NORDELPH COMMUNITY WEBSITE: July 2007
We did not intend to update the Nordelph website over the summer, but a number of important -- and urgent -- developments have changed our mind! This is not a full update: we have simply added a new front page to the site, behind which lies the June Home Page. You can access this, and the state of the site as it was last month, using the link in this heading, or the one at the foot of the page.
Church development
Villagers have been surprised, and not a little aggrieved, that full (that is, not outline) planning permission has been applied for for the demolition of Nordelph church and the construction of no less than five private dwellings with garages fronting onto High Street. They are in part aggrieved because at the regular meetings with the diocese to discuss the future of the church, they were assured that the authorities would share their thinking and consult the village before taking any steps. Instead, the village learns only when a planning application is put before the Parish Council.
The Council has called a meeting on Wednesday July 25th at 7.00pm to discuss the plans.
It is important that if you have any opinions on the developments (our own partisan reactions are detailed below) you make them known to the Borough Council. The role of the Parish Council is somewhat limited, as they can only respond to the planning issues and not engage with the wider concerns. You can respond to Borough.Planning@west-norfolk.gov.uk,
There is some concern over the accuracy and robustness of the submitted plans. As far as services are concerned, the application assumes the existence of sewerage and adequate soakaways, whereas nearby houses are relegated to cesspits, and the field behind the proposed development has only recently and with a lot of effort been drained. Each of the five properties has four bedrooms and garage, and individual access to the High Street at its narrowest point -- drivers will have to drive in and reverse out. The plans are deficient in that they indicate pavements on either side of the High Street at this point, whereas the reality is that the property facing the church opens directly onto the highway.
An accompanying document contradicts both itself and the plans. It is recognised that houses to the West of the church have 'linear frontages' opening directly onto the street, whereas those to the East have front gardens. The document suggests that the most harmonious solution is to continue the line of linear frontages, and then goes on to say that the 'look and feel' of the development will be similar to the newly-built (and not yet completed) houses opposite across Well Creek. The plans also show a front parking space with the houses set back.
This is of course within the Nordelph Conservation Area, but apparently demolition of the church does not contravene the provisions, and the previous bar to the development (the presence of bats in the church) has been circumvented by the provision of a bat roost.
There seems to be an overriding issue that is being missed. Although presently not functional, as a church this land is a village amenity. There might have been some sympathy for a proposal that created a more modest place of worship for the parish, perhaps as part of a sympathetic housing
development, but the submission at present before us is simply commercial development and benefits the village not at all. Those with memories only as far back as this website's inception will recall proposals -- researched and thoughtful proposals -- for ways in which the church land could have contributed to village life, rather than making it just a bit more crowded. When the owners of the (now closed) Chequers pub applied unsuccessfully for planning permission for a change of use to a domestic dwelling, the Borough Council clearly stated that they were opposed in principle to any application that removed the last of any amenity from a community. We need to remind them strongly of that!
Objections (or indeed support) must be received by August 7th, and we strongly urge you to attend the meeting on July 25th.
Raft Race 2007
We reported last month that it looked as if there would be no village celebration this summer. But all is not lost. The latest is that we are making plans for a village raft race, possible date 1st or 8th Sept. The organisers have been given the use of some games, but they do need people to run these. There will also be a tombola and raffle, so anybody with a prize they would like to donate should contact Jane Mackie, Alan or Maria.
There will be a meeting at Jane's house, 14 Coronation Ave, on July 26th at 7pm so please if you think you can spare a few hours to help we would love to see you on the 26th. A few years ago we held several dances and disco, also several sore heads the next day but well worth it, We need to get that togetherness back again. The village is bigger now, if we get enough people interested in helping, maybe we could have a disco/dance at night.
Marham
July 26th might be notable for another reason! We've been alerted to the fact that there is an (RAF) families day at Marham airfield between 12.00 noon and 4.30pm. This means that you could well see even more noisy aircraft passing overhead!
Barroway Drove summer activities
Those of you on our e-mail list (who get advised every time the website is updated) will already know that we were approached by Vicki Howling of Barroway Drove in the following terms:
"Over at Barroway Drove this summer we have some activities for young people aged 11 - 16 years. Sessions include Movie Making and Screen Printing and we would welcome young people from the Nordelph to join in (limited places so they do need to book). There are also activities for younger children."
You can find out more at www.barrowaydrove.org
And if you're not on that mailing list, and want to be, just let us know at info@nordelph.org
And finally, to get to the regular Home Page, click here