Freethorpe Parish Council

The monthly tree wardens’ magazine is out now. You can read it here:

https://freethorpe-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads//2025/06/Broadsheet-244-July-2025.pdf

You may be interested in the latest magazine of Wood & Water, which has been shared with the Parish Council.

https://freethorpe-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads//2025/05/Wood-and-water.pdf

 

We now have an electric vehicle charging point for two vehicles at Freethorpe Village Hall.

We hope this will be particularly helpful to people who use the Village Hall Car Park for work or leisure activities.

We also have a defibrillator cabinet, inside which is a defibrillator and a bleed kit (provided by the Joe Dix Foundation), both of which are available for qualified people to use via emergency services.

https://www.hearfornorfolk.org.uk/

Hear for Norfolk provide some great services around the county, including some sessions at Acle.

Have you considered volunteering?

 Volunteering is a fantastic way to support people, and research shows that volunteering can boost happiness and confidence. There are plenty of ways to get involved, and anyone, regardless of age, can make a difference.

 Volunteering helps build connections, bringing people together and fostering friendships. It’s a great way to meet new people, develop skills, and take pride in our communities. Norfolk & Waveney boasts beautiful countryside, tight-knit villages and bustling market towns and our volunteers help keep this special part of the country strong, united, and supported.

 By giving just a few hours a week or more, you can have a real impact on the lives of those around you. You’re not only improving life for others but for yourself. Whether it’s helping at your local hospital, supporting the vulnerable to stay in their own homes or return home after a hospital stay, or driving them to their non-urgent medical appointments, assisting Voluntary Norfolk behind the scenes or helping with community initiatives, every contribution counts.

 Visit Voluntary Norfolk at www.voluntarynorfolk.org.uk to explore roles that, with your time and energy, will make a real difference.

 You’ll be amazed by the positive impact you can have and how rewarding it feels to lend a hand!

 

The Freethorpe Remembrance Ceremony takes place at 10:50 this Sunday 10th November at the War Memorial in the Methodist Cemetery. 1st Freethorpe Cub Scouts will parade and lay a wreath, and Parish Councillor Paul Bacon will lay a wreath on behalf of the Parish Council. The bugle will sound the Last Post across the village at 11am. The ceremony will be followed by a short service in the chapel led by Rev. Andrew King. Everyone is welcome.

“We will remember them.”

Sacred to the memory of those of this parish whose names appear herewith.

Who made the supreme sacrifice during the Great War Aug 1914 – Nov 1918

Sgt. Frank Lake, aged 28, Duke of Cornwall L.I.

Cpl. Walter Lake, aged 30, 2^nd Lincolns.

Pte. Robert J.Lake, aged 23, 1^st Norfolks.

Pte. Basil Lake, aged 19, Royal Sussex Yeomanry

Pte. George Meal, aged 29, 3^rd Essex.

Pte. Mark Shorten, aged 24, 3^rd Norfolks.

Pte. George Ward, aged 30, 1^st Norfolks.

Cpl. John H.Alexander, aged 22, 9^th Norfolks.

Pte. Alfred R.Brock, aged 31, A.S.C.(Remounts)

Pte. D.High Burton, aged 23, 9^th Norfolks.

L-cpl. Fred Carr, aged 38, 8^th Norfolks.

Pte. Wilfred Cater, aged 19, M.G.Corps.

Pte. Thomas F.Dawson, aged 23, 8^th Norfolks.

Skpr. Samuel C.Falgate, aged 48, H.M.S.Hilary.H.

 

Who gave their lives for their country in the war 1939-45.

Pte. A.C. Nicholls, aged 25, 1^st Norfolks.

A.P.O. W.R. Turner D.S.M., aged 33, Royal Navy.

 

“Greater love hath no man than this.

That a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Text reproduced from Freethorpe’s war memorial, which stands in the cemetery of Freethorpe Methodist Church.

Norfolk County Council (Freethorpe)

Emergency Notice

Temporary Traffic Regulation Order 2024
Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Freethorpe (NTRO8837) Notice
In accordance with the provisions of Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act
1984, the Norfolk County Council HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that owing to Anglian
Water burst water main repairs the use by vehicles (of any class) of the Halvergate
Road from its junction with Lower Green for 100m eastwards (the “Road”) in the
Parish of Freethorpe will be temporarily prohibited.

Alternative route is via: The Green, Reedham Road, Freethorpe Road, Hall Road,
Halvergate Road, Mill Road (Freethorpe, Reedham , Halvergate)

The closure is necessary because of the likelihood of danger to the public or serious
damage to the road or both.

The closure is anticipated to take place from 31 st October to 6 th November 2024 but
the Road may continue to be closed/restricted until the 20 th November 2024 where
the closure/restriction is still required beyond the anticipated dates.
This Notice shall automatically revoke on the completion of the works / when the
closure/restriction is no longer necessary or otherwise on the 20 th November 2024
without further notice.

If necessary, this Notice may be extended for an additional 21 days by further Notice
and/or for a maximum of 18 months from the date this Notice is effective by further
Order.

A person who contravenes, or who uses or permits the use of a vehicle in
contravention of the restriction/ closure imposed by the Order shall be guilty of an
offence.

Penalty: £1000 maximum fine on conviction and/or endorsement for contravention.
Full details on the closure are available at https://one.network. Any enquiries that
cannot be answered on the one.network website should be directed to the North
Area Streetworks (Community and Environmental Services Department) contactable
by telephone at 0344 800 8020 or email at streetworks@norfolk.gov.uk

Dated this 1 st day of November 2024.

Katrina Hulatt
Director of Legal Services (nplaw)
County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DH

A meeting took place on Monday 21^st October at 7pm at Freethorpe Village Hall. Our District Councillor highlighted grants available for winter pressures and training in carbon literacy. He also advised that Reedham’s Neighbourhood Plan was now complete. Parish Council finances are stable. The tree wardens are concerned about diseases that are affecting oaks and sycamores and will be carrying out checks of the trees in our parish. There are opportunities for free trees for planting this winter, the difficulty is finding places where they can be planted. Concerns about the costs and stress of increases in fly tipping were discussed.  Parish Council discussed the advice received on dealing with the invasive weed in Wickhampton Pond. It was agreed to get prices for fencing as a first step in our duty to combat the spread. Concerns about the shortage of affordable / social housing in the parish were discussed and have been raised by our District Councillor.

The Freethorpe Remembrance Ceremony will take place at the War Memorial (in the Methodist Church Cemetery) on Sunday 10^th November at 10:50. Wreaths will be laid by the Parish Council and the Cub Scouts. Parish Council has been successful in applying for grants that will enable the Village Hall Kitchen to be refurbished. This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Parish Council is grateful to Broadland District Council and to the Paul Bassham Charitable Trust for their generous support and to the Village Hall Committee for managing the work, which should be complete by the end of December. The Bowls Club, the Football Club and the Methodist Church Popin/Lunches have also benefited from Broadland’s Keep It Going grants. The football club’s new leaf collector has been purchased with Section 106 grant money.

Speed management figures are for September 2024. On the Green by the Manor House, 85th percentile speeds were down to 30.4mph, with 27758 vehicle, 84% kept within the 30mph limit. On The Common, 85th percentile speeds were up slightly to 31.8mph. 75% kept within the 30mph limit. THANK YOU FOR DRIVING SAFELY IN OUR VILLAGE.

No new risks have been identified at the play areas at Freethorpe and Wickhampton. Great work is being carried out by Parish Councillor Andrea Rowlands with the flower displays in Freethorpe. It was great to have the school helping with bulb planting at the Village Hall in September. A completion report was approved by the Parish Council, with grateful thanks to Andrea and all who have helped. The grant of £300 received from Broadland for ‘Clean-up and Bloom’ has been very well used. People are asked NOT to use the general waste bins at the Village Hall for dog poo – this is a health and safety issue for the volunteers who empty the bins. Please use the dog bins provided near the telephone kiosk and electricity sub-station.

The next meeting is 18^th November 2024. Meetings for 2025 were agreed, monthly except for August and December. For further information please visit the Parish Council website or contact the clerk at freethorpe.pc@gmail.com or 07979 096892.

https://freethorpe-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads//2024/10/24.10.10-Course-Listing-GYBC-Oct.Nov_.Dec_.pdf

 

Freethorpe Parish Council, serving Freethorpe and Wickhampton: A meeting took place on Monday 23^rd 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 21^st October 2024. For further information please visit the Parish Council website or contact the clerk at freethorpe.pc@gmail.com or 07979 096892.