By Geoff Fisher 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.
Geoff Fisher