Planning New Greater Norwich Local Plan Consultation – The Greater Norwich authorities (including South Norfolk Council) working with Norfolk County Council) are now preparing a new Local Plan for 2026 – 2045. Earlier this year, they hosted a Call for Sites for people to submit sites to be considered for allocation in the GNLP 2045. One site in Ditchingham is shown; it is east of the play area (near to where the proposed Pump Track will be) and north of Wildflower Way and Poppy Close.
Tree Preservation Order – South Norfolk Council has issued a Preservation Order on Woodland South of Tunneys Lane Ditchingham Norfolk. This TPO has been served because of potential construction of 70 dwellings at the site in the future.
Breaking News – At the time of writing this article the PC has just heard that the land north of Hamilton Way has been allocated for 65 dwellings with a single access via Hamilton Way OR 75 dwellings with two accesses, Hamilton Way and Thwaite Road. * We consider this to be contentious. Accordingly, we will be convening a meeting of the DPC Planning & Highways Committee. It will be advertised on our notice board opposite the shop and on our website. Parishioners are encouraged to attend so we can gather views. *To see maps and more detail visit our website and read the reports in the September meeting.
Loddon Road/Tunneys Lane development – still awaiting permission Maltings Amenity Area – The BA’s Enforcement Officer has reported progress in his negotiations with PJ Livesey. We wait to see if the restoration work will be done.
Highways – Having received several communications from parishioners asking for speed reduction measures in Pirnough Street we requested a meeting with our NCC Highways engineer. He declined our request. As there have been no serious accidents at this location, he believes the present road markings and signage are sufficient.
Other Items
Fire beaters for Broome Heath – We are co-operating with Ditchingham Farms to provide a small number of beaters at each entrance to the heath. They will be in place for next summer.
Food waste collections – We have displayed posters, supplied by SNC, which invite people to scan a QR code to see when collections will start. When scanned it just says, “Coming soon.” I believe the actual date is early November for our village.
Graffiti – Recently I attended a community meeting attended by Norfolk and Suffolk police officers and the volunteers who are dealing with the graffiti in Bungay. Putting graffiti on signs and street furniture is a criminal offence, not art. There are many reasons why it is difficult to deal with culprits – limited police time; the need to catch them in the act; the burden of proof needed Etc. NCC has said they cannot supply cleaning materials but we have been buying it and have tried to remove as much graffiti, around “Chicken Roundabout,” as possible.
Community Orchard – We remain very grateful to the Bungay Conservation Volunteers (BCV) for their important work in the orchard. I thank Cllr. Van Dijk for using his machinery to cut paths through the orchard. The annual cut, by SNC, has recently happened.
Thwaite Road Play Area Pump Track Update – With several successful grant applications, and others in the pipeline, plus the use of some internal budgetary mechanisms we are approaching the point when sufficient funds will be available. We will keep you posted.
Keith Weston
Chair