CRIMPLESHAM

November 2024

Village Projects Update

  

New Councillor

We are pleased to announce that Ann Wood has now joined the Parish Council. The Council still have vacancies for Parish Councillors and would welcome other to express an interest in supporting the village.

 

Playing Field

The new and replacement equipment for the playing field will now be installed in the spring. The weather in winter means the field is not suitable for heavy traffic and we will wait for a suitable time in April/May. The following will be completed:

 

• Replacement swings

• Replacement climbing frame

• Full size goal post with net

• New climbing wall for all

• Adult exercise equipment.

 

Fruit and vegetables

 

Due to complaints received at Highways, the fruit and vegetable van normally parked at the Downham Rd entrance to the village will not be able to operate in the same location next year. As this provides a service to the village, it is proposed to allow the seller to park at the village green two days a week and at the playing field. This will give people in the village who are unable to travel to the town an opportunity to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.

If you have any comments on this, please contact the Parish Clerk.

 

Christmas signs

 

The council will be purchasing a number of decorative Christmas signs to be displayed on the street posts down the main road. Should you have any other ideas for Christmas decorations, please contact the Parish Clerk.

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The Borough Council's budget survey is open. This important piece of work is helping us to gauge the views of the public about our services, to help inform decisions about our future spending plans.

We have had an excellent response ee want to leave no stone unturned in making sure that every resident in the borough can have an opportunity to express their opinion.

As Borough councillors we have a special responsibility to our constituents so I am emailing to ask for your help promote and facilitate participation.

The survey can be accessed at www.letstalkwestnorfolk.co.uk. Philippa Sillis in the communications team has paper copies in regular and large print, and cards in a number of languages. If you would like any of these, or any other help with promotion, please email her: communications@west-norfolk.gov.uk.

The survey is open until 1 December.

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September 2024

Councillor retirement 

 

Regretfully I must announce the retirement of councillor Jeffrey Carter from the Crimplesham Parish Council on grounds of ill health. Councillor Carter has served the village as a Parish Councillor for many years and has been a great asset to the Council and village with his wealth of knowledge about our village.

He will be missed by his fellow council members, and we wish him the very best for the future.

 

Playing Field

 

We have been fortunate to have received a grant from the Borough Council for replacement of some of the older equipment in the playing field. The money will allow new swings to be installed, replace the old metal climbing frame with a new frame and a full-size goal post

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July 24

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Village Projects Update

 

During the past year, the Parish Council have tried to engage with the villagers in regard to projects they are undertaking, and any ideas people may have to improve the environment of the village of Crimplesham. Despite publishing information on the notice board, website and newsletter etc., responses have not been forthcoming, with projects such as the playing field, defibrillator, footpath etc. failing to gain support and initiative from the people within the village. The latest idea of gaining support for a new climbing wall in the playing field required a minimum of 20 positive responses to allow the council to move forward with a grant application. To date we have received 6, hence this may well be shelved.

 

The Council have therefore concluded that the people of Crimplesham are accepting of the projects the council are trying to instigate.

 

Based on this, the Council are progressing the following projects:

 

Biodiversity

 

Two new cherry trees will be purchased for the village green area along with some hebes and salvias, these will be planted in a suitable location.

 

In the autumn, we will apply to the Woodland Trust for trees and hedging for the playing field perimeter.

 

Footpath to Downham Market

 

The Council has received no responses of help with forming a group to ascertain if we would be able to gain funding and organise fund raising for the footpath. Therefore, this has now been shelved until interest can be established.

 

Dog waste bin

 

The current bin reaches capacity before the scheduled clearance which results in overflow of the bin. An additional bin will be purchased and placed in an agreed location. The annual precept for the village will be increased to facilitate the additional cost of clearance.

June 2024

Village Projects Update

 

Footpath to Downham Market

 

As you are aware, there is an existing footpath from the Bexwell roundabout to a point past the industrial units where it is terminated. Over the years, there have been a number of conversations regarding the possibility of extending this path to reach the village of Crimplesham.

 

At the last council meeting Cllr G Carter asked to have this raised with the intention of gaining a financial cost for the installation of the footpath. This has been done by the parish clerk and the highways department who have replied as follows:

 

I have worked up an estimated price to install a 1.2m wide trod from DorPlan to Vets1 edged on both sides and surfaced in hand applied Tar and Chip (surface dressed).

 

The price is £185,000

 

The cost is far beyond the budget of the Crimplesham Parish Council and would have to be raised by funding. Cllr G.Dodds has approached Lidl with a view of them part funding the footpath as it would develop good community relationships. Lidl have replied informing Cllr Dodds that they are unable to offer their support on this occasion.

 

Should the villagers wish to pursue the footpath installation, then the fund-raising solutions need to be initiated with the people in the village supporting the footpath organising a working group to deliver the project.

 

May 2024

Village Projects Update

 

Playing field building

 

At the last Crimplesham Parish Council meeting, it was decided to change the building on the village playing field from a storeroom to a shelter for protection when it rains and children are playing. The intention is to remove the garage and side door and windows. The inside of the building will be cleared out and painted to be used as a place to shelter on the playing field.

 

Maddy Bogacki has volunteered to paint a mural on the walls inside the building to brighten up the surroundings. It was also suggested that the children of the village may wish to work with her on creating their own designs on the other walls. Should any of the residents wish to bring their children along, the date for this will be confirmed later.

 

The work to convert the building will be undertaken on the 22 June by the Parish Councillors and we would like to invite others in the village to join us to help with this community project. The team will meet at 10am on the Saturday, all additional help will be welcome.

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Defibrillator

 

We mentioned organising training for the defibrillator in the parish newsletter should anyone wish to have an appreciation of the operation of the unit. To date, we have had no responses.

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March 2024

Insulation Grant, please click on the link.

February 2024

Manor Farm Access track

  

Albanwise have confirmed that they fully support the use of their private road for foot passengers to access the footpaths beyond the road at Manor Farm.

 

This permission is granted on the basis that all users do so taking all reasonable precautions not to interfere with any part of their estate and that all pets must be suitably controlled on restraints and not cause any nuisance to residents.

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January 2024

Bee Happy Crimplesham

Crimplesham Parish Council would like to ask for volunteers from the village interested in helping to conserve and create more biodiversity in our village.

Norfolk County Council has a Biodiversity action plan that will be the basis for our work.

Willing volunteers of all ages are needed to plan work and offer advice on this project. We can start planning…

Ideas for planting more trees, hedges and possibly reinstating village pond by the village sign, habitats for encouraging species to thrive, reducing pesticide use and rewilding areas in the village are
some ideas, but we need your ideas.

Please contact me on my email Cllr Gina Ashman by the end of February 2024 glashman@btinternet.com or by my phone number on the Parish website https://www.crimpleshampc.info/

Then we can arrange to meet up to move forward
With Thanks
Gina

November 2023

Defibrillator. Our parish clerk has now secured a grant for the defibrillator for our village. As we have stated in previous updates, we have been unable to secure a location for the unit within the central area of the village. We have tried discussing with a few residents within the area of the playing field, but due to reasons such as an electrical supply, they are not able to accommodate the unit.
We have secured a location at the entrance to the village from the Downham Rd, on the right-hand side as you enter the village. It will be in clear view of all persons entering the village from this location. Clearly, it is better to have the unit in this location than not having one at all, but we are open to any resident who would like to come forward and discuss the possibility of installing it on their property at a roadside location. The unit has been ordered and will not be fitted for a period of one month to give residents the opportunity to volunteer a preferred location.

 

 Please let us know if you have an alternative location.

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November 2023

NEW play equipment is being fitted this week at the playing field.

The bench at the playing field has been removed to be refurbished, it will then be returned

Spring bulbs have been planted around the village sign

Due to notification from the village hall trustees that the  current insurance on the village hall does not cover the use for public meetings, we have had to postpone the November meeting. The council are actively seeking an alternative venue for the meetings to be resumed. This website will be updated on a regular basis and notices placed on the village noticeboard.

September 2023

New clothing bank has been delivered to the playing field. All money raised will be for the community.

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August 2023

Village Projects Update

Village entrance gates – have now been re -painted. The council are taking an action to clean on regular basis.

Village notice board – the notice board has been repaired and timbers replaced.

Village sign – the village sign has been renovated and replaced. Thank you to all who came to the unveiling by Jim Lane

Playground building. – the council members have reviewed the contents of the building which is mainly consists of items left over from the fun days which used to function in the playing field. We have agreed to clear the building, re-paint and install a bench. The main purpose is for shelter should the weather change when the play equipment is being used.

This work will be completed by the end of October, any villagers who would like to take any of the old table sand chairs left in the building, please contact one of the parish councillors for access before this date.

Clothes bank – The council are arranging for a clothes bank to be placed just inside the playing field on the right-hand side of the gates. The clothes bank will allow villagers to donate unwanted clothes for recycling and generate an income for the village to aid small projects.

Grass cutting - There are areas of the village where the grass verges are overgrown, these are mainly areas where the highways should be grass cutting, however, financial issues mean long delays and overgrown boarders. We are reviewing our current contract with our landscaper and considering adding some of these areas to their contract to keep our village looking neat and tidy. We would appreciate your views your feedback on this plan.

Please let us know if these are any other similar projects you feel need addressing by contacting a member of the parish council. All contacts can be viewed on the village web site.
 

July 2023

Sally Cornwell sent an email to the Council to ask if a memorial bench could be fitted near the village sign in remembrance of Pam Biggs. This will be purchased by the family. This kind offer was approved. The current bench will replace the one near the bus stop and the bus stop bench will be restored and placed at the playing field.

A meeting was held at the playing field to discuss the small building and inspect the play equipment. More to follow on this.

 

June 2023

New Website

The Parish Council has launched its new website. We welcome your feedback and any ideas for additional content that you'd like to see published here. If you are aware of 'news' items that you think would be of wider interest to the village, please let us know so we can include it here.

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