Thousands sign petitions calling for Norwich adult education centre to remain open
Norfolk County Council is planning to sell off Wensum Lodge - which has been home to generations of learners
Petitions against the closure of Wensum Lodge have been signed almost 3,000 times, as Labour and the Greens launch separate bids to try and save the venue.
Large numbers of people have called for County Hall to reverse course on its plans to sell off its adult education base on King’s Street.
Following the recent announcement of a possible, two petitions were set up by the Green and Labour councillors.
The Green petition has received more than 2,000 signatures and the Labour’s more than 1,000, since they were set up a week ago. Both may have been signed by the same people.
The Conservative-led county authority insists the move is necessary because the site is too large, with courses increasingly run online.
Generations of adults have been taught maths and English, as well as skills like silversmithing and pottery, at Wensum Lodge since it opened in the 1960s.
Both political parties are also trying to get the building ‘asset of community value’ (ACV) status.
This would give the community six months to come up with alternative uses for the site before the county council can sell it on the open market.
Which properties become ACV in Norwich is decided by the Labour-led City Hall.
The Labour petition is available at norwichlabour.org.uk/petition-protect-wensum-lodge/
And the Green petition at actionnetwork.org/petitions/saving-wensum-lodge-to-be-a-creative-hub
Ben Price, Green city and county councillor for the Thorpe Hamlet – which covers the King Street area – said there has been an “amazing” response to his petition.
Mr Price said that 5,000 signatures are needed to have it debated at the county council, and encouraged more people to sign.
He added he was working with local groups to get ACV.
Jane Overhill, a community activist and Labour candidate for Thorpe Hamlet at the recent city council election, said she has already received the signatures needed to get the site ACV, which showed “huge support” for keeping the venue.
Jurnet’s House
Earlier this week, a Jewish heritage group announced that it would like to take over one part of the Wensum Lodge site, called the Music House or Jurnet’s House, as a museum.
The building, which is the only section owned by the city council but leased to the county, has been associated with the Jewish community for almost 800 years.
Both Green and Labour groups have expressed support for the Jewish community group taking on Jurnet’s House.
Mike Stonard, Labour leader of Norwich City Council, has said he appreciated the cultural importance of the buildings and promised it was not under threat of being sold off by City Hall.
He said: “We are looking at options should the county council surrender the lease”.