Reepham Life

Re: Farm manager’s fears over wind farm cable corridors

I’m utterly dismayed that the rich archaeology across the county, and of course the ritual Neolithic landscape of the Salle and Wood Dalling areas, is not mentioned or taken account of at all, seemingly.

This is by far the most significant issue. Not Reepham, of course, but the Happisburgh hand-axe at 500,000 years old is a mere youngster compared to the 800,000 to 1 million-year-old human footprints, by far the oldest in Western Europe and some of the oldest evidence of human life in the world, outside Africa.

Do these wind farm companies really care or are they just out to make money like any other business, sugaring the pill and getting away with it by calling it “eco” to make people feel bad to argue against it.

What price the creation of a few jobs compared with what will inevitably be lost for ever or certainly decontextualised?

Imogen Ashwin, Reepham Road, Brandiston

There has been some correspondence on Reepham Life recently concerning a proposal for a new convenience store in School Road.

A planning application was originally made some time ago, but was withdrawn by the applicant before a decision was made by Broadland District Council.

The applicant has since resubmitted an amended application and, as part of the local consultation process, it will be discussed at the next Town Council meeting to be held in the Town Hall on Wednesday 11 April, starting at 7.30 pm.

Councillors would welcome representations from members of the public before reaching a decision on this application.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite anybody who would like to have an influence on developments in Reepham to join us as councillors.

You will have the opportunity to work with local, district and county councillors to help shape the future of our town.

We still have vacancies for councillors and we, and the people of Reepham, would appreciate your support.

Les Paterson, Chairman, Reepham Town Council

There is no need for another convenience store in Reepham? The other businesses in the town would be adversely affected? Really?

When I first came to live in Reepham, in the late 1970s, there were six general grocery stores, two butchers shops, two hardware stores, plus Randall’s, which also sold electrical and white goods, a drugstore, a post office, a newsagents, a drapers, a clockmaker and a mobile greengrocery business.

All to serve a population of less than 2,000 people. All co-existing without problems; all thriving.

How can some of your correspondents justify their claim that the present businesses in Reepham are: a) sufficient for the needs of the now enormously expanded population, and b) could possibly provide for even greater numbers if the proposed new housing is completed?

Judging by the number of Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s, etc. delivery vans I see coming into Reepham each day, a large proportion of residents clearly don’t appear to agree that local shopping provision meets their needs.

We definitely do need a new supermarket with a more comprehensive range, quality, value and price of food products.

Hilary Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

Phillip Leeder (Letters, 20 December 2017) appears to believe that a “small minority” of people in Reepham objected to the proposed convenience store on School Road.

However, from Les Patterson’s letter (8 January 2018) this does not appear to be the case.

The Town Council meeting that discussed the planning application was well attended by residents as well as business people.

Does Mr Leeder really believe that there is space in this small town for another small supermarket?

He may think that Spar’s prices are high, but does he consider the “convenience” of having this store so nearby?

The recent “Beast from the East” cold spell has certainly reinforced how well used and valuable this shop is, in addition to Robertson’s butchers, Diane’s Pantry, Meloncaulie Rose, Johnson’s, the Library, the Bircham Centre and Reepham Home Hardware, not to mention Motts Pharmacy.

Would any of these businesses survive if we had a Tesco’s, however small it might be?

The prices might be competitive to begin with – until all other shops had closed for lack of business. We might then see how high those prices might go.

Fortunately, we are not going to see this happen in the immediate future.

We have a small, exclusive and individual town centre with open shops, whose owners know their customers and give personal, friendly service.

Reepham might be growing (whether we like or not), but those new residents will be less likely to use the local amenities.

Many will work outside the town and shop in the larger supermarkets, where they can do their week’s or month’s shop in one, convenient trip. More houses will not mean we need more “convenience” stores.

I like Reepham because of its individuality, personal service and community spirit. I would like it to stay that way, but I know it will inevitably grow.

However, I don’t think that another small supermarket would do anything to benefit the town; it would more likely kill the local, individual businesses, and Reepham would lose its character, community feel and the heart it, at present, possesses.

I’m glad the planning application has been withdrawn. The site was originally designated for housing, in keeping with the existing properties.

We are constantly being told that we need more houses, so small plots of infill would help to provide some of those needs.

They might also prevent the need for a large development of 100 houses or more, which would certainly make a significant difference to the town.

Brenda R Palmer, Chapel Close, Reepham