Green Party slammed for opposing sustainable development

12.11.38pm GMT Tue 7th Nov 2006

A leading Liberal Democrat councillor has attacked the Green Party councillors in Norwich for voting against plans for a sustainable development in Norwich.

Cllr Judith Lubbock has written to the Eastern Daily Press and the Norwich Evening News about the Barrack Street development which has been passed by the Norwich City Council Planning Committee, but without Green Party support.

" It is not often that a planning committee member gets excited over a planning proposal" she writes, "but last Thursday was an exception. The Jarrold proposals for the substantial development off Barrack Street may well deliver one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in Norfolk on a brownfield site within a mixed-use development.

"The building in question fronts the river as an

alternative to the many residential units which do so, will achieve BREEAM 'Excellent' rating for sustainability and will have undercroft parking. It will hopefully be the natural home for a Government body dealing with the environment - DEFRA!

"The development will also deliver public access to a site which to date has been closed to the public. There will be a riverside walk, improved pedestrian and cycle links, public open space including a boulevard with

views of the Cathedral and a paved square, a bridge across the Wensum to link the site with Bishopgate, and if possible moorings. All of this close to the city centre and public transport links.

"Whilst most members of the planning committee welcomed the proposal," writes Cllr Lubbock, "two Green Councillors voted against it and their Leader Cllr. Adrian Ramsay

objected to it at the meeting. Amongst the reasons they gave for objecting was the fact that a 60 bed hotel would be competition for bed and breakfast places in the city, and that 50 year old flats on Barrack Street would be demolished and that their replacement housing would then be part of a Housing Association and not the City Council.

"The people of Norwich must wake up to this negative attitude which is typical of the Green politicians who want to stifle sustainable residential and commercial development in Norwich," Cllr Lubbock concluded.