Norwich Evening News highlights key issues for city in 2023

There are many factors that make urban life work and improve the economic wellbeing of the thousands of people who live and work in the fine city.

But there are key issues that need attention after our readers raised concerns.

These include the need for more affordable housing, a better bus service, measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, a focus on scheduling roadworks and improved access to a dentist.

We spoke to experts to find out what they feel should be done to improve these challenges during 2023.

Affordable housing

Labour county councillor for Norfolk County Council Chrissie Rumsby, who represents the Mile Cross ward (Image: Newsquest)

Chrissie Rumsby, Labour county councillor for Mile Cross, said: "What we need more is social housing and build it to Passive House standard, which creates ultra-low energy buildings."

She added better social housing provision would make people "not live without the threat of eviction" and help them "prosper" which could boost the local economy.

The eco-friendly homes on the former site of the King's Arms Pub in Mile Cross, Norwich, which were built by Broadland Housing Association and Norwich City Council (Image: Norwich City Council)

But she said: "If you look at other places and their levels of social housing, Norwich can stand strong - but we need to build more."

Better bus service

Eleanor Laming, Green councillor for the Brundall ward on Broadland District Council, who lives in Thorpe St Andrew, said: "We need to look at increasing services. What is important to people is reliability.

Eleanor Laming, who represents the Green Party and Brundall ward on Broadland District Council (Image: George Thompson)

"Buses are good for reducing carbon emissions and bus travel is sociable."

She said better real-time information at bus stops would boost passenger numbers.

Mrs Laming was positive about many of Norfolk's bus firms, including First Bus, signing up to the Government's programme of capping single fares to £2 from January until the end of March.

A First Bus in Norwich city centre (Image: Newsquest)

David Jordan, marketing manager for First Eastern Counties Buses which runs many services in the city, said 2022 had been a "difficult year" for the bus industry.

He said staff shortages and unavoidable delays from roadworks had affected its services, which the firm apologised for.

Mr Jordan added: "We are involved in a number of partnership schemes that will come to fruition in 2023 aimed at both improving punctuality and reducing journey times."

Anti-social behaviour

Kerry Johnson, 46, from Hellesdon, who runs two youth groups in Costessey - funded by the town council - believes the key to tackling anti-social behaviour is better investment in youth services and clubs by Norfolk County Council.

Kerry Johnson, who is a professional youth worker in Costessey (Image: Kerry Johnson)

Miss Johnson said: "In general, young people are not being thought about by adults. 

"When you run a youth club and have positive adult engagement it stands them in good stead."

She added young people ended up spending time on the streets out of boredom and if they got involved in low-level crime it could lead to more serious crimes including county lines drug running.

That made people feel uneasy about going out in their communities which created a vicious circle because there were fewer witnesses of anti-social behaviour.

A police officer talking to young people (Image: Newsquest)

Chief Insp Edward Brown, community policing, said: “We are supportive of any service which provides youth diversion and would welcome additional services."

John Fisher, cabinet member for children’s services at the county council, said there has been "considerable investment" into youth services in the past two years, including the Targeted Youth Support Service and the New Roads project.

He added: “In addition we have built close working relationships with key partner agencies, in particular the police, to ensure resources have the greatest impact in meeting the needs of our young people at the right time and in the right place."

Roadworks

Drayton retail guru Eric Kirk, who advises retailers through his firm Your Fresh Eyes, said: "While accepting roadworks cannot be avoided, you also have to accept roads are a vital artery.

Eric Kirk, from Drayton, who is a retail expert (Image: Eric Kirk)

"Any roadworks should be properly scrutinised before approval, with a particular emphasis on time and impact.

"If the job runs over time there should be financial penalties.

"If a supermarket can work seven days why can’t we expect the same of road repairs.

"Norwich is a business hub too large for the local community to keep alive, allowing abuse of its arteries spells certain death for the city and the thousands of jobs it supports."

The roadworks in 2022 when repair works were done on Sweet Briar Road (Image: Denise Bradley)

A county council spokesman said: "Roadworks are a necessary part of keeping our roads moving and essential utilities functioning.

“We work carefully to co-ordinate these works to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Dentistry

Alex Stewart, Healthwatch Norfolk chief executive, said: "We remain concerned about the difficulty to access non-emergency NHS dental care.

"Healthwatch Norfolk continues to press to ensure NHS contracts are put in place for those practices that want to open or extend their care.

Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk (Image: Healthwatch Norfolk)

"We also believe there is significant work to be done to attract dentists to work in Norwich, as well as a re-think on training options close to the city.

"Without progress, we could be facing a considerable issue around oral health for future generations."