The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Norwich Youth Court just before Christmas on Thursday 22nd December, where he pleaded guilty to charges of affray and possession of an air weapon.

The charges relate to an incident on Bluebell Road on 8th October 2011 in Eaton Park, in which a 12 year old boy was shot. Two other youths, aged 14 and 15, arrested in connection with the incident were given final warnings.

Under the referral order, the offender is expected to agree a contract with a youth offender panel and encouraged to take responsibility for what they have done.

The teeenager was also ordered to pay £150 in compensation.

An activity area with climbing equipment suitable for older children should be completed by spring 2012 and the children’s play area will also be improved.

The plans were drawn up in consultation with local people earlier this year.

It’s one of the first of its kind, funded by the National Lottery. The main messages were put into drawings with the help of artist Andrew Bolton.

The unveiling of the mural comes a day ahead of a disabled rally in Chapelfield Gardens. Disabled people, their families and friends will take to the streets of Norwich to protest against government cuts to disability benefits and the impact on local services, dubbing it the “Hardest Hit Day of Action.”

Stuart Thompson Mencap’s regional campaigns officer said: “We recognise that it may be difficult for disabled people living in the East to travel to Norwich, so we are inviting people to send in a photo of themselves, which will be displayed at the march as part of a ‘photo protest’. This will be a more accurate reflection of the numbers of people who are concerned about the planned changes. This way we can ensure that disabled people’s voices are heard.”

The march will start at Chapelfields Gardens at 11.30 am.

One of the people involved with the project Caroline Fairless-Price gave a speech explaining why the project was important and warning about some of the dangers of proposed changes to how disabled people are funded:

“Everyone needs services to lead a civilized life – water, electric, transport, rubbish collection.  Disabled people may need very individual services.  Their providers require experience and resources. The organizations with that expertise and capability have been Social Services and the NHS.  But what is happening now?  Social Services – the lights are on but no-one’s at home. Home care has been abolished and now “the Market” is supposed to provide for all our needs.  These changes started back in 2004 under a Labour Government, and Social Services have been trying to knock me into place in the Market since then.  I just don’t fit and other people don’t too. I used to be confident that I could go back to Social Services for help (but 25% cuts).  Now if you try to contact them you are redirected back to the marketplace and you can only access the remnant of their service when you have become an emergency. But for vulnerable people the harm is done – it’s too late.  Prevention has gone out the window. What happens to those people who don’t fit in the fragmented market? They can no longer turn to a large, flexible state service for long term care.  If they need continuity and stability the only place of safety is residential care.  People are forced to leave their homes, against their will.  A move to residential care should only be a positive choice.  It’s wrong. The same transfer of services to the Market is going to be inflicted on our NHS.  Why?  When this clearly doesn’t work.

• The NHS already uses the Market where it is useful.
• GPs have said they don’t need a change in law to have more influence.
• The new structures are more bureaucratic and expensive.

To provide good services we need collaboration not competition. Quality of life and health care are things that matter to us all.  We all like choice and a Market for some things, but at times in our lives we need democratically accountable, joined-up services that work for everyone. We can’t let our politicians abolish Social Services and the NHS.  ‘Institutional Abuse’ (the definition that I have is as follows): “…the collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to vulnerable people”.  All three political parties are doing it.  They are making other organizations provide the services, without giving them the organizational and tax raising powers needed to make it possible.  When a service isn’t provided politicians and providers argue as to who is at fault and the service user dies.  They have let us down. I am not blowing the whistle on this – I am sounding a claxon.”

As this short film shows, hundreds enjoyed watching, rehearsing and performing in the Saxophone Massive, which opened the NNF11 outside the Forum.

William Galinsky, the festival’s Artistic Director said: “Sax Massive was one of the highlights of last year’s Festival.  Its success is testament to the appetite of people in this part of the world to be part of something extraordinary.  Next year’s programme is still under wraps but we can promise that NNF12 will include opportunities to get involved in exciting projects that will showcase more local talent and re-imagine how Norwich and Norfolk are seen by the wider world.”

This year’s festival finale was also free to the public – a late night wired aerial production in Eaton Park.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2012 runs from 11 – 26 May 2012

A 12-year old boy needed treatment in hospital after being hit by an airgun pellet near Eaton Park.

Police are appealing for witnesses, after a boy was shot by an air rifle. He was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital just after 1pm on Saturday 8th October 2011.

The 12 year old was on Bluebell Road when he was hit in the right elbow with a pellet.

Officers are investigating whether this is linked to two reports of vehicles being damaged on Bluebell Road. In one case a bus was hit by an unknown object which smashed one of its windows and, in the second, a white van was hit by an unknown object that smashed a window: shards of the glass injured the driver.

Police would like to reassure the public these are isolated incidents and are following lines of enquiry.

Anyone who witnessed the incidents, saw any suspicious behaviour in the vicinity of Bluebell Road or has knowledge of the incidents should contact Bethel Street CID on0845 4564567 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The majority of residents feel there’s a “crying need” for the site to be retained as a green, open space for the community.

The site, off City Road, has stood empty for over 3 years. It was once home to a sports and leisure centre, widely used by the local community. Last night was a chance for residents to ask questions of the council about why plans for the site are being consulted on again, after a previous scheme was withdrawn in January.

The site is owned by Andre Serruys, and a new proposal includes a minimum of 65 houses on the northern part of the site with a smaller area of public open space to the south.

One resident, Sue P. accused the council of taking the “easy option” if they allowed building housing on the land, arguing they would be “taking away a valuable piece of green space within a high density area.” Terry Dunning, who lives on nearby Geoffrey Road, added: “In Lakenham there is a crying need for open space and for this space to be retained for use by the public.”

Chaired by councillor David Fairbairn (Lib Dem, Lakenham), he added his opposition: ”I am convinced that this site should not be used to build houses on. It has survived as an open area, mostly under grass, for over a century, and it is actually a part of the city’s heritage.  It would be tragic if houses were built on it. The Council should use all means possible to ensure it remains open ground, with public access.”

The council’s head of planning, Graham Nelson said, according to national standards: “There is a shortfall of parks, gardens, play provision and allotments in this area.” Radical changes are being proposed by the Government, which could become planning policy within a year, which he said: “Includes provisions for local communities to identify areas of green open space for protection.” But he warned that a a time of austerity, the idea that the council would purchase the land for the local community was unlikely: “put bluntly, we can’t afford it.”

At the end of the meeting Cllr Fairbairn added: “Local residents are the ones who can supply the information to the City Council, making the case for why this site should not be earmarked for development in this way.” Councillor, Victoria MacDonald (Labour, Lakenham) said: “We need evidence that this is not acceptable [...] What we need is your voice to support us.”

The consultation on whether to include the Lakenham Sports and Leisure Site, in the City’s draft development framework, runs until the end of September.

A residents’ association is being set up in light of the opposition: contact lakenham.residents@hotmail.co.uk

For the full story, click through to our Features section.

To learn more about the project, click over to out Big Ideas section. We’ve used them as a great example of what can be done with rundown parts of Norwich.

Just off Grapes Hill, the new garden is tucked between Dereham Road and Valentine Street. It’ll be open to the public every day. Less than a year ago the garden was an area of tarmac. But behind the scenes local residents have been working since 2008 to turn the space into a place for the local community.

The Grapes Hill Community Garden Group was given a lottery grant last summer and hard landscaping work started in September 2010. Planting started in the garden with daffodils and fruit trees, followed by hardy perennials and shrubs. By late May, the garden was full of over two hundred species of plants.

As you enter the garden, there’s a pergola with vines and wisteria trained up it. Behind this are 5 small deep beds. A path leads past four larger deep beds and through a miniature orchard with apple trees and a wildflower meadow beneath the trees. Then there is an area of paving with seats and ornamental borders fringed with lavender, leading to a circular lawn surrounded by flowers and herbs. There is a log feature at the end of the lawn, which can be used as seating or a place for children to play.

As well as the apples in a mini orchard, there are fan-trained cherries, a fig, a plum, an apricot, raspberries and blackberries. In the shadier areas we have planted woodland wildflowers such as primroses, snowdrops, dog violets and bluebells.

To celebrate the opening there’ll be music, a barbecue, ice-cream and drinks in the garden from 11am to 3 pm on Sunday 7th August.

Children’s activities are also being organised in some other smaller parks, including Punch and Judy, bush-craft and treasure hunts.

Free outdoor theatre is coming to Heigham Park throughout August. Performed by The Yarnsmith of Norwich, Dave Tonge, from a tent within the Recreation Road park, he’ll also have a couple of Tudor games to get the children involved.

The performances all start at 11am starting from Sunday 31st July. Dave Tonge said: “Come and hear one story, or stay for the hour.”

The city’s smaller parks will be hosting activities throughout the summer on the following dates: Wednesday 27th July at Harford Community Centre, Thursday 28th July in Earlham Park, Tuesday 9th August in the Jenny Lind, and Wednesday 24th August in Heigham Park.

It’s part of a £1.3M project which will see a children’s charity open their new centre at the St Raphael Club.

The former St Raphael Club will become the base for The Hamlet Centre’s children’s activities and services. The charity supports children with special needs but have outgrown their base on Ella Road.

Work started last year on the major transformation of the building, which includes moving the charity’s popular toy library from Ella Road. Chief executive Michael Rooney said: “We will now open in September, not June, but it’s for a positive reason, meaning that all our children’s services can now be based at the new site, leaving all of Ella Road for our adult service.”

The charity are planning a summer family fete in Eaton Park on August 7th, proceeds of which will go towards their fundraising project.