Village News Archive

News from the Winterton-on-Sea Parish Council & the village, November, 2021

PATH APPEAL WON: Campaigners have won their fight to re-open a blocked footpath between Winterton and Hemsby.

The link, used by generations of people, was closed suddenly more than five years ago where it cut through from Winterton Valley Estate to Long Beach Road.

The group suffered several setbacks in the battle to get it restored and had to go to a planning appeal. But now a government planning inspector has ruled in their favour.

“The little cut through between the end of the Winterton Valley Estate and Long Beach Road will have to be opened and will be added to the map,” one of the group Rebecca Durant told parish councillors.

“This is after five years of trying and with huge thanks to the people who started it, Helen Mann and Richard Verschoyle.”

“I think this is quite a significant event for us in Winterton. It will mean we can walk safely between Winterton and Hemsby.”

No longer would people have to decide between putting themselves at risk from traffic on the main road or negotiating the beach and dunes. It would also give the disabled safe access, she said.

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Borough and county councillor James Bensly said: “This is a wonderful piece of news. I grew up with that path being accessible and for five years it has been blocked off for both of our villages.”

Rebecca told the newsletter campaigners claimed four routes between the villages – all including the section at 1 Bush Road that was blocked – and succeeded with two.

“The little cut through that was shut in 2015 is where the estate finishes and Long Beach Road begins. It's on the two routes we won.

“In order to apply for a public right of way you have to submit an application for routes to and from it otherwise it becomes a dead end. These routes also become a right of way and are added to the definitive map.”

The Winterton end of the route accepted by inspector Barney Grimshaw goes straight from Bush Road along the front of the estate between the chalets and the dunes to the cut through.

In his ruling he highlighted a condition in the planning permission granted for 1 Bush Road in 1961 that stated provision had to be made for a footpath between the estate road and the Long Beach Estate so pedestrians could have unrestricted passage.

He did not accept an argument that the condition did not specify the path had to be public. He said the fact the then landowner agreed to it and public access continued unhindered meant it was reasonable to suggest the link had been dedicated as a public footpath at common law.

He allowed the appeal in part and directed Norfolk County Council to make an order to modify the map to add the two successful routes.

EROSION ACTION CALLED: The entrance to the Beach Road car park could be moved further back because of erosion.

Councillors met coastal adaptation officer Anne Casey from Coastal Partnership East and Norfolk County Council highways planner Stuart French and the owner outside the car park on November 25 to discuss options for the area at the end of the road.

It came as the parish council considered bringing authorities involved in the Broadland Futures flood risk initiative to the village and putting pressure on them to take a more proactive approach. At its meeting the night before, Emma Punchard said they should be asking CPE to help develop a plan for that part of the beach, including the toilets and the car park.

Referring to the planned mural she said: “We need to know those loos are going to be there for a number of years before we spend any money painting them.”

Borough and county councillor James Bensly agreed if the toilets were not maintained, or if they went, it would result in people relieving themselves in the dunes nature reserve.

He was currently going through the complicated process of using his borough ward budget to buy 40 metres of chestnut fencing to block off the end of the road and the area around the old gap down to the beach.

John Smithson said dogs had already plunged from the top. “We’re very concerned about

Highways planner Stuart French, Cllrs Bensly and Punchard

Three have been damaged in recent weeks and a resident told councillors he spotted four boys shaking one of them one Saturday evening. When he called the police he was informed it was the borough council’s responsibility. But when he went to the council about the third light he was told the engineers couldn’t fix it because they were putting up the Christmas lights in Yarmouth.

Chairman Mark Bobby said there have been a few instances of vandalism in the village recently and it was not clear who was responsible. But the council would be making people aware of it.

Deputy chairman Nigel Coe agreed 101 was not very helpful but having spoken to rural beat manager PC Gary May the opportunity to report incidents direct to local officers in Yarmouth had been offered.

A LITTLE Christmas spirit was delivered early to the village hall when local people responded to the Salvation Army’s annual collection with bags and boxes filled with food and gifts.

Toys, festive treats, smart crocheted and knitted blankets were handed over on November 18, along with toiletries, tinned goods and even a box full of teddies.

Community manager Harry Woods said: "Winterton has been supporting us for quite a few years. I’m just overwhelmed with the response. We have tables full. I think it’s brilliant.”

He explained the organisation was launching its Tins and Toys appeal, making up hampers of Christmas food and treats for vulnerable families, to be delivered during the festive season, and the collection would be a big help.

Donations of new, unwrapped gifts and toys suitable for children from babies to 17-year-olds can be taken to Salvation Army shops – the nearest is in King Street, Great Yarmouth, open between 10am and 3pm.

If you want to support the appeal with an online donation go to justgiving.com/fundraising/toys-and-tins-appeal-2021

WINTERTON folk dug deep into their pockets to raise an amazing £832.58 for the Poppy Appeal after a collecting tin was stolen from the parish church just before a remembrance service.

Local organiser Flo Gallacher was stunned when she totted up the donations to find the total was a staggering £755 more than last year’s £68.70.

“I really couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I was so surprised when that tin was opened.”

Flo said she was gutted when she heard about the theft, which happened between 8.20am and 9.15am on Armistice Day as the church prepared to host a special service for children from the school.

To her knowledge it was the first Poppy Appeal tin theft in the village in the 38 years she has been organising the collection.

“I thought: ‘How could they do that in a church, of all places. It’s sacred'.”

People queued up at the Remembrance Day service on Sunday to put money in her collecting tin, accounting for £114 of the total. “I couldn’t even remember £20 notes going in,” she said.

The theft triggered disgust in the village and as news spread people began to make donations, including one man who took his money box into the church. After it was opened with a tin opener a whopping £380 was counted out.

Cadets from 901 Troop and their families had a whip round and contributed another £113.

A delighted churchwarden Sandra Laws said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. Good has come out of

something bad. I think we have got to thank everybody from the bottom of our hearts for donating to the appeal.”

The response from members of the public, the cadets and military veterans in the village had been heart warming and they had given to a very worthy cause.

She said although a man was seen leaving the church shortly before the children’s service the police had told her they would not be continuing with the investigation and had suggested the church install CCTV cameras.

Sunday’s Remembrance Day service saw a large group gather at the war memorial in the churchyard to honour the fallen.

Names of villagers who died in two world wars were read out, prayers were said and the Last Post was sounded before a two-minute silence.

Disgust at poppy collection tin theft

THE theft of a Poppy Appeal collecting tin from the church minutes before a remembrance service for children has prompted outrage in Winterton.

It was taken from inside the church in the space of less than an hour.

“It’s disgraceful,” churchwarden Sandra Laws said. “It’s such a shame because it was a lovely service for the children.”

She said the building was unlocked today – Armistice Day - at 8.20am and she arrived at 9.15am. A short while later a local couple went in to buy a poppy and thought the tin had been put away.

She started the children’s service outside at 9.30am and was unaware of the theft until later in the day.

It’s not known how much was in the tin, which had been put at the back of the church. But

Sandra had put in £10 for two wooden crosses in memory of her mother-in-law’s first husband who died at Arnhem in the Second World War and an uncle who was killed in the 1914-18 conflict.

People in the village have voiced their disgust and some have offered to donate money to replace the stolen cash. A new collection box will be available at the 9.00am remembrance service on Sunday.

The incident has been reported to the police and anyone who may have seen or photographed anything suspicious is asked to call them on 101.

The Seasiders Ukulele Band serenades 'Banksy couple' in Great Yarmouth

Volunteers wanted to help with Russian vine management in the south dunes on Sunday November 14 or Monday 15

The South Dunes and 'valley' between Winterton and Hemsby is a wonderful area, enjoyed by many of us. It is a great habitat for wildlife, in particular the valley bank which runs along the western edge of the area, below the gardens of the houses on Bush Road.

However, the plant-life biodiversity of this slope, which supports many resident and migrant birds, butterflies and other wildlife, is under threat from the invasive Russian Vine or 'Mile-a-Minute Plant', Fallopia baldschuanica.

Relative of Japanese Knotweed has escaped from gardens and established itself at five locations on the valley bank, between the southern path up to the Hermanus and the start of the Winterton Valley Estate. It is such a vigorous species that it overwhelms and kills every other plant species (flowers, shrubs and even substantial trees) which it covers. In the picture on the right you can see it overwhelming a Rowan tree growing about half way down the valley - if it is not removed the tree will die within a few years.

We have identified three sites where if we act now we can hopefully save quite a few trees and shrubs from being overwhelmed.  

Therefore we have decided to hold two volunteer Russian Vine Control days, on Sunday November 14 and Monday 15, between 11.15 am and 3pm on Sunday and 10 am to 3pm on Monday.

If you would like to help out we'd be hugely grateful.

Bring gloves, tools such as loppers, rakes, secateurs and anything else you think might help.

Fr John to retire

THE village is set to say goodbye to its priest next year.

Fr John Bloomfield, who is in charge of the Flegg Coastal benefice that includes Winterton, Somerton and Horsey, will be retiring at the beginning of May.

The son of a shepherd, he came to the village in early 2019 from Hunstanton, stepping into the shoes of Fr Selwyn.

Here's what we wrote about him when he arrived.

someone going over the edge going south. It’s very high and very unstable.”

The old Dunes Café was demolished last winter because it was too close to the dune face and in October the sea took bite out of the road. Now the Airstreams operated by Norfolk’s Edge have been relocated behind the Coastwatch tower.

LIGHTS OUT: Vandals have been targeting street lights in the village.

But attempts to report the incidents to police have been met with indifference, the parish council heard.

Village raises hundreds after Poppy Appeal theft

Meet at the bottom of the public steps at 11.15am (Sunday) or 10.00am (Monday) or just pop along whenever you are able to during the day to lend a hand! Natural England has kindly agreed to dispose of whatever we can clear. If you would like to let us know you are coming in advance please email: cllrpunchard@gmail.com or ring 07900 376 462.