At the last census there were 9934 people living in Sewell in 4866 households. Twenty per cent of the population is under twenty, and fourteen percent is over 60. 58% of the population is economically active, a third in skilled trades.
The area falls in the highest band for fuel poverty; this means that a lot of the population are living in a property with a fuel poverty energy efficiency rating of band D or below, and, after they have heated their houses, they fall below the poverty line.
55% of the housing Stock is in owner occupation . The majority of private owned property was built before built before 1919 , and is likely to be poorly insulated.
The council housing fares better, but a program of cavity wall and roof insulation, and boiler replacements, needs to be carried out
9% of the housing stock has no outside space,; but, the average garden size is 60 square meters (30’ x 18’) so there is potential to use heat pumps to heat a lot of the properties, rather than fossil fuel
A green party council would create a not-for profit company specialising in insulation solutions, to carry out insulation of the council properties, and would give support and training to companies able to install heat pumps, producing a green environment and creating more employment opportunities.
Angel Road Junior School left to rot by Norfolk County Council. Local Green Party councillors call for urgent action. Angel Road School has become a target for anti-social behaviour and drug dealing since being seemingly abandoned by Norfolk County Council. Green councillors Gillian Francis and Alex Catt have criticised the County Council for neglecting the… Read more: angel road school
We need more COUNCIL homes for those on the streets One family forced to move into a single room in Ipswich by Norwich council As we see more and more vulnerable people sleeping on the streets, your Green councillors have been calling for more action from our Labour-run city council. Greens believe everyone is entitled… Read more: WE NEED MORE COUNCIL HOMES FOR THOSE ON THE STREETS
Sewage dumping is filling the River Wensum Greens are leading the fight against water companies dumping raw sewage Recently Cllr Gary Champion and Cllr Gillian Francis brought a motion to the council that focused on how the River Wensum, which meanders its way through our fine city, needs a higher level of protection. However, n… Read more: SEWAGE DUMP FILLS RIVER WENSUM
What is happening to our public allotments Greens demand an end to 2-year waits for empty allotments Many residents have been keen to get allotments to help grow their own food during a cost-of-living crisis. They have reported huge waits despite many allotments seen empty and unused at sites across the city like Valpy Avenue… Read more: What is happening to our public allotments
FLYTIPPING COST TO TAXPAYER D0UBLES T0 £350K A YEAR Where is the CCTV we were promised? Norwich City Council are still failing to act on fly-tipping despite long- standing pressure from Green Party councillors to ramp up enforcement, as we see the annual cost of fly-tipping has doubled to nearly £350K. The Labour administration launched… Read more: FLYTIPPING COST TO TAXPAYER D0UBLES T0 £350K A YEAR
The Council is lax on street cleaning Greens taking matters into their own hands We get weekly feedback from residents that our area is being neglected by our city and county councils, that street cleaning is missed and that alleyways are left to become overgrown rubbish tips that are hotspots for anti-social behaviour. We continue… Read more: The Council is lax on street cleaning
Thank you for sharing your ideas for Angel Road School! Green councillors support consultation on future of abandoned school Norfolk Community Land Trust (norwichclt.org.uk) held a consultation event on the future of the Angel Road Junior School site on 8th July at the Rosebery Road pub. Your Green councillors were very happy to come along… Read more: Angel Road School Update
Greens call on all parties to withdraw support for selling off council homes Green Party councillors have criticised Norwich City Council’s Labour administration for lobbying the government to put into place policies which Labour front bench politicians wouldn’t necessarily support. At the council’s meeting in June, leading Labour councillors proposed to lobby Rishi Sunak’s Conservative… Read more: Greens call on all parties to withdraw support for selling off council homes
Green Gillian Francis seeks protection for Angel Road site Gillian is working with Green councillors to seek a preservation order ver the past year, children, parents, staff and local residents have been left in the dark while decisions have been made about the future of Angel Road Junior School. We have asked that this site… Read more: protection for Angel Road site
Sewell ward councillors Alex Catt and Gary Champion have written to Norwich North MP, Chloe Smith, regarding the future of Angel Road school. The councillors’ letter appears below, in full. Dear Chloe Smith MP, As the member of Parliament for Norwich North, I am sure you are aware, both parents and residents in the wider… Read more: Sewell Councillors Write to Chloe Smith about Angel Road Junior School
Upcycled wood used to build homes for under threat swifts
Green councillor building urban habitats to bring wildlife back to Norwich
Swifts have been in a sharp decline across the UK due to destroyed habitats.
Numbers of swifts have been in swift decline over the past two decades as habitats have been destroyed with the population falling by 60%. Conversely other countries with dedicated policy to protect urban wildlife habitats have not seen this fall.
Green councillor Gary Champion is campaigning to make Norwich a swift friendly city. He is pushing the city council to incorporate these habitats into all new developments with the inclusion of swift bricks, a specific type of bird nest for swifts. As a low-cost measure to help this threatened species, he is also pushing for swift boxes to be added to existing properties whenever routine maintenance is being carried out.
He said, “We would encourage members of the community to participate in our drive to help the swifts either by installing your own swift boxes or getting in touch with us so that we can help install one from upcycled wood. We would also love to hear from you if you already have one – please do tell us your experiences.
Green councillors assist residents with mould issues
Housing Ombudsman makes multiple rulings against Labour administration
Mould and damp issues have been in the national news recently for the adverse health effects they cause. Your local Green councillors have been assisting residents in pushing the Labour-controlled City Council to take urgent action after months of ignoring residents’ concerns.
Your Green councillors, Alex Catt and Gary Champion, have long been calling for the council to get to grips with its housing repairs backlog and provide the service that all of its tenants deserve.
Cllr Alex Catt said, “It has been really upsetting to see so many tenants struggling with serious mould issues while our Labour council continues to ignore their concerns, with repairs either being shoddy or non-existent. Mould is a serious issue which can impact our health. It is about time that the city council takes this seriously and addresses their failure to provide essential maintenance. With a £23 million underspend on their housing budget, what are they waiting for?”
Park and Stride
Councillor Alex Catt helped to set-up a park-and-stride scheme with St Clements Hill School and St George’s Church to ease congestion and traffic around Wall Road, Sprowston Road and Constitution Hill.
Litter Picks
Gillian, Gary and Alex organised a litter-pick of Gertrude Road, Romany Road,Marlborough Road and Mousehold Heath. They managed to pull out multiple bags of litter as well as reporting fly-tipping and needles to be removed.Gillian, Gary and Alex will be raising the issues of drug dealing around Temple Road and anti-social behaviour at Sandy Park as priorities for the local police team at the next Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel meeting
New Road Signs
Councillor Alex Catt has successfully had street signs replaced at Bull Close and Starling Road. He has reported many more in the area for replacement – let us know if you see a missing or damaged sign!
