Nicole Rivett, who has run the flower stall at Norwich Station for around fifteen years, was told she would have to leave after Greater Anglia issued her with an eviction notice. The decision caused real concern among passengers and local residents who value her stall. Nicole spoke out, people rallied behind her, and Greater Anglia then reversed the decision. I also wrote to Greater Anglia to support her and to challenge the eviction. The strength of public backing, along with Nicole’s own efforts, helped bring the situation to a better outcome.
This is genuinely wonderful news. I am pleased for Nicole, whose flower stall has been a much-loved part of Norwich station for around fifteen years. I cannot count the number of times her shop has helped me when I have forgotten to get flowers for someone arriving or visiting. It also brightens up what would otherwise be a fairly plain space.
Many shops in public places and on our high streets are impersonal chains that sell expensive goods with little character. Nicole’s stall brings warmth and personality to the station, so it is no surprise that people supported her when this happened.
Network Rail and Greater Anglia are now in public ownership. I wrote to them to support Nicole and to oppose the eviction decision. The U-turn came quickly due to the strength of public support and Nicole’s straightforward campaign.
I am glad this ended well. The fact that it happened at all raises some difficult questions.
Why would publicly owned bodies make decisions based only on narrow commercial logic rather than a wider sense of public value? Part of the problem is that, while parts of the rail system have returned to public ownership, this is not public ownership as most people understand it. The state bears the risk and cost, yet commercial pressures and private-sector thinking still shape many decisions.
I am pleased for Nicole. The way this was handled should make us think about the culture and priorities of what we currently call public ownership, and whether it is being run as people expect. In the meantime, please support Nicole by buying some of her flowers. As with many small businesses struggling in the current climate, it really is a case of use it or lose it.