MP and council clash over rejected petition for estate access

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 06:31 · Archive

Norfolk County Council rejected Labour MP Ben Goldsborough's 1,000-signature petition for better access to Queen's Hills estate.

Norfolk County Council has rejected a petition submitted by Labour MP Ben Goldsborough calling for action to ease congestion around Queen's Hills estate in Costessey. The estate, home to roughly 5,000 people, can become gridlocked if there is an accident, and Mr Goldsborough gathered more than 1,000 signatures urging the authority to investigate improving access.

The council rejected the petition because only initials and partial postcodes were submitted instead of full names and addresses. A council spokeswoman said acceptable petitions have required full details of signatories for 'several years'. Mr Goldsborough accused the Reform-led County Hall of 'pettiness' for rejecting the document on this technicality, saying: 'Reform have shown that they just aren't interested in listening to residents'.

David Henson, a Reform councillor for Costessey and vice chairman of infrastructure and development, said the petition had not followed correct procedures. However, he acknowledged backing calls for a second route into the estate and agreed that central government funding was needed to address the issue.

How it is being reported

• Row erupts between MP and County Hall over petition for city's 'most isolated estate'Norfolk County Council has rejected Ben Goldsborough's 1,000-signature petition for better access to Queen's Hills estate where 5,000 people live.Norwich Evening News · 19 Oct, 06:00
• Row erupts between MP and County Hall over petition for city's 'most isolated estate'Norfolk County Council has rejected Ben Goldsborough's 1,000-signature petition for better access to Queen's Hills estate where 5,000 people live.Eastern Daily Press · 19 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Ben Goldsborough · Norfolk County Council · David Henson · Queen's Hills · Costessey · Reform

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