On 17th October I attended the launch of a new cycle route in the Clavering Division. This is called Cycle Route 31, it goes from the War Memorial at Gillingham to Reedham Ferry. The launch was attended by several cyclists from the Beccles Club and we had a good day, weather was kind and the stop for refreshments at Raveningham was very welcome.

Many of you will know that we have been turned down for a speed limit reduction outside of the school. However, I have not given up on the request. I spoke to one of the road safety officers last week and have agreed with him that we will take more speed readings, but this time closer to the row of houses north of the school.

I was told that the decision was a very close call, so I asked “What would tip it in our favour?” The short answer is, better compliance with the existing limit, that doesn’t make sense to me but it appears to make sense to the authorities.

So may I ask you all to drive much more slowly over the rubber tubes when they are put down and thereby reduce the ‘mean’ speed.

A reduction in the limit would mean a lot for the safety of the children.

I was looking at the County Web site recently and came across this video, whilst it is amusing, I found it very helpful, please pass it on to all of your friends who may need a bit of help.

Remember to tell your friends that they can see this video by going to my Blog. http://tonytomkinson.wordpress.com, just in case they can’t remember the site address.

At last! Earsham children can celebrate their new school. Their old school was a Victorian building and in these days certainly not fit for purpose. The County Council has funded this project to the tune of £1.9 million.

 The new school is to be opened by Bishop Graham James, Lord Bisop of Norwich on Monday 12th October at 9.15am. The children will have a playing field and play areas to use, these were not available in the old school.

Today the school has 75 pupils, but already there are plans to exptend the school to take in pupils affected by the reorganisations on schools in North Suffolk. Many families from the Bungay area prefer to send their children to this Norfolk school.

This new school is a huge asset for the community of Earsham and I shall be thrilled to see it opened by the Bishop. The modern and comfortable new buildings will support both teaching and learning and are a far cry from the old Victorian school. I wish the school every success in its new home and look forward to seeing the school grow in the years ahead.

The Main Entrance

As last we have news of the process on the proposed site at Haddiscoe. Today, 8 September, the results of the Planning & Transportation consultation are posted on the CC web site. Please go to the site and see.

I know the majority of the residents will be pleased to see that the site at Haddiscoe is not a preferred site. It remains to be seen whether a planning application will still be submitted or whether there will be an appeal.

Whatever, the Council has listened to the residents and we would hope to move forward from this point.

I must just say that there are some who will not agree with the decision, I respect their view. As I also respect the desire of the landowner to maximise the potential of their land.  I hope that all of the residents can now move forward together and put this behind them.

Lastly, my congratulations to the STOPIT team, they worked hard and were listened to. We should all take note of that and try to work together to achieve success in the next hot topic for Haddiscoe and Top Croft, that is wanting a reduction of the speed limit on the A143 past the school and through Top Croft….They deserve it.

You made look at the list on the County Council web using this link: www.norfolk.gov.uk/nmwdf

This is my first post since the County Council elections on June 4th, it really is time I caught up with you all. In this post I am going to try to catch up with all of the outstanding issues from before the election, but more of those later.

Back to June 4th, it was not without some nervousness that I went to the count on 5th of June, I thought that at best I might win but with a very small majority. It was quite a surprise to see my majority increased and a 16% swing in my favour. My thanks to everyone who voted for me, I will do my best to represent you all, that includesof course, everyone who did not vote for me as well. At the first Council meeting I found myself proposed as Vice Chairman of the Council, this was passed and I now have a new job, which should lead to being Chairman next year. This new job will take up a bit more of my time this year but considerably more next year. Electronic communication is going tobe a vital part of my work with the Parish Councils, I have written  to them all asking for their co-operation.

Now down to issues:-

Haddiscoe Pit

We should know the results of the County Council consultation on Septemebr 10th when the report goes to cabinet. I am quietly confident that the work done by the STOPIT team will have demonstrated that the proposals for a mineral quarry followed by an inert waste tip will be rejected. I can’t tell you whether on or not there will be an appeal if it is rejected. But, I will keep everyone informed.

Earsham Illegal Traveller site.

The last thing I want on this Blog site is a photograph of the mess in Five Acre Lane. The current situation is, that the County legal team have submitted a report as requested by the judge, the tavellers have also submitted there own report, and we are waiting for the judge to make up his or her mind. Once again I am hopeful that the lane will be restored to its intended use as a community asset.

What next?

Clearly the country is in a mess economically. It has just been announced that France and Germany are pulling out of this recession; Everyone must be aware that our Government has put us into deeper problems that our Euopean neighbours. With only a few months to go before the end of this five year administration let us make sure that we elect a responsible government that will give us back our jobs, our self respect and our economic future. It is obviously going to be a hard struggle for us all. At County level we expect to have to do considerable belt tighening; I sincerely hope that front line services will be maitained.

Tony

Last evening I attended an “Open Meeting” held in Earsham Village Hall. This meeting was very well attended by residents, with two officers and one councillor representing the District Council.

It was clear that most people present were not in favour of either of the two sites up for comment, neither should be considered suitable as permanent sites for travellers. As this consultation will only consider letters directly from the public, I felt that residents would not have the opportunity of putting together any co-ordinated approach to the District Council. I have therefore put this “Post” on my Blog so that readers may see the comments of others and be able to respond accordingly. Taking inspiration from others.

I sincerely hope you find this helpful, and I look forward to seeing the coments from residents. Please be cautious in your letters to the council, they should not show partiality towards any class or race otherwise I will not be able to publish them.

They can be in favour of the settled community, but as important, they should be constructive so far as the travelling community are concerned; for example, “These two site are not suitable for use by the travelling community because of the considerable risk every time they leave or enter the site because it will mean crossing the traffic on this very fast stretch of the A143″, or “The sites are a long way from the village for children to walk to school, there being no room in School Rd for more cars to wait at starting and leaving off times”

I was very pleased to see the write up in the EDP this morning (April 21st), lets hope that the campaign gains momentum now.

Norfolk County Council has recently been awarded a top-rating of four stars by the Audit Commission under the ruling Conservative administration. In particular, we are “performing well” in our use of resources, vital in the current economic climate as Norfolk residents need to know their council tax is being used as efficiently as possible. In awarding the fourth star, the Audit Commission said:

“The Council continues to provide strong community leadership and is working well with partners to improve services and quality of life for local residents.

It has been instrumental in getting agreement for upgrading the A11 to a full dual carriageway and continues to be key in driving and supporting regeneration across the County.

Children are achieving more GCSEs and attainment elsewhere is generally improving. Increasing numbers of young people are either in employment, education or training.”

I have been pleased to represent the Clavering Division of the County Council during this achievement.

Currently the Toft Monks Parish Council are running a campaign to have the speed limit on the A143 reduced from 50mph to 40mph on the main road and to 30mph on all of the side roads of the village. I support the proposals that the Parish Council have made and for the information of readers I am copying the information which is appended to the petition currently being circulated. I urge all interested parties to sign, if you have not already done so, please get in touch with Linda Holland and sign up.

A143                                                                                                                                              In the centre of the village we have a dangerous crossroad. The A143 is narrow and straight at this point encouraging drivers to speed up and race past slower vehicles.

Pulling onto the main road from Mardle Rd is dangerous as traffic appears round a bend from the south and then immediately disappears into another bend. It is easy to pull out in front of the ‘invisible’ traffic thus risking collision. When the grass grows long on the verges visibility is further reduced.

The approach to Post Office Rd is a sharp incline with restricted visibility due to the properties on either side. In icy weather it can be impossible to stop at the top before pulling out onto the main road. Many pets have been killed or injured in this location causing great distress to the owner and, trauma for the drivers.

The footway here is just about wide enough for a single person. The school is situated about a mile further on towards Haddiscoe on a blind bend. This is a very busy spot at the start and finish of the school day as parents deliver and collect their children. No child likes to walk to school as it is too dangerous. The footway from the village centre to the school is narrow and gets worse in the summer when the hedges encroach, pushing pedestrians towards the road. The path is another narrow one – just about wide enough for a buggy or wheelchair. However, when heavy traffic speeds past the back wind is enough to drag the unsuspecting or a child into the road.

Each side of this single carriageway road is only just wide enough for a lorry with its offside wheels on the centre white line; when another lorry approaches from the opposite direction they are both required to pull into the edge of the road and almost mount the kerb – frightening for users of the footpath!

Although the records will probably show that the injury accident numbers are relatively low, the future holds the probability of increased traffic from Gt Yarmouth Outer Harbour and possibility from sand and gravel extraction at Haddiscoe and/or Fritton.

I am now able to confirm that the investigation that is scheduled for later this year will also include the school, this was confirmed to me by Adrian Gunson, who is, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation. But, please keep the pressure on the petition and write your on coments on the Blog.

TT

There are many comments regarding the Haddiscoe Gravel extraction site proposals on  this Blog. These may be found by scrolling through the Archive files, they can be found on the righthand side of the site underneath the picture of me. Click on ‘March 2008′, and you will find the early information there. I have opened this new Blog site to enable fresh information to be readily available. Please send any new comments to this site.

I have also taken the liberty of reposting a comment that contains information about a meeting to be help in the Parish for all interested people.

‘Public Notice’
The first Annual General Meeting of the Haddiscoe StoPit Association is to be held at the Haddiscoe Village Hall, The Street, Haddiscoe on Monday the 6th April 2009 starting at 2030h.
StoPit has been formed to fight proposed gravel extraction, concrete making and inert waste recycling in the village.

The Annual General Meeting will be a members’ only meeting.

If you are concerned about these proposals and want your voice to be heard, join StoPit now.
The membership fee of ten pounds could save you thousands on the future value of your house.
Why not join at the meeting on the door?

I should point out that I am not a member myself, but feel it is in the general public interest. I am open to comments from all sides of the debate and must remain so. But my belief is that the association above is to be congratulated in bringing together those people of like mind. Well done folks!