THE village of Hopton on Sea is to get 109 replacement street lights, with work starting mid-January.At the parish council's meeting recently, councillors heard the village is at the front end of county council programme to install 30,000 new street lights.

THE village of Hopton on Sea is to get 109 replacement street lights, with work starting mid-January.

At the parish council's meeting recently, councillors heard the village is at the front end of county council programme to install 30,000 new street lights.

Overall, the replacement lights will be installed at existing sites but there may have to be some minor piositional changes to some. The new-design, pure white lights, meet environmental standards, cut the amount of glow and consume less wattage than the existing orange ones, and existing five metre columns would be replaced with either six or seven metre which will provide a wider light spread.

Only the street lights currently county-owned and maintained will be replaced.

In the police report, PCSO Dave Nickerson said there had been 62 incident calls from Hopton during October, which resulted in seven crimes; six of these were thefts from Somerfield.

Cllr Lilian Walker asked whether the memorial gardens on Coast Road could be patrolled more frequently in view of some recent vandalism in that area.

Councillors discussed the effect of the outer harbour works on Hopton beach and works required to the sea wall. It was agreed to request a copy of the National Flood and Coastal Defences maintenance schedule and write to Great yarmouth Borough Council requesting a copy of the schedule of works actually carried out to Hopton.

Chairman Cllr Mike Butcher confirmed that assurances were received at the time of the Shoreline Management Plan that safeguards had been built into the outer harbour agreement to replenish any sand lost at Hopton. Outfalls on the beach would be reported to the county council as there was a danger to walkers from broken grills/pipe work sticking up.

In matters arising from the minutes, it was reported the new street light on Station Road had finally been connected by EDF, and that a further letter had been sent to Michael Stonard, Chief Executive of the PCT about Hopton Medical Centre's opening hours but to date no written response had been received.

Clerk Julie McNair said a letter had been received from the county council concerning the shared footpath/cycleway, Warren Road, between Hopton and Gorleston. During a consultation period, 44 replies were received with 26 against the proposal. The county is to consider the best way forward.

Cllr Butcher said stones and gravel from the base of the climbing wall were being thrown onto the skateboard park causing problems for children trying to use their skateboards and some minor injuries have occurred as a result. He was due to meet with borough officials to try and resolve the matter.

Discussion took place as to whether the noticeboard should be used for community information rather than hired out to businesses for advertising purposes. A proposal by Cllr Val McGee that the noticeboard be used for community links was defeated by majority vote. Tender papers would be drawn up for hire of the notice board for the coming year, to include conditions concerning the quality of information appropriate for advertising.

The Family Christmas Party is now full and a waiting list has been started. There are still places left for the Senior Citizens Party on Saturday, December 13.

The next council Meeting is on Monday, December 8, 7pm in the Village Hall, Station Road.