Latest news with #NorfolkCountyCouncil
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Council back to drawing board over failed Norwich link road
A council which spent £56m on a failed road project will be going back to the drawing board to try and find an alternative County Council had to withdraw its plans for the controversial Norwich Western Link road earlier this year because of concerns about its impact on rare Plant, the Conservative councillor responsible for transport, said the authority was now "looking at alternative options" and aimed to have a preferred choice by next of the Labour group, Steve Morphew, said a "plan B" should already have been in place and he could not "think of another example of a scheme so badly handled". The 3.9-mile (6.2km) link road was due to connect the Northern Distributor Road to the A47 west of the city, and had been in the works for aim was to ease congestion and reduce rat-running through after government advisers Natural England changed the rules protecting rare barbastelle bats, the council withdrew its planning council said it planned to spend £1.43m on exploring different options for the Western Link, with just under £1m of the funding expected to come from the Department for Transport (DfT).However, a DfT spokesman said "no decisions have yet been made" on funding, and they would "provide updates on specific schemes in due course." Plant, who insisted that drawing up a full-formed alternative earlier would have been too expensive, said he was "as confident as you can be" that a solution could be found."We'll be going back through previous options that we looked at – about 80 of them – but we'll be looking at new options as well."The council admitted a dual carriageway over the River Wensum was unlikely because of the eco-restrictions, but said a single carriageway could be an on developing the Western Link has already cost £56m, with £33m provided by the said the money had been "wasted".'I can't think of another example of a scheme so badly handled," he added."I wouldn't trust this Conservative administration to sweep the roads, let alone have another go at building one." Liberal Democrat leader Brian Watkins said it was "no surprise that the Western Link in its original form is dead".He added: "The Conservatives must take full responsibility for the wasted money and time which has been pumped into this doomed project."The council said it would run a consultation on alternative proposals for the Western Link and intended to confirm its preferred option by next summer. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tiny UK seaside village crowned for having Britain's most beautiful beach
A quaint seaside village that has recently welcomed a £150,000 upgrade has been praised for its pristine golden sand beach that stretches out for as far as the naked eye can see A charming seaside village has been cast into the spotlight, after its 2.2 mile soft-sand beach was named as the best in Britain. Sandwiched in between rolling hills of lush countryside and azure waters lies the often overlooked village of Hoklham. Touted as the 'jewel' of the North Norfolk Coast, this coastal gem is home to an impressive 25,000 acre estate which features perfectly manicured gardens and the grand Holkham Hall - an 18th century Palladian house, home to the Earl of Leicester. Nearby, you'll find Holkham National Nature Reserve, which is home to large flocks of wintering birds and is an important site for breeding Little Terns, Ringed Plover, and Oystercatchers. "During the winter large flocks of shorebirds can be found along the shore edge and on the developing saltmarsh in Holkham Bay," Visit North Norfolk explained. But it's Holkham's incredible coastline that really sets it aparts from the rest. Stretching out for as long as the naked eye can see, and sheltered by soaring pinewoods, this pristine beach makes you feel like you're a 'million miles away from civilisation'. It's no wonder it recently came at the top of TimeOut's league tables for the best UK beach. "Holkham would be flooded with visitors if it were just that little bit closer to London – or, like, anywhere," the publication hailed. "It's surrounded by a massive nature reserve of pinewoods and salt marsh, full of orchids, sea lavender and rare birds "The beach itself is an enormous sandy stretch dotted with dunes, and it's at least a half-hour's walk from the car park to the shoreline, meaning you see nothing but nature and sea. Oh, and maybe the odd film crew: Holkham has deservedly starred in many a movie (Shakespeare in Love, for one)." Earlier this year, work began on the boardwalk at Holkham beach - which runs from the beach car park through the forest and onto a viewing platform overlooking the sand, to make the nature reserve more accessible. Costing £150,000, the upgrade will allow wheelchair users and families with pushchairs to enjoy the area. Dr Katy Owen, protected landscapes manager at Norfolk County Council, said: "We want more people to be able to experience the sound of the wind whistling through the pine woods, smell the salty sea air and experience Holkham Bay with as few barriers as possible... The boardwalk is the culmination of many years of collaborative work with the estate, and some time ago we recognised the need to upgrade the current facility." Located some 130 miles from London, driving to Holkham from the Big Smoke takes around three hours and 36 minutes. Alternatively, you can jump on a direct train from Kings Cross over to Kings Lynn, which takes around one hour and 45 minutes. Once in Norfolk, you'll need to catch the 36 Coastliner bus towards Wells-next-the-Sea and get off at Victoria. Then, you're just a minute's walk away from the stunning sand dunes and sea breeze. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £18. Accommodation in Holkham is limited due to its small size, but The Victoria hotel offers 20 individually decorated rooms across two historical buildings. A weekend's stay (Friday, 18-21 July) in a deluxe double room named the Hare Clump will set you back £330 per night. This is based on two people sharing. If that's too out your budget, the hotel's smallest room - called Honk's Pit - cost £210 per night over the exact same dates. All prices include breakfast. *Prices based on Trainline listings at the time of writing.
Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Tory council chief sparks outrage with 'poor people' steak dinner joke
Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig has defended the Facebook post - in which she took a picture of a tomahawk steak - claiming it was a "private joke" A Tory council chief is facing calls to quit after posting a pic of a tomahawk steak with the caption: "Wonder what all the poor people are doing?" Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig posted the photograph of her meal with a £21 bottle of Italian red wine, potatoes in peppercorn sauce and salad to her Facebook friends. But the caption sparked a furious reaction, with tens of thousands of people in Norfolk forced to rely on food banks and her own council runs an £11.8m fund to help people struggling to afford to eat. Mrs Mason Billig, who is entitled to more than £51,000 in allowances from County Hall each year, told the EDP website the sharing of the post beyond her friends was a "personal attack" and a private joke had been misunderstood. Mrs Mason Billig, who lives in Chedgrave, near Loddon, with her husband Michael, the former director of Procastle Properties, said: "My husband and I have sometimes called ourselves 'the poor people'. "It's a private joke as we live fairly modestly, so when we have a treat, we will sometimes post about it. This is asking if friends wonder what we (the poor people) are doing. It's not intended to be about anyone else and is no reflection on people who are less well off than ourselves. "It's a bad state of affairs when I can't even joke about myself without it being twisted into something it isn't. I am deeply disappointed that someone has decided to be this horrible when they must certainly know it's actually self deprecation. What a sad world we live in." But Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said: "People like to have council leaders who show they are in touch, care about the plight of others and show humility and pride in the public positions they hold. This is a nauseating example of the exact opposite. I find nothing amusing here." And the EDP reported one senior Norfolk Conservative said they thought Mrs Mason Billig, who is also a South Norfolk district councillor, should quit. They said: "I think she should resign. We are entitled to a private life and to let our hair down, but I don't think anybody should degrade those less well off than others. "Under Conservative party guidance, there's a case that she has brought the party into disrepute and the party should be carrying out an investigation. This falls well below the Nolan Principles for Public Life.' Another Tory said: "Most politicians are wise to avoid social media. It's hard to win votes, but easy to lose them." Mrs Mason Billig, who has been County Hall leader since May 2023, was criticised earlier this week for comments made during a debate over Norfolk County Council's vision for a single council for when all eight of the county's councils are abolished and new ones created. She said children could die should plans to abolish all eight Norfolk councils and create new ones result in two or three different councils delivering social services.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Residents fear water leak leaves North Walsham road 'dangerous'
A rise in the number of cars using a diversion route is being blamed for increasing damage to the road road works have been taking place in North Walsham, Norfolk, since January, reorganising how traffic flows through - and into - the town. Much more traffic has been directed down Cromer Road which has already been damaged by a water leak. Norfolk County Council said it had a plan to grant Anglian Water the road closure it needed to make the repairs in the coming week. The roadworks began in January and were expected to be completed by the end of Clark lives close to the Cromer Road in North Walsham and said heavy vehicles, including lorries and diggers, taking diversions had damaged the surface and created a water filled dip in the Clark said he believed leaving the road unrepaired was "just dangerous". "Anglian Water comes and has a look and puts up a sign saying uneven surface," he said."But with the extra traffic coming down this road, because the Norwich Road is closed, the dip is now enormous. "It's enough to take out the bottom of your car." Anglian Water said the cause of the problem was most likely a leaking pipe below the road. They said they had not yet been granted permission to close Cromer Road to carry out repairs. Norfolk County Council (NCC) said permission for repairs had not been given because of ongoing work to the traffic lights on the said: "We haven't been able to allow them (Anglian Water) in to repair as the diversion route that would be needed is already closed due to the traffic light upgrades. "If we had let them come in to (do the) repair, North Walsham would be at a standstill."NCC confirmed that at soon as the work to the A149 was completed, expected by 23 June, the repair to Cromer Road would be carried out. Previously concerns have been raised about complicated diversion routes, leading drivers to use rat-runs down residential streets. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
High Court halts Wretton houses sale over non-payment of levy
A court has put the sale of new houses on hold after a developer failed to make a cash contribution towards local infrastructure and Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council obtained the order over the non-payment of £118,00 of what is called Section 106 follows the construction of eight properties just outside the village of Wretton, near Downham company at the centre of the dispute, EAM Developments, has been approached for comment. The council said it had obtained an interim High Court order last month which was renewed on Friday. There will be a further hearing on 21 County Council is pursuing the same company over non-payment of money in relation to another development in the nearby village of documents show the conversion of an old mill was granted permission back in 2016.A spokesman for the county council said: "The funds due to Norfolk County Council to pay for local community infrastructure from the Whittington development remain unpaid, and efforts to recover these funds are ongoing." One of the properties at the centre of the Wretton court order is a four-bedroom detached house off Low Road which is on the market for £600, land is on the site of a former social Peter Clark and Emma Malvina Beaton from Weeting, on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, are listed as the people with significant control of EAM developments.A Companies House listing states that it was incorporated in 2014. Affordable housing Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is a legally binding agreement and usually involves a council and a ensures a contribution is made towards local infrastructure or services to make a development acceptable in planning to the House of Commons library, in 2022/23 almost half of all affordable homes built in England were at least partially funded through this the case of the amount owed to Norfolk County Council, it is understood the money was planned for schools and a library. Jim Moriarty, West Norfolk Council cabinet member for planning, said: "Section 106 agreements are put in place on certain developments where planning permission would not otherwise be granted."They are an important part of the contributions that developers make to mitigate the impact of their plans and support affordable housing."Indirectly, failure to pay Section 106 contributions impacts on local people and we, as the local planning authority, have a duty to pursue non-payment."He added: "We are continuing to work with Mr Clark to resolve this matter." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
