Freethorpe Parish Council, serving Freethorpe and Wickhampton: A meeting took place on Monday 23rd September at 7pm at Freethorpe Village Hall. Our District Councillor has been supporting the parish in grant applications. He has been appointed vice-chairman of the Broadland District Council Audit Committee. Parish Council finances are stable. The external audit has been concluded with no issues. A new parish council website has been launched, Freethorpe-pc.gov.uk, which has improved accessibility to our current information. Tree planting season is approaching. The Parish Council would welcome ideas for places where the landowner would allow trees to be planted. Our tree wardens can supply the trees free of charge.
Parish Council agreed its bid for joint working with Highways next year, still trying to reduce speeding on Reedham Road as a priority. We would like to introduce gateways around the entry to the 30mph limits on Reedham Road and Lower Green. We will also request signposts to the Play Area and the Chapel. There are concerns about dog fouling on Old Chapel Road. Measures to stop this will be discussed with the resident who raised the concern. Planning applications were supported for a carport at 9 The Green, and replacement windows at 2 Church Farm Cottages Wickhampton. Parish Council has requested a housing needs survey to assess the demand for affordable housing. We are also feeding into a new design code for developments in the district. The list of trees with Tree Protection Orders was reviewed. The Parish Council was worried about an increase in fly tipping and will write to the county council expressing concern that imminent changes in recycling services will result in more fly tipping.
Speed management figures are for July & August 2024. On Reedham Road, 85th percentile speeds were much the same at 37.6mph, with 24,462 vehicles, 11,853 of which exceeded 30mph. While high, this has reduced by 4mph since the school warning signs were installed. Lower Green was down at 32.4mph on 38825 vehicles. Chapelfield was slightly up at 33.3mph from 20,418 vehicles. The Green was down to 32.6mph from 22483 vehicles. 52% of people kept within the 30mph speed limit on Reedham Road, 72% at the other three locations. THANK YOU FOR DRIVING SAFELY IN OUR VILLAGE.
The play areas at Freethorpe and Wickhampton passed their latest inspection with no significant risks. Initial planning work to manage Wickhampton Pond has raised significant concerns about the impact of the crassula invasive weed, with a decision to be made at the next meeting. Great work is being carried out by Parish Councillor Andrea Rowlands with the flower displays in Freethorpe. The school and the cubs are getting involved in planting. The new War Horse bench is an attractive addition to the frontage of the Village Hall. A grant application has been made to refurbish the Village Hall kitchen over the next 4 months. ‘Sports facilities’ grant money was approved to purchase a new leaf collector for the football club.
The next meeting is 21st October 2024. For further information please visit the Parish Council website or contact the clerk at freethorpe.pc@gmail.com or 07979 096892.