Since the 2024 Parish Meeting, we, at last, had something to celebrate at Chicken Roundabout.
After many years, with all the different proposals (and refusals), we now have a lectern-style information board on the grass verge between Smokey Joe’s and the A143 junction. The interpretation board gives a brief history of Chicken Roundabout and highlights the efforts of Gordon Knowles, “The Chicken Man,” who fed the birds for many years.

During the year we had a number of Councillors leave and, I thank them for their service. We also welcomed several new Councillors – thank you to them. We currently have a vacancy for a Councillor; a complete list of the present members can be found online and on our noticeboard.

Following a series of complaints about anti-social behaviour in The Dip youth shelter, the Council sold it in an online auction.

DPC continues to (financially) support the “Parishioner Magazine” which is delivered free to this, and to two other parishes. Council thanked the retiring editor and Treasurer of “The Parishioner” and welcomed a new team of volunteers who have taken it on and given it a slightly new look.

Your Council has also given some support to the Village Hall as part funding of the solar panels that were recently installed. Councillors see the hall as an important village asset and the solar panels will help to maintain the hall’s viability.

Although not a Parish Council project we have given non-financial support to an initiative, by Cllr. Andrew Evan-Hendricks (acting as a private individual) to provide a memorial to the fallen. Andrew is a veteran and he funded the memorial himself. Parish Councils are not permitted to provide memorials. They are allowed, and we shall, maintain it.

The Council is consulting on the future of the BMX track at the Thwaite Road Play Area. There have been very few responses and a decision will be made, at the July meeting, about whether to maintain it or let nature take it back.

A large amount of money was spent on repairs and improvements to the Thwaite Road Play Area following the annual, professional inspection.

A national issue, that will affect all Parish Councils, is Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation. I have tried to cover this subject in the April/May “Parishioner” and elsewhere in this edition.

South Norfolk Council is the local planning authority but, as a consultee, the PC’s view was sought on a planning application to build 29 homes (and supporting infrastructure) on a site bordered by Loddon Road and Tunneys Lane. DPC voted to “recommend for approval” this application.

I shall conclude this report with some thankyous. For family reasons I have been slightly less focussed on Council matters this year. I thank my Vice Chair, Cllr. Bernard for his support. My thanks also go to my fellow Cllrs. For their contributions to the work of the Council. It must be remembered that all Cllrs. are volunteers.
I also thank the Council’s employees who succeed, in keeping the village spick and span. I am, however, especially grateful our Clerk and Responsible Officer, Sally Chapman. Managing the budget, our assets, contracts, insurance, and compliance with ever-changing regulations – I could go on – is a very complex and time-consuming job. Our clerk does all that in a very efficient way. Without an accomplished clerk I very much doubt whether we could recruit Cllrs. I thank Sally for her important work for the parish.

From Keith Weston (Chair, Ditchingham Parish Council)