A Monthly Publication

By Cllr Christine Earnshaw, Mayor of Hunstanton

 To start with the more social aspects of the Town Council’s work; Sainsbury’s continue to work hard for the Mayors Appeal, last month’s Newsletter showed the winner of the hamper, Christine Walford and the store is to be congratulated for raising £1035 (with some noble assistance from the Hunstanton Concert Band on a cold wintry morning).  Watch out for the Valentine Raffle on February 13^th when Sainsbury’s staff dress up as HIPPIES!

Also for the Appeal is the Mayor’s Gala, a variety Concert on February 20^th in the Town Hall. Look out for the posters around town and in this News Letter. A convenient place to buy tickets might be from Scoop & Save and I am very grateful to Diane for agreeing to sell our tickets.

 The decision to have one Unitary Council for Norfolk is being discussed in meetings at all levels throughout the County. At the Town Council we have speculated on whether more local autonomy could lead to better services.  Would we have better control over gritting, for example.  It certainly has been far from satisfactory in this exceptional winter although County Highways delivered what they promised, namely to keep the main roads open. We have written to our MP requesting that the law be changed to make individuals responsible for clearing snow and gritting their paths as is common practice in Germany.  Will there now be an outcry from the infirm and elderly who will demand to know who will clear their paths?!

Under a Unitary Council would we have more say or less about part-night street lighting; retaining the Princess Theatre as we want it; running the Oasis Leisure Centre; avoiding unwelcome parking?  I wish I knew the answers -  those who think they do know are speculating.  I think it is a case of the grass is greener on the other side.

I am always sorry when people feel the need to talk our town down by exaggeration.   We have a few empty shops in the town, perhaps more than we would wish for.  But, the new Rounce and Evans, for example, is not ‘yet another estate agent,’ it is a new dedicated Lettings and Management Agent building on success in Dersingham.  There are other new businesses too, Glynis Thomson has reopened the Marine Bar and Hotel, Anita Neal’s hairdressers opens in January and Lesley’s Lingerie is under new management showing confidence in Westgate.  Cherry Hill Chocolates has been welcomed in the High Street and if it is definite that M & Co are to fill the old Woolworth’s store then things are really looking up.

Finally, that Hunstanton has been chosen to enter Britain in Bloom in 2010 is excellent news and for my part I hope there will be a strong emphasis on the retail and residential area as a resort cannot rely on cliff tops and seafront alone.