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Extra funding for North Norfolk market towns

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Funding for a wide range of projects designed to improve the economic vitality of North Norfolk’s four inland market towns has been approved.

A meeting of North Norfolk District Council’s Cabinet agreed to a set of recommendations today which had been put forward by the Market Towns Initiative working group.

Each town was able to bid for £100,000 to spend on projects enabling them to take part in the development of their economic future. The money comes from a total pot of £400,000.

Around £130,000 remains in the Market Towns Initiative fund and a second round of applications will be opened to access this money, with the closing date for these applications being February 12.

The amount any one town can receive in total will remain at a maximum of £100,000 – so if a town received £50,000 in the first round, it would be able to bid for up to £50,000 in the second round.

Sarah Butikofer, leader of North Norfolk District Council and chairman of the MTI working group, said: “I was delighted by the range of projects that were put forward and very pleased that cabinet ratified the recommendations of the working group this morning. All of our communities deserve our support.”

The nine successful applicants included:

The Holt Society – £7,210 to design and print a pamphlet and five notice boards to provide information on the Holt Owl Trail to residents and visitors.

Love Holt – £26,000 to implement a major marketing campaign for the town designed to increase visitors and trade.

Holt Town Council – £17,514 for projects including an accessible Yellow Brick Route, and a Holt park-and-ride scheme.

Regenerate North Walsham and North Walsham Town Council – £99,575 to implement three major improvement projects split between improving St Nicholas Court, the town centre and attracting more visitors to the town.

St Nicholas Court in North Walsham

Free Christmas parking dates in North Norfolk

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Every town in North Norfolk has chosen two days of free parking over the festive period.

North Norfolk District Council has decided once again to waive the parking charges before Christmas. This year the free parking period will run on various dates between November 24 and December 23.

The decision supported North Norfolk’s businesses and traders by encouraging people to buy their Christmas gifts and supplies in their local towns. At a crucial time of year for the retail community, it was also a gesture of goodwill for the festive season in response to requests from businesses, said a spokesman.

Posters will be put up in all relevant car parks giving the information for the individual towns. On the days themselves, payment machines will be covered to make sure people understand they do not need to pay.

The free weekend car parking sessions will be:

•             North Walsham – November 24 and December 1

•             Cromer – December 1 and 8

•             Fakenham – December 15 and 22

•             Stalham – December 2 and 8

•             Wells – November 24 and December 8

•             Holt – December 16 and 23

•             Sheringham – December 1 and 8

 

 

Free parking for Remembrance Sunday

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Parking in North Norfolk District Council car parks will be free on Remembrance Sunday (November 11) in response to local community wishes.

Posters will be put up in advance in all car parks to give notice of the event. The payment machines will be covered up on the day to make it clear to users that the car parks won’t require payment.

Parking charges in North Norfolk District Council car parks usually apply from 8am to 6pm.

A council spokesman said: “It’s important to North Norfolk District Council that we are able to make it easier for residents to be able to attend local remembrance services more easily, hence the decision to provide free parking on this date.”

 

REVIEW: Dangerous Corner, Sheringham Little Theatre

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Sheringham Little Theatre had the first performance JB Priestley’s classic drama, Dangerous Corner last night.

The play is performed by members of the Cromer and Sheringham Operatic and Dramatic Society, affectionately known as CSODS.

The action takes place in the drawing room of Freda and Robert Caplan’s country house. The other guests for the evening are Gordon and Betty Whitehouse, Olwen Peel, Charles Stanton and novelist Maud Mockridge. The men are all members of the same publishing firm with Olwen as an executive.

The drama opens with the women sitting listening to the end of a radio play which concludes with a gunshot and a woman’s scream. Maud expresses an interest in the group of friends, remarking how close-knit and cosy they all appear.

When the men enter the room a chance remark leads to a discussion about the suicide of Robert’s brother Martin. The group decides to tell the absolute truth about Martin and the different relationships they all had with him and each other, which turns out to be very revealing.

The drama builds up over the play with twists and turns. The actors give a riveting performance, superbly acted, which keeps the audience guessing as what the outcome will be. With clever scenery, beautiful costumes and talented actors this is an evening not to be missed. Dangerous Corner is on at the Little Theatre Sheringham until October 20.

See more at www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com.

The Cast : Robert Caplan Played by Paul James, Freda Caplan played by Philippa Baillie, Gordon Whitehouse played by David Duncombe, Betty Whitehouse played by Emma Wright, Charles Stanton played by Samuel Starsmore, Olwyn Peel played by Kerry Davis, Miss Mockridge played by Thelma Torr.

Kevin and Sandra Stone  (Just Regional Magazines)

Just Regional celebrates first decade!

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Yes that’s right, it was 10 years ago when the first issue of Just Aylsham first popped through letterboxes.

For those who don’t know the story, business owner Lee Todd was keen to see a local magazine full of local stories for his home town and so the idea of the hyperlocal Just name was established.

The Aylsham magazine was soon joined by one dedicated to North Walsham and the business then expanded along the coast, into other parts of Broadland and finally around the outskirts of Norwich.

Today, the Just magazines hits 50,000 dooormats in 10 areas, with free pick-ups in libraries, information centres and shops.

Just Regional serves 10 towns and city suburbs in Norfolk with four-weekly titles (three-weekly in Aylsham) and also covers all of those communities with Summer and Christmas special publications.

Built on a belief that hyperlocal news can be presented using high specification paper, quality journalism, excellent photography and professional sales, the business has grown from two part-time staff to 10 office staff and 120 distribution staff with their offices in Aylsham, a location central to all of the areas covered.

Lee said: “We’ve done an incredible job in Norfolk showing how hyperlocal can work, in a competitive marketplace, both for advertisers and readers.

“A lot of publishers have talked about hyperlocal for a long time – we have actually done it and made a success of the model.

“However we couldn’t have done it without our advertisers who have supported us right from day one. A big thank you to them and a happy anniversary to us!”

A big fan of the publications is BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Nick Conrad, who said: “Just Regional produce outstanding magazines run by wonderful people who love and champion their towns and villages. As the owner of a local business who has worked with Just Regional, these guys really get behind you and believe in you. Over the past decade they have woven themselves into the fabric of the communities they represent”.

The first issue of Just Aylsham from October 2008.

Chance to become a North Norfolk councillor

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An event to help and inform prospective candidates considering standing for election at North Norfolk District Council next May will be held on September 20.

The evening is designed to:

  • Inform prospective candidates of the positive difference they can make to their communities.
  • Inform prospective candidates of the varied work of North Norfolk District Council – including housing, licensing, economic development, tourism, culture, health, environment, coast and electoral services.
  • Ensure key dates in the run up to May 2019 are understood by all prospective candidates.

The event will be held at North Norfolk District Council’s headquarters at Holt Road, Cromer, NR27 9EN, from 6.30-8.30pm.

For more information about becoming a councillor, visit north-norfolk.gov.uk/becomeacouncillor.

If you are interested in attending, please contact emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk or call 01263 516010.

There will be refreshments available on the evening.

Councillor Hilary Cox

 

1,300 Norfolk drivers caught during speeding crackdown

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More than 1,000 drivers were caught speeding during a week-long enforcement campaign in Norfolk earlier this month.

Officers from the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing Unit and vans from the Norfolk Safety Camera Partnership were deployed across the county to carry out checks as part of a week-long European-wide campaign co-ordinated by TISPOL between Monday and Sunday August 6-12.

During the campaign a total of 1,300 drivers were caught speeding, 1176 of whom were caught by fixed or mobile camera sites, while 124 were caught by officers on patrol.

Chief Inspector Kris Barnard, head of the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing and Firearms Operations Unit, said: “Speeding is recognised as one of the ‘fatal four’ offences which leads to people being killed or serious injured in a collision along with drink driving, using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt.

“We target these and other types of offences all year round but these campaigns allow us to raise awareness among drivers and explain the consequences of speeding.

“Drivers should adjust their speed to suit the conditions on the road and be aware of hazards. The higher your speed, the less time you have to react. Think…could you stop in time if something unexpected happened in front of you?”

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lorne Green, who launched the #Impact campaign in a bid to educate young people about road safety, including the dangers of speeding on Norfolk’s roads, said: “Dangerous driving kills – whether through excessive speed, being drunk or on drugs, failing to wear a seatbelt, or not giving the road your full attention. There is simply no excuse for it.

“It is incredibly disappointing that, despite the warnings, some 1300 people were caught speeding in the county in the space of just one week. Such carelessness is simply unacceptable and just not worth the risk.”

Motorists caught speeding will be issued with a TOR (Traffic Offence Report) and face a fine, points on their licence or even court action. Some drivers can opt to take part in a speed awareness course.

Free family day out at Greenbuild spectacular

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Up to 100 exhibitors will pack the grounds of the National Trust’s Felbrigg Hall, near Cromer, on September 8 and 9 for the ever-popular, family-friendly, Greenbuild event.

Attractions at the green lifestyle extravaganza will include a craft and farmers’ market with local, homemade, fresh and organic produce, a catering area and children’s entertainment.

Greenbuild, organised by North Norfolk District Council, is a fantastic way to find out how to lead a greener lifestyle.

There will be exhibitors of green technologies like solar PV panels, biomass boilers, ground and air source heat pumps, electric cars and bikes, and experts in local and traditional products such as heritage plastering, handmade terracotta tiles and willow-basket making.

Talks and advice from exhibitors and volunteers will cover everything from Tesla battery storage, reducing food waste, plastic pollution and growing fruit and veg in a changing climate. A timetable for talks can be found on the Greenbuild website.

There will also be practical demonstrations and lessons for children throughout the day in basic wood carving and fire-starting using flint and steel, ferro rods and bow drills.

Council officers from planning and building control, environmental protection, elections and HR, economic development, community-led housing, commercial, coastal, revenue and benefits, waste and recycling, civil contingencies and leisure sports hubs and clubs, as well as the countryside team will be ready to chat with visitors and answer any questions they may have, and to offer advice.

There will also be job opportunities available for the forthcoming elections in May next year, help to sign up online to revenue and benefits services as well a mini election where visitors can vote for what they would like to see at next year’s Greenbuild event, and vote for the Graham Allen Award winner.

And you can take away three bags of compost on leaving the site for just £3 (subject to availability).

Parking and entry to Greenbuild are both free. Opening hours are 10.30am-4.30pm on Saturday September 8, and 10.30am-4pm on Sunday September 9.

For further information including a list of exhibitors and directions to Greenbuild 2018, visit: www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/tasks/greenbuild/greenbuild-celebrating-norfolk/

This year’s 14th Greenbuild event is sponsored by Crayford and Abbs (gold sponsor) and Floodsense (bronze sponsor).

Below: a scene from last year’s Greenbuild.