Letters, May 1, 2015

Once again, now the warmer weather is with us, we have to wait in line to pass the cars parked on Crab Lane, Gorleston outside the allotments obstructing everyone’s way through. I would not mind so much if they had nowhere else to park but there is ample room behind the gates of the allotments so it is just laziness on their part.

They would sooner inconvenience the public than get out of their cars and open the gate.

Name and Address withheld

King Street is a rundown area

In reply to Judith Daniels’ letter on the positives of Great Yarmouth, I am sorry to have to say that although I don’t see King Street as a ghetto, I do see it as a rundown street and area where the buildings are run down and a lot in need of repair.

The toy shop across the road from the Yarmouth Mercury offices is a perfect example, other shops are in need of repair and painting, the pavements are covered in chewing gum, and the street is full of mini markets (I don’t understand why people from the same countries are competing against each other), second hand shops and charity shops, not exactly the pride of Yarmouth.

Strangely enough it’s not the shops etc, run by the diverse and multicultural (Judith’s words) that are the worst although their repair jobs are a lot to be desired, but they attempt it.

If you walk down King Street, look up at both sides of the road, this is where you will see the blocked gutters, the broken window frames, windows so bowed they don’t shut, and unpainted areas because I think the people that run the buildings don’t think anyone looks up.

I walk to and from the town centre every other day via King Street and I guess I see a lot more than Judith does. The litter, the dog mess, the chewing gum, the smell of someone smoking pot by an alleyway or out of a window, that happened today (Friday, April 24) as I crossed the road towards St George’s Theatre, it stank.

Interestingly, I went to The Times website (will not subscribe so didn’t get full article) and put in Great Yarmouth. The article that came up has the same title and date as the one Judith mentions, it was to do with the Labour candidate, but there was a picture of the family that runs one of the small mini-markets standing at the door of the shop.

I pass this shop every day and let me just say that until recently that shop used to put it’s fresh vegetables mixed in a box on the pavement, they now put them on a pasting table. I did find the chip stall picture by Googling just the heading of “Tensions run high in UKIP Target Area” but not the article.

P LONG

email

Parking concern over restaurant

My partner and I read with interest the article in last week’s Mercury, April 24, regarding the Gambas expansion plans.

A planning application has been submitted, with objections having to be received by May 7. How strange the management are hoping a £200,000 development will be allowed when it is apparent to local residents that a huge amount of work has been going on for weeks, to the extent the outside of the property on the corner of Beach Road and Limmer Road has already been painted in the Gambas corporate colours.

Is this a case of opening the stable doors before you’ve brought the horse? What would happen if planning permission was turned down?

Ms McCallion is enthusiastic about how Gambas will play its part in the blossoming Gorleston nightlife. Of course she is, it’s money in the bank. Gorleston is vibrant and most of us have no problems with the restaurant, indeed, my partner and I have eaten there and enjoyed a wonderful meal. Latterly, with friends, I have also enjoyed the cocktail offer.

However, there are concerns with customers and how they park in Limmer Road. This road narrows at the Gambas end, making parking on both sides of the road obstructive and dangerous. We have witnessed cars and large 4X4’s parked on the pavement stopping all pedestrian, and sometimes vehicular, access with the worst case of a vehicle totally parked on the pavement.

The throughput of emergency vehicles would be more than challenging, if not impossible at times. The extension of the restaurant will only exacerbate these issues.

This problem could be easily solved as there is a large free car park next to the RNLI station. If the staff and management of Gambas were to point this out to prospective customers, it might go some way to easing the problem.

The other issue that causes concern is during the warmer months when patrons are outside at the rear of the restaurant the noise in the early hours can often make sleep impossible.

So, although we have no doubt planning permission will be granted whether we like it or not, it would have been nice and polite for the management to have engaged with local residents, perhaps having a small informal meeting to address these issues.

PETER KIRKPATRICK and DEBRA GATES

Limmer Road, Gorleston

A&E treatment beyond a joke

On April 26 I woke up at 12.30am with a very bad pain on the right hand side just under my ribs, by 2am the pain had become so bad around 7/8 out of 10, and by 2.40am I was curled up with pain.

At this point I called 111. An ambulance arrived about 2.50am, took readings and put a catheter into my arm. By this time the pain was 10/10 and the paramedic was about to give me a painkiller when the pain went but he said they would continue to hospital to be on the safe side.

Before getting to the James Paget Hospital the pain came back and bad and I was given morphine.

I was checked into the hospital by 3.30am, put into a room in A&E and a nurse made checks and took blood, so we are at 3.30am. I lay there until 4am, nothing happened. I could hear persons talking and joking and I looked out of the curtain and saw staff in the little area where they have their files/computers.

I lay down again at 4.30am and still nobody came to check on me and I still had the pain, all you could hear was the hospital personnel joking about, and a little girl crying.

It wasn’t until 5.45am that a women came in and asked if I was all right, with that I said I have been here since 3am, you have nobody in with problems only the little girl and she said there was only one doctor on duty, I said you don’t have any people with problems but me and you all have been joking around for hours while I have been in very bad pain .

With that I told her I was leaving, pulled the drip out and left A&E. I went to the front desk to order a taxi as I was in my dressing gown and slippers.

Nobody gave damn about me or what pain I was in. When I was in reception getting a taxi the place was empty, nobody needing attention.

The only ones that did a very professional job were the ambulancemen, thank you to them. My complaint is with the James Paget staff.

If I had been the Prime Minister or Prince Charles I would have been given top service… but then again they would not be using the NHS. So that’s what NHS stands for No Hospital Service.

STEPHEN HAYES

Belton

Tony’s reviews are excellent

How fortunate the Mercury is having such an excellent theatrical reviewer in Tony Mallion. I am a patron of the Gorleston theatre, so see very many types of production put there, both high class and at times less so. Every time I and my wife go to see a show that Tony also reviews, I must say I agree with every word he writes. It is just as if I had written those comments myself.

This was very much the case when I and my wife attended the production of Oliver by Gorleston players, in my view they provided an outstanding performance. A week or so before that we had seen Top Hat performed by a professional cast at the Theatre Royal Norwich, and in my view that was by far the best show I had seen there for many years. A few days later was the Oliver show. No minor this, it turned out to be a highly skilled production, well performed by real enthusiasts and it gave me just as much pleasure as had the professionals a few days before in Norwich.

I must say well done Tony keep up the excellent writing. Also a very well done must go from us to the Gorleston Players, keep it up, you well deserve full houses for your excellent productions.

A good word must be said for those hidden benefactors, these being the licence holders, management and staff at Gorleston Theatre. A big well done for the excellent work you all do in keeping the live theatre going, that gives so much pleasure to so many.

BRIAN E CALLAN

Busseys Loke,

Bradwell

We don’t need ‘trendy vibes’

I read with interest the article on the proposed Gambas Restaurant extension in Gorleston. The most blatant omission on the photograph was cars parked bumper to bumper in front if it, spilling onto double yellow lines at the corner of Beach/Limmer roads and put there for safety reasons.

Rachel McCallion, manager, obviously has not had the same experience as I. We do not need “trendy vibes” to boost the area.

For years around here there were many family-run businesses providing a service for locals on whom they relied on for trade. All houses were owned by working class families, some of whom were first generation home owners with a real sense of community and helping others out; visitors knocking on doors for accommodation when boarding houses were full. That was the time to be here.

Now landlords snap up properties as they become vacant to rent and short-term tenants don’t give a damn about residents who have lived here for some 49 years.

Likewise with entrepreneurs who take on and expand restaurants for their own profit, with an element on Nimby (not in my back yard). Their clients for the most part, in oversized 4x4s parking in this narrow road and drinking into the early hours. This is a residential area with parking at breaking point and it should not go ahead.

CHRIS LOCK

Limmer Road

Gorleston

Excellent care given to my son

With gratitude I would like to thank NHS hospitals for the excellent care and treatment given to my son Kieren after being assaulted in his home on April 13. He had treatment at A&E James Paget Hospital, Easton ward, Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where emergency plastic surgery was received, with remarkable stitching, skill and plastic surgery dressings clinic, also consultant and staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. Thanking police officers concerned also numerous well wishers for their care and support.

Mrs JOSEPHINE BOYLE

Address withheld

Surprised elite runners are paid

Great to see such a large contingent of local runners taking part in this year’s London Marathon, enjoying the experience so much and contributing such a great deal to charity at the same time. I was amazed to read that one particular charity required them to garner as much as £10 000 to guarantee an entry.

I am always a little surprised that the elite runners, who get appearance money just to take part as well as not inconsiderable prize money, do not themselves contribute at least something to the charity pot.

My idea for next year’s race would be for the Kenyans and Ethiopians to “act the goat”, (to use a phrase my late dear mother was particularly fond of), leaving the Brits to at least appear to be more competitive and perhaps even be in with a chance of some prize money.

MIKE SPRAGG

Collingwood Road,

Great Yarmouth

Has anyone lost young tom cat?

It would appear that I have acquired a new cat. It is a male ginger and white un-neutered tom around one year old.

I had seen it around my gardens over the past few days and assumed it resided in the neighbourhood however, late last night I heard a meowing and took it in. It was very hungry and managed to eat the remains of a chicken carcass and quarter of a tin of cat food.

It is evidencing distress, suggesting it is lost. Currently it has taken residence in my conservatory, where it is welcome. Until its keeper comes forward, I am happy to provide food, warmth, shelter, but I do have another elderly male tom and while my cat is very placid, I don’t know how well they will get on.

If anyone knows of a lost cat matching the description, please call me on 07746 519834.

ROGER HAYES

Beccles Road,

Bradwell

Harbour group looking forward

Follow up to Harbour meeting at Gorleston library. Firstly, some thanks: we are very grateful to Anne Edwards for chairing (and refereeing!) the meeting, for the assistance of the staff at Gorleston Library and to all those who attended or sent messages of support. We were also touched by the impromptu collection in aid of the costs of the meeting, despite it not being sought.

Second, apologies for taking so long to follow up; we have both had a number of challenges with close relatives’ health, and Pete’s own health too.

Minutes from the meeting will be available via www.streetlife.com in the next day or two. As soon as possible, they will be emailed to those for whom we have email addresses. If anyone else would like a copy posted, please let us know by email or leave a message on the phone service below.

We will be following up on the suggestion at the meeting of garnering support from interest groups and reiterated in Mr Lambert’s letter (Mercury 10 April) and also appreciate the useful information gleaned from a number of letters and emails from Messrs Cooper and Durrant.

We do intend to go forward looking at:

nthe access to the harbour road (as other groups are doing) and we will consult with those groups we know about (all interest groups are invited to make contact with us)

nthe prospect of the viewing area, as per promises made when the Harbour was first mooted, the poll held late last year and discussion at the meeting

ncanvassing special interest groups, such as ornithologists, photographers and naturalists (think we got the right word - these are the ones who keep their clothes on!) – please get in touch with suggestions and any such groups please make contact

nany other avenues, again suggestions welcome

Finally, an appeal: we desperately need a few people to help with the administration of the campaign if we are to go forward and achieve something beneficial to the town and many of the local people and visitors. If you can help, please contact us by emailing greatyarmouthharbour@hotmail.com or call 01493 202201 and leave a message.

MARY KENT and PETE BISS

Great Yarmouth Harbour Road Campaign

Parade marks bridge tragedy

Tomorrow, May 2, is the 170th anniversary of the 1845 Great Yarmouth Suspension Bridge Disaster. The anniversary will be marked with a parade at 1pm of people dressed in Victorian costume. Please join us, wear a flat cap or shawl anything will do we follow the fantastic TS Warrior band to the Market Place.

There, the mayor will say a few words, then we will march back to the memorial where there will be stalls and a bit of fun.

At 5pm, the time it all began back in 1845, flowers will be cast onto the river to the sound of a violin playing, then at dusk I will light the candle bags which have been decorated by St Nicholas Priory School pupils, each carrying a victim’s name, will line the river bank and there tea lights will shine through out the night. This day has been created by the goodwill of friends, family and Yarmouth businesses who have supplied some great raffle prizes, and one slightly insane woman who has annoyed most people by trying to make this day special.

I even tried to get a small amount of funding this time but was messed around for three months and then told last week there was nothing in the pot. So people please come even if it’s just for a little while to remember a part of your town’s history.

Stalls are still available at £8 which will go to the Salvation Army food bank, sell whatever you like. It is so nice to know descendants will be joining us to mark this special day.

JULIE STAFF

Juliest800@yahoo.co.uk

Housing plan for Beacon Park?

My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to have a cycle ride around Beacon Park – and what development. Massive hanger-type buildings, with roads and parking to match. I had to smile at the doggie bin already erected on a post where the pavement was not yet completed. Compliments R G Carter – what foresight!

Do I get the drift of housing development somewhere on the site or is it dog walkers not playing the game?

L HUGGINS

Trinity Avenue,

Gorleston

Is taking this revenge wrong?

I heard about a friend of a friend who has moved away from this area and who “dared” front up to a man who had left his dog’s mess on the pavement.

She had offered him a poo bag but received a torrent of abuse, so... she had picked it up, followed him to the car park, and emptied the bag over him through the open roof. I had to laugh and wish I had the courage to do the same when I see people walking their dogs and leaving their “prizes” behind.

Seriously though, is this an offence? I fear if I were to do similar I would face some sort of prosecution. Can someone help and explain if this was lawful or not? I wish there was some way we could take our revenge on those owners who ruin the reputations of us responsible dog owners who faithfully pick up the mess and deposit it in either a refuse bin or take it home.

Mrs V JAMES

Address withheld