Norwich Green Party | Wensum Ward Newsletter

Please Vote Green in the City Council Elections

Rupert Read (pictured left) is your Green Party Candidate for Wensum ward in the Norwich City Council elections on Thursday 3rd May. Rupert, who lives in the ward on Merton Road, has been one of your Green Party City Councillors for three years. During this time, he has kept in touch all year round by delivering newsletters, visiting residents and taking up local issues with the council.

Rupert has worked with Wensum residents on a range of important issues, including campaigns for improved local bus services and cycle routes, defending green spaces and defending council housing.

A summary of the Green Party's 2007 City Council Election Manifesto will appear in our next newslettert, along with a reminder of recent Green Party campaigns in Wensum ward. For more information in the meantime please browse this site or contact Wensum Green Party on (01603) 614642.

The Green Party holds all three City Council seats in your area (Wensum Ward). The nine Green Councillors provide a constructive opposition to the Labour administration at City Hall. Help build a Greener Norwich: re-elect Rupert Read on Thursday 3rd May.

Ivy Road Care Home Proposal

Councillor Rupert Read writes:

A planning application for a 94 bedroom care home and offices on Ivy Road has been submitted to the City Council. Ivy Road forms part of the old Bowthorpe School site. The land is owned by NELM Development Trust, which is seeking planning permission prior to selling the site. A group of local residents has approached me to express concern about the proposals. They are concerned about the loss of a mature tree on Ivy Road that would result from the development as it stands. They are also concerned about the scale of the proposed care home, because of the extra traffic that a 94 bedroom care home and offices would bring. The residents are not opposing the principle of a care home on the road but are asking for the plans to be adapted to account for these points. If you wish to comment on the application please write as soon as possible to Gerry Willimott, Planning Department, City Hall, St. Peter Street, Norwich, NR2 1NH or e-mail gerrywillimott@norwich.gov.uk quoting reference 07/00271/F.

Unitary Status Explained

Councillor Adrian Ramsay writes:

Norwich is one of 13 areas short-listed by the Government to become a Unitary Authority. Here we answer some frequently asked questions. For more information please visit www.norwich.gov.uk.

What does it mean? Currently, some local services in Norwich are run by the City Council (such as housing, planning and parks) and some by the County Council (such as transport, education, social services and waste disposal). Unitary status means all these services are run by the same council.

Who supports it and why? All three of the large parties at City Hall (Labour, LibDems and Greens) support the bid. A Unitary Authority would mean all services delivered in Norwich would be decided upon in Norwich. Currently our city’s waste disposal and transport services are controlled by Conservative councillors who represent rural Norfolk. As a result the campaigns against incineration and for better bus services and cycle routes in the city have been difficult. They would have been easier if these services were run by councillors who are elected by Norwich residents.

Who will make the final decision and when? The Government will make the final decision in July following a consultation. We will publicise the details of the consultation when they are known.

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Another Former LibDem Councillor Joins the Green Party

Simon Richardson, who was a Liberal Democrat City Councillor between 2000 and 2004, has joined the Green Party. Simon joined the Green Party partly because of its support for council housing and opposition to the demolition of the structurally-sound council flats on Barrack Street. Simon, who lives in Mancroft ward, is the second former LibDem Councillor to join Norwich Green Party in the last year. Dawn Castle-Green joined last summer, citing the Green Party's clear opposition to incineration as a major reason for defecting. There are also six former Norwich Labour Councillors actively supporting the Green Party.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour

Reports of anti-social behaviour made by residents to the 24-hour hotline (212100) are used to help decide where the Police and community wardens should concentrate their ongoing work. Residents should still phone the Police when they require an immediate response: 0845 456 4567 (non-emergencies) or 999 (emergencies). The shrubs and trees in the park off Northumberland Street have been cut back due to problems of anti-social behaviour and drug abuse. This has made the area more open and safe.

Waterworks Road Traffic Calming Measures

Following a consultation with local residents, some long-awaited traffic calming measures have been approved for Waterworks Road: flashing 30mph speed limit signs near Wensum Middle School; improved visibility at the junction with Dereham Road; changes to the road markings between Nelson and Northumberland Streets. The measures are set to be introduced later this year.

Nelson Street Application Withdrawn

A planning application for 11 houses and 17 flats to be built on a green space north of Armes Street, between Nelson and Northumberland Streets, has been officially withdrawn. Local residents and Green Councillors had expressed concern about the loss of this green space (a haven for wildlife) and the density of the proposed development. Some Nelson Street residents have been approached by a developer wanting to buy the ends of their gardens, which border the site. However, it seems unlikely that the developer will be able to acquire all the gardens in question and a fresh planning application (including consultation with residents) would be necessary for any new proposals for the site.

'Bring CityCare Services Back Under Council Control' Say Greens

The Green Party has revealed that one of its key policies for the 3rd May City Council elections is to bring at least some services currently provided by private firm CityCare back under council control. Many City Council services, including waste and recycling collections and the management of parks and trees, were contracted out to CityCare in 2000. The council will soon have to decide who should run these services when the contract ends in 2010. Councillor Adrian Ramsay said: "Privatisation often proves to be more costly and makes services less accountable and responsive. This is supported by feedback from residents and local newspaper reports."

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Don't Attack Iran

Norwich Green Party is joining with local members of the Stop the War Coalition to back the growing international pressure against Britain and the USA launching an attack on Iran.

Councillor Rupert Read, the Green Party's representative on Norwich Peace Council, said: "The British Royal Navy personnel being held in Iran should be released. A negotiated diplomatic settlement is needed to achieve this. It is crucial that the terrible mistake made four years ago in attacking Iraq is not repeated with an attack on Iran. Another attack in the Middle East would make the region and the countries involved more unstable and result in more loss of life."

Knowland Grove Area Recycling Banks

Wensum Green Councillor Adrian Holmes has been approached by some residents of flats in the Knowland Grove area who are unhappy that the communal recycling bins they were promised a year ago have still not been installed. The residents have started a petition calling on the council to install the bins as soon as possible. Councillor Holmes said: "This long delay is unacceptable. It is important that residents of flats have local recycling facilities as well as residents of houses and the council should keep its promises on when these bins will be provided. I will be supporting the residents' petition to the council."

The Norwich Green