FREEREEPHAM LIFE YOUR Community Newspaper www.reephamlife.co.uk No. 30 February 2016 No. 30 February New plans to re-lay track on former railway line HORSE-riders and other users of Marriott’s Way have raised concerns about a bid to rebuild a section of railway line on part of the permitted footpath, cycleway and bridleway. The Whitwell & Reepham Railway Preservation Society has submitted a revised planning application to re-lay track on the station building side into one of the original platforms of Whitwell Station. The heritage railway group says this will provide better access for disabled and elderly passengers to board the diesel and steams trains operating at the station. If approved, the plans would involve fencing off several hundred metres of the former Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway track bed, which is now Marriott’s Way in the ownership of Norfolk County Council and used extensively by walkers, runners, horse-riders and cyclists. The Whitwell & Reepham Railway Preservation Society has submitted a The scheme would see a two-metre-high wire fence installed revised planning application to re-lay track on part of the Marriott’s Way to section off more than half of the 6.5-metre-wide gap and risk trampling over other users, who would have nowhere between the two existing platforms and for some distance to go but forward or back on the remaining narrow space. along the track. Further, the proposed operating time of the David Sayer of Blackwater Farm, Great Witchingham, who trains on the shared track could be from 10 am – 10 pm, operates a livery and equestrian event business near the Mar- seven days a week, according to a concerned resident at Jan- riott’s Way, said that several years ago, when similar plans uary’s meeting of Reepham Town Council. were first put forward, an alternative route had been discussed At the meting, Christopher Cooke, a trustee of the railway for horse-riders to avoid the station site. preservation society, said that, if approved, the plans would Whitwell Station owner Mike Urry, told Reepham Life that help improve the overall facilities and provide more tourism several alternative routes had been discussed in the past, but for the area, possibly leading to more local employment. these could involve horses being diverted onto a public road He noted that at least six heritage railways across the UK for a short distance or permissions being sought from adjacent had similar arrangements of sharing the track with other landowners, which could prove costly to instigate. users, adding that the Whitwell plans have been approved by Michael Pender-Cudlip, who is a Town Councillor and op- HM Railway Inspectorate. poses the planning application, noted that wheelchair users Other rail enthusiasts praised the range of facilities at may not be able to get through the narrow doors of old Whitwell Station, saying that what was once a derelict site is railway carriages currently in use at the station – even if now one of the few bright spots in Reepham’s declining com- platform access was improved. mercial fortunes. However, Whitwell Station’s latest access statement states However, the equestrian community in particular say the that running trains into the original platform will help provide scheme would affect their animals, leading to safety and wheelchair access to the trains. It adds that the heritage liability issues. The fear is that horses will be spooked by the railway’s longer-term ambition is “to extend the line”. noise and bulk of a train approaching from ahead or behind n Town Council’s comment on page 7. RPS professionalilitlti print solutionns e: [email protected] 01603 871102 Church St. Reepham Norwich NR10 4JWW VVaalenalenntintinesnes Dinner Night Looking totreattthat specialsomeone for Valentines? Join usforanintimmate 3course dinner fortwo in our Vines Restaurant for £30 per personn. 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Saturdaayy 27th February Withih itbt beingasg a special Sundday 6hM6th Marchh 2016 2016 - 7:30pm till late day for all mums, 12:00pm – 6:00pm SPECIALA DISCOUNTED Mums will be receiving a room rate of £75 when Tickets £10 per person Adults £9.95, Children £5.95 ((up to tthe age of 12 yrs old) special mothers day gift purchasing 2 tickets for Including a fantastic hot & from us. ourAbba Tribute Night cold buffffeet ffoor all to ennjjoy Booking Essential For any inffoormationn call 01603 879567,, Fakenham RRdd,, Lenwade,, Norffoolk NR9 5QP or visit our website wwwww..lenwwaadehouse.co.uk Reepham Life, February 2016 3 news Reepham Life is a free monthly newspaper published by Reepham Community Press EDITOR Geoff Fisher Tributes paid to ADVERTISING Judy Holland WEBSITE Jeremy Brockman community stalwart Printed by: Colour Print, Norwich WARM tributes have been paid to popular “Diane was in- EDITORIAL ADDRESS Reepham Community Press Reepham stalwart Diane Turner, who volved with much of Homerton House, 74 Cawston Road passed away in mid-December following Reepham’s life and I Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4LT Diane Turner a short battle with cancer. sincerely think she Tel: 01603 308158 At her funeral in St Mary’s Reepham made a big difference to many people. Email: [email protected] on 30 December, her brother Ken Ewing She was a great servant to Reepham Web: www.reephamlife.co.uk said Diane was a well-known local char- and will be sadly missed.” The views expressed in Reepham acter, born and bred in the town, who Donations can be made to the Pan- Life are not necessarily those of the lived for much of her life in Cawston creatic Cancer Research Fund. Publishers or the Editor Road and definitely “left her mark on Premises on the market All material is strictly copyright the community”. Diane’s Pantry, which was taken over and all rights reserved She established and ran Diane’s Pantry, by new owners in 2013, suddenly closed All material submitted for publication, which sold health foods and general in late November, which is believed to including letters to the editor, may be provisions, in the Market Place, for al - have been due to trading difficulties. edited for reasons of space and clarity most 35 years until her retirement in The health food retail bus iness/con - 2013. venience store had been on the market below), are now for sale as a leasehold Mr Ewing said Diane followed her fa- as a go ing concern since last June. through EM&F. The agents said this will ther by becoming a parish councillor The premises in Market Place, which “appeal to owners who wish to live ab- for many years and was also president include a three-bedroom maisonette above ove the shop and enjoy being and con- of the local WI. the 500 sq. ft. store (with a store room tributing to the life of the town”. Calendar still available past century, the calendar also includes Norfolk NR10 4LT. Please contact us for modern-day images of each scene. further details of airmailed copies to Eu- A FEW copies of the Reepham Life n To order by post, please send a rope and elsewhere. 2016 Calendar are still available from cheque for £9.50 (UK only, includes Reepham Community Press. postage and packaging) made out to Featuring 13 nostalgic photographs “Reepham Community Press”, Homerton capturing the town’s history over the House, 74 Cawston Road, Reepham, New treasures on sale at charity shop OPENING the Bircham Centre Charity may your community centre continue Shop after the festive period is always to prosper. exciting, watching and hearing the Thanks and best wishes from Janice, market square spring into life; another the trustees and all the shop team. year of share and care within Reepham’s special community. Collection service from Market Surgery Aylsham The shop has been cleared and clean- ed, and new trinkets and treasures dis- Patients of Market Surgery in Aylsham who live in Reepham can now have their played for our faithful friends to browse prescriptions dispensed at Motts Pharmacy in Reepham. and buy; our success remains fruitful The pharmacy is currently gathering information on all patients residing in from all your wonderful donations. Reepham who may be eligible for this. Should there be a significant number the Please keep them flowing in: 2015 pharmacy will arrange an order-and-collection service from Market Surgery. n If this interests you, please leave your details at the pharmacy counter in Market saw another record year for us with the Place, Reepham. Tel: 01603 871738. Email: [email protected] shop total profit at £19,616.60! Long www.reephamlife.co.uk 4 Reepham Life, February 2016 views Real residents’ questions on Townsend Corner the owner of a was to help secure sites and be the AT last we have some letters from resi- well-known Indian restaurant in Norwich contact point in the community. dents (Martin Sullivan and Tim Watson, told me he would have liked to open The project started in September 2014 Reepham Life, December/January) ques- up in the old shop premises, but was and it was admittedly a bit of a rush to tioning what is going on around Reep- made to feel very unwelcome.