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New ‘care village’ not what was promised

Friday, August 19, 2022 - 18:10

Does anyone else feel, after looking at today’s press release for the first 15 tightly packed bungalows in the new so-called “care village” off Stoney Lane, that this was misrepresented to us all at the planning stage?

At £300,000 plus, with annual maintenance and service fees on top, these are hardly going to be affordable for the vast majority of elderly Reepham folk.

“An orangery, a stylish bistro restaurant, library and lounge…” Where’s the much-needed care home for the residents of Reepham we were promised?

Ok, the height of the original building needed to be reduced after consultation, but it seems to have disappeared from the plans completely. There only appears to be a “care office” on site now.

This isn’t what we were told we were getting.

Hilary Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

Planning decision deferred for 141 houses off Broomhill Lane

Friday, July 15, 2022 - 11:20

I wonder if residents are aware that seven days before the meeting of Broadland District Council’s Planning Committee this week, and with advice given by the planning officer to approve this development, it left little time to prepare objections by Realistic Reepham.

Thankfully this was withdrawn the day before. The plans will now come before a meeting in August.

People of Reepham, many of whom object to this, need to know.

Martin Sullivan, Kerdiston Road, Reepham

Tidy drive vs poisoned planet

Friday, July 1, 2022 - 17:22

In response to G. Eadie’s assertion (Your Letters: 31 May 2022) that they will continue to use strong weedkiller on their 100-foot drive, perhaps thinking outside the tunnel would be more beneficial?

Weed matting would stop the weeds, rather than poisoning the planet and themselves.

Weedkiller is hugely toxic to the user as well as to all the life around the location that it is used.

Louisa Dreisin, Chimes Way, Reepham

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee a celebration of community spirit

Tuesday, June 7, 2022 - 11:45

Huge thanks for all the help and community spirit during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

There was such a sense of sharing resources, such as the golden coach (pictured below) from Reepham Primary School’s Steve and Year 2s.

There were fun and happy community occasions across Reepham and beyond with lots of tea parties, barbecues, hog roasts and so on.

A huge thank you from all of us who enjoyed all the activities.

Revd Helen Rengert, Team Rector, Reepham and Wensum Valley Team Churches

Above: HM Queen Elizabeth II and Revd Helen Rengert kick off the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Reepham. (That’s Helen on the right.)

Come and weed my drive

Tuesday, May 31, 2022 - 20:06

Regarding Victoria Plum’s latest tirade, Garden chemicals are poisoning our planet, while I agree with many of the points raised, would she like to come and weed my 100-foot drive?

I’ll stick with a strong weedkiller for the time being, thanks.

G. Eadie, Foulsham

Stop throwing dog poo bags into hedges

Friday, February 4, 2022 - 11:16

Anyone walking the path below the high school towards Whitwell Station may have noticed the large number of dog poo bags that have been thrown in the hedge. I counted about 50 on a short stretch.

It looks as if someone gets round the corner and then just throws them, full of excrement, onto the bank.

Whoever does this I would like to politely ask them to STOP.

It’s really disgusting to have dog poo piling up in one place, plus the plastic doesn’t degrade and they will be there for years and years unless someone clears them away.

Let’s try and keep our lovely countryside free of litter and plastic waste so we can enjoy the spring.

Helen Lindsay, Hackford Vale, Reepham

Photo: submitted

Market garden to remain linked with Reepham

Monday, January 31, 2022 - 19:51

Thanks to “Victoria Plum” for the lovely article about market gardens [The decline and rise of market gardens, Up the Garden Path, Reepham Life, 16 January].

We really appreciate the support and praise for our work and for helping us to join the dots from our work to the community.

We hope to remain linked with Reepham despite our move [to Aylsham] with the work at the Bircham Centre garden and with our customers based in Reepham, including the Dial House and the Norfolk Farm Shop & Deli – and our veg bag customers, too.

Hannah Claxton, Eves Hill Veg Co, Booton

More thanks to tireless community stalwart

Saturday, November 13, 2021 - 10:38

I should like to add my personal thanks to Stuart Lane’s piece (29 October 2021) and what I’m sure are the very many thanks and good wishes to Ann Middlemas on the news that she is stepping down as the Reepham Archive volunteer administrator.

Ann has given tirelessly to the life of Reepham over many years through many activities, including as a member of the town council and as a key member of the Reepham Society committee when it combined with the Bircham Centre to create the Reepham Archive.

I was one of those fortunate enough to work with Ann and to benefit from her constant energy, willingness and generosity in developing the Archive and realising its aim of discovering, preserving and sharing Reepham’s communal history and sense of identity. Thank you, Ann.

Mike Cowdrey, Lappeenranta, Finland

Disappointing lack of credit from county magazine

Friday, October 15, 2021 - 17:42

There’s an interesting article in the October issue of Norfolk Magazine about Steven Briggs and the restoration work he carries out on ancient buildings around the county.

There’s also a picture of our Reepham churches included which I instantly recognised, but nothing to tell those who don’t know what or where it is (and I have searched the article with a fine-toothed comb), although the images of Great Yarmouth are all captioned.

How can we attract visitors to our beautiful town when even the county magazine can’t even give us a credit?

I do a better job of promoting “Reepham la Belle” on my Instagram page (@joolsline).

Very disappointing.

Jools Line, Irwin Close, Reepham

At least the photo is captioned on the magazine's website (page 6) – Ed.

Green lane vehicles not a new problem

Friday, October 8, 2021 - 16:07

In response to the letter by Martin Sullivan (23 September), I was glad to hear from someone who drives on the unclassified county road system, colloquially known as green lanes.

I would be happy to discuss the use of Broomhill Lane and Back Lane with anyone – except the vehicles that drive at speed past my house, do not stop and when they do are extremely rude.

However, I don’t agree that this is a new issue: I was contacted by the son of the previous owner of my house who said it had been a problem for more than 40 years.

It is also clear that the Green Lane Association’s Code of Conduct is not adhered to for this path; for example, members should:

• Avoid damage to trees, hedgerows and boundaries. Some roads carry vehicular rights but are physically too narrow for 4x4s.

• Travel at a quiet and unobtrusive pace and as slowly as practicable; we recommend a maximum of 12 mph when in a 4x4 and on an Unsurfaced Right of Way.

I do find it impolite to be blamed for “overgrown fences” when it is clearly (as evidenced in the photographs in a previous news story) the vehicles that are running over the line of the fence and causing damage to the posts along the path. This section of track is not overgrown at fence level.

The other side of this particular track runs along the lower edge of the school playing field which belongs to a local farmer.

Even if this was cut back (and I am glad that this historic pathway isn’t cut back hard because it would further damage the habitat) it would still not provide enough space for the sort of vehicles that are using it.

Rather than attempting to blame others it would be more useful for anyone engaged in driving these paths to come to a meeting, put their point of view in person and maybe even accept that the green lane vehicles are causing damage to property and the track.

Helen Lindsay, Broomhill, Reepham

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