It’s been two months since I was elected as county councillor for the Reepham division and in that time, I’ve attended numerous parish meetings, met a lot of new people (names will take me a while to remember – apologies in advance) and in turn gained a large amount of new casework. It’s what the role entails so I won’t complain.

A new administration at County Hall means a new direction, new ideas and some level of engagement. Yet this hasn’t occurred. There have been cuts to pots of money and political assistants without much in the way of consulting other members. It’s frustrating, but as opposition councillors you work within the environment as best you can.

The removal of the local member fund (£11,000 for highways) is one that eliminates a constructive element that county councillors can positively impact local communities. This has been historically used for contributions to traffic regulation orders, bus shelters, double yellow lines, village gates – it’s quite a long list. It will now be a longer, more convoluted route to get some of these actions in the future, if at all. In any event it will make these harder to achieve.

But it’s not all bad news – there is still a huge range of grants and funding options for groups across the community from both Broadland District Council and Norfolk County Council.

Lastly, my next councillor surgeries are:

• Saturday 18 July at the New Frost Hall, Claypit Road, Foulsham;
• Saturday 15 August at the Bircham Centre, Market Place, Reepham;
• Saturday 19th September at Cawston Village Hall, High Street, Cawston;
• Saturday 31 October at the Bircham Centre, Market Place, Reepham;

All run from 10 am – 12 noon and everyone is welcome, whether it’s casework, a complaint or you wish to simply have a chat; I am very approachable.

I have a Facebook page that anyone is welcome to follow wher you can see what I am up to.

Please stay safe in this hot weather.

Cllr Dave Thomas
Tel: 07903 820140
Email: dave.broadlandlibdems@gmail.com

Photo: Norfolk County Council

The post Funding slashed, community grants remain appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Broadland District Council is teaming up with the Bircham Centre to help Reepham secure official Mindful Town status – and they’re calling on local people to get involved.

To qualify, the town needs six Wellbeing Champions: everyday residents, small business owners, volunteers, sports coaches and community group members who want to support others.

Champions don’t take on counselling roles or extra duties – instead, they use basic mental health awareness to spot when someone might be struggling and gently signpost them to help.

Two new mental health awareness training sessions are being held at the Bircham Centre for Reepham and surrounding villages (please arrive 10 minutes early):

• Tuesday 28 July, 10 am–12.30 pm
• Tuesday 4 August, 6–8.30 pm 

Each 2½‑hour session covers stress, common mental health conditions, signs someone may be finding things difficult, and how to start a supportive conversation.

Participants will also learn about the council’s Help Hub and other services, and receive access to a private online resource area with further links and guidance.

Anyone wishing to book a place can do so HERE.

More information about the South Norfolk and Broadland Mindful Towns and Villages project can be found HERE.

The post Community push to gain ‘Mindful Town’ status appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Bawdeswell Village Hall, Reepham Road, Bawdeswell, will run a Summer Afternoon Café on weekdays from 20 July to 28 August, from 2–4 pm.

For details, contact Carolyn Good on 01362 688944 or Jo Porter on 01362 688887 or email jporterbvh@gmail.com

Photo: Bawdeswell Village Hall

The post Summer afternoon café to start in Bawdeswell appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Pupil catchment areas are set to change following the confirmed closure of Corpusty Primary School this September.

A consultation by Norfolk County Council and Synergy Multi Academy Trust proposes dividing the former Corpusty catchment area between Reepham Primary School and Astley Primary School in Briston.

The move follows a steep fall in pupil numbers at Corpusty, which dropped from 103 in 2015/16 to just 31 this year, and its amalgamation with Reepham Primary approved by the Department for Education in June.

Under the plans, the northern part of the catchment would shift to Astley, with the southern area joining Reepham.

Officials say the change aims to support fairness, sustainable pupil numbers and clear access to local schools. Secondary pathways remain unaffected, as both primaries already feed into Reepham High School.

The consultation runs until noon on Friday 17 July, with Synergy intending to repurpose the Corpusty site as a dedicated special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school.

See the EDP story HERE.

Photo: Corpusty Primary School

The post Corpusty catchment area to be split after school closure appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Traffic restrictions and roadworks starting within the next week for the Reepham district have been issued by one.network.

Reepham Road, Little Witchingham
13 July – 19 July
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: Orsted Hornsea Project Three (Uk) Limited
Works reference: P300180652476

Station Road, Foulsham
15 July – 17 July
Roadworks, Delays unlikely
Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion
Responsibility for works: Anglian Water Business (National)
Works reference: AD03168598496

Church Lane, Sparham
16 July – 20 July
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU805S437KIRM1

Well Lane, Sparham
16 July – 20 July
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU805S437KIRM

The Street, Sparham
16 July – 20 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU805S438KIRM

Whitwell Road, Sparham
16 July – 20 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU805S438KIRM1

Old Fakenham Road, Foxley
16 July – 20 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU10900051940

Market Place, Reepham
20 July – 22 July
Roadworks, Delays unlikely
Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU803359623KIPA

The Street, Lyng
20 July – 22 July
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: Anglian Water Business (National)
Works reference: AD03168124531

Briston Road, Wood Dalling
20 July – 24 July
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: UK Power Networks
Works reference: EC30008996059

Sparham Footpath 2, Sparham
20 July – 24 August
Other, Delays unlikely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: ARN-2600-93579676

Broomhill Lane, Reepham
20 July – 28 August
Other, Delays unlikely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: ARN-2600-88266753

Rudds Lane, Reepham
20 July – 28 August
Other, Delays unlikely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: ARN-2600-22612562

Whitwell Road, Reepham
20 July – 28 August
Other, Delays unlikely
Traffic management: Traffic control (two-way signals)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: ARN-2600-50264136

Heydon Road, Wood Dalling
21 July – 23 July
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU804344235KIRM

Back Road, Wood Dalling
21 July – 23 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU804347271KIRM

Crabgate Lane North, Wood Dalling
21 July – 23 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU804361225KIRM

Crabgate Lane South, Wood Dalling
21 July – 23 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU804361223KIRM

Crow Hill, Wood Dalling
21 July – 23 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU804344236KIRM

Front Road, Wood Dalling
21 July – 23 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU804344234KIRM

Guestwick Road, Wood Dalling
21 July – 23 July
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Temporary obstruction (15 minute delay)
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU804344238KIRM

The post Local traffic restrictions and roadworks from 13 July appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Could I encourage the town council to promote a Reepham Hollyhock Walk next year?

This year the hollyhocks on Church Hill, part of Norwich Road, Cawston Road and Ollands Road have been spectacular.

Let’s hope that next year they will be even better and stupid people will not break them down as happened at the front of Magpie House one Saturday morning.

Terry Lawton, Bircham Road, Reepham

Image: Reepham Community Press

The post A call for a hollyhock walk − and a bit more care appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Police were called on Friday 3 July at around 1.15 am by the ambulance service after the body of a man aged in his 40s was found inside a house in Station Road, Reepham.

Inquiries are ongoing to establish how the man died. At this stage the death is unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious.

The man’s family have been informed.

Image: Broadland Police

The post Man in his 40s found dead at Station Road home appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

The post Local traffic restrictions and roadworks from 6 July appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Albanwise Synergy has released details of the proposed underground cable route linking the Pettywell Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage scheme, west of Reepham, to the grid connection at Salle substation near Cawston.

The solar farm project received planning permission from Broadland District Council in April 2025.

The company says the cable route has been designed to minimise impacts on Reepham and nearby communities by running mainly to the north of the town, avoiding the town centre and other sensitive locations.

More than 75% of the route will cross fields and privately owned land. Albanwise Synergy says it has worked closely with landowners to maximise the use of private land and reduce disruption on local roads. However, some sections will still need to follow the local highway.

Information about the route and how the cable will be installed is available on the project website: www.pettywellsolarfarm.com

A planning application for the cable route is expected to be submitted to Broadland District Council in August. If approved, construction is anticipated to begin in early to mid‑2027.

Work along the full length of the route is expected to take six to nine months, although teams will move along the route in stages, meaning the impact at any one location will be much shorter. For example, works along Cawston Road are expected to last around four to five weeks.

Temporary traffic management, including traffic lights or short-term road closures, will be kept to a minimum and co-ordinated with the relevant authorities. Access to properties will be maintained throughout.

Questions or concerns can be sent to renewables@albanwise.co.uk

See our earlier stories:
Solar farm at Pettywell gets approval in close vote
Pettywell solar farm set for approval despite objections
Town council objects to solar farm project
Public consultation now open on solar farm planning application
Plans revealed for proposed Pettywell solar farm

The post Solar farm cable route plans published appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

The post Local traffic restrictions and roadworks from 29 June appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.