21 November 2014
Concern is growing over consequences of Norwich City Council’s proposed anti-skateboarding byelaw, with over 5,500 people signed up on a petition [1] to scrap it and a planned demonstration of hundreds set to take the campaign to the streets. [2]
Green councillors, who are opposed to the ban, are working with war veterans and skateboarders to come up with a solution which protects Norwich’s heritage, safeguards pedestrians and does not criminalise young people.
Green Party Councillor for Mancroft ward, Lucy Howard said “We have been working with skateboarders on this issue and the vast majority agree the war memorial needs to be respected. What they disagree with is criminalising young people, through imposing a ban which encompasses a key area of the city centre. I’ve asked Labour cabinet members on more than one occasion for any evidence that local people are in favour of the ban but nothing has been forthcoming.”
Photo: The War Memorial steps
In an open letter [3] to Council Leader, Brenda Arthur, the Long Live Southbank group commented: “Our understanding is that there has been very little public consultation on the intended ban and very little engagement with the local skateboarding community. This results in a decision that affects the public but which has no input or direction from the public and as representatives of the electorate there is a responsibility for the council to ensure decisions are based on quantifiable data covering a broad a spectrum of sources and origins.”
Norwich City Council ran a six week consultation which asked local residents whether they supported an extension to the ban. The results were 6% in favour, 92% against and 2% said they didn’t know.
Local people are planning to come together to express this strength of feeling in a peaceful demonstration due to take place at 6pm at city hall, immediately before the next full council meeting on Tuesday 25th November. All are welcome.
Links:
1. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-norwich-skateboard-ban
2. https://www.facebook.com/events/398412873643582/?fref=ts
3. http://www.llsb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/LLSB-Norwich-Council-1-all-1.pdf
