Samir Jeraj, who represents Town Close ward, argues it’s time for tenants to come together to fight for decent conditions and rents.

Read Samir Jeraj’s thoughts, over in our Opinion section.

Want to submit an Opinion piece to us? Email editor@southnorwichnews.co.uk

The search is on to find Britain’s Favourite Market. To vote, go to the National Association of British Market Authorities’ website before Thursday 5th January 2012.

Ian Patterson, markets manager for Norwich City Council, said: “Norwich Market is still very popular with people living in the city and visiting it. We’re very proud of the market and we’d urge everyone who feels the same to give it their vote and help it lift the national title.”

Norwich Market is unique in Britain with almost 190 stalls, it it the largest Monday-to-Saturday open market in the country.

There’s been a market in Norwich since Saxon times and it’s been on its current site longer than any of the buildings that surround it.

Originally the market was held in Tombland, in the open space now occupied by café terraces. This ancient market was displaced when the Normans began to build the cathedral, and so, for more than 900 years, the market has been on its current site.

Many are fighting plans to change the layout of a junction on Dereham Road, arguing drivers would use their residential streets as rat runs as a result.

Some even threatened legal action, arguing their streets could be changed forever, if the proposals went ahead.

Over the past year, a campaign has been gathering pace. Residents from streets such as Gladstone, St Philips and Connaught Road have come together to oppose plans proposed by the County Council, which would ban right turns off Dereham Road into Old Palace Road and Heigham Road. The changes are to allow a fast bus lane from Bowthorpe into the city centre.

The No Right Turn Ban group has lobbied for an alternative to be thought up. Barclay McKelburgh, from Stafford Street said: “To me, all they’re doing is considering people who live outside the city, not considering residents who live in the city.” Neville Young, a campaigner from Northumberland Street added: “We’re already suffering for a significant degree of rat running. If right hand turns were banned, it’s only going to get worse.”

At yesterday’s workshop, the County Council displayed an alternative – Option 3 – which keeps right hand turns and widens the junction slightly. This option is marginally more expensive, estimated to cost between £300-£400,000 but would still improve bus journey times and improve the junction for pedestrians.

Many at the drop-in welcomed the chance to see the plans in detail. Councillor Richard Bearman (Green, Mancroft) said: “I’m very pleased that we’ve got this public access session. We want as many people as possible to give their views.” Bert Bremner (Labour, University), who sits on the committee who will make the final decision said: “I’m thrilled at the amount of people who’ve come. It’s a vindication of the Labour view. We want to consult everybody on this issue.”

Jennifer Wilson who lives on Gladstone Street with her young family signed the original 200-strong petition against the right hand turn ban. She said: “I want Gladstone Road to stay as it is, rather than seeing more traffic driving through it.”

The formal consultation will begin in January 2012. Before then people can view the options at a second drop-in session next week:

• Thursday 15 December 2pm – 8pm, City Church, Nelson Street.

The results of the New Year consultation will be reported back to the Norwich Highways Agency Committee for consideration. The Committee will then decide how to proceed with the scheme.

A first draft stirred up strong opposition from local people, who warned their roads would be turned into rat runs.

In the first draft, right turns off Dereham Road, into either Old Palace Road or Heigham Road would have been banned, as part of a bigger scheme to bring in a new fast bus route from Bowthorpe to the city centre.

But residents turned out in force, arguing that such plans would turn roads like Gladstone Street and Alexandra Road into rat runs through to Earlham Road.  A 200-strong petition was handed to the City Council in March 2011.

Now the County Council is offering local residents and businesses the chance to find out more about a second option, before they are asked which they prefer.

The Norwich Highways Agency Committee asked engineers to come up with an alternative. The second option retains right turns from Dereham Road by revising the junction layout, including some road widening and a change to the phasing of the traffic lights.

The formal consultation will begin in January 2012. Before then people will be able to view the two options and talk to the project team at two drop-in sessions:

• Tuesday 6 December, 8am – 7pm, Belvedere Centre, Dereham Road.
• Thursday 15 December 2pm – 8pm, City Church, Nelson Street.

The results of the New Year consultation will be reported back to the Norwich Highways Agency Committee for consideration. The Committee will then decide how to proceed with the scheme.

For further information on the proposals the project team can be contacted by emailing norwich.transport@norfolk.gov.uk, or by telephoning 0344 800 8020.

Images from today’s march joined by hundreds of public sector workers calling for a fairer deal on pension reform.

According to the UEA’s independent newspaper, Concrete, the students are part of the Save UEA Music campaign, which yesterday learnt the School of Music is to close.

To read more details of a midnight injunction served on the protesters, see Chris King’s report for Concrete online.

A rally will begin outside City College before marching on City Hall.

In south Norwich, seven schools have so far said they will close, with the authorities making contingency plans to cover care homes and hospitals.

Wednesday’s one-day national strike could be supported by as many as 3 million people, according to organisers, the TUC. The National Association of Head Teachers has voted to strike for the first time in its 114 year history. And unions of health professionals such as physiotherapists and radiographers are amongst many in the NHS which have voted for strike action.

According to Norfolk County Council “it is impossible to predict what the exact impact will be” but the latest information on any disruption will be available online. Cliff Jordan, Cabinet member for efficiency said: “Outside of schools we expect most County Council services, such as care services, park and ride, recycling centres and libraries, to be open for business but we will try to let people know of any disruption as soon as possible.”

Schools known to be closed on Wednesday include: The Hewett School, Avenue Junior School, St John’s RC Infant School, St Thomas More Junior School, West Earlham Infant School, Colman Infant School and Tuckswood Community Primary and Nursery.

Colin Roy, a Norwich teacher said: “The concern about pensions has drawn us together and both younger and older members see the need to take action.  I am an older teacher but I am striking for those that come after me. The government has tried to divide and rule with their adjustments to plans, but I feel that has backfired.”

Norse Care, which runs 26 care homes and provides care at 13 housing with care schemes in Norfolk, is implementing contingency plans. Tricia Fuller, from Norse said: “Arrangements are being made to ensure that sufficient care staff are available to cover for any who do not come in on 30th November. Our priority will be our residents’ welfare and we are confident that this can be safeguarded, even if there may be some disruption to their normal day.”

Trades unionists and supporters will assemble at City College, Ipswich Road, at 11.00 and march from to a rally outside Norwich City Hall at midday. Unions insist there are “genuine and creditable alternatives to government attacks on pensions, cuts in services and welfare and policies which have pushed both youth and female unemployment figures to a million each.”

A similar rally almost a exactly a year ago attracted hundreds of people to Chapelfield Gardens despite freezing temperatures.

The University of East Anglia Council decided the fate of one of its oldest departments, The School of Music.

A silent protest has been held outside the meeting, followed by a rally and march at lunchtime.

As students raise concerns that the closure could be the tip of the iceberg, the UEA say it’s the only department currently under review.

The Chairman of the University Council, Mr Richard Jewson, said: “It is a sad day when a school is to close, but particularly one which is held in such affection, and it gives us no pleasure to make this decision. But Council members believe that it would be irresponsible to ignore the danger signals highlighted by the review. The University cannot afford to continue to subsidise a School where the future prospects are so challenging, and this is the best way we can safeguard and strengthen other Humanities subjects.”

Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition to save the school.

As we gather in protest, there’s hope that a last minute, unprecedented offer might make a difference.
Last month it came to light that a secretive and clandestine ‘review’ had taken place, without the knowledge or input of any of the academic teaching staff, or anyone in the School with the exception of the acting head of music. The review took place in 2002. But the authors of the 2002 report, Professors Robert Pascall and Richard Middleton have been outraged by the way in which their work was used:

“This is most dispiriting. Not least because the gist of our 2002 report was that the future for Music could only be decline or investment, and we strongly recommended investment. Clearly this course was not followed; the result is predictable (and the misuse of our report very irritating). The new review follows a familiar model where a department is set up to fail, by a pattern of university (in)action, and then the victims are held responsible; the plodding jargon merely exacerbates the insult.” – Professor Richard Middleton

Since the announcement of closure was made, the School of Music has received statements of support from countless academics, musicians, celebrities such as Jools Holland, Brian Eno, Dave Ronwtree and Coldplay, alongside many members of the general public locally, nationally and internationally. A petition undertaken online and on paper has raised almost 10,000 signatures. It has been incredible and touching to see how valued the School is across the globe.

Our Silent Protest this morning will demonstrate the power of music and symbolise the loss it would be to the university should they choose to follow through with the findings of the review. A second rally and march will take place from 12.30pm, with speakers and music contributing to what we hope to be an upbeat affair. Follow details on our Facebook page.

Our last hope is that the University will take up an offer made in the eleventh hour.

In addition to words of support, the School, and indeed University, has received an extremely generous and unprecedented joint offer from the Royal Musical Association (RMA) and the National Association for Music in Higher Education (NAMHE) who would like to send in a team of four academic subject specialists who have proven track records of running financially successful music departments to properly and transparently assess the School and formulate an appropriate plan of action should they find that, in fact, the School should be kept open. This offer is being made at no cost to the University.

It follows the announcement that the University of East Anglia plans to shut its School of Music for financial reasons.

Photo: Chloe Bone

In a statement the UEA have explained the move, saying: “The School of Music’s ability to earn research funding is of particular concern, in the light of funding changes to universities. The review also notes that it would be difficult to grow student numbers within the School saying it would require the University to divert resources from, and possibly put at risk, other disciplines.”

A final decision will be taken by the University Council on 28^th November 2011, after it is looked at by the University Senate on 9^th November. A demonstration is planned by campaigners on campus tomorrow, when the senate meets.

Union of UEA Students spokesperson Matthew Myles said the review was undertaken without independent consultation and highlights a wider problem: “Higher Education currently sits on the precipice of higher fees, a cap on student places, and a government white paper which further restricts the activity of universities, and seeks to introduce bidding for student places to further increase competition. We are against the marketisation of education, and believe that the fight for our School of Music represents a much broader argument going on across the country about the value of Arts and Humanities in Higher Education.”