A Monthly Publication

THANK YOU LIONS

I would like to take this opportunity to give a ‘big thank you’ to the Lions for the excellent meal on Monday 7^th December.

              From the first greeting to the end, the event was so well organised  -  the waitress/waiter service from the Mars people was first class  -  the music also, and very nostalgic!

              Well done everyone who was involved.

R.S. and M Hodson

STAINED GLASS

Something to look forward to in 2010 - I am busy preparing, as part of the St. Edmund's Church Festival, a Town Competition to take place after Easter. This has involved taking a series of detailed photographs of the Victorian / Edwardian architecture at the heart of our town. Whilst doing this I have identified a number of stained glass designs which were installed at that time. I am proposing that a photographic record is made of as many as possible of these designs, and that this record is to kept and hopefully published by the Civic Society. If your residence has either door panels, or windows, or any other stained glass features with the original stained glass in place, I would be grateful if you could

contact me at 01485 532908, or by email - CLOAKING . I will be trying to obtain as many photographs as possible during January so I would be grateful for any help.

John Smith

“WHAT A SHAME” DOWNS ROAD

As you know, we in Downs Road are asking for our Green Space to be protected and someway to control the traffic congestion.  We can report that action on our green space has been started.  Turf removed and carrstone blocks put down.  Further works to be carried out in the New Year.  Our feelings on this delay, is that it’s a quick-fix to shut us up for awhile.  However the very same day the blocks were put down, a bus driver decided to mount the pavement, cross over this ‘deterrent’ of a boundary, and business as usual.

Well folks! It did not stop there; one resident was so incensed he went to the police the very next day (Friday).  And to prove a point, parked his car legally on the corner of Downs Road Cul-de-Sac.  Right where the buses turn to manoeuvre into position outside Smithdon School. It was absolute chaos. 

A bus marshal asked the police officer attending to “Nick Him” and told the resident to “Move it, there are service buses being delayed”.  However the resident was unfazed and showed the bus marshal pictures of the problems we face each day by their buses, and have done for nearly 3 years now.  They ended up shaking hands and the bus marshal admitting he would not like it, if he lived here.  But left, stating that he will “do something” and keep in touch.

Prior to the above altercation, the resident spoke to the Head of Smithdon School and another gentleman.  Headmaster, we know you are not responsible for the hiring of these buses, the Norfolk County Council are.  It’s a very serious matter to all the residents of Downs Road.

For those who have not been following this story. There are too many large Buses/Coaches and not enough spaces available.  Members of our Town Council are looking for areas to “hold” the overflow of buses but so far have been unsuccessful.  Like me, you would probably say “What about the coach park on the front, or the bus station they can wait there until called for”.  But you know what is stopping this obvious and practical solution?       MONEY!    MONEY!    MONEY!  

King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Council expect a fee for these vehicles to stop in the coach park/bus station.  For what 20/30 mins.  Each school day.  It’s Norfolk’s children who use these vehicles and even though the N.C.C. is responsible for the hiring of these vehicles, due to government dictates, if the school cannot provide more space, it’s surely all council’s responsibility to find room for the overflow. And not expect a monetary reward. 

All councils, other than Hunstanton Town Council, have ignored the difficulties faced by the residents, hoping that we will shut up.

 Well!  Reality check here!  Council Authorities, we are not going to.

Mrs J Brazier for Downs Rd Residents

PHOTOS

I thought your readers might like to investigate my online photo gallery which features pictures of Hunstanton beach and the surrounding coastline. I hope some of you will enjoy taking a look.

Visit my website @ www.northnorthwest.co.uk

Stuart Aylmer, Heacham

ESTATE AGENTS

I remember commenting to a fellow parent one morning on the way to the infants’ school when passing the newly vacated cafe opposite Sainsbury’s "the town needs another estate agent!" Ok it was with some irony that this was said.
Low and behold this week I find myself looking at a lovely picture of estate agents and the town’s mayor smiling outside the new estate agents within the pages of the Lynn News. Interestingly, this event seems to have had as much coverage by the paper as our carnival back in the summer!

Anyway, my point is we have countless estate agents in Hunstanton as various contributors have noted in the newsletter in the past. The trend goes from strength to strength-as we all know the property market locally is booming (is it?)- a house nearby to my own home has been up for sale for best part of a year and its not in isolation.

Whilst we don’t want to see empty shops, and there are plenty of estate agents here already-isn’t it time that the number of estate agents was restricted- I suspect in time the independent/local agents will be the ones to suffer as they don’t have the option of being subsidised by other branches of larger agents.

Furthermore, I equate more estate agents with an increasing number of holiday homes, that lay empty like the several on our road for much of the year. Whilst one could think that I dislike estate agents it is just the impact that too many can have on our town, both in terms of reducing it to a town centre that lacks variety and the message it gives to visitors of a town and local area that is up for sale!

Just as final comment, I wonder if anyone out there, town councillor or otherwise can tell me whether the KLBC ever made a decision as to whether a pedestrian crossing to the rec to access the swings. I suspect that it is still not a priority compared to more pressing priorities! No wonder I have little faith in local democracy.

Michael Shaw

WE’VE GOT  THE BLOOMS , NOW LET’S HAVE THE BOOM!

Over the past few months I have become more and more concerned for our wonderful town of Hunstanton. With the closure of Woolworths there has been a downward spiral of our local shops closing. On Westgate alone there are at least five outlets vacant. On the high Street there are now two vacant shops with three more shops for sale. Greevegate has one

empty shop. We have plenty of estate agents and charity shops and these play a vital part in any shopping area, but there has to be room for a mixture of other stores in order to generate income for our town. We also have the added threat of the Princess Theatre being closed.

We have wonderful gardens up on the front, with terrific volunteers giving their time, talent and energy to create something beautiful, with locals and visitors alike thoroughly enjoying them. However, as lovely as the gardens are, they alone are not enough to keep visitors coming back year after year. In the past visitors have kept returning but then we had a full working town. Most folk like to browse round the shops but this will be increasingly difficult to do soon.

We have a Mayor who is trying to raise funds for our youth which is to be applauded. In these difficult times, isn’t there something the council can do to help our shopkeepers? Perhaps the rates and rents could be reduced during the winter months. Without help I worry that e will see the closure of more of our shops.

On a positive note we enjoyed a great summer carnival and spectacular fireworks on the cliff top foe Guy Fawkes and we enjoyed the Hunstanton Christmas Cracker with the Christmas lights switched on. It’s amazing what can be done for special days. Now we need to apply greater efforts for our struggling shopkeepers- a few years ago we were promised regeneration for the town, whatever happened to that promise?

Are ther more residents who are concerned for our town?

With an election looming in 2010 it will be interesting to hear what the manifestos will be for ‘Sunny Hunny’.

Marie Sawyer

SEEING A DOCTOR IN HUNSTANTON

Like several of your readers I have found the medical services provided by the Hunstanton Practice leaves much to be desired, indeed I tried moving to another practice only to find this is not allowed  -  restrictive practice? Now I have discovered that there is an alternative.

People living in Hunstanton, or anywhere in the area, will be pleased to know they are entitled to visit the drop-in Health Centre in Norwich whenever they like. Both Doctors and Nurses are available, prescriptions can be issued and minor treatment for cuts and bruises undertaken. Indeed any service a patient would ordinarily get within a GP’s practice is offered.

The centre is the Timber Hill Health Centre and is based at Level 4, the Mall, Norwich, tel: 0300 0300 333. What is more the Health Centre is open 365 days a year from 7am to 9pm and no appointments are needed. This may seem a long way to go to see a doctor but you are treated with respect and the reception staff are not rude –  that alone is surely worth the travel.

The centre is within easy reach of the bus station  -  X1 from King’s Lynn. In addition the Health Centre is wheelchair accessible and I understand patients using the Mall’s Car Park

2 can get one hour’s free parking using a token when visiting the centre. I got all this information from the NHS Norfolk tel: 01603 257093.

I Wilson

A GOOD YEAR

Am I alone in thinking that weatherwise 2009 was quite a good year here in Hunstanton? Certainly we have had a lot less rain than other parts of the country, even other areas in East Anglia. I can hardly recall a weekend when it rained, and have only rarely missed sitting on the Green, listening to the visiting brass bands, although we have had some cool winds on several occasions!

Very often friends and family have telephones to say that as the forecast was unfavourable, they may not visit, however we usually advise them to ignore the gloomy predictions, and sure enough although it may be raining somewhere on the way here, it stays fine in Hunstanton!

The local traders who rely on week-end shoppers for the majority of their business would appear to have had a good summer, particularly the fast food outlets and ice cream vendors.

It is a pity though that many shops in the town have not experienced such good fortune, and it is hoped local residents will continue to support them.

Obviously the many bikers who come here on Sundays do not spend much, as they have no means of carrying home their shopping, but at least they eat and drink here and give a colourful display of immaculate motor bikes on the lower Green.

I am well aware that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for welcoming visitors, but to my wife and I it is a great joy to walk down to the prom and see families having a great time here in Hunstanton.

David Newman

KEEPING THE FAITH

I recently read in the paper that an internet search on ‘Ask Jeeves’ made a study of modern day ‘old wives tales’ e.g. if you eat standing up the food will be fat free, thus you can lose weight! - if you make a wish at 11.11 on the clock it will come true! They concluded that because of the recession people are trying to find something positive to cling to.

The only positive thing to cling to is the unchanging word of God where He tells us of his great love for us. He made us to have a relationship with Him, but because of sin entering the world that relationship was broken. But God, who is rich in mercy, sent His son, Jesus Christ, into our world to bear the punishment for our sin on the cross. We only have to acknowledge our sin, asking for God’s forgiveness, and invite Jesus into our lives, that relationship is restored; and we hacve the assurance that whatever we have to experience God is there to help us through it; and I write this through experience of knowing Him through the last 48 years since I took that step of faith!

Miriam Hodson

HUNSTANTON RETAIL NEWS - LESLEY'S LENGERIE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Ladies and girls; call in and see Michelle Young for a great range of underwear at Lesley’s Lingerie which is opposite Sainsbury’s on Westgate.

Not sure of your size? Michelle offers a full measuring and fitting service at this all-female store. More details in the February edition. Enquiries: 01485 534789.