Summer 2008 The green newspaper for the Norwich South constituency Green Party The Rising Cost of Living: Green Solutions Needed Hardly a day goes by without a media what are the potential solutions to the living in a long-lasting way. This needs and get the benefit of free and secure headline about further increases in problem? to involve reducing energy consumption energy for the future. the price of everyday goods. The The Green Party has as well as increasing renewable energy “It is also crucial that the Government price of oil on international markets has long argued that the production. At present food production invests money raised from taxes on fuel doubled in little over a year and this Government needs to put is far too dependent on oil – mainly into measures that will help reduce our is having a serious effect on the price in place measures to reduce because foods are often transported oil usage. More efficient and cheaper of oil-based products. These price our society’s dependence on oil far longer distances than is necessary. A public transport is the most pressing increases affect the cost of – not just because of the damaging more localised economy would benefit example.” petrol but, in a society that effect on the environment of burning local producers, boost local jobs and The Transition Towns movement is highly dependent on oil, ever-increasing amounts help tackle climate change as well as has been set up to help towns and they also affect electricity of fossil fuels, but reduce the use of fossil fuels. We also cities around the country reduce their and food bills. also because need the Government to regulate against level of oil consumption in a way that With the world close to these fuels the excessive use of products that are will be positive for local communities. reaching the peak of its oil are in limited oil-based, such as most packaging and The Transition Norwich group is being production the price supply. plastic bags. formally launched on 1st October. of oil is going A d r i a n “Reducing energy use in the home Details are in the box below. to continue R a m s a y , is also key. The ways individuals can to rise. Green Party help with this receive lots of attention. Transition Norwich Launch On the Pa r l i a m e n t a r y However, Government can and should face of it Candidate for help through introducing free home Wednesday 1st October, 7.30 pm, St.Andrew’s Hall this seems Norwich South, said: insulation schemes (which would also Main Speaker: Rob Hopkins, to be a “We need concerted help tackle fuel poverty). There Founder of Transition Network U.K. m e s s a g e action from the should be far more investment in clean Admission: £5. Book online at: of doom and Government to renewable energy – not just large-scale www.transitionnorwich.org gloom for people reduce the country’s solutions but also in making small-scale or call (01603) 614460. on low incomes who dependence on oil wind turbines and solar panels much Free films at Inner Space, St.Benedict’s are really suffering from in order to tackle cheaper. This would enable many more through July/August/September. See www.transitionnorwich.org the increasing cost of living – so the increasing cost of people to install them on their homes Percentage of votes cast across your Greens Ahead in Norwich South General Election constituency (Norwich South), 2006-2008 In the local elections on 1st May the 35% Green Party finished in a clear first “In Charles Clarke’s Norwich Green place across your Parliamentary South constituency, as in 2007, Constituency (Norwich South). A the Green vote topped the poll, 30% similar vote at the next General Election and this time by around 2,000 LibDem would see Green Party Candidate votes – a pointer to a very 25% Labour Adrian Ramsay replace Charles Clarke intriguing general election contest as your local MP. to come.” BBC News Online, 8,567 Norwich South residents 2nd May 2008. 20% voted Green on 1st May – over 3,000 Conservative higher than the Labour vote and over 15% 2,000 higher than the LibDems. It is “Although such boasts [about clear that Norwich South is one of the 10% best prospects in the whole country becoming an MP] are common for securing Green representation at in political circles, Ramsay’s Westminster. now appear to be based on firm 5% The Green Councillors would like electoral support.” Channel 4 to thank everyone who voted Green website, 2nd May 2008. 0% in the local elections. 2006 2007 2008 Edited and produced by James Conway. www.norwichgreenparty.org Printed by Cambridge Newspapers Limited, Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6PP. Promoted by Tom Dylan on behalf of Norwich Green Party, both c/o 27 Clarendon Road, Norwich, NR2 2PN. Mixed News on Post Offices Save New Costessey On 24th June bosses at the national Post Office! Post Office annouced their decision The latest twist in the Post Office 42 Days about which local Post Offices in saga is that Post Office Limited is • Length of time that Norwich are to close. There was now recommending that the New UK Police will be mixed news for Norwich residents. Costessey branch on Norwich Road able to hold terrorist The Vauxhall Street branch, which be closed. Ruth Makoff, Green Party suspects without had been proposed for closure, will Councillor for Wensum Ward (which remain open. However, Post Office borders New Costessey) said: “The charge, under bosses announced that the branches Norwich Road branch is the local Post new Government on Rosary Road and Bowthorpe Road Office for thousands of residents, legislation are to close. Peter Offord, Green Party Councillor for including many of my constituents in Adrian Ramsay, Green Party Thorpe Hamlet, by the Rosary Road Post Office the Woodhill Rise area of Wensum • Length of time in Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich Ward. The Green Councillors will be which 15 million South, said: “I am delighted by the community facilities that need to be responding to the consultation to outline decision to save the Vauxhall Street supported and given more services to why this branch should remain open people are born branch. It is a popular local facility run. The continual erosion of the Post and I urge residents to write in too.” around the world that provides a crucial service to Office network is not acceptable.” The consultation runs until 26th thousands of local people, including The Rosary Road branch will remain August. You can send your views • Length of time it takes many elderly and disabled residents. open until 1st October and Bowthorpe to: National Consultation Team, for each UK citizen to However, I feel that the decisions of the Road until 1st August. In both cases the Post Office Limited, FREEPOST national Post Office are inconsistent as newsagent and shop will continue to CONSULTATION TEAM or e-mail consume 200 litres of exactly the same arguments apply to function. Green Councillors are asking [email protected] refined oil the Rosary Road and Bowthorpe Road residents to continue supporting these branches. The Government should important local community facilities to recognise that Post Offices are crucial ensure that they survive. Save Our City! On 7th July the independent 1.1 Million Boundary Committee announced • Number of low wage its recommendation for the future of local government in Norfolk. The earners who will be committee’s preferred option is one hit when the 10p unitary council responsible for all tax rate is scrapped, local government services across the even after the latest whole of Norfolk plus Lowestoft. Two concessions reserve options were also put forward, one of which (known as the ‘doughnut’) would give Greater Norwich its own • Number of people in unitary council. The other option would the UK who own a Green Party Councillors and local residents involve putting Greater Norwich in celebrate the decision to keep the Vauxhall Street Post Office open second home the same council as the Broads and Yarmouth and Lowestoft. In both these • Number of people cases, there would be a second council Anglia Square Redevelopment for the rest of the county. planning to Anglia Square is set for a makeover The layout of today’s central square Claire Stephenson, Deputy Leader downsize their home under plans by site owner Centenary would also be changed. Sovereign of the Green Party City Councillors, in order to deal with Ashcroft. The plans involve the complete House, formerly the offices of HMSO but said: “This is an extremely poor set the credit crunch redevelopment of the site, building long since an empty eyesore, would be of options. All of them involve an houses and flats and creating space for demolished under the proposals. enormous, remote council covering a large food-store with parking facilities. Tom Dylan, Green Party Councillor for most or all of the county. However, Mancroft Ward, said: “Green Councillors the ‘doughnut’ option is clearly the 70 Percent are calling for any redevelopment of best of the three for Norwich as both Anglia Square to meet local needs for the others would leave the city with no • Rise in the price more affordable housing, for a high council of its own. We need to respond of rice since the proportion of independent and local to the Boundary Committee with a beginning of 2008 businesses and for renewable energy clear ‘Save Our City’ message. The generation to be included on site.