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Criticise inconsiderate drivers, not the town council

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 - 16:34

I read with interest Hugh Ivins “I told you so” letter regarding the benches in the Market Place (Your Letters, 14 September 2021).

It is also interesting to note that, on seeing the situation shown in the picture, Mr Ivins, in a blinkered “car centric” way, immediately decided to criticise the town council for placing the bench in the Market Place rather than, as he should have done, criticise the inconsiderate driver who parked so close to the bench that no one could use it.

The Market Place is for all the people of Reepham, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The benches were placed in the Market Place following requests from elderly residents who needed somewhere to rest after walking to the shops. Surely their needs should be considered too.

The town council is very aware of the need for parking in the Market Place to support businesses, but it’s a sad day when drivers are unwilling to sacrifice one space, which is only large enough for a mini, to enable the elderly to have somewhere to it down.

I have been told by a shopkeeper that the benches are used frequently so there is clearly a need for them.

The benches are black to fit in with the conservation area. The litter bins and the posts on the islands are also black, but I am not aware of pedestrians colliding with them at night.

Paul Mitchell, Chair, Reepham Town Council

Market Place benches: I said they would not work

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 - 17:33

I have just seen the two benches in the Market Place – I did say they would not work within the parking area (Your Letters, 18 June 2021).

Fancy sitting down on this one:

Photo: Hugh Ivins

Why are they black? They will not be seen at night unless the square is fully illuminated, which no one wants.

The extra benches should be situated around the edge of the Market Place, within the pedestrian areas, as they are already.

Hugh Ivins, Whitwell

Reepham market missing a trick

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 - 17:32

I read in Reepham Life (Your Council Matters, 19 August) a request for ideas to revitalise the market.

Why not follow the example of Holt? They hold their market at the weekend.

So many more people are able to visit as they’re not at work. It would be an “event”, even if it was only once a fortnight.

I lived in Reepham for 35 years and now live nearby; many friends and family still live in Reepham, and we are all saddened by how the market has become.

Surely closing half the Market Place, or more, to traffic on a Sunday and having a wide variety of stalls would attract visitors and locals.

Farmers’ markets are very popular as are craft stalls.

Reepham is definitely missing a trick here.

Rosie Crombie, Foulsham

Preventing damage to church wall

Sunday, July 18, 2021 - 20:00

There is a traffic calming system in place in Weston Longville that prevents over-large vehicles driving through the village.

After so many years of damage to the church wall in Reepham, would it be possible to install similar width restrictions on Norwich Road so that anything larger than a van, perhaps, would not be able to drive through?

The drivers of the enormous vehicles that attempt to negotiate the corner of Church Hill cannot realise how narrow that section is.

It also presents a hazard to pedestrians walking to the Spar or the Koti Shop on the corner.

Reepham has tolerated years of damage to the church wall; surely, it’s time to call a halt to vehicles that are obviously much too large to negotiate that section of road.

Delivery vehicles would have to use the New Road/Ollands Road route, which, although not ideal, is far more negotiable than Norwich Road/Church Hill.

Buses would have to use the same route or Station Road, as they used to.

Brenda R Palmer, Chapel Close, Reepham

Market Place should be an open space for all

Saturday, July 17, 2021 - 15:42

I understand Reepham Town Council is planning to install two benches in the town square, which, from where they will be sited, will not take up any parking spaces at all.

Hugh Ivins (Your Letters, 18 June 2021) seems to believe the Market Place should only be a car park for the preserve of motorists who want to park directly outside a shop.

At present, there is only one bench outside the pharmacy, so have a thought for the elderly who want to take a rest while shopping or other people who just want to sit and enjoy the beautiful Georgian square – which has virtually no pedestrianisation whatsoever.

Mr Ivins fails to understand that people waiting for the bus will be exposed to traffic fumes whether they are seated or standing.

Reepham’s Market Pace should be a space for all – vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, residents and visitors, not just petrolheads.

I hope selfish drivers don’t put pressure on the town council to remove any planned benches. I’m sure Reepham doesn’t want a repeat of last year’s “planters” fiasco.

M. Cronin, Cawston

Health and safety concerns over Market Place benches

Friday, June 18, 2021 - 09:12

Regarding Reepham Town Council’s proposal for two benches by the islands on each side of the Market Place parking areas (Your Council Matters, 14 June 2021), I would be concerned about the health and safety of people waiting on these benches while diesel and petrol fumes are emitted from cars starting and stopping and turning around, and the bus idling in the close vicinity of these benches.

Also, the proposed bench on the Dial House side will still require people to cross the road to the waiting bus, presenting a crossing hazard.

Additionally, there would be no outlook for anyone sitting on these benches when surrounded by parked vans, 4x4s and other vehicles.

I suggest the two benches be placed adjacent to the Bircham House railings, for health and safety reasons and for access to the bus stop and a decent outlook over the Market Place.

If anything, only a short trial run in the proposed locations will indicate any of these issues.

Hugh Ivins, Whitwell

No excuse for dog mess

Saturday, May 1, 2021 - 11:12

Just a polite request to dog owners who exercise their dogs in the old graveyard on Norwich Road in Reepham to please clear up after them.

It seems to have become a popular place for dog walking recently, and there is a lot of dog mess around the paths, making it very unpleasant for others who would like to walk there.

There is a bin. There is no excuse.

Hilary Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

Comforting words and flowers

Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - 17:04

To all my dear friends, many thanks to you all for your beautiful cards and memories of my darling Tracy. The flowers and kind words were so comforting. Bless you all from all my family.

Eileen Guymer, Back Street, Reepham

Headteacher ‘could do better’

Friday, April 9, 2021 - 08:36

Additional material in support of the Broomhill Lane planning application has recently been filed on Broadland District Council’s planning portal, including a letter from Tim Gibbs, headteacher of Reepham High School & College.

One can only conclude that he didn’t check his work before handing it in; no less than 148 words from his first paragraph are repeated word for word a few lines later.

And he finishes off his letter with this gem: “The Arts are not catered for strongly, facility wise, in the school or community so this is a potentially fantastic additional benefit.”

One hopes his students are more careful, quality control wise, when it comes to their exams.

Michael Pender-Cudlip, Mill Road, Reepham

What is happening with the care home plans?

Monday, April 5, 2021 - 13:41

Does anyone know what is happening with the plans for the care home site near the Co-op post-Covid?

Is there enough demand for it now or will there have to be a change of the planning application?

Jim Everitt, Moorhouse Close, Reepham

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