Issue 412
FR
EE
March 2026
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@concreteuea
www.concreteuea.co.uk
No fairness in fear: Missing the Middle East
Spring cleaning: Dazzling or dusty trend?
Page 22
History is for museums, let costumes be art
Page 36
Pages 12 and 29
Students left unsafe after SU taxi service ends • Some report walking up to an hour home at night after shifts Emily Pitt-Shaw and Micah Petyt Student staff have described feeling “disappointed” and “vulnerable” after a taxi service, run by the Students' Union, that offered rides home at night was paused. The Staff Taxi Scheme, which is not connected to the University's Report and Support service, was halted pending a review following recent legislative changes and increased operational costs. Many explained that they felt they had been “let down” by the decision, with one member of staff saying that the “promise of a staff taxi was among the benefits that
attracted me to working [at an SU bar.]” “To hear that the staff taxi services were cancelled with immediate effect and no prior consultation, is very disappointing to say the least. “To remove the safest way of their mostly student workers to get home is absurd. “If rising costs are really so bad that they have to compromise the safety of their employees, perhaps it’s time to rethink their priorities and overall strategy.” The scheme worked by allowing students to contact local taxi firms, quoting their student numbers and name, with the invoice for the journey then sent to the Students’ Union.
Workers have described how many have walked as long as 45-minutes home at 3AM in the morning as a result of the service, which was originally created by a UEASU Women’s Officer, stopping. Others explained how the decision impacted those that lived in areas which overnight buses do not stop in. “It’s such an inconvenience. I’d have to walk from The Waterfront to the bus stop, get a bus to campus, and then walk 20-minutes from campus to home.” Community and Culture Officer, Amjad Daher, explained that the union had been “proud” to offer a late-night taxi scheme since 2017. He said that “rapidly increas-
ing operational costs” across the hospitality industry had made the service “more challenging” to run. “We’re currently reviewing the scheme to make sure it remains accessible, relevant, and works well for students today. “As part of this process, we’ll be speaking with local organisations and partners across Norwich, alongside consulting directly with students. “Taking a thoughtful and student-focused approach with the taxi scheme will help us ensure it continues to provide meaningful support while making the best use of the resources available to benefit students.” Image credit: Flickr
UEA flocks to support pigeons
Daisy Hawker
News Editor
A petition against penalties for feeding pigeons on Norwich market has received hundreds of signatures, with many students favouring a humane approach towards the birds. But despite rallying from Norwich students, Norfolk County Council have declared the dovecote a “waste of money.” In January, Concrete spoke with local student and Little Winged Friends founder, Summer Loh, who had set up the appeal to encourage the council to offer a dovecote. But the local authority recently announced that they were not in support of such efforts, with Councillor Carli Harper arguing that the initial trial using a bird of prey to target the pigeons was “very promising”. The petition, which is still available to sign on change.org, presents a volunteer-led dovecote as a safer solution for the pigeons of Norwich Market. “I am aware of the petition,” said Carli. Continued on page 3.