Norwich City Council plans £313k bid to clean up city.

Norwich is recognised as a Fine City, but some residents believe the city’s storied streets may use more than a spring cleaning.

Following concerns that the city’s streets were unkempt, councillors were instructed to “get a grip on the mess” and clean up the area.

Now, City Hall has agreed to spend £313,000 on measures aimed at improving Norwich, including more enforcement officers to prevent individuals from making a mess.

According to the plans, the money will be spent on preventing and cleaning up fly tipping and graffiti, as well as targeting unkempt and unoccupied land and structures.

At a recent meeting, councillors stated that one of the most common complaints from city residents was that the authority did not do enough to keep the area clean.

In a questionnaire on its spending intentions, 525 out of more than 800 respondents called for improvements to streets and public spaces.

Denise Bradley)Several passageways in the city have been graffiti-covered, and some important buildings on the high street, such as the former Debenhams building and the closed Wilko and Poundland stores on St Stephens Street, have been boarded up for several years.

Fly-tipped waste in Norwich (Image: Norwich Green Party)

Carli Harper, cabinet member for finance, announced additional funding to address fly-tipping, strengthen enforcement, and clean up estates, in addition to investing in waste services and environmental enforcement.

Residents have consistently expressed a desire for cleaner neighbourhoods and visible improvements.

“This is about reinforcing pride and making sure that Norwich remains a city people are proud to call home.”

The Green group’s leader, Lucy Galvin, urged the Labour-run council to “get a grip on the mess.”

The speaker expressed satisfaction with the administration’s efforts to address street cleanliness and fly-tipping, which have been a long-standing issue for the past five years.

Speaking with residents in the city centre, it was evident that Norwich does not always live up to its image as the Fine City.

Caidon Cary, 18, who works for Cary’s Flowers in the Market, stated, “In the evening, the bins opposite the market along Gentleman’s Walk are overflowing with bottles, beer cans, and kebabs on the floor.”

“Littering is the very worst thing. People frequently leave takeaway wrappers on benches after eating. We’ve visited in the mornings and seen beer cans left on the steps.

“St Stephens underpass is one of the worst places in the city for littering and graffiti.”

Beckah, 21, a barista at Apricity Cafe in the market, stated, “It isn’t nice at the top end of St Stephens Street or where Debenhams used to be.”

Mia, 26, a baker at Bread Source in the market, said:

“There used to be needles on the floor in the surrounding sections of the West Pottergate council estate, which isn’t great because many youngsters stroll by there.

“Magdalen Street might be cleaner, and the Anglia Square demolition site is unsightly.

“Seeing shut-up shops along St Stephens Street isn’t very motivational.”

BUDGET APPROVED

In addition to efforts to clean up the area, Norwich City Council has agreed to raise council tax by 2.99 percent, the maximum amount it may without sparking a referendum.

The council will also set aside £1 million to support the restructuring of councils in 2027, which would result in the abolition of district and county councils in favour of one or more unitary authorities.

City Hall proposes to establish a Greater Norwich council, which will include the city and portions of what is currently in the South Norfolk and Broadland districts.

It has implemented a “dynamic budget” that will enable the authority to make modifications over the following three years.

More money will be invested in improving the housing stock, with £78,014,000 allocated to the Housing Revenue Account expenditure budget.

Each ward will also receive £5,000 annually to invest in local community projects.

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