinator of the Green Party Group on Norwich City Council, said: "Because the Green Councillors hold the balance of power at City Hall we were able to influence some of the budget decisions. There are many aspects of the final budget that we are unhappy with, such as cuts to the community grant budget, certain staffing cuts and a reduction in funding for street cleaning. However, I am pleased that we engaged constructively in improving the budget proposals put forward by the LibDem Executive."

"The LibDem Executive proposed cuts in Council services and departments in order to help plug the £2m overspend in the City Council budget for the 2005/06 financial year. Since the LibDems announced this overspend last month Green Councillors have been asking questions about how it arose. It seems the LibDem Executive has not been keeping a close enough eye on the implementation of the Council budget. We are lobbying for more accountable and transparent financial management practices at City Hall."

Tom Llewellyn, Green Party City Council Candidate for Wensum ward, added: "I am pleased the Green Councillors obtained funding for more plastic bottle banks in Norwich. We are still a long way from having a truly comprehensive recycling scheme locally but this is the latest improvement for which the Greens have successfully lobbied. We would welcome suggestions on where the new plastic bottle banks should be sited."

Earl of Leicester Left in Rubble

Wensum residents have been asking what is going to happen to the former Earl of Leicester pub site on Dereham Road. Development company East Anglian Property is hoping to build flats on the site but has not to date had its application approved by the City Council. The site currently contains only the rubble from the former pub building.

Wensum Ward Green Party Councillor Rupert Read commented: "Last summer we worked with local residents in trying to protect this historic building and significant local landmark from demolition. We were annoyed when the LibDem Executive at City Hall refused to put in place a Building Preservation Notice to protect the building while listed status was being investigated. National planning laws should be changed to prevent companies from hastily knocking down buildings and then simply leaving them as rubble for months."

Marlpit Lane Verges

Tom Llewellyn writes...

We have been in touch with residents who are unhappy that the verges at the top of Marlpit Lane were destroyed by lorries during the construction of the new Cameron Court properties. The grass has totally disappeared and the verges become muddy in wet weather. Council officers have informed us that the company concerned has a responsibility to restore the verges, although weak national planning rules mean this does not have to happen for several months. The Green Party will be lobbying the Council to ensure the verges are fully restored and that they are protected while the grass grows back.

Garden Benches for Britannia Court

Residents of Britannia Court have been waiting for some benches for their garden for several years. They recently raised this issue with the Green Councillors, who made a formal request to the Council for the benches to be installed. As a result two benches have been ordered and will soon arrive in time for the warmer weather.

Bowthorpe Road Cemetery Entrance Repaired

Following enquiries from residents in the Bowthorpe Road area, the Green Councillors lobbied for the wall by the Bowthorpe Road entrance to the cemetery to be repaired. We are pleased that this work has now taken place.

Overgrowing Vegetation: Motum Road

Councillor Read writes...

Green Councillors have discussed with residents the state of the chicanes on Motum Road. Vegetation in the chicanes has been overgrowing since last summer. It is having an adverse effect on the appearance of the street and the litter some people drop is getting caught up in it. We have raised this with the Council on numerous occasions and have at last received a promise that work to cut back the vegetation and clear the litter will be carried out in April. We believe that the delay in carrying out this work is not acceptable and will be lobbying for the Council to make environmental cleansing a higher priority.

Mobile Phone Mast Application Expected

Phone mast company Hutchison 3G (which trades as '3') has written to your Wensum Green Party Councillors about its plans to install a new phone mast near the Dereham Road/Ring Road junction. The company is currently considering three potential sites in the area:

• Kwik Fit Tyres, 372 Dereham Road
• Gatehouse pub, Dereham Road
• Dereham Road / Hellesdon Road junction

Noise from Community Hospital Generator

Wensum Ward Green Party Councillor Adrian Holmes writes...

The generators at Norwich Community Hospital on Bowthorpe Road are tested every fourth Saturday. Residents of nearby Godric Place contacted the Green Party about the noise impact of the testing. The Green Councillors asked the Primary Care Trust (PCT) if action could be taken to reduce the noise. The PCT agreed in future just to test one generator and to erect a screen during testing to reduce the noise. From the feedback we've had it seems this has solved the problem but residents should contact us if they are still affected and we will get back in touch with the PCT.

Pathway to Ranworth First School

The Green Party Councillors have been lobbying for lighting to be installed on the pathway to Ranworth First School from Earlham Grove, next to the former Bowthorpe School site. The lack of lighting makes the area dangerous for people using it at night. NELM Development Trust, which now owns this land, has said it will install lighting when development takes place on that part of the site in 2007. The Green Councillors, along with local parents and the Head of Ranworth First School, are lobbying the County Council and NELM to install lighting by the footpath as soon as possible.

Recycling Improvements in Wensum Ward

The most common issue raised with the Green Councillors by Wensum residents is the need for a better recycling scheme in Norwich. The Green Party believes that investment in a truly comprehensive local recycling scheme should be a top priority for the City Council. Our lobbying has resulted in some improvements, such as the inclusion of tins and cans in the green box collections and the installation of the first two plastic bottle recycling banks in the City Council area (at Waitrose in Eaton and Sainsbury’s on Queen's Road). The Green Party Councillors are pleased to report the following improvements to recycling facilities in parts of Wensum ward:

• Houses in the following streets have been given green recycling boxes: Knowland Grove, Jamieson Place, Bates Green, Randle Green, Gentry Place and Gristock Place.
   
• Residents in the following areas will be receiving metal can recycling banks this month: Hellesdon Mill, Rotary Court, Britannia Court, Fellowes Close and Nicholas Mews.
   
• Communal recycling banks for residents in the following locations will be installed in the next few months (for paper, glass and metal cans): Briar Court, Armes Street flats, The Willows, Leas Court, Godric Place and Apsley Court.

Tom Llewellyn said: "There are still blocks of flats in Wensum without recycling banks. The Green Councillors will continue to lobby for all residents to have doorstep recycling facilities. Recycling improvements are essential if we are to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and stop the County Council from building an incinerator at Costessey to burn waste."

Greens Secure Support for Small Shops and B&Bs

Tom Llewellyn writes...

At the City Council budget meeting last month the LibDem Executive proposed cuts to the City Council's Economic Development budget. The Green Councillors proposed an amendment that the Council should guarantee to continue its support for promoting alliances of independent and local businesses in the city. The amendment was agreed. The Green Party believes that small businesses benefit the local economy and provide a distinctive character to our city.

Among the groups the Council will be supporting are the 'Norwich Lanes' (independent businesses in the Upper Goat Lane area) and the new consortium of independent guesthouses and B&Bs in the city. The consortium is hoping to reverse the decline in trade that some B&Bs have suffered following the recent opening of new hotels in Norwich. If you are a guesthouse or B&B owner and would like to join the consortium please phone Gordon Betts on 624891 or 07796 231701.

Local and Organic School Meals Update

At the County Council elections last year, a key part of the Green Party manifesto was a commitment to healthier school meals. The Green County Councillors have been lobbying for school meals to include more fresh, locally produced and organic products.

Chris Hull, Co-ordinator of the Green Party Group on Norfolk County Council, said: "There have been some improvements, such as an increased amount of fresh fruit and vegetables on the menus and a reduction in the use of processed foods. However, further improvements are still needed. I have been meeting with key advisors on the sourcing of local and organic food and using their knowledge to lobby the people in charge of school meals in Norfolk. We hope that more fresh, local and organic food will be used in future – for the benefit of school children and the environment."