12 April 2016
Helping small businesses and tackling rogue landlords are two of the pledges made by the Green Party in Norwich in its manifesto for this year’s local elections. By offering the use of shops and office space at a greatly subsidised rate, the Greens want to encourage new businesses to start up in the city. If elected to take control of City Hall, they would aim to limit the number of houses rented out by the room in certain parts of Norwich, seeking to preserve stable communities and to help prevent the exploitation of people who need to rent a home.
Housing is a major theme for the Greens this year.
Councillor Ash Haynes, leader of Norwich City Council’s Green group, said:
“We want to make sure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to live. We have a strong commitment not to evict anyone because of the government’s bedroom tax, and to make existing council tenants safer, we would begin the installation of secure front doors on council-owned blocks of flats.”
Green plans for the local economy include improving Norwich Market, supporting credit unions and community banks and encouraging all employers in the city to pay a real living wage of £10 an hour by 2020.
Entrepreneurs will find support in investment in low-carbon industries, particularly those based on technology which can harness the talents of Norwich’s highly-skilled workforce.
The theme of community runs through the Green manifesto which calls for protection of outdoor green spaces and the use of re-use networks to enable members of a community to help each other and to prevent waste.
Green councillors would reinstate the city council’s budget for planting street trees and make a priority of cutting the pollution created by the city’s buses as well as creating 20mph speed limits in residential areas across Norwich. Tackling climate change is also a Green priority.
Norwich Green Party will be launching its manifesto for the city council elections on Tuesday 12th April, at 3pm, outside The Forum. Candidates and current councillors will be available to discuss their priorities.
Further information:
Cllr Martin Schmierer – 07769 222249
Cllr Ash Haynes – 07815 585966
