Cllr Mike Butcher

Archive for November, 2009

Today, staff from GYBC set up shop on the grass area that is going to be the new play area for the under 8′s to consult children and Mum’s & Dad’s on what type of play equipment they would like to see installed.  Several families came to have a look on a very cold but sunny morning.  The scheme is planned to use £50,000 of Section 106 monies.  The Section 106 money is funds that the builder (Persimmon Homes in this instance) had to contribute to help fund the infrastructure required to support and sustain the housing development in providing such things as additional play equipment in the immediate local area.  Some of this 106 money was already used to build the Skate-park on our playing field.

The new play equipment for children of 8 and under will hopefully be completed by Easter next year.  This has taken a very long time to arrange as there were problems with the drainage and levels of the land which had to be resolved first!

Our Mayor & Mayoress, Cllr Tony & Sarah Smith accompanied by newly crowned Miss Great Yarmouth & Gorleston, Victoria Allard and several members of our council staff and councillors boarded the Road Train at the Town Hall in glorious sunshine for the long trip up Regent Street, across the Market Place to St Nicholas Church.  Here His Worship officially opened the Christmas Fayre after being welcomed by the new Team Rector Reverend Chris Terry.  There were many colourful stalls to choose that little something special from!  Stalls are also situated in a marquee on the lawn in front of the church and also in the Priory Centre (where I am afraid the nuts and cakes on offer did get the better of me!).  Never mind, I’ll start the diet in the new year!  There are several fairground rides on the Market Place and there will also be a synthetic ice rink available!

Here are a few photos taken this morning.

Conservative Shadow Environment Minister Nick Herbert MP and Conservative Prospective Parliament Candidate, Brandon Lewis on a fact-finding visit to the Great Yarmouth area today, spent time looking at the unique coastal sea defence problems in Hopton.  Clifftop resident Brian Hardisty took the party on a tour of the immediate area pointing out his and other residents concerns regarding the collapse of sea defences in Hopton.  The party left Hopton with an in-depth image of the problems already being experienced with coastal erosion in our area which I feel certain will prove of benefit during future governmental discussions on the issue.  The party were also due to visit areas north of Great Yarmouth such as Scratby and Hemsby before travelling up to North Norfolk on what is a very busy schedule!

A Few photos below (move mouse over them for information)

The official opening of East Anglia’s first adiZone multi-sport and gym outdoor venuetook place today.  This fantastic facility is located on the playing field at the Mill Lane Community Centre Playing Field in Bradwell.  The opening was performed by His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Tony Smith and gymnast and Olympic medalist Louis Smith (no relation, honest!).  This fantastic facility was funded jointly by Adidas and Great Yarmouth Borough Council costing some £150,000.  Below are a few photos I took this morning.

Yours truly with Chairman of Bradwel PC Cllr Ted Howlett and Borough Cllr and Cabinet Member Steve Ames.

Tea & Biscuits were available afterwards in the Community Centre

Monday:          Environment & Economy Advisory Group 6pm Town Hall

Wednesday:   AdiZone Launch, Mill Lane, Bradwell 11am

Thursday:      Meeting with Shadow Minister Nick Herbert about Hopton Sea Defences 10am

                            SNT Meet Public, Rainbow Store, Mill Lane, Bradwell 12 til 2pm

The official opening of the new, adiZone facility on Great Yarmouth Borough Council owned Mill Lane Playing Field, Bradwell, will take place on Wednesday 25th November at 11am, with His Worship the Mayor, Cllr.Tony Smith and Gymnastic Olympic Medal Winner, Louis Smith who will be joined by pupils from local schools.

Great Yarmouth is the first adiZone co-funded project in the East of England  – a giant multi-sport outdoor gym venue aimed to inspire the local community to get involved in sport, installed. Read the rest of this entry »

The Hopton Community will benefit from this investment in many ways with the increased flexibility and facilities.  Fundraising is still ongoing as the total cost of construction and fees is around £700,000.  GYBC granted £50,000 towards the scheme and many people in the village have either made donations or conducted fundraising activities!  But we still need more donations.

The building will have two halls, a kitchen, an office and the usual toilet facilities.  The main hall roof will be two stories high so as to accommodate many additional activities such as Badminton, Basketball etc.  The kitchen will have a serving hatch into the main hall so that, in the future, functions which require catering/bar facilities can be accommodated.  

Some of the people of Hopton who have been involved in the fantastic fundraising activities who were present at the open morning on Saturday where several people came to see the new plans and model of the new village hall.  Several questions were answered and lots of tea and biscuits were consumed! 

January 5th is the planned build start in what is now the car park.  The old village hall will be demolished when the new hall is close to completion and that area will be the car park.  During the construction phase there will be no car park facilities at the hall,

I visited the sea defences on the boundary between Hopton & Corton to see the extent of recent damage.  There are ongoing discussions to see if there is anyway that this situation can be helped but it doesn’t look promising at this point!

Today I accompanied our SNT during their two hours at the Tesco Express store on Beccles Road, consulting the public on local issues.  Several people agreed to take part in a short survey and the comments were very positive!  I will be attending other SNT meet the public sessions in conjunction with other activities to better understand the needs of  Bradwell.

Wednesday 18th November.  Spent time in the Town Hall talking to the “wonderful” Member Services Team (they look after us Councillors and keep us in line!).  1.30pm treated myself to a slap-up lunch in town centre (chips on the market and a mug of tea!).  Back to the Town Hall and continued to put the World to rights whilst waiting for 4pm to arrive as I had a meeting at Market Gates.

Community Safety (Great Yarmouth) Ltd  At 4pm I attended a board meeting of this company (as I am a Director, unpaid!) which operates the CCTV system in our town.  This system has been responsible over many years for a significant reduction in many kinds of crime in the borough.  My representation is due mainly to the fact that I am involved in the NightSafe Scheme being its local Chairman and also that I have a family business on Marine Parade.

I left this meeting in Market Gates and walked straight down Regent St towards the Town Hall, where I had other meetings to attend!

Strategic & Community Advisory Group.

I attended the above committee meeting at 6pm this evening in the Supper Room in the Town Hall where we discussed the following:

Identification of Sites Within the Borough for Social Rented and Affordable Housing.  A report showed that 71 new homes had been completed in the borough during the current year.  A further 64 homes are currently under development with at least a further 136 expected to start in the near future.  There were several other sites that are currently in various stages of the process required to develop.

Great Yarmouth Play Survey.  Adrian Barnes gave an update on the recently completed survey which consulted, parents, schools and other statutory partners on how to develop, promote and encourage free (ie non structured) play for children age 3-11.

Review of Child Protection Policy and Procedure.  The Service Manager for policy gave a verbal report on the updated policy which Councillors were given a copy to digest!

The meeting finished at about 7.45pm and I then headed straight to the Cycle Forum meeting which I had noticed was taking place in the Assembly Rooms in the Town Hall.  I knew I would find support for the cycle way between Hopton and Gorleston and, of course, I was not disappointed!  I spent about 30 minutes talking to this group about the current situation regarding the decision making progress at Norfolk County Council.  I then headed home for dinner at about 8.30pm!

It is now past 10pm and I am going to have my Horlicks and off to bed  going to relax and watch the news.

Quick look in the diary, only three meetings tomorrow first one starting at 8am, whoopee!!