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The ‘invisible army’ find benefits in volunteering

Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 17:59

This letter was prompted by the question mark hanging over the local branch of the Royal British Legion (Uncertainty over future of Royal British Legion branch, Reepham Life, 1 February 2023), which shares the problem of how to attract new volunteers with many small organisations, clubs and charities.

Yet volunteers are the vast and invisible army that contribute enormously to the quality of life in rural areas, whether it’s football coaching, history, gardening, birdwatching, food banks or community events.

The list is endless – and it includes Reepham Life – and all depend on the work, time and ideas freely given by volunteers.

This was brought into focus when I attended a session in Norwich about fundraising and found myself in a room with a least ninety people, many of them past retirement age, who were looking to find ways to support their particular charity.

A few years ago, opportunities for early retirement were greater, which meant the pool of fit and energetic volunteers was also greater than it is now that the retirement age has been raised – an unintended consequence, no doubt, but one that will have a significant impact.

Over the course of their lives people may dip in and out of volunteering, depending on their interests and circumstances.

When my sons were young, I helped run the youth club, dropped out for a few years then came back to the village hall and parish council.

The need for volunteers has not gone away and if anything, it’s growing. But it’s not a one-way street: the benefits for those who do volunteer are considerable.

Much is being written at the moment about the importance of being out in the world and having good relationships in maintaining mental and physical health in later life. It helps, too, to get a better work/life balance.

Turning out on a winter’s night for the youth club was often hard going, but when we won a rounders competition it was great.

As a volunteer you get to meet people, to share and learn new skills, and have the satisfaction of knowing you are actively helping to sustain a stronger community.

So, next time the opportunity arises, say “yes”.

Ruth Goodall, Chair of Trustees, Hall for All, Weston Longville

Campaigning for a co-ordinated offshore electricity grid

Friday, November 18, 2022 - 12:53

Re: Why yet another cable trench? (Your Letters, 3 November 2022)

The starting point should be that offshore wind infrastructure should cause as little disruption as possible for communities in Norfolk.

I campaigned for an offshore transmission network as part of a national plan that co-ordinates the growth of offshore wind with the country’s onshore transmission network – it’s called a “holistic network design”.

The government agreed, but National Grid bizarrely excluded East Anglia from the plan, on the grounds that our offshore wind plans are too far advanced to change.

I disagree and have teamed up with other Conservative MPs in East Anglia to establish the Off-Shore Electricity Grid Task Force (OffSET), of which I am vice-chair.

We have established the group to promote a co-ordinated offshore electricity grid as soon as possible, while standing up for the countryside of East Anglia and ensuring our transition to net zero does not do unnecessary damage to local communities and the environment.

I have had multiple meetings with the relevant Ministers, the leaders of National Grid, the energy companies and officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industry to press for an offshore ring main.

I have also raised this on no less than 10 occasions in Parliament, which you can see via this link.

These are challenging times where energy security is more important than ever, but that does not mean we should not also take care of our communities and our countryside where we can.

Jerome Mayhew MP, Member of Parliament for Broadland

Why yet another cable trench?

Thursday, November 3, 2022 - 16:17

Re: Equinor’s application accepted for offshore wind farm extensions (Reepham Life, 25 October 2022).

Am I missing something here? As I understand it there are currently two cable trenches due to be laid across our region from offshore wind farms, and I thought I had read that at least one of them was going to be built to accommodate future expansion.

If I am correct, why then is it necessary for new trenches to be dug every time a new offshore windfarm is created?

Why cannot there be one trench of sufficient capacity to accommodate current and likely future cable requirements, thus avoiding all the disruption and upheaval, cost, and the contribution to global warming that such engineering works must create?

Is this something that local councils should be taking up with our MP? It does seem on the face of it like a total lack of joined-up thinking.

Rupert Birtles, Pettywell, Reepham

Please reinstate the weekly market

Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 12:10

When I was looking to move to Reepham, one of the things that attracted me was that it had a market in the square.

I was so disappointed to find that this hasn’t returned since the lockdowns lifted.

I would urge the town to endeavour to reinstate the market.

I am sure it would bring increased footfall to the town, which would be very welcome to the existing businesses and be an added attraction to visitors.

Chris Judge, Vouts Court, Reepham

Coronation tree in Kerdiston

Saturday, September 17, 2022 - 16:43

In 1953 I planted some horse chestnuts in the Reepham district.

The only surviving tree is in Kerdiston to the right of the cottages that were part of the farm owned by Mr Holmes in the 1950s.

The tree was still standing a few years ago when I was last in the area.

Just thought this may be of interest at this moment in time.

Alan Farrell, Welwyn Garden City

School sports hall ‘bribe’ should be for community benefit

Friday, September 9, 2022 - 12:36

I have read that, despite objections from the residents of Reepham and concerns expressed by the town council, that Broadland District Council has approved the Broomhill Lane development.

Do other residents of Reepham feel the same as me over the use of the £1.5m “bribe” from the developers being used to pay for a new sports hall at the high school?

That money should be used for facilities that could benefit all the Reepham residents, such as expansion of the Stimpson’s Piece pavilion to make a proper community centre.

Any improvements at the high school should be financed by the academy trust that now owns and runs the school.

An alternative that might satisfy both Reepham’s and the school’s needs could be building a facility on the school grounds as proposed that is both a sports hall and a community centre, owned by the town and let out to the school for two or three days a week.

Bryan Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

New ‘care village’ not what was promised

Friday, August 19, 2022 - 18:10

Does anyone else feel, after looking at today’s press release for the first 15 tightly packed bungalows in the new so-called “care village” off Stoney Lane, that this was misrepresented to us all at the planning stage?

At £300,000 plus, with annual maintenance and service fees on top, these are hardly going to be affordable for the vast majority of elderly Reepham folk.

“An orangery, a stylish bistro restaurant, library and lounge…” Where’s the much-needed care home for the residents of Reepham we were promised?

Ok, the height of the original building needed to be reduced after consultation, but it seems to have disappeared from the plans completely. There only appears to be a “care office” on site now.

This isn’t what we were told we were getting.

Hilary Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

Planning decision deferred for 141 houses off Broomhill Lane

Friday, July 15, 2022 - 11:20

I wonder if residents are aware that seven days before the meeting of Broadland District Council’s Planning Committee this week, and with advice given by the planning officer to approve this development, it left little time to prepare objections by Realistic Reepham.

Thankfully this was withdrawn the day before. The plans will now come before a meeting in August.

People of Reepham, many of whom object to this, need to know.

Martin Sullivan, Kerdiston Road, Reepham

Tidy drive vs poisoned planet

Friday, July 1, 2022 - 17:22

In response to G. Eadie’s assertion (Your Letters: 31 May 2022) that they will continue to use strong weedkiller on their 100-foot drive, perhaps thinking outside the tunnel would be more beneficial?

Weed matting would stop the weeds, rather than poisoning the planet and themselves.

Weedkiller is hugely toxic to the user as well as to all the life around the location that it is used.

Louisa Dreisin, Chimes Way, Reepham

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee a celebration of community spirit

Tuesday, June 7, 2022 - 11:45

Huge thanks for all the help and community spirit during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

There was such a sense of sharing resources, such as the golden coach (pictured below) from Reepham Primary School’s Steve and Year 2s.

There were fun and happy community occasions across Reepham and beyond with lots of tea parties, barbecues, hog roasts and so on.

A huge thank you from all of us who enjoyed all the activities.

Revd Helen Rengert, Team Rector, Reepham and Wensum Valley Team Churches

Above: HM Queen Elizabeth II and Revd Helen Rengert kick off the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Reepham. (That’s Helen on the right.)

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