The Green

The newsletter of the Norwich Bowthorpe Ward Working for the local community Winter Edition

www.adrianramsay.org.uk www.greenparty.org.uk GREENS CALL FOR BETTER BUS SERVICE

In a recent Green Party survey of residents in Bowthorpe and Earlham, many people raised concerns about the high cost and poor quality of bus services in Norwich.

Councillor Adrian Ramsay (pictured right), who is standing to become your Green MP for Norwich South at the General Election, asked residents what issues they would like him to tackle if elected as their MP. Many Bowthorpe and Earlham residents said they would like more affordable, reliable and frequent buses.

Adrian Ramsay said: “I agree that bus travel needs to be made cheaper and easier. Green Party Councillors have been calling for the County Council to set up a Quality Bus Contract, which would give the Council some control over bus prices and routes. If elected as your MP I will fight for local and national action to make our bus services more frequent, affordable and reliable.”

Votes cast Greens on Track to Norwich South across your 34% Vote 2009 General Election Win in Bowthorpe constituency in the 2009 local At the General Election, Bowthorpe ward is 25% elections part of the Norwich South voting area. In 21% each of the last three local elections, the 18% Green Party has finished in first place across Norwich South. A similar voting pattern at the General Election would see Adrian Ramsay elected as your MP.

Green LibDem Labour Con As the table on the left shows, much has changed in Norwich politics since the last

Number of city and district councillors across General Election, when Labour’s Charles Norwich South Clarke was re-elected. Many traditional Labour, Conservative and LibDem 2005 2009 Change supporters are intending to vote Green at Green 5 13 ▲Up 8 the General Election to help Adrian Ramsay Conservative 0 3 ▲Up 3 beat New Labour’s Charles Clarke. Labour 5 5 No change Bowthorpe and Earlham residents can elect Lib Dem 19 8 ▼Down 11 a fresh, local voice to Parliament.

Printed by Anglia Print Limited, 5b Moor Business Park, Ellough Road, Beccles, NR34 7TQ. Printed on Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of Adrian Ramsay and Norwich Green Party, recycled all c/o 27 Clarendon Road, Norwich, NR2 2PN. paper. Costessey School Academy Plan Anti-Social Behaviour

School governors at Costessey High have given the In a recent Green Party survey of local green light for proposals for the school to become an residents, people across Bowthorpe, North academy – but local parents and residents will get a Earlham and West Earlham reported chance to have their say before a decision is taken. problems of anti-social behaviour in their area. Adrian Ramsay has passed this Becoming an academy school would mean new school information to the Police. Police officers buildings but it would also mean that a private have recently been focusing on anti-social organisation called the Ormiston Trust would be behaviour in the Peverell Road area. If dominant on the school’s governing body. you have a view about how effective this

Adrian Ramsay, your Green Party Candidate for the has been, or if you wish to report a General Election, said: “Costessey High is an improving community safety problem in your area, school. I am concerned about changing the structure please call the Police on 0845 456 4567. when the school is doing well and I am concerned about a private organisation having influence over the Three Score Maintenance curriculum and the way the school is run. It shouldn’t be One of the most common concerns raised necessary to become an academy to receive by residents of Three Score in Adrian’s Government funding for school buildings.” recent survey was poor maintenance of local footpaths, trees and bushes. Adrian Parents will be consulted on the plans early next year. has raised these concerns with the City Costessey High School can be contacted on (01603) Council. Adrian is also speaking to Council 742310 or [email protected] . officers about the lack of a corner shop in Three Score, which many residents also Photo: SCHOOL raised. CHANGES?

Adrian Ramsay, Earlham Green Lane Resurfaced who is standing to become your MP The stretch of Earlham Green Lane by at the General Larkman Lane, which was riddled with pot Election, has holes, has at last been resurfaced. concerns about Residents had been waiting for the pot the plans for holes to be filled for many months. The Costessey High School to become resurfacing eventually took place in late an academy. October after Adrian Ramsay highlighted to City Council officers that the state of the Clean Up Shoemaker Pub Site road was posing a safety risk to residents.

Local residents in West Earlham are calling for the derelict Shoemaker pub to be demolished as soon as The Green Grocers possible. The pub has been closed for years now and Organic food and drink the site is lying unused and attracting vandalism and fly- tipping. A planning application for 12 flats and 6 houses Farmers’ Market: second Sunday of every month on the site was approved earlier this year but there is no sign of work starting to clear the site. Earlham House Shops, Earlham Road, Norwich 01603 250000 www.thegreengrocers.co.uk

Adrian Ramsay has written to the owners of the site Monday-Saturday 9-7; Sunday 10-4 asking when the development will start and pressing for the area to be cleared up immediately. Contacting Norwich Green Party

Photo: EYE SORE Please get in touch if:

The former • you would like Adrian Ramsay to take up Shoemaker pub at any issues on your behalf; West Earlham • you can deliver Green Party newsletters, Shopping Centre would like to join or want more information. is attracting more vandalism and fly- 27 Clarendon Road, Norwich, tipping all the time. Adrian Ramsay is NR2 2PN; (01603) 611909; pressing for the [email protected]

site to be cleared.