Greens call for rethink and consultation on eco-town design - but welcome government view that town does not need NDR
Norwich Green Party remains sceptical about the Rackheath eco-town which was given the go ahead by government today. Green councillors say the development is part of an oversized growth plan for Norwich and is certainly not yet 'eco' enough. The decision to go ahead, they argue, must now kickstart fresh thinking and consultation on how much development Norwich really needs, how it can be sustainable and how an eco-town can be part of it.
The party also emphasises that the best eco principles should in any case be in all local housing and transport stategies.
Green councillor Rupert Read, the party's candidate in the Norwich North parliamentary by-election, welcomed the government statement that the eco-town does NOT require the proposed Northern Distributor Road (NDR) - a view long held by Green Party councillors but rejected by other parties. He called for the NDR to be scrapped.
The association of the NDR with the plans for the eco-town has been a major reason for Green Party criticism of the eco-town proposal. However, the party still has many concerns until a more sustainable overall development plan for Norwich has been agreed.
Rupert Read said:
'The decision to go ahead with the eco-town must now be followed by fresh thinking and consultation on the detail, scale and nature of the project. A proper eco-community should contain local jobs and local services as well as excellent public transport links and zero carbon homes.
'I welcome the government rejection of the claim that the eco-town needs the NDR. Yet another spurious argument for that road has dissolved and the NDR plan should be scrapped. The NDR proposals have been distorting and skewing the local strategies for transport and housing and we need to look at these afresh. Plans for massive housing expansion, pushed by the Conservative led county council, via the GNDP (Greater Norwich Development Partnership), are not justifiable.
'The government and local councils should now produce a new development plan for Norwich with excellent transport and other sustainable features - and consult with the people of Norwich, particularly North East Norwich, as they have not been adequately consulted so far.
The party also emphasises that the best eco principles should in any case be in all local housing and transport stategies.
Green councillor Rupert Read, the party's candidate in the Norwich North parliamentary by-election, welcomed the government statement that the eco-town does NOT require the proposed Northern Distributor Road (NDR) - a view long held by Green Party councillors but rejected by other parties. He called for the NDR to be scrapped.
The association of the NDR with the plans for the eco-town has been a major reason for Green Party criticism of the eco-town proposal. However, the party still has many concerns until a more sustainable overall development plan for Norwich has been agreed.
Rupert Read said:
'The decision to go ahead with the eco-town must now be followed by fresh thinking and consultation on the detail, scale and nature of the project. A proper eco-community should contain local jobs and local services as well as excellent public transport links and zero carbon homes.
'I welcome the government rejection of the claim that the eco-town needs the NDR. Yet another spurious argument for that road has dissolved and the NDR plan should be scrapped. The NDR proposals have been distorting and skewing the local strategies for transport and housing and we need to look at these afresh. Plans for massive housing expansion, pushed by the Conservative led county council, via the GNDP (Greater Norwich Development Partnership), are not justifiable.
'The government and local councils should now produce a new development plan for Norwich with excellent transport and other sustainable features - and consult with the people of Norwich, particularly North East Norwich, as they have not been adequately consulted so far.
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