Reepham Life

I note that various bodies including the town council are objecting to plans for the new sports hall at Reepham High School.

I wonder how many residents of Reepham feel that this “bribe” from the developers should be better spent on improving other facilities in Reepham, especially on updating the facilities at Stimpson’s Piece, where the current building could either be expanded or replaced with a larger building to incorporate a new town hall?

Maybe also some additional money from the developers could be spent on improving the current GP’s practice in Reepham so that there are doctors actually working there full time and seeing patients, rather than patients having to put up with triage phone calls when they really need to see a doctor face to face.

What do other Reepham residents think?

Bryan Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

I read with interest the letter concerning mobile signals in Reepham (Still mobile ‘not-spots’ in Reepham, 23 November 2020).

It seems people are not aware that most recent mobile phones have a setting that allows your phone to send and receive both phone calls and text messages using your home WiFi.

It may be something that the mobile phone providers keep quiet about as these calls are not made through their network, and potentially it’s lost revenue.

There is no connection between your mobile phone and broadband provider for this to work – they can be different, even in someone else’s house, as long as you have their WiFi or guest passwords.

However, this should not stop us pushing for a decent mobile signal in the town.

A quick guide: in Settings (iPhone in my case) go to Phone: somewhere in the list you will see WiFi Calling, make sure it’s turned on.

Note: This may not appear in your phone if you are NOT receiving a mobile signal, so try turning this on when you have a 3G or 4G signal.

My wife and I use WiFi Calling all the time. We are with BT and have just two bars showing on our mobile network.

Martin Sullivan, Kerdiston Road, Reepham

It is such a shame that there are thoughtless, inconsiderate dog owners who allow their pets to go to the toilet on the area of Stimpson’s Piece allocated for football.

This is somewhere that we walk regularly, on our way to Marriott’s Way or Wood Dalling Road, and we often find (luckily we spot it before stepping in it) a pile of dog mess in the area where football is to be played.

We often see people exercising their dogs on these areas with no regard for the children who are likely to be playing there.

We have experienced completely unruly and quite aggressive dogs on occasions, whose owners seem to have little control over their pets.

There is a specified area for dogs to be exercised at the far end between the trees.

Perhaps a more obvious notice needs to be displayed, pointing dog owners to the allocated exercise area and making it obvious that any dog fouling on the play areas is not allowed.

I’m sure there are dog owners who would hate their children or grandchildren to arrive home with dog mess on their clothes or shoes.

We are so privileged to have such a pleasant green space that, even at this time of year, is enjoyable to walk across, but we don’t want to end up with that space becoming a dogs’ lavatory.

A little more consideration and control is needed and would be much appreciated.

Brenda R Palmer, Chapel Close, Reepham

Co-op store landscaping leaves much to be desired

Although I do not object in any way to the construction of the new Co-op store in Reepham, I do have a serious problem with the landscape proposals – or lack of them.

The design consists of a single line of small shrubs along Station Road and Stoney Lane, supported by a few trees in a sea of bark mulch.

Since when does the planting of lavender fit in with indigenous planting?

Surely to specify planting that reflects the indigenous species found all around this site would have been the correct approach – and to fill the planting areas.

The residents who have had to endure these building works deserve better.

Was there a landscape condition attached to the planning approval notice?

Dennis Pitt, The Dial, Reepham