March 2021 21st Great Year illageillage Vol 21-12 3500 copies monthly. Delivered free to homes in Belton, Browston, Burgh Castle, Fritton and St. Olaves. Also free through outlets in Bradwell. Find us at www.beltonandbrowston.com Voiceoice DELIVERED MONTHLY FREE PROPOSEDPROPOSED CARCAR PARKPARK CHARGESCHARGES ATAT ROMANROMAN FORTFORT See page 5 for details Village Voice March 2021 illageillage FROM THE CONTENTS Voiceoice EDITOR’S DESK Belton/ Browston PC 2 March 2021 Citizen of the Year 3 Issue: 241 fter two months of being restricted MP/Local Councillors 4 to digital editions, it is particularly Proposed car park charges 5 This Magazine is a Community Asatisfying to return to print this month. Many loyal readers of Enterprise professionally printed by this magazine, in our villages and beyond, have spoken warmly about Malcolm Metcalf 6 Blackwell Print - but written, edited how much they look forward to getting their copy every month and Useful Telephone Nos 7 and delivered free - entirely by catching up not just with local news, but also the much loved columns volunteers. After printing costs, any from regulars. It reminds all of us of how the stoic predictability of Rev Rosie writes 8 profits from the Magazine are paid small pleasures like this can be useful in a year of uncertainty and trial. out in the form of grants to Events at New Road 10 I am very grateful to all the Village Voice board members who apart community organisations and groups in our circulation area. from their usual duties, also volunteered to take on distribution Bland Corner SMB 11 responsibilities so as to make this print edition possible. Life in the time of Covid 12 HOW TO CONTACT US: Our cover story this month features the proposed introduction of car park charges at the Roman Fort in Burgh Castle. Suffice to say that Village Voice Health Check 16 it has generated a range of opinions, some of which we feature this EDITOR Village Voice Book Club 18 Regi Alexander Belton Lodge, month. I shall look forward to hearing more of your views and please Belton Norfolk NR31 9JQ do keep writing in. Writing Competition 20 Tel 01493 789035 In the digital editions of January and February 2021, this magazine Moorlands 20 [email protected] introduced a new column, Life in the Time of COVID 19. Since many of you may have missed out on reading that, those pieces are reproduced Down the Garden Path 21 ARTICLES & FREE ADS in this issue. While hospitalisation and death rates are slowly ENTUA 22 Bill Richmond 01493 780822 stabilising, COVID 19 continues to cast its malevolent shadow over our Text 07950 039455 daily life. It continues to be a test of endurance, stretching our capacity A Springers Tale 22 [email protected] for hope and optimism. As a country though, we will carry on, living the creed of a quiet commitment to duty, an understated and Events at JGI 24 ADVERTISING & LAYOUT unshowy desire to do the right thing. The average citizen has done Bryan Diggory 01493 663115 Roadworks 24 [email protected] that unfailingly during these times of peril and we should all hope sincerely that our leaders too will show the same degree of wisdom Census 2021 24 ADMIN & DELIVERY and strength. Crime Figures 24 Finally, a word about the results of the 2020 writing competition, Suzanne Craig Scout Group 25 [email protected] which I have published again in this issue. If the rhythms of our daily life go back to normal soon, I shall hope to have an award ceremony In the past 26 FINANCE some time in late summer. In the meantime, this magazine will Anneka Gearie continue to publish some of the prize winning entries. Free Ads 28 [email protected] Professor Regi T Alexander Diary Dates 28 Editor Martin Roache 07787 157283 Chair of VV Board Adrian Myers Brian Swan retires Printed by Blackwell Print, Charles after 14 years POLICE Street, Gt. Yarmouth NR30 3LA. As the chair of the village voice WARNING We welcome your news, views, board I would like to take this letters and articles and opportunity, on his retirement, to photographs for publication. personally thank Brian Swan. Brian Norfolk police are warning No anonymous items will be has been on the board since the everyone to be very be vigilant accepted. If you have a complaint conception of village voice and over if they receive a phone call please write to Adrian Myers, many years has contributed to its from a fraudster purporting to Chairman, Village Voice Board by be a police officer. During the post at 49 Heather Gardens, running with enthusiasm and Belton NR31 9PP professionalism. The amount of work call the victim was encouraged to transfer large amounts of YOUR VILLAGE VOICE that Brian did can be acknowledged in that we have taken on three more board members to take up his money from her bank account, The closing date for all items for after being coerced into the April 2021 edition of Village work load. Brian as did the other board members support me Voice is 15th March 2021. when I was invited to take over the chair, often sending me “gentle believing that she was part of reminders” of deadlines. an undercover police All contributions to operation. The Police will [email protected] and It is with the likes of Brian, our old and new board members, NEVER ask anyone to do such advertising enquiries to who along with others in the villages, who give their time willingly an action. Hang up and report [email protected]. for others, that in my view continue to create a community spirit it on 101 or better on another Please produce information within the villages that is often not there in other areas of the phone if possible or leave it at in Arial Rich Text and images country. So thank you Brian and all the other volunteers who least 15 minutes before doing as jpeg files 1meg max . contribute to our society in such positive ways. Please do not embed images so to prevent any line hacking. in your text. Adrian Myers Chair Village Voice Board. 1 Village Voice March 2021 BELTON WITH BROWSTON PARISH COUNCIL www.beltonwithbrowston.norfolkparishes.gov.uk/ FEBRUARY COUNCIL MEETING FRITTON WITH ST. OLAVES Ten Parish Councillors, County Councillor Andy Grant, Borough Councillor Tracy Cameron, the Parish Clerk and three members of the PARISH COUNCIL public were present at the February 2nd Zoom meeting of Belton with Seven Parish Councillors, Borough Councillors Adrian Myers and Browston Parish Council. Following the recent death of Peter Nichols Mick Tracy Cameron, one member of the public and the Parish Clerk, Kate Graystone was elected as chairman of the Parish Council. Ruddock were present for the January 28th meeting of Fritton with St. County Councillor Grant reported that flood water on New Road was Olaves Parish Council held via Zoom, Stannas Bellaby was in the chair. due to be pumped away and then the soakaways will be checked for The resident reported on continuing issues with parking at New condition, the land owner will be contacted to see if the original pond can Road, Fritton, not as serious at the moment due to Lockdown, but be reinstated and if a hedge can be planted. expected to increase again later. Newcombe Forestry had reported that The land is currently too wet to clear the Sandy Lane dyke, it is hoped they are still taking legal advice over possibly reopening the parking that work can be completed by the end of March, responses received from area, whilst Paul Sellick from Norfolk County Council had advised that landowners (over 50%) whose land adjoins the dykes had all given a this type of rural road will not be considered for yellow lines, he will favourable reply to contributing to the total cost of the clearance. highlight the situation to the Community Parking Officers. County Clearance of shrubs at the front and back of the Bell Lane field was agreed Councillor Andy Grant had replied that even if available Great and following quotations received a contractor was selected, it was noted that Yarmouth Borough Council would not consider purchase of the some fencing repairs and replanting would be needed following this work. parking area due to its current condition and ongoing maintenance After extensive enquiries and contact with adjacent landowners it was costs. Borough Councillor Myers stated that there might be some agreed to replace a long section of the New Road Sports Field fence and improved signage available and confirmed that a Borough Council to install two extra gates to make recovery of stray balls easier, it is a purchase was not an option, he also stated that the site is not on the condition of the Parish Councils lease from the Borough Council that this current County Council minerals extraction possibilities and the earliest fence is maintained in good condition. that it can now be added is 2035. It was agreed to contact Brandon Members were informed that the contract for works on the New Road Lewis, M.P. in an attempt to seek a solution to the problem. cycle path did not include provision for edging on the side nearest to the The new defibrillator is installed and available 24/7 on fields and County Councillor Grant agreed to arrange an overall inspection Buckworths Garage at Fritton, Jayne from Heart2Heart had checked when the works are completed. it over and provided extra signage however more was felt necessary. In planning there were no objections to the following, Wild Duck Holiday Les Buckworth was thanked for his work arranging the position and Park (new arrivals lodge), Belton Rectory (felling or removal of deadwood installation of the unit.