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Sports hall or affordable housing?

Friday, May 1, 2020 - 08:16

Readers might not realise from your news story (Plans submitted for 141 houses off Broomhill Lane) that the developer’s justification for the shortfall in affordable houses (20% instead of the stipulated 30%) and 21 additional dwellings (141 instead of the specified 120) is its decision to contribute £1.5 million to a new sports hall for Reepham High School.

No doubt the school governors (including Reepham’s district councillor, Stuart Beadle) are fully supportive of this, but it does not seem right that the school’s gain should be at the cost to the whole community of affordable homes and overdevelopment of the site.

Readers may wish to point out to Broadland District Council (email planning@broadland.gov.uk) that this application breaches the council’s own development plan.

Michael Pender-Cudlip, Mill Road, Reepham

Lanes are unclassified county roads

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 - 18:21

Concerning the recent articles on the Broomhill Lane development, there are some misconceptions by the developer about the real status of the roads on the edge of this development.

There are no public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways or byways open to all traffic) on or adjacent to the land involved.

There are, however, “unsurfaced unclassified county roads” (UUCRs, or more often called UCRs).

These are shown on Ordnance Survey maps as “other routes with public access”. They are public highways, in just the same way as if they were surfaced.

Broomhill Lane, Back Lane and part of Park Lane that is unsurfaced are all UCRs.

These can be seen on the Norfolk interactive map: http://maps.norfolk.gov.uk/highways/ (ensure the “Norfolk County Council Maintained Unsurfaced Roads” box is ticked).

Of course, changes proposed in planning application 20200469 are not affected, except for the improvement to Park Lane, which would need the approval of Norfolk Highways, aside from planning permission.

Martin Sullivan, Kerdiston Road, Reepham

Let’s hear it for the ‘bin men’

Thursday, March 26, 2020 - 12:45

It is wonderful that we have the opportunity to express our appreciation face-to-face to many who are helping us through this crisis, not least those running our local shops and the volunteers co-ordinated by the Reepham Good Neighbour Scheme.

Another critical group are our refuse collectors. We suggest that those of us who are about when they make their weekly round should applaud them; they deserve it in any case, but particularly now.

Janet and Michael Pender-Cudlip, Mill Road, Reepham

Stained glass window was from former Methodist chapel in Fisher's Alley

Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 16:38

Re: From The Archive: Non-conformists in Reepham (posted 10 October 2019)

Owing to the poor condition and lack of funds to carry out essential structural and cosmetic repairs to the building, the Good Companions Club vacated the former Methodist chapel in Fisher's Alley and the property was put up for sale.

Local builder Derek Crane purchased the property and instructed me to design a dwelling(s) to replace the former building, and permission was granted for a pair of semi-detached houses.

During the demolition of the old building I insisted and ensured that the only stained glass window worth saving was carefully salvaged to be built into the gable wall facing the alley, which confirms the assumption in the article.

Russell Vincent, Hackford Vale, Reepham

Former Methodist Chapel in Fisher’s Alley, Reepham. Built 1842 as a Baptist chapel, closed 1934. Used as a carpenter’s shop, later the Good Companions Club. Photo: Reepham Archive

Information on Ollands House

Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 12:02

I live in Echo Lodge, the only building that was not demolished from the Ollands estate.

The main house and the surrounding buildings were demolished in 1972 before the listed building law was in place.

My house was the gardener’s cottage, and the reason it was not demolished was thanks to a lady called Mrs Matthews who was a tenant at the property and refused to move out.

I purchased the building in 1986 and have lived there ever since.

When I dig my garden I often come across old red brick, which I believe is part of the main house.

I would love to know more, or see any more photos, of Ollands House.

Marion Stiefel, Ollands Road, Reepham

Planners prefer ‘town cramming’

Tuesday, February 4, 2020 - 18:18

Re: No new allocations for Reepham in latest housing consultation

Although there are no new allocations proposed in the latest plan, the 20 units proposed for the former Reepham station site have been overtaken by the latest approved development for assisted housing, etc., and have relocated to Broomhill Lane, where they are now – with the blessing of Broadland’s planners – proposing a 140-unit development on the site previously allocated for 120 units.

This is known as “town cramming” and, despite an increase in the housing density and additional significant traffic and parking issues, the planners prefer this solution rather than looking at better alternative sites for 20 units that have been supported in the last local plan consultation.

Hugh Ivins, Whitwell

Home care praise

Friday, January 24, 2020 - 17:03

I would like to thank Heart to Heart Home Care Agency of Reepham for the excellent service I had from them while my husband was poorly (he died on Sunday 19 January).

Margaret Bishop, Howard’s Way, Cawston

Seeking history of ‘Ollands House’

Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - 16:51

Can anyone tell me anything about the history of “Ollands House” in Reepham?

This picture was taken by my great-great-grandfather Edward Makinson Haigh in the 1860s.

If anyone can connect the family who owned the house (Kendrew, I believe) to Haigh I’d be very interested.

When was the house demolished?

Stuart Roberts, via Facebook

An interesting piece of photographic history

Friday, December 27, 2019 - 10:05

Here is a bit of useless and trivial information, which may not mean much to those of us today who only take photos with mobile phones and digital cameras, but is nevertheless an interesting piece of photographic history.

How many readers of the Reepham Life 2020 Calendar wonder why the initial letters of the words on the banner across the Market Place are blank in the photograph for April 2020?

The reason is that in those days black-and-white photographs were taken using orthochromatic film, which is insensitive to red light (and hence could be developed under a darkroom red safelight).

We can assume that the initial letters of “Good Luck To Them” were painted in red, while the other letters were painted in shades of blue or green.

It was only later that panchromatic black-and-white film was introduced, which is sensitive to all colours (and hence must be developed in total darkness or in a developing tank).

Not a lot of people know that!

Rupert Birtles, Pettywell

Buy the Reepham Life 2020 Calendar HERE

Seeking relatives of Henry Juby

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 - 07:12

While researching my ancestors I discovered that my great-grandfather came from Reepham.

His name was Henry Juby, born on 8 December 1844, the son of Jeremiah Flood Juby and Lydia Juby.

I would like to know if I have a distant relative still alive in Reepham.

Brian Silva, Uruguay

If you are related to Henry Juby and would like to get in touch with your relative in Uruguay, please contact Reepham Life HERE

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