Living Streets in Norwich

Norwich

Contact

John Peacock
Tel: 0160 345 7585
Email
livingstreetsnch@aol.com
c/o Norwich & Norfolk Transport Action Group
42-46 Bethel Street
Norwich
NR2 1NR

Living Streets Norwich is our first branch in East Anglia - and it aims to make one of Britain's great cities even more attractive.

The branch aims to work in partnership with the council, who are Living Streets members, and other groups to ensure that the living streets agenda becomes reality in this beautiful East Anglian city.

Latest News from Norwich

(This topic also featured in the Norwich Evening News on 3 February.)

Pedestrian charity and road safety campaign group, Living Streets joins battle against illegal and obstructive parking in the Norwich area by issuing its own parking warning notices.

Continued obstructive parking by students and others at the junction of South Park Avenue and Bluebell Road has prompted action by the Norwich and District Living Streets group who are responding to complaints of cars being regularly parked on the pavement and causing problems for buses and other large vehicles by reducing the width of the road at a busy junction.

Living Streets Area Representative, John Peacock commented: "We carried out a pilot blitz at this location last November with the help of local Lib Dem Councillor Judith Lubbock and were successful in reducing the 22 cars to under half that number within 24 hours. It was a good team effort and the notices pinned to car windscreens were very effective in dispersing the problem cars. We are optimistic that we can repeat that success and extend it to other problem areas."

"Cars at the bottom of South Park Avenue are in clear breach of road safety rules by parking on the pavement, causing an obstruction, and parking within ten metres of a junction."

Local residents and road safety campaigners consider your vehicle to be parked in such a manner as to be causing/contributing to local road safety problems and to be in breach of sections of the Highway Code, notably:

Rule 123: "You must not drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property."

Rule 217: "Do not park your vehicle on the road where it would endanger, inconvenience or obstruct pedestrians or other road users" and "opposite or within ten metres (32 feet) of a junction."

Rule 218: "Do not park partially or wholly on the pavement unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, the visually impaired and people with prams and pushchairs." Relevant laws: Highways Act 1835, Section 72 and Road Traffic Act, Section 34.

Please note: "Although failure to comply with the Rules of the Code will not in itself cause a person to be prosecuted, the Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the relevant Traffic Act to establish liability."

Please be more considerate in future and adhere to the Rules of the Highway Code.

Make an effort to kick the car-dependency habit by trying greener and more responsible travel patterns that include walking, cycling or public transport.

Thanking you for your co-operation.

Living Streets (Norwich and District)
42-46 Bethel Street
Norwich

Following the opposition of some local councillors to the popular plans to pedestrianise Norwich's city centre street, Living Streets sprang into action. Branch member John Woods told the Eastern Evening News in December 2004 that the Westlegate area "is a hideous place to shop because the pavements are so narrow and unsafe because of the traffic"

Living Streets Norwich has been invited by the County Council to present evidence to the Scrutiny Committee looking at the effectiveness of walking and cycling schemes across the county. This is an exciting opportunity to put the Living Streets perspective and we will be giving evidence alongside organisations such as the Norfolk Coalition for Disabled People and the Health Improvement/Casualty Reduction Group.

The branch has been active in many other areas. We have given evidence to Broadland District Council about action by a property owner which spoils the Marriotts Way cycle/walking route. We are also responding to regular consultations from local authorities, including:

1. Green Links and Riverside Walks; part of Norwich City Council's Replacement Local Plan
2. Air Quality Action Plan Consultation Document.
3. Draft Supplementary planning guidance on biodiversity for Norfolk

Two other issues recently highlighted by the branch are flytipping and bus shelters. Branch chair John Peacock has drawn attention to the fact that a phantom flytipper has been causing havoc in the Hellesdon area by dumping rubbish along one of the busiest roads into Norwich. "It's a very anti social practice and has caused a lot of mess and problems for local people" commented John in an interview with the Norwich Evening News on the subject.

The branch has praised Norwich Council's initiative in asking local people where bus shelters should be sited. "It sounds like a great idea" commented John. "It's high time the quality of public transport provision was upgraded. We need to get more people out of their cars and on to buses and by getting the public involved, we are taking valuable steps".

Why not get involved with the branch and enable Living Streets to have even more influence?