When will Cliff steps re-open?
Like the gentleman who wrote in last week’s Mercury, I too would like to know when the steps leading from Cliff Hill, down to the Beach Road, are going to reopen? Or was I right in believing they never will. It seems an innordinate amount of time to repair a few steps!
Also when are we going to get our prom seats back? Or have they too gone forever? What is it with Great Yarmouth councillors, they do not seem to respect anything that has been left for us and future generations.
Mrs SANDRA WEST
Garnham Road,
Gorleston
I’d go where the parking is free
I am a resident in Caister and will often pop in the town for things including the tourist things along the seafront. I do not understand how Trevor Wainwright can think that his proposal will not have a knock on effect in the local community if parking charges are brought in.
I agree with Graham Plant that if the scheme did come in I would no longer go to Yarmouth if I needed to pay for parking and would instead go to Norwich as they have a better choice and bigger stores.
I would also find alternative seaside locations to spend time over the weekend with the family as I do not want to pay for parking if I can help it in my local town. I also work in Yarmouth and will often pop into the town in my lunch break to buy lunch or pick up essential items. However, if the permit parking came in I would no longer visit the town centre or the surrounding areas and would go to the big retail stores outside of the town centre where parking is free.
I think there was some study/research recently around why town centres were losing customers and part of it was due to parking charges and access in and out. I am sure the town would be okay in the summer with the tourists,however, it may be very quiet in the winter.
ANDREW SMITH
Why do flats remain empty?
Can someone please explain in these difficult times of housing why are the brand new blocks of flats not only empty but not even fitted out near Morrison’s at Gorleston riverside? How is it possible for a builder to leave them empty? Can the council not take these over for people on the waiting list?
Perhaps the builder would like to comment as to what is going on, Add to the fact even more are to be built on the old Precasters site, will they also remain empty? What does the council say about this?
MICHAEL FARADAY-DRAKE
Empty parking spaces in zone
The law states you cannot charge parking to subsidise other services. Yet Trevor Wainwright clearly states it is to be implemented to subsidise frontline services.
Does Mr Wainwright walk the A zone during the day to see all the empty spaces? Also local people do drive round looking for free parking. He also states car parks are free after 4pm so why do car parks on the front charge until 9pm? Start a park a ride scheme or more and more shops in the centre will shut down.
DOUGLAS RICHARDS
Re-seeding the verges a waste
If the council wants to save money, then perhaps they should consider taking up some of the grass verges from the pavements in Bradwell. Many are no more than soil and when it rains, mud, as vans and cars continually park on them, churning up the grass, as the roads are too narrow to accommodate the size and volume of traffic now using them.
A couple of weeks ago the council re-seeded parts of them but to no avail as the very next day, cars were parked over the newly seeded verges. You can’t blame the drivers because they have to park somewhere when visiting or delivering. The initial cost of concreting over the verges would be met by the savings made on the maintenance of them.
PAULINE LYNCH
Bradwell
Youths caused an obstruction
On August 9, a group of youths 14-15 years old were gathered outside Tesco’s Express IN Bell Lane, Belton causing an obstruction. For some unknown reason they decided to lay their push bikes down taking up a large area of the public right of way, obstructing the entrance of the store
I approached them to inform them they were creating a safety hazard and that if an elderly or disabled person or even partially sighted person wanted to enter the store they could easily fall over the bikes. They obviously had no respect for common sense advice I was voicing, in fact they were rude and insolent.
I was astounded when an adult retorted that anybody could walk round the bicycles laying on the ground, and that I should not speak to a 14 year old warning him if anybody got injured it would be his parents who would have to pay out the cost for any incurred injury.
I informed a Tesco person of the hazard, but they did not respond to the potential danger, I could only assume this was not a Tesco problem and they continued filling a shelf after glancing outside.
This type of lout behaviour will only drive customers away especially the elderly and disabled.
I know if I had the attitude these youngsters have I would have got a clip round the ear and told to go home and then if you were sent home by a policeman you would get another clout from your father.
So it’s school holidays, so what! They need to do something, anything; if you look around you will find plenty to do. But laying bikes on the ground creating a hazard is not an healthy option.
As we drove from the car park the youths shouted and catcalled at us, yet another example of disrespect and disorderly behaviour.
We are community minded and acknowledge there is a minority of bad apples. We enjoy life in Belton but we must not allow the occasional lout(s) to spoil it for the rest of us.
COLIN and MITZI ORR
I am not a pest, people feed me
I strongly protest at Bridget Self’s letter last week. I am not a pest. I am always grateful to all those wonderful people, who leave me lots of nibbles in the Market Place.
A SEAGULL Esq
via pigeon post
Red Kite flew over the town
I went out into my back yard on Saturday around about 1pm to read my favourite weekly paper. The gulls were making such a commotion so I looked up to see what it was all about.
Not only the gulls but the local pigeons were joining in. The cause of their annoyance was a beautiful Red Kite, which eventually flew off towards the seafront, and I later saw down at Breydon Water. With visitors like that how can anyone complain about our bird life.
DAVE GAHAN
Havelock Road,
Great Yarmouth
Do we need more council staff?
Your report that a substantial government grant will enable the borough council to improve rubbish collections is most welcome. I am not sure what “waste and recycling communications officers” do but I note that we already have some. As this problem should now be somewhat eased do we really need two more when on the Mercury front page it states that Town Hall bosses claim the climate of government cuts is forcing economies on them?
NICK POWNALL
Seafield Close,
Great Yarmouth (check)
Need to put the record straight
Having read Mr Len Beresford’s letter last week regarding Great Yarmouth Town FC’s intention to mark the 60th anniversary of their epic FA Cup victory over Crystal Palace as a superb Idea.
Sadly, however I must take issue with him when he states that Yarmouth are the only Eastern Counties League club to beat Football League opposition.
Unfortunately this is not the case, for on the very day (November 21 1953) that Yarmouth were beating Crystal Palace 1-0 with a Derrick Rackham goal, their fellow Eastern Counties League side, Cambridge United, were holding Third Division South club, Newport County to a 2-2 draw, and five days later they travelled to South Wales and beat their League opponents 2-1,thus equalling Yarmouth’s record.
I do not wish in anyway to denigrate The Bloaters’ great performance, but I felt the record needed to put right. And I wish the club all best wishes in their celebrations, and it’s a pity they can’t command the support today that they received 60 years ago, but sadly today’s local football is an entirely different game to what is was back in 1953.
BRIAN BUNN
Love Yarmouth, but pay to park?
First of all I would like to say I love Great Yarmouth. I have approximately six weeks in total holiday there each year. I notice in the local paper there is an intention to make all free parking no longer free.
To me this is a bad idea. I always look for free parking. I would not be happy at all. You need the mix of parking. I would think about changing my holiday destination to somewhere like Skegness.
I think your priorities should be to sort out the seagull problem, especially in Regent Road and around the open market. The mess on the seating area is disgusting especially when you try and eat your food. Not a good example to set to people like myself who spends a lot of hard earned money a year here.
Please keep parking as it is. If not I am one of the families you will lose coming here.
LIONEL MARKS
Bletchley,
Milton Keynes
Beach drop the beauty of nature?
My letter kindly published in The Mercury, August 2, prompting a response from Mick Castle last week, was an attempt to draw a comparison between two examples of “perceived risk” for those involved in activities, namely walking to school and using the beach. Whilst happy to stand corrected, I did not specifically say money was wasted on beach improvement, just that the sum involved which was reported as £4,100 “could be better spent” given this money might be able to be spent elsewhere.
I do not pretend for one moment to understand allocation of council budgets, and trust those involved at all levels receive training and support to make the best decisions for those they represent or provide services for.
The serious inference to my tongue in cheek communication was that perceived risks can be vastly different from actual risks, given that risk is the chance/likelihood/odds that something with the potential to cause harm, will cause harm, to what degree and how widespread the effects could be. Sometimes, unfortunately, the perception of risk may be exacerbated by misinterpretation of what is reasonable in respect of everyday activities.
Hence, one person or group may determine that a 2ft 6ins drop in beach level at certain points is a hazard and presents some sort of risk requiring managing, another person or group may not and view it as the beauty of nature!
On the footpath to Flegg High School situation, it may in the fullness of time be deemed reasonably practicable to upgrade the footpath to footpath/cycle lane status, on the other hand it might not be.
Decisions eh - life’s a beach!
NIGEL GILHAM
Carlton Square,
Carlton Colville
Open up some cycling tracks
I’m pleased to see cycling is getting a financial boost to improve the road network around some big cities including Norwich. Shame there’s no ripples of development heading out towards to East Coast as the cyclists in this area are poorly served. Cycle paths and lane marking alongside roads for safety is the only work carried out for bikes in this area I can think of.
Generally speaking we are landlocked, with limited access for cyclists of all abilities to get out into the Broadland area and away from the East Coast. Who wants to take on the A47 Acle Straight or one of the busy back roads running out to Acle, or use the A12 for us going south?
Okay, so we manage to make up reasonable circuits though the local villages inland of the towns on the Norfolk-Suffolk border but we should have more.
No Marriott’s Way around here, but we do have both the Weavers and the Wherryman’s Ways running out of Yarmouth along the bank of Breydon Water.
Now there’s a thought. How about developing a walking and cycle track using these well under-used footpaths right through to Reedham? It could be our very own Marriot’s Way and family friendly too. Cycle out with the children to the Berney Arms for a summertime ice cream. I’m sure they’ll be pleased to see you!
Ideas are endless. How about couple of ferry crossings each day in the summer to Burgh Castle if practical as another cycling and walking opportunity. This would open up lots of opportunities to the Broads and cycle in the countryside without having use the car to get bikes and riders out there first.
RICHARD KNIBB
Hopton
No trouble to park near home
Since buying my house in 1980 close to the seafront just south of St Peter’s Road I have never had any problems parking near this property. Therefore there is no need for this insidious form of tax.
Secondly, in an area of deprivation and having received large amounts of funding in the form of regeneration grants this levy on parking flies in the face of the objectives of the funding and the legality as such is questionable.
Thirdly, the scheme will also lower the value of property having this unnecessary charge levied: £40 for a car + £40 for visitors car = £80. Or £40 for not having a car but having visitors with a permit - all unnecessary. A clear case of misuse and abuse of funding.
ARTHUR BALLS
Duncan Road,
Great Yarmouth
Park scheme will affect tourists
Please tell me this crazy permit parking scheme is just a windup to get folk upset because that’s what is happening to me. I have so many “why’s” in my head! I absolutely love Great Yarmouth and all the visitors who spend their precious holidays with us and the thought of a parking scheme that will turn them away is just ludicrous.
I have lived on my street for 58 years and have only two or three times been unable to park, and that was late at night. Spaces are always available during the day and when my daughter visits me –every day, I am an octogenarian - she can have her pick of the free spaces.
Where will she and other friends and family park when they visit as we will probably be inundated with cars from other roads who have permits but can’t find a space on their road, as we are not guaranteed a space even with a permit! Please tell me this is April 1!
Mrs L JILLINGS
Traffic lanes are all wrong
Once again I have been forced to travel the whole length of the Gorleston bypass at 35mph behind someone who seems to think that to negotiate the newly marked out roundabout at the southern end you need to be in the right hand lane from the start.
Can someone from the planning office explain to me the logic of squeezing all southbound A12 traffic (who by far are in the majority) into one lane only to direct them back into two lanes ten yards before the roundabout.
Surely the safest way to negotiate the roundabout is to have two separate streams of traffic and not have vehicles swapping lanes left right and centre, not to mention the drivers who undertake out of frustration or impatience.
I have been told that it is an EU directive and the planners have no choice but to comply. Having travelled extensively on the continent and not come across another example of anything like this which leads me to draw two conclusions. Either the planning office has used the excuse as a cop out, or the rest of the EU have treated the directive with the contempt it deserves. Can we please show a bit of commonsense and put it back to how it was. If not, I can see there is going to be a nasty accident and someone is going to get hurt.
STEVE ELLIS
Long Road,
Lowestoft
Give us your view on meters
There have been reports that water firms like Anglian Water will be “required to consider” compulsory metering in a bid to tackle future water stress.
I wanted to reassure our customers we have no plans to introduce compulsory water metering. We firmly believe meters are the fairest way to charge people for the water they use, but want to work with customers to encourage them to make the change.
This has been our approach for many years and has been very successful, with more than 70pc of customers now choosing to pay this way.
Not only are meters the fairest way to charge people but they also encourage them to be more water efficient – on average homes with a meter use between five and 15pc less water and save £100 a year.
Steadily increasing the use of meters is one of the ways we have been preparing for the challenges of climate change and population growth which will further stretch water supplies in future.
Having a meter fitted is free and anyone who chooses to do so then has two years to switch back if they’re not happy – again free of charge. We want to make it as easy as possible for someone to have a meter fitted, but we do not want to force them. Responses to our recent customer consultation suggest this approach is the right one, with many people wanting us to do more to help them save water. Their views have helped shape our draft business plan, which includes an aim to have 93pc of customers on a meter by 2020.
The plan is available to comment on until August 18th at www.discoverdiscussdecide.co.uk/decide
PAUL VALLELEY
Director of Water Services
Anglian Water
Looking for the shopaholics
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