• Comments on planning applications published on town council website

    Monday, May 18, 2020 - 17:13

    Unfortunately, we are still in that unhappy period when a great number of local businesses are either working remotely or are closed following the government’s lockdown orders.

    The restrictions are being gradually eased, but it is worthwhile repeating the current restrictions as they apply to social distancing and public gatherings in Reepham.

    Everybody should continue to exercise social distancing at all times and continue to stay at home except for essential shopping and exercise.

    The categories of shops that are allowed to open and the amount of time people are recommended to spend outside exercising is being relaxed, but essentially the advice remains the same.

    Play area closed

    It is important to remember that all public buildings and public amenities remain closed. This includes playgrounds, play equipment and outdoor gym equipment, so the children’s play area and skate park at Stimpson’s Piece must remain closed. The area has been taped off and warning notices put up for your, and your children’s, safety.

    Stimpson’s Piece park, in common with public footpaths and Marriott’s Way, remains open for exercise subject to proper social distancing.

    Remote working

    Following government advice all public meetings have been cancelled until further notice and this includes all town council and Stimpson’s Piece trustee meetings.

    Councillors and trustees are continuing to carry out their duties remotely, observing safe social distancing.

    The town council is continuing to carry out its functions remotely and the permanent staff are working from home.

    Although the town council office is closed, members of the public can make contact by email, by leaving a message on the answerphone or by letter.

    The town council is currently investigating the possibility of holding public meetings electronically, but this is still in the embryonic stage and further information will be published at a later date.

    Planning applications

    The town council still has to deal with planning applications and has adopted a policy of discussing applications and making comments and objections electronically.

    The overwhelming number of planning applications are of a minor and non-contentious nature and can be dealt with quite simply.

    However, the council has recently had to consider three separate applications in connection with the proposed development off Broomhill Lane. All these applications –  for the upgrading of Broomhill Lane, for the demolition of a bungalow and the erection of two houses on the plot at the junction of Whitwell Road and Broomhill Lane, and for the housing development itself – have generated a great deal of comment from members of the public and, following discussion among councillors, the town council has submitted its comments and objections to the three applications, which will be available for public inspection on the town council website.

    With regard to future planning applications, in addition to notices published in the local press by Broadland District Council, the town council will publish details on the town council website and in the local free press wherever possible.

    Recycling centres

    On a slightly brighter note, and a sign that perhaps restrictions are being eased, some of the Norfolk County Council recycling centres have been reopened.

    Currently, they are only offering a limited range of services and will only allow private cars and small vans to enter the sites. Large vans and trailers are not currently admitted.

    Social distancing must be observed and the staff will not assist members of the public in unloading vehicles.

    Inevitably, there may be delays in entering the sites and everybody is advised to check the websites of the recycling centres for opening hours and any conditions that are being applied.

    Future meetings

    As stated in a previous report, owing to the current restrictions on public gatherings, we are unable to publish a list of future meetings or events.

    As soon as these restrictions are eased or lifted we will be able to return to publishing these events on a regular basis.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Town council continues to function during coronavirus lockdown

    Saturday, April 18, 2020 - 13:25

    A lot has happened since the last Your Council Matters report. At that time the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic was only just making its presence felt and things were still very much in a state of flux.

    Since then the government has imposed a lockdown, closing most shops, pubs and public buildings, and banning public gatherings and sporting events.

    As far as Reepham Town Council is concerned, the town hall, including the council office, is closed until further notice.

    However, we can still be contacted by email, by telephone (01603 873355) and leaving a message, or in writing to: Town Council Office, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham NR10 4JW. Letters can also be hand delivered to the letterbox at the entrance to the town hall.

    Because of the ban on public meetings and following the advice on social distancing, the town council has cancelled all meetings until we receive further guidance from the government.

    As a consequence we are unable to publish a list of future meetings and events until further notice. Councillors will continue to perform their duties, contact being maintained by email or telephone.

    Consultations on planning applications

    One significant consequence of the present ban on public meetings is that we are unable to have direct public consultations on planning applications.

    While most planning applications are not contentious and councillors are able to make their recommendations to Broadland District Council, there are likely to be more significant planning applications that will need to be considered in the near future.

    We always welcome comments from members of the public, whether residents or others, either direct to the town council or to individual councillors, on any planning application so that we are able to present the community’s views to the planning authority, Broadland District Council.

    We also need to remind everybody that they have the right to make personal objections and comments on any planning application direct to the district council via its website or in writing, and we strongly recommend that they do so.

    Broomhill Lane

    We recently had the opportunity to comment on the planning application by Norfolk County Council to improve Broomhill Lane as a preliminary step to the proposed housing development.

    Having taken into account comments made by local residents and by councillors the town council made its response to the application to Broadland District Council, details of which can be found on the town council website.

    We are expecting a full planning application for the proposed housing development off Broomhill Lane in the near future and we would ask all residents to study the proposals closely and make any comments to the town council and, more importantly, direct to Broadland District Council.

    Stimpson’s Piece pavilion and play area closed

    In common with all other public buildings, the pavilion at Stimpson’s Piece has been closed by the trustee until further notice. Following government advice it has also been necessary to prevent use of the play equipment and skate park.

    However, the parkland area of Stimpson’s Piece remains open for exercise and dog walking, but everybody should remember the government’s restrictions on the amount of time spent outside the home and the need for social distancing.

    Thanks to town traders

    We would like to express appreciation to all the traders who have been able to remain open and continue to serve the community under increasingly difficult circumstances.

    While restrictions on the number of customers allowed in at any one time may be a nuisance, they are there not only for our protection, but also for the protection of staff.

    Fortunately, the weather since the lockdown has been good and queuing in the Market Place has not, for most of us, been a hardship.

    We would also like to express appreciation to all residents who have done their best to honour the strictures of the lockdown with good humour and good grace.

    We are fortunate in having a wealth of public open spaces, such as Stimpson’s Piece, and footpaths and bridleways, such as Marriott’s Way, where we can walk our dogs or exercise within the government’s restrictions and still maintain adequate social distancing.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Town council allotments available

    Friday, March 20, 2020 - 10:15

    With the clocks about to change, many of us are looking forward to enjoying our gardens and allotments. Remember it is not too late to rent an allotment.

    Reepham Town Council has a small number of recently vacated allotments that are ready to be taken over straight away, either in full- or half-plot sizes. If you are interested in starting allotment gardening please, please contact the town clerk.

    Councillor resignation

    Early last month, Cllr Robert Taylor tendered his resignation from the town council. Robert has only been with us for a relatively short time, but proved to be an enthusiastic and supportive colleague, not only as a town councillor, but also as a member of the Town Hall Management Committee.

    We wish Robert well for the future and thank him for all the work he has done on behalf of the community.

    There are still two vacancies for councillors; please contact the town clerk or any of our councillors for further information.

    Vattenfall survey work

    At the last town council meeting, councillors and members of the public were treated to a short update on the proposals by Vattenfall for its wind farm development and the associated cable runs.

    The company is still awaiting the government decision on its proposal, due now in June, but in the meantime is currently undertaking survey and planning work for the project.

    As far as Reepham is concerned, Vattenfall will be carrying out archaeological and ground condition surveys at various points along the cable route, and is also developing traffic management strategies for dealing with sensitive pressure points, such as Cawston.

    The company’s current proposals do not envisage the necessity for large vehicles to pass through Reepham, with arrangements being made to bypass the town.

    Vandalism to public toilets

    Regarding coronavirus, the government is continually updating its advice, with an emphasis on personal hygiene and the need to wash hands thoroughly.

    Unfortunately, Reepham has suffered a spate of vandalism to the public toilets in Pudding Pie Alley over recent weeks, which has resulted in them either being closed or the hand-washing facilities not being available.

    If anybody is aware that vandalism to the public toilets has occurred, please report it to the police, telephone 101, and to the town clerk, who will arrange to carry out the necessary repairs as soon as possible.

    Stony Lane complaints

    Over the past few weeks we have received complaints from a number of residents concerning the development of the former station site at Cawston Road/Stony Lane.

    Most recently, complaints have centred on damage to Stony Lane as a result of earthworks needed to widen the road and form a pedestrian footpath and the amount of mud left on the road.

    Although the town council has no direct authority to intervene in these matters on residents’ behalf, we have been working closely with Norfolk County Council, which is responsible for the highway, and Greg Peck, the county councillor for the Reepham division, to improve the situation.

    However, should residents have any further complaints, please contact the town clerk or any councillor.

    Public meeting with new MP

    At the last general election, the MP for Broadland, Keith Simpson, stood down and Jerome Mayhew was elected in his place. A public meeting between Mr Mayhew and the town council has been arranged for the beginning of June and more details will be available next month.

    Future events

    • Wednesday 8 April, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Charity trustee meeting
    • Wednesday 6 May, Town Hall Management Committee annual general meeting
    • Wednesday 13 May April, Annual Town meeting, 7 pm, followed by Reepham Town Council annual general meeting and Stimpson’s Piece Charity trustee annual general meeting
    • Saturday 6 June, Reepham Town Council meeting with Jerome Mayhew MP (TBC)

    All meetings are held in Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses, organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend and you will be able to meet your councillors, comment on any agenda items and raise any other issues of concern.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Broomhill Lane plans to be discussed at public meeting in due course

    Monday, February 17, 2020 - 21:42

    The long-awaited development on Broomhill Lane appears to be moving forward at last, with the developers holding a public exhibition of their current proposals in the Town Hall on Monday 10 February.

    The exhibition was well attended by councillors and members of the public, who had the opportunity to question representatives of the developers and the architects on aspects of the plans.

    Inevitably, the plan has changed over the years since the initial proposal, but essentially it includes provision for a sports hall for Reepham High School and College and space for an extension to the town’s cemetery off Whitwell Road.

    It also includes building 141 new houses behind the high school and at the end of Broomhill Lane, which represents an increase of 21 houses above the number envisaged in the original proposal.

    Although the plans displayed at the exhibition were fairly detailed, it has to be recognised that they cannot be taken as a final indication of the form the development will take.

    No doubt the developers will take into account any comments received from members of the public and may well amend their plans accordingly.

    We understand the developers will be submitting a formal planning application in spring or early summer, perhaps in May, at which stage members of the public and town councillors can make their assessment of the plan and comment accordingly.

    The town council will discuss the planning application at a public meeting as soon as possible after the application is made and will, after listening to comments from members of the public, make a formal response on its merits to the planning authority, Broadland District Council.

    We would like to remind everybody that, irrespective of any position the town council might take, members of the public have the right to make their own comments on any planning application in person, direct to Broadland District Council.

    Little storm damage

    As a consequence of the town council’s ongoing programme of inspecting and maintaining its property, particularly the trees and hedges on Stimpson’s Piece and in the cemeteries, we have so far suffered little damage from the recent storms and continually strive to ensure all our property remains safe for users and visitors and for the public in general.

    The Pound renovation

    Work on renovating the “Pound” wall and railings at the entrance to the church in Market Place has now been completed with the fitting of a new town council noticeboard.

    No doubt many residents have walked past the Pound over the years and noticed how dilapidated it had become.

    The low wall and particularly the iron railings had deteriorated significantly to the point where they were becoming a possible danger to the public.

    The decision was made last year, with the agreement of Broadland District Council’s conservation officer, to renew both the wall and the railings rather than patch them.

    By way of judicious forward planning in setting aside funds to undertake the renovation, the town council was able to undertake the work from its own resources without making additional demands on council taxpayers.

    New councillor

    At the last town council meeting on 12 February, we had the pleasure of co-opting and welcoming Valerie Harfield-Simpson as a new town councillor. No doubt it will take Valerie a little while to become acquainted with the intricacies of not only the town and the council’s responsibilities, but also its duties as trustee of Stimpson’s Piece Charity.

    I would like take this opportunity to remind everybody that we still have one vacancy for a councillor, so if you would like to join us in serving our community, please do not hesitate to contact the town clerk.

    Future events

    • Wednesday 4 March, Town Hall Management Committee meeting
    • Wednesday 11 March, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Charity trustee meeting
    • Wednesday 8 April, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Charity trustee meeting

    All meetings are held in Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses, organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend and you will be able to meet your councillors, comment on any agenda items and raise any other issues of concern.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Dog issues on town’s allotments

    Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 10:50

    Reepham Town Council has received complaints from allotment holders that dogs are running loose on the sites and leaving their little calling cards.

    The allotments are not part of the town’s recreational areas and we would not expect dogs to be exercised there. Dogs that are on the allotments must be kept on leads at all times and their faeces must be removed and disposed of off-site.

    There is a dog waste bin situated outside the Stony Lane allotment site on Marriott’s Way, so there is no excuse for mess not to be disposed of properly and safely.

    We would also like to remind allotment holders and visitors alike to make sure that the gates are closed at all times to prevent dogs entering the area.

    Redevelopment at former station site

    The roadworks at Station Plain, opposite the entrance to the former station, have excited much comment, not to mention many complaints, in recent weeks and the problems were discussed at the January meeting of the town council.

    Concerns were expressed about the safety of pedestrians negotiating the ever-changing excavations, the difficulty of drivers attempting to leave the Kerri’s Pine site and the impact the work on local businesses.

    It was agreed that the issues would be taken up with Norfolk County Council (the highways authority), with the result that its engineers have been undertaking a proactive role in monitoring the works.

    In connection with this development, councillors also discussed the possible provision of street lighting on the roads bordering the site.

    Norfolk County Council has decided that there are no road safety issues requiring the installation of additional lighting, so the matter has been passed to the town council for our attention.

    After some discussion, councillors agreed that there is no requirement for street lighting in Stony Lane, but concern was expressed about the safety of pedestrians crossing Station Plain, Cawston Road and Station Road to access the proposed convenience store, especially at night.

    It was therefore agreed that the town council would seek to retain the existing streetlamp at the entrance to Kerri’s Pine with additional lights situated at the junction of Station Road and Stony Lane and at the entrance to the convenience store on Cawston Road.

    Grants for local community events

    As part of our policy of supporting local community events, councillors discussed applications for grant funding for this year’s music and food festivals, and were pleased to fund the provision of basic amenities for these events.

    Recycling

    There are five recycling banks at the Station Road car park and a further bottle bank at the Stimpson’s Piece car park and every effort is made to ensure they are emptied promptly as necessary.

    Unfortunately, this is not always possible and on those few occasions when a bank is full we would ask residents not to leave bags of recyclables on the ground, but to take them home and bring them back when the banks are empty.

    We would also appreciate your support in letting the town clerk know of any problem with the recycling banks so we can resolve any issues as soon as possible.

    Council vacancies

    Reepham Town Council still has vacancies for two councillors. If you wish to help shape the future of the community or to serve the community in a voluntary capacity, why not consider joining us by becoming a councillor?

    Future events

    • Wednesday 12 February, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Charity Trustee meeting
    • Wednesday 4 March, Town Hall Management Committee meeting
    • Wednesday 11 March, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Charity Trustee meeting

    All meetings are held in Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses, organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend and you will be able to meet your councillors, comment on any agenda items and raise any other issues of concern.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Remedial work needed for church wall

    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 - 16:40

    The small wall around the “pound” has now been renewed and, at the time of writing, we are waiting for the replacement railings to be restored.

    However, the wall surrounding the church and churchyard is in need of attention and, several months ago, the town council commissioned a survey to establish the extent of remedial work needed.

    At the town council meeting on 13 November it was agreed that quotations for the work to the wall along Church Hill should be sought from suitably qualified builders, working in conjunction with the conservation officer of Broadland District Council.

    It was decided to deal with this length of the wall as a matter of priority because of the damage caused by collisions with vehicles.

    It is envisaged that the entire wall along both Church Street and Church Hill will need attention to a greater or lesser extent and will, of necessity, be spread over a number of years.

    New town councillor

    Also at the November meeting, Jenny Harding was welcomed as Reepham’s newest town councillor. No doubt it will take her a little while to come to terms with the wide range of issues that we have to deal with, but we are looking forward to working together for the benefit of the community.

    There are still vacancies for councillors, so if you are interested in serving the community, please contact the town clerk.

    Town hall porch completed

    The Town Hall Management Committee, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the town hall, reports that work on the new porch and creation of a dedicated furniture store has now been virtually completed following the final decoration, the only remaining work being the fitting of a replacement noticeboard and coat rack.

    There are still a few sessions in the town hall available for hire, either for one-off events or for regular group or club sessions, so if you would like to use the venue please contact the town clerk.

    Switch off your engines

    The town council has been contacted by a local resident who is concerned that, on occasions, drivers are keeping their engines running while waiting outside shops or in the Market Place.

    In order to protect the environment, reduce atmospheric pollution and protect the health of children and those with impaired respiratory function, we would ask that drivers consider the welfare of others and turn their engines off when parked.

    Dog mess reported on playing fields

    Unfortunately, we have to return to a problem that presents a potential health hazard, particularly to younger children: dog mess. While most dog owners are responsible and clean up after their pets, there is still that minority who are less than responsible.

    The problem has become an issue again for the trustees of Stimpson’s Piece because the football club has reported that the pitch used by the juniors has, on occasions, been fouled with dog mess.

    We would like to remind all dog owners that, while dogs are welcome on Stimpson’s Piece, they should be kept on a lead at all times, except on the designated free-running area, that dog mess should be cleared up and disposed of in the bins provided, and that dogs are not allowed on the football pitches.

    Market Place closure for Festival of Light

    Reepham Town Council is pleased to support the Festival of Light, which will be held on Thursday 5 December, and would like to remind everybody, especially residents, that the Market Place will be closed to all traffic from about midday to enable stallholders to set up and to provide a safe environment for festival-goers.

    Finally, we would like to everybody a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

    Future events

    • Thursday 5 December, Festival of Light, Market Place, Reepham
    • Wednesday 11 December, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Trustee meeting
    • Wednesday 8 January, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Trustee meeting

    All meetings are held in Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses, organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend to raise issues and make their views known to councillors at the beginning of every meeting.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Assistance available to event organisers

    Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 20:23

    Despite the shorter days it will soon be the festive season and we can look forward to enjoying Christmas and the New Year.

    In the run-up to Christmas there is the Reepham Festival of Light on Thursday 5 December in the Market Place, which will be closed to traffic from midday onwards.

    We would also like to congratulate the organisers on the Reepham Classic Car & Bike Festival held in the Market Place on Sunday 29 September, which was enjoyed by all, despite the inclement weather.

    In our efforts to support local businesses and community groups, the town council is always prepared to consider providing assistance to organisers of events in the town, either in the form of cash grants or, for example, arranging for the closure of the Market Place: the town council has provisionally agreed to support the Reepham Objects and Antiques Fest to be held on Sunday 28 June 2020.

    If anybody wishes to organise an event in Reepham, please do not hesitate to contact us at an early stage of the planning process to discuss what assistance we may be able to offer.

    ‘Tommy’ statue

    For the commemoration of the end of the First World War a number of “Tommy” figures were made for use during the various events and services around the country.

    Broadland District Council has generously given one of the “Tommy” figures to Reepham and this has now been erected in the Pound in front of the church in time for the Armistice service on 10 November and Armistice Day on 11 November. People will gather in the Market Place at 10.30 am for the traditional march to the church, with the service starting at 10.45 am.

    Meanwhile, the rebuilding of the Pound wall and renewal of the iron railings around it is well under way, the next step being to reinstate the ground and prune the trees.

    Station Road development

    At long last there have been developments on the former station site on the corner of Station Road and Stony Lane.

    Earthworks are under way and we believe the developers intend to first build the convenience store and a number of bungalows before starting work on the care home complex. We also understand the developers are in discussion with Broadland District Council concerning outstanding planning matters.

    New cemetery

    Some years ago the district council selected a site on Broomhill Lane as suitable for residential development. The proposal included provision for space for an extension to the cemetery on Whitwell Road.

    Although there has not yet been a planning application for the development, town council officers having been looking at the likely financial costs and budgetary implications of funding a new cemetery. To that end we had a meeting with Dereham Town Council to learn from their experience.

    If and when the cemetery comes to fruition it is anticipated that it will provide sufficient space for burials into the next century so it is imperative that not only the cost but the shape and use to which the land is put in the meantime is planned for.

    Future events

    • Wednesday 6 November, Town Hall Management Committee meeting
    • Sunday 10 November, Remembrance Day service, St Mary’s Reepham, 10.30 am
    • Wednesday 13 November, Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Trustee meeting
    • Thursday 5 December, Festival of Light, Market Place, Reepham, 4.30-7.30 pm
    • Wednesday 11 December, Reepham Town Council meeting

    All meetings are held in Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses, organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend to raise issues and make their views known to councillors at the beginning of every meeting.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

     

  • Town council unconvinced about benefits of a neighbourhood plan

    Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 08:45

    At its meeting on 11 September, Reepham Town Council debated formulating a neighbourhood plan following a presentation from the senior community planning officer of Broadland District Council.

    A neighbourhood plan would give the community direct power to develop a shared vision for the neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of the local area.

    The community would be able to decide where it wants new homes, shops and offices to be built, have a say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided.

    However, any neighbourhood plan should support other policies already in place, such as the Local Plan or spatial development strategy formulated by the district council or the government.

    Although the town council remains unconvinced about the benefit of a neighbourhood plan for Reepham, councillors agreed to hold consultations with members of the community.

    The council plans to hold a public meeting early next year to establish the level of interest in producing a neighbourhood plan and, more importantly, the level of commitment from members of the community in producing the necessary evidence required to meet the demands of the process.

    Bearing in mind that the whole process of creating a neighbourhood plan is likely to take at least two years to obtaining approval, there will need to be ongoing discussion both within and outside the town council before anybody will be in a position to start preparing a plan.

    The town council recommends that anybody interested in a neighbourhood plan should consult the government’s guidance on neighbourhood planning HERE.

    It may also be helpful to look at adopted plans from other local councils, such as Aylsham and Acle, whose neighbourhood plans have been published on their respective websites.

    The town council would appreciate expressions of interest from anybody who would like to become involved in helping to produce a neighbourhood plan, especially from those who have experience in local government and planning processes, so that an assessment of the level of interest in the community can be established.

    If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact the town clerk by email or by letter at Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham NR10 4JW, or contact any of our councillors.

    Car parking

    Following the recent decision by Broadland District Council and South Norfolk District Council to combine many of their functions, Broadland District Council has prepared a proposal to charge for parking in their off-road car parks.

    The town council had not been made aware of the proposal until a last-minute intervention by District Councillor Stuart Beadle enabled us to make our representations to the district council.

    Off-road parking in Reepham is complicated by the fact that the Station Road car park is owned by Broadland District Council and the Market Place is owned by the town council.

    Until recently the trustees of Stimpson’s Piece had been in discussion with the district council to offer the use of the car park at the town’s recreation ground to provide additional long-stay parking in the town.

    Inevitably, any decision to charge for parking at Station Road car park will directly affect those living in the town centre as well as those working in the town, and will impact on parking in the Market Place and probably result in increased on-road parking in the vicinity.

    We have requested that there should be public consultation before any decision on changes to Broadland’s policy on free parking in town centres is changed. If you believe you will be affected by the imposition of parking charges please contact the town clerk.

    The Pound

    You may have noticed that the railings around the “Pound” at the entrance to the church in the Market Place have disappeared and the low wall supporting them is being restored. Over the years the railings have deteriorated with age and are being refurbished or replaced as necessary.

    Future events

    • Wednesday 9 October: Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Trustee meeting
    • Wednesday 6 November: Town Hall Management Committee meeting
    • Wednesday 13 November: Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Trustee meeting

    All meetings are held in Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses, organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend to raise issues and make their views known to councillors at the beginning of every meeting.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Neighbourhood plan back on the agenda

    Monday, July 29, 2019 - 20:50

    At the last Reepham Town Council meeting on 10 July, the subject of a neighbourhood plan was raised. Neighbourhood plans give a community direct power to develop a shared vision of a town or parish and shape its development and growth.

    We would be able to choose where we want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have a say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for the new buildings we want to see go ahead.

    In Reepham’s case the development of a neighbourhood plan might be led by the town council, but it could only be carried out with the active support and participation of the community.

    Having consulted with members of the community, a draft plan would be drawn up and put to an independent assessor and, if found acceptable, put back to the community in the form of a referendum.

    The process is complex and is, of necessity, long and drawn out, and would require a great deal of dedicated work by all those involved (for more information, see the guidance on neighbourhood planning on the gov.uk website).

    With the support of local residents, the town council developed a proposal for a neighbourhood plan some years ago, but a request for financial support was rejected.

    Unfortunately, because of the cost of producing a neighbourhood plan and the lack of support, the town council felt it had no option but to stop work on the plan.

    However, we have been asked to look again at the possibility of producing a neighbourhood plan, and it has been agreed that we shall discuss the matter at the next town council meeting on 11 September.

    Before a decision can be made, councillors will need to be assured that adequate financial, clerical and technical support will be forthcoming, as well as committed support from members of the community.

    If anybody wishes to support the preparation of a neighbourhood plan, please do not hesitate to contact the town clerk or any of our councillors.

    You do not necessarily have to be a resident of Reepham; you may have a business here for example or you may have some particular technical or legal background that could support us.

    As a start, councillors have already sought the support of District Councillor Stuart Beadle and Broadland District Council, who will have an important role in the development of a neighbourhood plan.

    Holiday season

    With no council meetings until September, the town council office will still be operational during the holiday season. However, it may not be staffed every day and callers are advised to ring to make an appointment.

    During this period it may be easier to contact us either by email, by post or even by leaving a letter in the post box on the front wall of the town hall.

    Although the town council will not be having any meetings in August, we are pleased to support the Reepham Music Festival on 10-11 August.

    Future events

    • Wednesday 4 September: Town Hall Management Committee meeting
    • Wednesday 11 September: Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Trustee meeting

    All meetings are held in Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses and organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend to raise issues and make their views known to councillors at the beginning of every meeting.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

  • Proposed new office development for Original Cottages

    Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 17:51

    At the last meeting of the Reepham Town Team in early June, Richard and James Ellis of The Original Cottage Company (TOCC) briefed team members on their intention to further develop their organisation in Reepham.

    Basically, the holiday cottage company has outgrown its existing accommodation in the town centre and needs more office space.

    Having sought advice from the town, district and county councils, TOCC now plans to build a new office complex, complete with on-site car parking, on land off Dereham Road, behind the doctors’ surgery.

    The proposed development includes a two-storey office block of traditional construction and a car park with access from Dereham Road, allowing space for future extension to the surgery.

    The proposal was welcomed by members of the Town Team, but it was suggested a consultation exercise with local residents be carried out before final plans are drawn up; we understand this will be carried out over summer.

    Town councillors were briefed on the proposal by Reepham Town Council chairman Les Paterson at its meeting on 12 June. Councillors broadly welcomed the proposal, and look forward to the consultation exercise and discussing the issue in more depth when the planning application is dealt with in due course.

    Climate change and tree planting

    At the town council meeting in May, a member of the public raised the issue of climate change and global warming, and asked the council to consider a tree planting programme in Reepham.

    It had been intended to discuss the matter at the June Town Team meeting, but owing to time constraints, this was not possible, so the suggestion will be raised at the next meeting.

    In the meantime, we would like comments from residents, particularly suggestions for possible public spaces where additional trees might be planted.

    If you have any suggestions, or would like take part in organising a tree planting programme, please contact any of our councillors or the town clerk, Jo Boxall.

    Family Fun Day at Stimpson’s Piece

    Following last year’s summer family event on Stimpson’s Piece, another free family fun day will be held on the field on Saturday 20 July from 12 noon – 6 pm, which will include family entertainment, refreshments and a hog roast.

    Please keep an eye out for posters on local noticeboards around the town and in the local free press for details.

    Reepham Food Festival

    I am sure everybody would like to join us in congratulating the organisers of this year’s food festival for another successful event, despite a period of rain later in the day.

    By all reports a good time was had by all, and members of the public had the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of food and drink products available to eat or purchase.

    It gave the town council great pleasure to be able to support the event with grant funding and arranging for the Market Place to be closed.

    New town councillor

    Becky Comer was welcomed to our ranks as a town councillor when she was co-opted at the last meeting in June. No doubt it will take Becky a little while to find out what and where everything we are responsible for is, but I am sure she will make an excellent councillor.

    Future events

    • Wednesday 3 July: Town Hall Management Committee meeting
    • Wednesday 10 July: Reepham Town Council meeting, followed by Stimpson’s Piece Trustee meeting

    All meetings are held in the Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, starting at 7.30 pm unless otherwise advertised.

    Local residents, businesses and organisations and members of the general public are welcome to attend to raise issues and make their views known to councillors at the beginning of every meeting.

    Contact: Reepham Town Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4JW. Tel: 01603 873355. Email

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