Community Website
The Street, Bergh Apton (from Alpington it’s on the way to the recycling centre) will be closed for 3 days 5-7th May 2021.
The relevant part of the official notice:
…Temporary Traffic Order affecting the U76329 The Street from 50 metres south of its junction with U76398 Dodgers Lane for a distance of 20 metres southwards because of Anglian Water new connection works.
The latest data from the speed camera in the village shows that there is still a speeding issue on Church Road, with 10% of vehicles over the limit, and the average speeder going 34mph:
While this is worrying, there is in fact a bigger problem on Mill Road, the road to Green Pastures. For example, see this report from June-July 2020:
The Parish Council, supported by a resident who prepares our speed camera analysis reports, have summarised the speed camera results provided by Bergh Apton Parish Council and issued these to the Police.
The headlines over the past 12 months are as follows:
These are worrying statistics for anyone using that road, whether in a car or on foot, a resident or not. There are a few footpaths which come out onto Mill Road, so if you’re using them please take care when stepping out onto the road. Pets have been killed on the road during the year, which is made more likely by the speeding.
Armed with these statistics the police have been asked to put an appropriate level of priority on helping us to solve the problem.
We will update you through this website when the Parish Council receives any news.
Below is a tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, posted here on behalf of the Parish Council. The tribute is from The Lady Dannatt MBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, who is the patron of the Norfolk Association of Local Councils.
It was an immensely sad moment for us all here in Norfolk when word of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, reached us on Friday. Along with so many others, my immediate reaction was one of profound sorrow for Her Majesty The Queen, and for all the members of the Royal Family. On behalf of the entire county, we offer them our heartfelt and very deepest sympathy. Her Majesty and the Royal Family have lost a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great grandfather; as a nation we have lost one of the most remarkable figures of the last century.
At some level, the news was not unexpected of course; we knew the Duke was approaching his 100th birthday and had recently spent a month in hospital. Nevertheless, Prince Philip seemed invincible, indestructible, so deeply was his life and that of the nation intertwined. We, both the country, and the county where the Duke latterly chose to spend so much of his time, are immeasurably and sadly diminished by his death.
It is no secret of course, how much the Duke adored Norfolk. Wood Farm, on the Sandringham estate, where he and the Queen often stayed when it was just the two of them here, was his chosen home after he retired from public life in 2017. He will be mourned deeply by everyone who knew, loved and served him within those small and tight-knit village communities, as well as those working on the arable, livestock and fruit farms the Duke cherished so dearly. As a knowledgeable and passionate countryman, I am told Prince Philip ‘knew almost every blade of grass in Norfolk’.
Many of us across the county will have our own personal recollections of Prince Philip. He was involved with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, the Norfolk Nelson Museum and was Patron of The Wherry Trust amongst scores of others. In the past the Duke had competed in carriage driving at the Royal Norfolk Show and never missed an opportunity to talk to the young, whether they be cadets, school children or young people tending their animals in one of the large sheds provided on the show ground.
Like all the senior members of the Royal Family, Prince Philip took his responsibilities towards the Armed Forces very seriously, especially the senior appointments he held personally. Visiting the Grenadier Guards, of which he was Colonel, on exercise in Thetford Forest a number of years ago, he came across a trench occupied by a very junior officer – my middle son – “Getting on alright down there, are you Bertie?” the Duke enquired. Is it any wonder Prince Philip’s visits were eagerly anticipated and so warmly welcomed to all the units of the Armed Forces to which he was affiliated?
The Duke will also long be remembered for his annual and familiar attendance, with other members of the Royal Family, at the service in the Sandringham church of St Mary Magdalene on Christmas Day. And as tributes pour in from around the world, it is there, in that small church, that some of those closest to the Duke will gather. Not necessarily the ‘great or the good’ but ordinary people from every walk of life, who are proud to have served the Duke in his favourite home; and who will bow their heads in respect, deep affection and great gratitude for this remarkable and most honourable of men. A true friend of Norfolk, undoubtedly. And beyond that, a distinguished and dedicated servant of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and our World. We owe His Royal Highness so much and greatly mourn his death.
Philippa Dannatt
The Lady Dannatt MBE
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk
Just helping to spread the word here, this info is from a Facebook post on their account (which has more details):
full Facebook postThe Wheel of Fortune will reopen on Wednesday 14th at 5pm.
Here’s a brief summary of what to expect. The Fish & Chip van will be here & you are allowed to queue for your takeaway but not for ordering beer.
Please remember to bring a face covering as you will need it for signing in & using the indoor toilets.
We are still waiting for different card machines that may work in the garden, if you could pay with cash this would speed things up for us. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.
One of our parish councillors John Lain sorts out our litter bins ahead of south Norfolk council collections. He said he can tell that a number of residents have been taking it upon themselves to pick up litter from our streets, hedgerows, and banks.
What a lovely thing to do.
The parish council and this community website would like to sincerely thank everyone who has been doing this.
Every time someone picks up a piece of litter that isn’t theirs, it not only cleans that one piece up, it makes it less likely that other people will drop litter. It’s a known phenomenon. So each piece cleaned up has a bigger impact than you might think. And it’s also known that tidy environments make people happier. All of that added together means that there’s a small group of people in the village that is having a large effect on all of our general happiness, without realising it.
Of course, if you are doing this voluntarily we hope you take care and do it safely.
In normal years, the village holds a litter picking event which is sponsored by South Norfolk Council. For obvious reasons this did not happen last year, but it will be restarted when restrictions allow.
The start of April 2021 looks to be a little cooler than the last week of March but it will still be a Spring month and many of us will be busy in our gardens preparing for the Summer months ahead. It is also a transitional month, bringing unpredictable weather, so it is often the case of getting out to do something whenever the weather permits.
We can start mowing our lawns on a high cut if the grass is dry and frost-free and can tidy up the edges by re-cutting them with a half-moon or spade to give a neat edge to the flowerbeds or patio areas. Lawns will also benefit from a dose of lawn feed now.
There may still be some leaves lurking under shrubs so these can be raked out and flowerbeds tidied up, cutting back any perennials which may still have the old growth from last summer.
If you are planning to grow some vegetables, now is the time to sow tomatoes, runner beans, green peppers and courgettes which can then be planted on in due course.
This is the best time for creating new container displays. If you have the space, pot your plug plants into larger pots as this will be cheaper than buying bigger pot plants later on. Plant up summer baskets and store undercover for putting out in the garden in late May. We can also sow half-hardy bedding plants in seed trays in the greenhouse or indoors by a sunny window.
If you have a pond or water feature, now is the time to give it a little post-winter maintenance. Clear out ponds: lift put any planting baskets and fish, keep in buckets of old pond water, bail out the water, remove sludge and refill with collected rainwater is possible (if you use tap water, let it stand for a week before putting any fish back in).
Check that your water butts are collecting water effectively, that the downpipes are clear and that the taps are working (they sometimes become blocked or sludgy with old leaves).
April can still bring frosty nights, so be ready to protect tender flowers and vegetables from frosts. Young, upright-growing plants may need some form of support, so stake tall plants to prevent them being damaged.
April can be the most positive month, full of gardening promises. It is wonderful to see the trees and shrubs awaken from their winter dormancy and burst into life. Let’s hope for some warm weather too.
Below is a message from Norfolk Constabulary through the Police Connect scheme, passed on through our Parish Council to us:
We are aware of concerns and rumours circulating on social media about dogs being stolen or men in a van, including a van allegedly marked with the RSPC logo, acting suspiciously around people out walking with their dogs.
Please know there haven’t been any crimes recorded this week that relate to dog thefts
nor have we received any reports of dogs being stolen from a property or while out walking with their owners over the last week.
One person in North Walsham reported an incident on Saturday in which a man in a transit van asked questions about their dog while out walking. We asked them to report any further sightings to us and we haven’t received any further reports of this happening.
In addition, the RSPCA has told us that a number of incidents circulating on social media claiming people are impersonating their inspectors do not appear to have been actual cases of people trying to pass as bogus officials.
It’s important to know there are very few incidents whereby an RSPCA officer will approach someone in public, unless they witness animal cruelty or see an animal in immediate danger. Officers will also wear RSPCA brand clothing and always carry RSPCA identification. RSPCA officers do not have power of entry or seizure unless accompanied by a police officer.
If you’re approached by someone who makes you feel concerned about you or your dog’s safety or believe someone is posing as an RSPCA officer, tell us on 101.
Try to give us as much detail about the person or the vehicle they were in as you can. And do not hesitate to call us on 999 if a crime is happening and you need our help.
Apr/May edition of Eleven Says, the Newspaper of the Bramerton Group of Churches covering 11 Parishes.
Mill Road, Alpington, (the road with Green Pastures on) will be closed for 3 days 14th-16th April.
From reading the notice below it says 200m south of the a146, so my guess is that you’ll only be able to access the farm shop and garden centre from the a146 during those 3 days.
Below is a copy and paste from a document sent out by Garry Whiting, Heathgate Medical Practice & Lead Manager for the Poringland Centre:
Update – Covid 19 Vaccinations Message from Heathgate Medical Practice and Old Mill and Millgates Surgery
I have been asked where we are with second doses.
We have our last first dose clinic this Friday afternoon and then next week (29th March) we are due to start second vaccines at 11 to 12 weeks, to those we have already seen for vaccination.
Yes it’s 11 weeks since we started and locally we have vaccinated 22,000 people out of the Centre.
Your surgery will contact you as the timing of your second dose comes around. This contact will be made when we have confirmed vaccine delivery dates from NHS England.
Those still requiring first doses in the agreed cohorts 1 to 9 (above 50 or those under 50 with a specific underlying health condition) are being asked nationally to contact the national booking line via 119 or book online with the booking references from letters they have received.
There are no national invitations as yet for those aged 18 to 49 (without an underlying health condition).
Garry Whiting
Managing Partner
Heathgate Medical Practice
Lead Manager for the Poringland Centre
Alpington and Yelverton 