Category: News

Transport East is the Sub-national Transport Body for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. Their priority is to develop the region’s transport strategy to unlock additional investment, working in close collaboration with the government and the rest of the UK.  

To help shape their transport strategy they want to hear views from across the region.  Please could you take ten minutes to complete this survey. 

The survey covers a range of topics about travel choices, the impact of COVID-19 and the priorities for transport in the region and will be open until 11.59pm on Sunday 17 January 2021. 

The results from the survey, along with direct feedback from engagement with councils, businesses and community groups in the region, will help to ensure a clear direction of travel which aligns with the objectives of their partners and the public.  

What would you like to see and do in the restored Winter Gardens?

Please click this link to take the survey: Complete the survey here

You are invited to complete a short survey to help bolster a major funding bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund to save and revive Great Yarmouth’s Winter Gardens.

The Grade II*-listed landmark is a national heritage gem, the UK’s last surviving Victorian seaside cast iron and glass winter gardens, and it requires significant national investment to repair and restore, supported by a robust business plan for re-use.

With the project among only 12 shortlisted nationally to apply to the Heritage Horizons Awards scheme, Great Yarmouth Borough Council is working with conservation specialists and a preferred operator to finalise the application to the first stage of this very competitive multi-stage national funding pot.

The ambition is to save, restore and reimagine the Winter Gardens at the heart of Great Yarmouth’s regeneration and daily life, as a year-round visitor attraction that makes the most of the unique building, its seafront location and its horticultural heritage, complementing the recently-restored Venetian Waterways and the new Marina Centre under construction.

To support their application for development funding, the project team is undertaking a survey to find out a bit more about what residents and visitors might want to see and do in the restored Winter Gardens, the sorts of activities, functions and attractions it could be used for. People can take part until January 15^th.

Cllr Carl Smith and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the council’s main political groups, said: “Significant work is progressing behind the scenes to realise the community’s dream of bringing our much-loved Winter Gardens back into viable and suitable use, including business case development, architectural work and exploring further funding opportunities.

“We’re at the start of a competitive multi-stage application process for the major national investment needed. Vital work is continuing to ensure we’re in the best possible position against stiff competition and we’re asking you to help bolster our chances as a community by completing our activities survey. The project team will feed back your views and ideas into our design process, so everyone’s feedback is important.”

Highways will be carrying out essential work to install new safety barriers along the A47 at the above location, as well as installing a staircase next to the A47 at Breydon Bridge. 

They plan to complete this work for five nights from Monday 14 December to Friday 18 December, on weeknights only, working between the hours of 8pm to 6am, subject to weather conditions.

They have closely liaised with the local authority to agree the most suitable diversion route as detailed below:

Diversion route

Northbound traffic will be diverted via the A143 and the A146 before re-joining the A47 at the Norwich Southern Bypass and exiting at the A47/Acle New Road roundabout.

Southbound traffic will follow the above diversion but in reverse.

NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL has made a Temporary Traffic Order affecting the 1) C603 Burgh Road from its junction with the A143 Beccles Road for a distance of 40 metres westwards and 2) U62059 Wren Drive/U62046 Mallard Way from its junction with the C603 Burgh Road to its junction with the A143 Beccles Road in the TOWN OF GORLESTON-ON-SEA AND THE PARISH OF BRADWELL because of gas remedial works. 

The road 1) will be temporarily closed (except for access) and road 2) will be subject to a temporary suspension of the 7.5 tonne weight restriction from 14^th December 2020 to 16^th December 2020 for the duration of the works, expected to be about 3 days within the period. 

Alternative route is via: Burgh Road, Wren Drive, Mallard Way, A143 Beccles Road (Gorleston-on-Sea, Bradwell). 

Please see the below from SchoolReaders.org:

Our reading volunteers are desperately needed because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of children won’t have had enough reading practice during the first lockdown let alone the second. In a normal year, one in four children leave primary school unable to read well. Most children will have missed a term of school, so the reading gap is now even wider. Children who struggle with reading are more likely to live in poverty and be unemployed as adults. 

Schoolreaders needs more volunteers in your area to support children’s reading and prevent them falling further behind. If you want to make a difference to a child’s life, apply to become a Schoolreader. No qualifications are needed; just a love of reading and some spare time each week.  

To join us, please visit the website www.schoolreaders.org/volunteer-application-form or call 01234 924111 for further information. 

For the latest news update from Norfolk Police & Crime Commissioner Norfolk, such as:

• Free scam awareness training
• Modern slavery and human trafficking in Norfolk
• Stop Hate in Norfolk initiative

Please click the following link https://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/news/